Trail Conditions: Good
Snow Cover: Decent
Date of Report: January 4, 2026
Area Report:
It’s been a busy week with heavy traffic. Overall, the trails are holding up well. Our most challenging trail to keep up with so far has been 7N out of Star Lake. The amount of traffic on this main corridor has made it nearly impossible to keep flat. Another batch of fresh wet snow will most welcome.
We are grooming nightly, and will continue until the temps get above freezing as projected later this week. The 4-6″ of new snow expected tonight will be very helpful if it has any moisture in it. Dry fluffy snow does not help at all as it will not stick.
Wednesday and Thursday appear to be our most challenging days this week with temps pushing 40 and at least partial sunshine. Our best hope to salvage the base is for people to refrain from riding during those warmer days. If that happens, we should be in really good shape again by next weekend when temps drop back down.
Plum and Star lakes are now marked. They are bumpy, but rideable. Please stay along the marked route.
Apparently, we have to keep reminding people to slow down for corners. If you aren’t able to keep your sled on your side of the trail, you’re going too fast and putting the safety of others at risk! If you feel the need to show off the speed of your sled, save it for the lakes. SAFETY TRUMPS EGO!
Ride RIght & Ride Safe!
Mark your calendars for these upcoming Barnstormer events:
Saturday, January 10 – Brats on the trail at TIN #217 from 10:00 – 4:00.
Saturday, January 17 – Breakfast at Stillwaters from 8:00 – 11:00.
Saturday, February 7 – Chili dump at The Murm from 2:00 – 5:00.
Sunday, February 15 – Pizza fundraiser at Hillside Tavern from 4:00 – 8:00.
Saturday, March 14 – Drawing for Snowmobile Raffle at Sayner Pub at 5:00!
Snowmobiling Information
The Sayner Barnstormers are proud groomers of the Sayner – Star Lake Wisconsin area snowmobile trails. Our club was founded back on November 26, 1969, with 27 charter members. The Barnstormers trails stretch all the way from Hwy 70, just east of Arbor Vitae, all the way up to Old Hwy B, just west of Land O Lakes. We groom these trails with three tractors each equipped with 9-foot-6-inch grooming drags built by Sno*Boss of Eagle River and Arrowhead Groomers of St. Germain.
Snowmobiling was born here in the 1920s, when Carl Eliason, of Sayner, invented the first snowmobile in 1924 (he called it a snow machine initially). He took his first patent out on November 24, 1927. He has been featured in History Magazine, in the Modern Marvels section. You can still see some of the very first snowmobiles to ever be ridden in Sayner’s History Museum and at Eliason Lumber, both located on Hwy 155 in Sayner.
Our trails cover a variety of terrains including beautiful wooded trails, lake crossings, and some road routes. Over the years signage has improved tremendously, with the most recent addition of intersection numbers, making it easier for snowmobilers to figure out where they are. These intersection numbers were also created to assist snowmobilers and emergency crews to find each other in the unfortunate event of an accident.
Through the combined efforts of the Sayner Barnstormers and our great neighboring clubs, we feel that Vilas County has the best maintained and marked trails in the world. Our trails adjoin St Germain’s BoBoen Club, Arbor Vitae / Minocqua Cross Country Cruiser’s, Eagle River SnoEagle’s, Land O Lakes Frosty Club’s , and Boulder Junction’s trails. Other clubs in the county include the Conover Snow Buddies, Manitowish SnoSkeeters, Presque Isle SnoBunnies, Phelps, and Lac du Flambeau Northern Horseshoe.
See you on the trails and always, Please Ride Safe!!!