Planning a snowmobile trip may be as exciting as the ride itself. If it is planned adequately, you will be sure not to miss any attraction in the region you are going to visit. Some other snowmobilers prefer to leave without any planning and they modify their itinerary on the way. No matter what you prefer, respecting the following recommendations will certainly help you.
First of all, you must determine the following points :
- The region (s) you wish to visit ;
- How many days are available for your trip;
- The purpose of your trip (to enjoy the landscape, to add kilometers on your machine, to sleep and to eat at specific places, to loopback, to visit the touristic attractions of the region, etc.);
- The snowmobilers in the group (experienced or beginners, 2-up).
A map of the path can help you to plan your ride
Once you have determined the purpose of your trip, here is the next step :
Vérifiez les sentiers qui vous permettent d’atteindre vos tracés et destinations;
- Check out the trails that will bring you to your route and destination;
- Go on www.sledmagazine.com and click on “ Clubs and Trails status ”, “ Map and trails conditions ”. The map of Québec and New Brunswick snowmobile trails will appear. This way, you are going to have an overview of the regions you want to visit and you will see which trails will take you to your destination;
- Then, still with the trail map in front of you, check out the trails conditions by clicking on “ Conditions sentiers ” in the upper right corner. You will have a good idea about the trails conditions (open or not, messages from clubs, etc.);
- Plan your kilometrage in accordance with the places to visit, the lodging accomodations, the restaurants and gas stations;
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- This is an important step because you must consider the experience of your companions (are there couples on the snowmobiles), the region you will visit, the type of trails (sinuous, in mountain, in fields, on logging roads, on old rail roads, etc.) and the days of week when you will be touring (in some regions, during week-ends, trails are so much used that their conditions deteriorate; your cruising speed will be changed mostly if you ride with a passenger.
- Another important point to consider is the weather factor, such as rain or heavy snow, that could make you late. Once your kilometrage is determined, go back on the trail map of SledMagazine.com; at top of the map, click on “ Restauration ”, “ Hébergement ”, “ Station service ”. On this page, click on “ Itinéraire en motoneige ”; at the upper left corner, you will find a green marker and a red marker. Click on the green marker and drag it on the trail from where you plan to leave and then, click on the red marker and drag it on your destination; this way, kilometrage and other details will be displayed on the left side of your screen (number of kilometers needed to reach restaurants, gas stations and to plan your stop for the night. Also, when you click on icons related to lodging, restaurants and gas stations, you will get their exact coordinates.
This tool help you creating your route directly on the snowmobile trails
Concerning the fuel stops, you should get informed about the fuel-autonomy of each snowmobile in the tour and plan the stops in accordance with the machine with the smallest fuel-autonomy. Always keep in mind that a gas station could be close when you get there; so, you must fuel up before your tank gets too low.
Booking lodging accomodations
You may book on the site of which you got the coordinates from the trail map or from the home page of www.sledmagazine.com by clicking on the red icon “ Logging online booking ”, at the upper left corner. Also, on the trail map of www.sledmagazine.com , there is an icon that presents the snowmobile dealers on your route if needed. Finally, to make sure that all trails are ready to ride on, go on the home page of www.sledmagazine.com and click on “ Services and tourism ”, then on “ Tourist information ” and you will get the list and coordinates of all snowmobile clubs.
Here is an exemple of route for your snowmobile ride
I hope that these informations will help you plan your trip. Do not hesitate to click on www.sledmagazine.com for any other information.
