Cook County snowmobile club resumes grooming operations and plans for upcoming racing events
With the recent snowfall across northeastern Minnesota, grooming operations on the vast network of snowmobile trails in Cook County have resumed.
“We had right around five to six inches in the mid-trail area,” said Forrest Parson, president of the Cook County Ridge Riders Snowmobile Club and owner of Hungry Jack Lodge. The additional snowfall in the past week has helped build upon the trail’s base layer, allowing the snowmobile club groomers to resume operations.
While more snow is undoubtedly welcomed and needed in some areas, the snowmobile trails are in relatively good shape. As of Jan. 16, the Ridge Riders Club said all of the snowmobile trails they manage in the 135-mile system have been groomed.
Cook County Snowmobile Trails
The Ridge Riders manage the trails using four Tucker Sno-Cats, each staged at various locations along the Gunflint Trail. Parson said grooming operations are in full swing now, and depending on conditions, the club intends to maintain grooming five to six days a week.
The local snowmobile club is also busy preparing for the upcoming drag racing season, which begins on Jan. 25 at Skyport Lodge on Devils Track Lake.
Shortly after, the annual Fun Run event will take place on Feb. 1. Parson said participants will snowmobile to seven different lodges or businesses along the Gunflint Trail to play and compete in games.
“It’s a great day where everybody gets out,” Parson said. “There’s a lot of people from the community and a lot of people that are just traveling to the Cook County area that also get involved.”
Later this winter, the Ridge Riders host another drag race on Feb. 15 at Hungry Jack Lodge and again on March 8 at Poplar Haus. Find the complete list of Cook County Ridge Riders events here.
WTIP’s Baxley visited Forrest Parson, president of the Cook County Ridge Riders Snowmobile Club at Hungry Jack Lodge, to learn more about the latest snowmobile trail conditions and upcoming club events. Audio & video are below.
Kalli Hawkins January 17, 2025
