Since connecting its trail system to Stoughton in 2004, the local snowmobile club in Weyburn, Saskatchewan, has seen a gratifying rise in the number of people sledding in and around Weyburn.
According to Souris River Snowmobile Club president Rick Hallberg, the club has grown to 60 members since it was established in the 1993-94sledding season, and now grooms about 200 kilometres of trail that connects Weyburn with the towns of Griffin, Creelman, Corning and Stoughton, as well as Moose Mountain Snowmobile Club trail system.
“When we first started it was just the guys, but now everybody’s wives, girlfriends and kids are involved in the club,” Hallberg said.
He said one of the most popular rides with the local community is a loop that starts at a staging area just east of the city, where the Weyburn Shelter is located.
“From the Weyburn Shelter, most people will ride to Griffin and up north to Creelman, and then from Creelman lots will continue up to the Lionel Shelter,” he said. “It's mostly prairie-type riding, through fields and pastures.”
According to Hallberg, the loop saves the best for last.
“Once you hit the Lionel Shelter, that's when the riding gets better. From there, trail 322B heads east over towards Corning. Before you get to Corning there's another trail you can join into, and that's 322C,” he said, adding that it is “probably the most scenic."
“It's a little more rolling hills and you can get up to Gooseberry Lake and play around,” he said. “There are more trees and a lot of off-trail shooties.
“322C then goes south to Stoughton and joins in with the Moose Mountain club trail system just north of Stoughton (the 311A trail). Once you get over there it’s all bush and it’s nice, rolly trails through the hills.
“A lot of people have cabins up there,” he said, adding that the nearby Kenosee Lake is a popular point of interest. “They’ve got a really good trail system right inside the provincial park there, lots of warm-up shelters, and there are a couple places you can stay and some good places to eat.”
What with connecting into the neighbouring trail system and some great support from the three local dealerships, Hallberg said riding in Weyburn is getting “bigger and bigger every year.”
