Part II - Chautauqua County Snowmobile Trail System
With 400 miles of snowmobile trails in Chautauqua County, even people who don’t participate in the sport are aware of its huge presence. Provided we see favorable weather, this expansive network of trails, second largest in NYS, will attract 15,000 annual riders.
Roughly 90% of the trails run through private land and aside from dealing with the struggles of Mother Nature, the largest task is maintaining relationships with landowners, who can change their stance on permitting their land for snowmobile usage on an annual basis. The Snowmobile Clubs of Chautauqua County Federation and the several local snowmobile clubs work on fostering the relationships with landowners and emphasize the importance of respecting the landowners’ property with the hope of encouraging them to continue to allow riders on their land. Opening as a county also requires communication during the off-season, when volunteers are busy re-routing trails, cutting brush, draining wet-spots and building bridges.
The Ellery Sno-Cruisers are responsible for maintaining over 70 miles of trails and owns a fleet of three groomers to keep them in tip-top condition. Each one of those groomers can cost upwards of $170,000, used! Grooming itself can be a tireless job summarized by odd hours, cold-weather and physical labor. We asked Bryce Steffen of the Ellery Sno-Cruisers how he got involved, for him it was a matter of growing up around it and other winter sports. He learned a lot of the grooming technique from HoliMont Ski Area in Ellicottville, NY, where he was a ski instructor for several years. Steffen said, “up until about 10-12 years ago, snowmobiling didn’t attract the number of annual visitors is does now. It used to take us all day just to get from Bemus Point to Mayville. Now, with the tireless work of area clubs and modern grooming equipment, you can tour most of the Chautauqua County on a sled. You could even ride a sled all the way across the State to Tug Hill if you wanted."
Steffen said the best part of getting involved with the clubs is promoting Chautauqua County as a destination for snowmobile enthusiasts and the benefits area businesses along the trail reap when we have a good winter. A whole eco-system has sprung up around the trails: bars and restaurants, retail shops, accommodations, and more.
Snowmobilers can also enjoy a ride at Cockaigne’s Snowmobile Adventure Park. Riders check in at the lodge and can spend a day riding the main Crackerjack Ski Hill and the top of the Cockaigne Ridge, also known as Powder Peak.
Before hitting the trails, New York State requires all snowmobiles to be registered. You can register your sled via the mail or by visiting the DMV.
Informational Links:
Events are updated on the Tour Chautauqua Events Calendar and the clubs’ websites. For current trail conditions, please call the Snowmobile Hotline: 1-800-242-4569, dial 2 and then dial 5.
And interactive web map and trip planner is available at https://webapps2.cgis-solutions.com/nysnowmobile/