If you’re riding in High Level, get ready to be taken for a loop—the Main Loop, that is. The Main Loop is High Level’s most used, groomed and popular trail. It’s 134 kilometres long, utilized for poker rallies (check out the sidebar below) and is easy to access from town (more on that in a minute).
What’s there to see?
The Main Loop has everything: varied terrain appropriate for any ability, access to other trails from many points around the trail (highways and oilfield/forestry access), open areas to frolic and play in the snow, rest areas (rib pits) to gather with friends or other riders for picnics, potty breaks and a warm fire, and two emergency warm-up shelters. Is that enough to keep you occupied? Maybe you ride for the sights. The Main Loop has you covered there too. The trail is deep in High Level’s northern woods where the wildlife ranges from spruce grouse and snowy owls to moose, deer, coyotes and lynx. The forest is comprised of Boreal Forest tree species, which canopy much of the trail system to give the rider a cozy weather breaker from those cold winter winds.
Highlights
“Driving at night between the two bridges with the frost on the trees is probably the most beautiful scenery you could imagine,” said Brenda Duval, Watt Mountain Wanderers snowmobile club event co-ordinator. “The northern lights—words cannot describe the awe of it. An evening ride to meet riders at the rib pit is always fun. We have loads of laughs and camaraderie with anyone who is out on the trail. There is no tension, no phones bothering us and no stress, just friendly conversation and warmth by the fire.”
How to access it
There are many accesses into the Main Loop. The easiest access is located 1.5 kilometres west of town. The access begins from Highway 58, then the trail winds around and up Watt Mountain and back towards town. There are other accesses off this trail to go towards Hutch Lake and Footner Lake, which are located north of High Level.
