Trail Conditions: Early Season
Snow Cover: Minimal
Date of Report: January 16, 2025
Area Report:
Here we go!! The Vilas county snowmobile trails OFFICIALLY OPEN at 8:00 am, Friday, January 17!!
It’s certainly been a long wait. Please keep in mind that our snow cover is very thin and the trails are going to be icy, especially in the corners. The Barnstormers will maintain trail conditions the best we can, but without additional snow, there won’t be much we can do. As long as everyone is aware that we don’t have ideal conditions yet, we can get out and finally enjoy some riding!
There are ongoing logging operations on trails 15 and 11. Remember that logging personnel have the right of way. They also have the right to shut down trails, so please be respectful.
While you’re out there, remember to stop by the amazing businesses that keep us operating. Check out our upcoming events:
Saturday, Jan 18: Snowmobile Breakfast @ Stillwaters. 8:00 – 11:00 AM
Saturday, Feb 8: Chili Dump @ Murmuring Waters. 2:00 – 5:00 PM
Sunday, Feb 16: Pizza Fundraiser @ Hillside Tavern. 4:00 – 8:00 PM
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!!!