Price County Snowmobile Trails: 500 Miles of the Best Riding in Wisconsin

Last updated: June 2026

By Price County Fun Editorial Team | Price County, Wisconsin

We’ve got roughly 365 miles of funded snowmobile trails in Price County — the AWSC lists 365 trail miles for the county — and with connector routes and forest service roads, riders access over 500 miles of groomed terrain stretching from Phillips to Park Falls, Prentice to Fifield, and deep into the Chequamegon–Nicolet National Forest. That’s more trail than most riders can cover in a long weekend, and the crowds that clog Vilas and Oneida County trails? Not here.

American Snowmobiler magazine called our trails “Priceless” for their “many trail options, fewer crowds.” That’s not marketing , that’s what riders who actually come here tell us. You can ride 150+ miles in a day and barely see another group until you stop for a burger at Borrachos or a beer at one of the trailside bars that double as waypoints in the Northwoods.

How Many Miles of Snowmobile Trails Does Price County Have?

Our county has 365 miles of funded snowmobile trails maintained by local clubs and registered with the Association of Wisconsin Snowmobile Clubs (AWSC), according to the AWSC’s county-by-county listing. When you add connectors and forest routes, we promote the system as 500 miles of trails. This isn’t a typo , it’s one of the largest county trail systems in Wisconsin, and it connects directly to neighboring Rusk, Sawyer, Taylor, and Lincoln counties for even longer rides.

Our trails run through the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest , over 1.5 million acres of public land, with the Chequamegon half covering roughly 860,000 acres in this part of the state , across frozen lakes and along old railroad grades that make for fast, flat running between the twisty stuff in the woods. Never ridden the Tuscobia State Trail from Park Falls west toward Rice Lake? Or the Pine Line Trail from Prentice south to Medford? You’re missing two of the best rail-trail corridors in the state.

Which Snowmobile Clubs Maintain Price County Trails?

Seven AWSC-affiliated clubs maintain and groom the trail system here. These are volunteers , your trail pass dollars fund the grooming equipment, but the people dragging the drag at 5 AM are your neighbors, not state employees. Here’s who does the work:

Elk River Pioneers Snowmobile Club

Founded in October 1974 with 48 members, now at 113. Based in Phillips, they maintain trails west of Phillips including trails 80, 82, 83, 85, 86, 88, 90, and 102. President Doug Rasmussen; trail boss Deric Bilgrien. Annual dues: $25 for a single or family membership, which includes AWSC membership and discounted trail pass pricing. They share grooming equipment with the Lugerville Chasers out of the Phillips Area Groomer & Maintenance Building. Contact: P.O. Box 34, Phillips, WI 54555. Website: elkriverpioneers.com

Fifield Sno Drovers Snowmobile Club

Established in 1968 , one of the oldest clubs in the county , with over 250 members. They maintain approximately 75 miles of trails around the Pike Lake area near Fifield. Biggest club in the county by membership. Communications director Derek Dieringer (715-897-1141). Dues include AWSC membership. Website: snodrovers.com

Eisenstein Bushwackers

Based in Park Falls. Contact Gary Eitrem (715-661-0686). They maintain trails in the eastern part of the county around the Eisenstein area. Website: parkfallssnowmobiling.com

Phillips Chaparrals Snowmobile Club

Based in Phillips. Contact Scott Olson (715-820-0008). Active on Facebook with regular trail condition updates during the season.

Prentice Bushbenders

Based in Prentice. Contact Penny Hlasny (715-428-2619). They maintain trails around Prentice and the southern trail corridors. Website: prenticebushbenders.com

Lugerville Chasers Snowmobile Club

Based in Lugerville. Contact Kay Sue Belan (715-339-4066). They share grooming equipment with the Elk River Pioneers and maintain trails in the central and northern parts of the county. Website: lugervillechasers.com

Sno Gypsies Snowmobile Club

Based in Park Falls. Contact Michelle Wartgow (715-661-0932). They cover trails around the Park Falls area. Active on Facebook.

Northwoods Hi-Riders

Contact Nate Merk (920-960-8573). They maintain trails in the northern corridor connecting to adjacent counties. Website: nwhiriders.com

What Are the Best Snowmobile Trail Routes in Price County?

Here’s where local knowledge matters. Anybody can look at a trail map and see lines, but knowing which routes are worth your time , that’s something else entirely.

The Tuscobia State Trail (Park Falls to Rice Lake)

This converted rail corridor runs approximately 74 miles from Park Falls west to Rice Lake. Flat, fast, and groomed. Sleds fly on this trail because it’s straight and wide , old rail grades are like highways. The Tuscobia connects to the Ice Age Trail and other routes in Rusk and Barron counties, making it a key connector for multi-county loops. Trail access in Park Falls off County Road E.

The Pine Line Trail (Prentice to Medford)

Another rail-trail conversion, this one running from Prentice south through Taylor County toward Medford. Your route if you want to connect from the Prentice area to the southern trail systems. It also gives you a side-trip option to Timm’s Hill . Wisconsin’s highest point at 1,951.5 feet , accessible via connector trails off the Pine Line.

Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest Trails

The big draw. Our trails run through the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest , over 1.5 million acres of public land , which means miles of wooded riding, wildlife crossings, and the kind of terrain that makes you glad you put studs in your track. Forest trails here are narrower and more technical than the rail grades , real woods riding with switchbacks, hills, and creek crossings. These are the trails that earned us the “Priceless” label from American Snowmobiler.

Phillips Area Loop

The Elk River Pioneers maintain a network of trails (80, 82, 83, 85, 86, 88, 90, 102) west of Phillips that can be combined into a solid day loop. You’ll cross the Elk River, run along frozen lake edges, and cut through hardwood and pine stands. The Phillips Area Groomer Building keeps the equipment running and the trails in shape.

When Do Price County Snowmobile Trails Open?

Trail opening around here depends on three things: sufficient snow cover (typically 6+ inches on the ground), frozen ground conditions (swamps and bogs need to be frozen solid so groomers don’t destroy the trail base), and landowner permission (many trails cross private land, and they’re only open during the declared snowmobile season).

State law sets the snowmobile season from December 1 through March 31, but trails don’t automatically open on December 1. They open when conditions allow , sometimes mid-December, sometimes not until after New Year’s in low-snow years. The 2023-24 season was rough: by late January 2024, trails were still closed due to insufficient snowfall, with under 12 inches of base.

Check trail status before you drive up. We recommend these sources:

• Travel Wisconsin Snow Report , statewide trail conditions updated by county
• Fifield Sno Drovers trail status , live status on their homepage (currently showing CLOSED)
• Individual club Facebook pages , the fastest updates during the season
• Snowtracks Price County page , reporter updates from the Phillips/Park Falls chambers

Never ride closed trails. Our trails cross private land through voluntary easements, and one rogue rider can cost everyone access to miles of terrain. Closed means closed. No exceptions.

Wisconsin Snowmobile Registration and Trail Pass Requirements

You need two things to ride legally on our trails: registration and a trail pass.

Registration (Wisconsin Residents)

Any snowmobile kept in Wisconsin for more than 15 consecutive days must be registered with the Wisconsin DNR. Public use registration costs $30 for initial registration and $30 for a 3-year renewal. Private use registration (riding only on your own property) is free but has strict limitations , you can only ride on property owned by you or an immediate family member. Antique registration (sleds 35+ years old) is $20 initial, $5 for 3-year renewal, and exempts you from the trail pass requirement. Register online at GoWild.wi.gov.

Trail Pass Costs

Every sled operating on a public trail in Wisconsin needs a trail pass affixed to the windshield. Cost depends on your club membership status:

• AWSC Club Member: $10 , belong to an AWSC-affiliated club (like any of our seven local clubs) and your trail pass drops to $10. Order through AWSC.org. At $25/year for club dues plus $10 for the trail pass, you’re in for $35 total , versus $30 for just the pass alone. Join a club. It saves you money and funds trail maintenance.
• Wisconsin Resident (non-club): $30 , registered in Wisconsin but not a club member? Your trail pass is $30. Available at GoWild.wi.gov or DNR sales agents.
• Non-Resident: $50 , for snowmobiles registered in another state, province, or country. Also available at GoWild.wi.gov. If your sled stays in Wisconsin more than 15 consecutive days, you must register it here.

Trail passes are valid for one season and expire June 30. Plan ahead , allow up to 21 days for processing and delivery, though passes typically ship within 2 business days. You’ll get a temporary receipt at purchase that allows legal operation until your physical pass arrives by mail.

Carry your registration certificate and trail pass receipt at all times. Conservation wardens do check, and fines for riding without proper documentation start at $200.

Where to Stop: Trailside Bars, Restaurants, and Gas in Price County

One of the best things about riding here: you’re never far from a place to warm up, fuel up, or get a meal. Many local businesses depend on snowmobile traffic through the winter, and they’re set up for it , sled parking, hot food, sometimes lodging right off the trail.

Ripsaw Saloon at 1117 Railroad Ave, Prentice, WI 54556 ((715) 428-2042) is a classic trail stop. Open Mon/Thu-Sun 2 PM–Close (Packers games open at noon), Tue-Wed closed. Sled-accessible and right off the trail system near Prentice.

Park Falls has several bars and restaurants along the snowmobile route. The city approved a route map (updated 2025) that connects downtown businesses to the trail system , you can ride right through town on designated routes to get gas, food, and lodging.

Phillips has multiple trail-accessible stops too, with the trail system running close to downtown where you’ll find gas stations, bars, and restaurants that welcome sledders during the season.

Looking for après-sled drinks with a different vibe? Borrachos is worth the trailer ride when you want something beyond standard bar fare.

Snowmobile Safety Requirements in Wisconsin

Wisconsin requires snowmobile safety certification for anyone born on or after January 1, 1985, who operates on public trails. Take the course online at snowmobile-ed.com/wisconsin. The DNR also has in-person classroom courses throughout the season.

Key rules to know before riding our trails:

• Speed limit is 55 mph on trails (not a suggestion , it’s enforced)
• Stay on marked trails , going off-trail on private land is trespassing
• No riding on roadways except designated routes (marked with signs)
• BAC limit is 0.08 , same as driving. Wardens run checkpoints during peak weekends
• Every sled needs working brakes, a throttle that returns to idle, and a working muffler
• Headlights and taillights required from sunset to sunrise and during low visibility

Grab the full Wisconsin snowmobile regulations pamphlet at the DNR website. Read it before your first ride of the season.

Planning Your Price County Snowmobile Trip

Lodging

We’ve got trail-accessible lodging ranging from rustic cabins to full-service resorts. The key areas are Phillips (central, good for Elk River Pioneers trails), Park Falls (eastern trails, Eisenstein Bushwackers and Sno Gypsies territory), Prentice (southern access, Pine Line Trail), and Fifield (northern trails, Sno Drovers country). Book early for January through March weekends , resorts fill up, especially around holidays and tournament weekends.

Gas and Supplies

Carry extra fuel if you’re planning long loops through the national forest sections. Gas is available in Phillips, Park Falls, Prentice, and Fifield, but distances between towns on forest trails can be 30+ miles. A 5-gallon fuel can in your sled bag isn’t paranoia , it’s insurance.

Cell Service

Don’t count on it. Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest sections have spotty to zero cell coverage. Download offline maps before you ride, tell someone your planned route, and carry a basic tool kit. We groom these trails, but we can’t rescue you if nobody knows where you are.

Snow Conditions

Frequently Asked Questions About Snowmobiling in Price County

How much does a Wisconsin snowmobile trail pass cost in Price County?

A Wisconsin snowmobile trail pass costs $10 for AWSC club members, $30 for Wisconsin residents who aren’t club members, and $50 for non-residents. Join any of our seven snowmobile clubs for $25/year dues (which includes AWSC membership) and your trail pass drops to $10 , saving you $20 compared to buying the pass alone. Order club member passes through AWSC.org or regular passes at GoWild.wi.gov.

When do snowmobile trails open in Price County Wisconsin?

Price County snowmobile trails open when there’s sufficient snow cover (typically 6+ inches) and frozen ground conditions, usually between mid-December and early January. The legal season runs December 1 through March 31, but trails remain closed until the county and clubs declare them open. In low-snow years like 2023-24, trails may stay closed well into January. Check Travel Wisconsin’s snow report or individual club websites for current status.

What are the best snowmobile trail routes near Phillips Wisconsin?

The best routes near Phillips are the Elk River Pioneers trail network (trails 80, 82, 83, 85, 86, 88, 90, and 102) which loop west of Phillips through the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest, and the connector trails heading north toward the Fifield area. For a long day ride, head west on the Tuscobia State Trail toward Rusk County and loop back through the forest trails. The Phillips area trails are groomed by the Elk River Pioneers and Lugerville Chasers, who share grooming equipment out of the Phillips Area Groomer & Maintenance Building.

Can you ride a snowmobile from Park Falls to Phillips on the trail?

Yes. Our trail system connects Park Falls and Phillips directly, with multiple route options through the forest. Eisenstein Bushwackers and Sno Gypsies maintain trails out of Park Falls, while Elk River Pioneers and Chaparrals cover the Phillips end. Figure about 45 minutes to an hour depending on trail conditions and your riding speed. Both cities have trail-accessible gas, food, and bars along the way.

Do I need to join a snowmobile club to ride in Price County?

Nope, you don’t need to join a club to ride our trails , you just need a valid Wisconsin registration and trail pass. But joining a club saves you $20 on your trail pass ($10 vs. $30) and directly funds the grooming and maintenance of the trails you ride. Club dues run $25/year for any Price County club, which includes AWSC membership. The volunteers who groom your trails are club members. If you ride here, consider joining , it’s the right thing to do and it literally pays for itself.