Snowmobilers may be divided by country but they are united in their passion for the sport. It was this notion that prompted the Saskatchewan Snowmobile Association (SSA) and Snowmobile North Dakota (SND) to connect their trail systems, making it possible for snowmobilers from each nation to cross the federal border on their sleds.
The first of its kind, this international trail will link the two systems at the Port of Carievale in the southeastern corner of Saskatchewan. There, sledders will be allowed to cross the security border on their sleds just like any other vehicle, as long as they carry with them a valid passport and have the proper registration and insurance on their sled.
Riders heading into North Dakota from Saskatchewan are also required to purchase an out-of-state permit. The permit costs $15 and it can be purchased online from the North Dakota Parks and Recreation Department’s website. Snowmobilers heading into Saskatchewan from North Dakota need only to have their passport and a legal sled.
Members of the SSA and SND have been working on this project for about two years and they are happy to see it come to fruition.
“We look at it as an expansion of our trail system,” said Chris Brewer, president of the SSA.
The trail offers riders from North Dakota another 10,000 kilometres (6,213 miles) of trail system in Saskatchewan.
What it’s like south of the border
According to Keri Wanner, who is the executive director of SND, the riding in North Dakota is comparable to Saskatchewan. The trails are signed, mapped and they offer a variety of scenery and terrain, from open prairie to densely wooded areas.
SND maintains a total of 4,506 kilometres (2,800 miles) of trails throughout the state and the trails in the northern interior of North Dakota are all connected. Wanner said the most popular riding routes are the Pembina Gorge Trail System in the Rendezvous region and the Peace Garden Trail System around Lake Metigoshe.
The Peace Garden Trail System runs along the North Dakota-Manitoba border and Wanner recommends stopping in at the International Peace Gardens. She also recommends taking a visit to the city of Bottineau to get a picture with the town’s giant mascot, Tommy the Turtle.
Grand opening
To commemorate the opening of the cross-border trail, an international ride will be held on February 15, 2014.
For more information about snowmobiling in Saskatchewan and North Dakota, see the SSA’s website and SND’s website. You will also be able to get information and ask questions about the trail at the Saskatchewan Snowmobile Show in November.
