Things To Do

Snowmobiling

Make This your Sledding Destination!

For snowmobilers seeking exceptional trails, International Falls/Rainy Lake and within Voyageurs National Park is a must-visit. The International Voyageurs Snowmobile Club meticulously maintains 158 miles of groomed trails, widely considered some of the best in the Midwest. These trails offer diverse riding experiences, from wide-open lake runs and winding portages connecting the lakes to routes along abandoned railroad grades and through pristine wilderness within the park. These trails also connect to the broader network reaching Kabetogama, Ash River, Crane Lake, and even as far as Ely, Virginia, Hibbing, Grand Rapids and Bemidji, opening up vast possibilities for long-distance snowmobile adventures.

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Map of Voyageurs National Park and surrounding area in Minnesota, including Rainy Lake, showing snowmobile trails, safety warnings, lodging locations, trailheads, and amenities. Key and legend at the bottom; colored lines indicate routes and trail conditions. | Rainy Lake, MN

Arrowhead State Trail
Trail map of Blue Ox and Alwood/Squaw Lake areas in north-central Minnesota, featuring ATV routes, parking, campsites, picnic spots, service roads, and a map key with navigation tips—ideal for exploring the Rainy Lake region. | Rainy Lake, MN

Blue Ox Trail
A cheeseburger topped with bacon and macaroni and cheese is served with crinkle-cut fries in a basket. Behind it, a Boondocks Bar & Grill sign reflects the welcoming spirit of Minnesota’s Rainy Lake, set on a wooden table. | Rainy Lake, MN

Boondock’s Bar & Grill + RV Campground
A black and white Ski-Doo snowmobile is parked on snow beside a green metal building near Minnesota's Rainy Lake, with its front view and windshield visible. | Rainy Lake, MN

Boyum Performance Snowmobile Rental
Logo for the International Voyageurs Snowmobile Club, featuring a cartoon man in red riding a snowmobile with pine trees and Rainy Lake in the background. Text reads: "International Voyageurs Snowmobile Club, Int'l Falls, Minnesota. | Rainy Lake, MN

International Voyageurs Snowmobile Club
A group of people riding snowmobiles along a snow-covered trail near Rainy Lake in Minnesota, surrounded by tall pine trees in a winter forest. The riders are wearing helmets and winter gear. | Rainy Lake, MN

Snowmobiling
Aerial view of Mackenzie Lodge on Rainy Lake in Minnesota, surrounded by trees, with several boats docked at piers. The scene is bright and sunny under clear blue skies. | Rainy Lake, MN

Thunderbird Lodge
A light-colored building with a peaked roof is surrounded by green trees near Minnesota's Rainy Lake. Sunlight filters through the leaves, casting shadows on the paved walkway leading to the entrance. | Rainy Lake, MN

Rainy Lake Visitor Center
A person wearing an orange helmet and dark winter gear rides a black snowmobile across a snowy landscape near Rainy Lake, Minnesota, with trees in the background under a clear sky. | Rainy Lake, MN
Six people on snowmobiles are lined up on a snowy surface in front of a rocky, snow-covered cliff at Rainy Lake, Minnesota. The riders are dressed in winter gear, highlighting the cold and wintry scene. | Rainy Lake, MN

Snowmobiling in Upper Minnesota

In the winter, sledders will find hundreds of miles of groomed trails that can include the winter beauty and solitude of Rainy Lake, both from the frozen surface of the lake and overland portages. Once you enter Voyageurs National Park, the speed limit is 45 mph on lake surfaces and 25 mph on the land portages. Outside of the park, the state trail limits apply. Visit the DNR Snowmobiling page for information on state regulations, snow and trail conditions and more.

Make This your Sledding Destination!

You can sled here from all the popular destinations south of here like Ely, Virginia, Hibbing, Grand Rapids and Bemidji on major trails. Once here, you could ride right to your accommodations, either on the snowmobile trails themselves or on city streets or county roads where snowmobile traffic is legal.

Four people stand in front of two large red snow groomers and two snowmobiles outside a building with a sign reading "International Voyageurs Snowmobile Club" on a snowy day near Rainy Lake, Minnesota. | Rainy Lake, MN

International Voyageurs Snowmobile Club

​For more information on trail conditions , maps, and snowmobiling activites, check out International Voyageurs Snowmobile Club.  This group maintains 158 miles of groomed trails in the Int’l Falls/Rainy Lake area of Northern Minnesota. So their trails range from wide-open lake running to winding safety portages connecting the lakes, from abandoned railroad grades to twisting wilderness routes. Also you can explore the frozen lake surface off the groomed trail. Click here to become a member or for more information on the International Voyageurs Snowmobile Club. 

Blog Posts about Snowmobiling

A person snowshoes uphill through a snowy Minnesota forest with sunlight streaming through tall, snow-covered pine trees under a clear blue sky. | Rainy Lake, MN

Winter Fun on Rainy Lake: 6 Outdoor Activities