For sledders who love the wide open expanses of the prairies, Foam Lake could prove to be a Saskatchewan destination for great sledding.
Foam Lake is a community of about 1,200 people and is part of the territory of the Yorkton Sno-Riders club. Colette Melnychuk is a member of the club and she and her husband and four others do the majority of the work and signage on the trails in the Foam Lake area.
Just recently Melnychuk and her husband went to work on the main warm-up shelter in the area, Stoney Shelter, and got it winter ready. The shelter is equipped with a washroom, supplies and wood and has lights that automatically turn on so people can find their way around at night—great for someone who gets caught out in the elements and needs to stay the night. It's also a source of great family fun in the area.
"It's a great stop for families," said Melnychuk. "We have an outdoor fire ring there as well as a stove inside, which is good for cooking hotdogs and steaks. It also warms up quickly and has nice windows in there. We keep it clean and supplied at all times. It's even used in summertime for the quadders in the area."
There are two other warm-up shelters in the area, Taj Mahal and Ralph's Den, but Stoney is the main one.
Melnychuk said what brings sledders back to Foam Lake is the fact the trails are groomed every two weeks and are in great condition.
SnoRiders asked Melnychuk what her three favourite areas are to ride and here's what she suggested:
Junction north of Foam Lake to Margo Grid
All staging areas for the trails around Foam Lake are in the town itself. The trails are groomed right into town, which makes them very convenient.
From Foam Lake you can get to the trail by Northside Leisure Products and the Husky service station. You cross over Margo Grid and sled down an old road. Melnychuk said this is a great area to sled if you're looking to see wildlife like moose, elk, deer, foxes, coyotes and others. If you keep going north, you will hit the Stoney Shelter, which is a great place to relax or have a weiner roast with the family. This is more of a winding trail compared to Foam Lake's other trails, which are much more straight and narrow.
East of Foam Lake to Invermay Grid
This straight trail, although not the most exciting, provides great prairie riding. Melnychuk said this area is great for enjoying the freedom of the wide open spaces and meeting other riders along the way.
North of Foam Lake to the junction for Kelvington
For this ride, you jump on the trail on the north end of town and it meets up with the junction with the Kelvington Trailblazers. It is a straight-away across fields. The wide open space also provides wonderful sledding.
Although none of the trails have names, there is tons of signage and Melnychuk said it's next to impossible to lose your way. If sledders wish to pick a map, they can do so at Northside Leisure Products, the Husky station or Edfield Motors, which is about seven miles north of Foam Lake.
"What I love most about riding in this area is that the trails and shelters are in great condition," said Melnychuk. "I love seeing families riding with their little children and having weiner roasts. It's great to see the excitement on the kids' faces, being out in the fresh air and enjoying the winter."
There is no cost to ride the trails in this area, but snowmobiles must be registered and insured in their own province.
