The North Mountain Riders would like to introduce our trail system to you.  Our trail system is predominantly in the Porcupine Mountains, north of Swan River.  We have connector trails from every direction joining ours.  You can come down from the north from The Pas, one of the main through routes.  Go over to the west, to Hudson Bay, Norquay, and the Saskatchewan trails. You can ride over to route 66, south to Duck Mountains and beyond or east as far as Ontario if you wish.  
 

We have 453 kilometres of trail and eight warm-up shelters, all of which are equipped with a wood stove, firewood and, of course, an outhouse.  And remember... Manitoba and Saskatchewan recognize each other’s trail passes. We are right on the Saskatchewan border, so come on over!  You can stay in a variety of motels in Swan River then hop on your sled and leave from the door to the trails.
 

As a starting point, you can take the 25 kilometre run up to the Porcupine Mountains where you get to cross over a scenic CN rail bridge. Following some open stretches on the rail bed, it’s an easy, quick run to get you loosened up for the day and ready to go.  
 

Once you get to the Porcupine Mountains you have lots of choices. Our trail system has a very intricate pattern of loops so you can put as few or as many miles on in a day you want, and never travel the same trail to get back to your starting point.  There are twisty curves through big old-growth timber, pine sections, and trails through swampy open spaces with little lakes full of powder begging you to come for a rip! 
 

After you have done a few twisty trails, head for the Hart Mountain road and clean the carbon out and cruise... it's a wide, smooth, tree-lined trail.  Now that you have had a little burst and are ready to settle down you may want to head for a warm-up shelter for a pit stop. 
 

Pete's warm-up is beside Bubble Lake and extremely pretty spot to take a break. This is in memory of Pete Reimer a very avid snowmobiler that has passed away. It was one of his favourite spots so we built a warm-up shelter there; it is the newest of the eight shelters.  
 

On the other side of the trail system, you have Faye's cabin, with a scenic view of the Valley towards Birch River, a great place to take a break with a great view. Or, maybe you would rather go up to the Olsen shelter, travel through the pines and over a bit of swampy section and the cabin is nestled in a grove of pines.  It’s very cozy.      
 

If you keep heading north on the trails there are two more warm-up shelters, Fish Road and Hart Lake -  the only cabin boasting wall to wall carpeting.  If you continue on from Hart Lake one of the trails you could use goes to Bellsite.  This is a member favourite because it is extremely pretty. Sledders travel along a creek for a stretch before passing through some big, old-growth spruce timber. And, there is a lookout partway down that is a must to stop at.
 

Bellsite puts on a poker derby the last Sunday in February.  The people are friendly, almost everyone goes home with a door prize, and the food is homemade and delicious, with desert!  The only thing they do not have is a couch to lie down on after the meal!
 

Our riding season is a bit longer in the hills. There have been times when members have raked leaves in the yard and then trailered the machines to the hills to go sledding.