Parts of The County woke up to a fresh blanket of snow on Thursday morning (March 1). With this new snow the trails will be in great shape for the weekend. This new snow will also help for cooling sleds down as there was some hard conditions. All projects will be hitting the trails Thursday night and again all weekend.
Trails will be very busy this weekend as there is not much snow left in the southern part of the state, so The County is where it’s at.
With the warmer temps that we will experience and heavy traffic this weekend, trails will get beat up quicker than normal. Groomer operators can only work their magic when Mother Nature allows us to do so. Please be patient with everyone and possibly try some less traveled trails.
Use caution when riding out on the rivers and lakes, some of the thoroughfares and where small streams come into some of the bigger rivers are starting to open.
This weekend is the annual Can Am Crown Sled Dog Races in Fort Kent. Races start early Saturday morning and teams will be using some of the snowmobile trails in the northwestern part of The County. Some of the trails that the sled dog teams will be on are trails in the Portage, Eagle Lake, St. Francis, Allagash and Fort Kent area. If you see the dog print signs on the trails, please use caution and keep your eyes open for teams.
Fort Kent will be the place to be this weekend with the dog sled races, and a few other events going on, please go up to the Little Town That Could and support them.
Trail Info
ITS 92: This trail has been in great shape all season long and continues to be. Moosetown Riders are doing their section on Thursday.
ITS 90: This trail continues to be in great shape. There is a logging operation about 2 miles from the Woodland road crossing near Caribou. It is marked; watch for log trucks.
ITS 120: This trail is in great conditions and one of the most scenic rides in the County. Make sure you stop by Deboullie Mountain. Moosetown Riders will be out on their end on Friday morning.
ITS 83: Reporting good conditions. The logging operation is now in effect and the reroute is now open; please watch for signs and plan accordingly. There is also a new logging operation in Monticello south of the transfer station road; watch for signs.
ITS 81: This trail is connected all the way through. There is a logging operation on the section in Grand Isle; please watch for signs. There is a logging operation where trail 98B and 81 intersect; watch for signs. Madawaska is reporting good conditions. All clubs are out on their sections. Fort Fairfield was out on their section on Wednesday and will be out again for the weekend.
ITS 85: This trail is in good condition. Ashland, Eagle Lake and Portage will do their sections tonight. Fort Kent will also be out on their section.
ITS 105: This trail is in good condition from Van Buren all the way through to Scopan.
ITS 88: Parts of this trail will be groomed tonight.
Trail 61 in Washburn is groomed and in good shape.
Trail 89: This trail is open to the Black Bear Lodge and connects with trail 102, which is the old trail 100 that Pleasant Ridge Riders maintain. From this intersection North to 94 still has not been connected. Caribou will put it on social media when connected.
Trail 94 will be groomed Thursday night.
Trail 71A in Ashland is now open to the river. There is one mile of plowed road; other than that this trail is awesome.
Frenchville is reporting good shape on their trails.
Sly Brook snowmobile club are reporting good conditions on trail 96 and 73. Friday the rest of 73 and 73A will be groomed.
Moosetown Riders are reporting their section of 92 down to Chamberlain’s store was done Thursday morning and the lake loops will be done early Friday morning.
Caswell is reporting good conditions
Limestone is reporting good conditions.
Trail 71D is closed for the season as there is logging; this is in the Grand Lake/Seboeis area.
Municipal trail 70, Benedicta/Whetstone Falls, is closed due to heavy logging.
Trail 81: Nordic Lakers are reporting good conditions.
Presque Isle is reporting that they will be out Thursday and Friday and will have everything done for the weekend.
Chapman is reporting good conditions.
Easton Snowmobile Club is reporting their whole system is in great shape.
Trail 73 and 73B is being maintained by Fort Kent and are reporting a few water holes on 73.
Central Aroostook Snowmobile club are reporting a lot of moose traffic on the Number 9 lake trail and Rte. 70A.
Number 9 lake trail is in good condition.
Southern Aroostook Trail Report
The Smoki-Haulers in Oakfield had a great family fun day and report that it went very well everyone had blast. The warm weather is knocking the snow down but there is more in the forecast and they plan on grooming Thursday night and Friday night. ITS 83 South, 83 East to West and club trails 60 and 61 will be done for the weekend.
Linneus Sno-sports is grooming at night and reports that ITS 105 north has a hole in the trail that is marked by red flagging tape. Please use caution when traveling. With the spring type weather, more holes may be present.
Bowlin/Matagamon/Shin Pond has 3-4 inches of new snow on the trail and are grooming for the weekend. ITS 114 North, ITS 85 South, and partially around the Scraggly Loop trail are completed and the rest should be done for the weekend. The trails look good.
The Libby Pinnacle Sno Riders are having an event on March 4 as a fundraiser at Libby Camps. Food, bonfire, raffles, groomer rides, and more. 11-2. Come on out and support the clubs.
The Meduxnekeag Ramblers have groomed the ITS 83-rail bed to Monticello as well as ITS 86-border trail to Hodgdon. They report that the trails are good. Any soft spots with water are signed. Club Trail 81 and ITS 86 to St. Croix Stream will be done this weekend. Breakfast at the clubhouse on the Wiley Rd. this Saturday from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m.
The Eastern Maine Snow Riders are reporting excellent trails. ITS 110 to Macwahoc and trails 3 and 3A were inspected two days ago and received a great report. Any open water on the trails will be signed by the weekend.
Big Valley in Island Falls and Birch Point are rating trails ITS 112 and ITS 83 north and south to Sherman Mills good but ask the sledders use caution because there are some soft spots in the trail.
Molunkus Valley Sno-Drifters are also grooming at night and filling wet spot as they go. They have had to reroute due to some larger open spots on ITS 83 and 83A but overall the trails are good.
The Benedicta Snowgang: With temps staying well above average, ITS 83, Sherman/Whetstone Falls, is groomed, with good conditions. ITS 81, the Sherman/Benedicta/Mattawamkeag cutoff, is groomed, with good conditions. Municipal Trail 70, Benedicta/Whetstone Falls, is closed due to heavy logging,
NOTE: All trails are becoming soft now, due to warm temps. Go easy. Deer and moose are using all trails.
Oxbow are reporting spring conditions with the warm temps taking their toll on the trails, but we are doing the best we can. ITS 85/81 and 86 are still being groomed.
I would like to encourage all readers to support the clubs by becoming members. They work hard so you can play hard.
On the Social Side
Presque Isle Snowmobile Club Stew night this Friday starting at 5 at their Clubhouse.
St. Francis Sno Angels clubhouse is open on Saturdays from 11-7.
Meduxnekeag Ramblers Snowmobile Club breakfast is on for this Saturday, March 3, from 6 to 10 a.m.
The Fort Fairfield Snowmobile Club will host breakfast Saturday, March 11, from 7 to 10 a.m. at the clubhouse on the Strickland Road. Come enjoy eggs, sausage, ham, toast, homemade beans, home fries, French toast, pancakes coffee and juice. Cost: $8 adults, $4 children under 12.
Washburn Trailrunners Clubhouse is open Friday from 8 to 12, Saturday from 7 to 2 and Sunday from 7 to 12.
The Fort Kent SnoRiders will host Pat’s Ride for All on Saturday, March 10, starting at 9:30 a.m. at the Fort Kent Outdoor Center.
Maine Snowmobile Association Directors’ Meeting will be Saturday, March 17, at the Swamp Buck Restaurant in Fort Kent. Meeting at 5 p.m., followed by social at 6 p.m., and then the meal and a short directors’ meeting. All are welcome to attend. Food and drinks are at your own expense; meal prices are in the $16 range with a limited menu.
