The International Voyageurs Snowmobile Club (IVSC) was established in 1974 and maintains 158 miles of groomed trails in the Int’l Falls/Rainy Lake area of Northern Minnesota. Trails include the Hagerman Trail, the Main Trail, the Blue Ox Trail to Big Falls, the Arrowhead trail from the Blue Ox to the K3, the Slatinski Trail, the Loman Connection to the Northern Connection and Rainy Lake from Bowman Landing to ShaSha Resort. All those miles are groomed with two groomers and four groomer operators, who “are the best groomer operators around,” stated Jim Bigler, Club President.
IVSC is proud of their trails and feel they are among the best maintained, most scenic, and most interesting trails in the Midwest. IVSC enjoys having visitors and they look forward to hearing from many of them over the years. Bigler said, “I know when I go to a resort and see a group of snowmobilers, I like to ask where they are from and how the trails are. Snowmobilers are so friendly and no matter where people live, riders are always talking about snowmobiling.” Our area has so much to offer snowmobilers and other winter enthusiasts. The trails range from wide-open lake running to winding safety portages connecting the lakes, from abandoned railroad grades to twisting wilderness routes, connecting you to many area resorts that cater to the riding enthusiast in the winter. There is also the opportunity to explore the frozen lake surface off the groomed trail and you can often experience powder riding unrivaled in the region this way.
Snowmobile trails open December 1st and IVSC holds their Annual Trail Clearing event, typically the first weekend in December. Many club members volunteer their time to go out to cut fallen trees and brush in order to prepare the trails for the season. Other events the Club hosts include, their Annual Hotdog Roast and Annual Speed Run Against Cancer. This year’s Hotdog Roast event will be held on February 1st, 2020 from 11am to 2pm at the corner of the Hagerman and Arrowhead trails. The Club accepts donations at the event for the Falls Hunger Coalition and then matches the donation amount. In 2019, the Falls Hunger Coalition was presented a check for $1,402 from IVSC. IVSC will host its 12th Annual Speed Run Against Cancer at Thunderbird Lodge on February 15th, 2020 from 12pm to 3pm. The funds raised from the speed run are utilized by local cancer patients for travel expenses and in 2019, $1,300 was raised through racer registration and free will donations.
The IVSC holds monthly meetings at Almost Lindy’s every 3rd Tuesday of the month at 7:00pm. Bigler said, “Everyone is welcome, and I encourage you to attend whether you are a member or not. Come see what the International Voyageurs Snowmobile Club is about.”
IVSC would not be in existence without its amazing Associate and Family membership support. Memberships consist of about 30 Associate members and about 115 Family memberships each year. Bigler mentioned, “If you ride the trails, consider joining the Club. We can’t do what we do without our members.”
Annual Memberships options include $35 for an Individual/Family Membership which also includes a membership to MnUSA, and Associate/Business memberships are $110 which include membership and listing advertisement in MnUSA magazine and website, or Associates can choose to only join the IVSC for $30.
For more information, trail updates, meetings and upcoming events visit the International Voyageurs Snowmobile Club website at www.RideTheBorders.com or find them on Facebook under International Voyageurs Snowmobile Club.