New Snowmobilers
Welcome to snowmobiling! If you’re new to snowmobiling and looking for some advice on how to get started, this is the page for you…
Why snowmobile?
Snowmobiling is a fun winter activity for the whole family. Snowmobiles are a convenient mode of transport for working, hunting, fishing, touring, and more during the snowy Yukon winters. Snowmobiling can also be a fun and exciting sport for days off. In fact, snowmobiling has been proven to be good exercise and proven to help reduce seasonal affective disorder during the dark northern winters.
Interested? Get a snowmobile and come riding with us this winter! Not sure yet? Book a guided half-day snowmobile tour and try it out.
Where to get a snowmobile?
Buying a snowmobile is not much different from buying a car. You can buy a new one from a dealer’s showroom or a used model from any of the usual classified advertisement sources. A new snowmobile will be a better snowmobile and come with a warranty, however a used model will be a substantially cheaper way to get out on the snow. Which one is best for you will entirely depend on your needs and your budget.
There are dealers for all major snowmobile brands here in the Yukon, and they will be happy to show you their current model year lineup as well as any used ones on their lot from trade-ins. When shopping for a snowmobile a visit to the dealers is a great place to start. A current list of Yukon snowmobile dealers can be found here on our website at https://ksa.yk.ca/resources/yukon-snowmobile-dealers/.
Not sure if you’re ready to spend money on a snowmobile just yet? Try a half-day or full-day guided snowmobile tour, they’re a great way to try it out before you buy anything. There are several companies in the Yukon that offer snowmobile tours, and these tours include snowmobile rental, all of the necessary gear and equipment, safety instructions for beginners, and a professional local guide to show you the way. Check out https://ksa.yk.ca/about-us/corporate-members/ for some links.
What kind of snowmobile?
There are many sizes and types of snowmobiles to choose from. The best one for you will depend on what you want to do with it.
There are currently four major snowmobile manufactures: Ski-Doo, Polaris, Arctic Cat and Lynx. Yamaha also made snowmobiles until recently. Each offers a full lineup of snowmobiles with several different models to suit different types of snowmobilers…
Mountain / Deep Snow: These snowmobiles are great for going off-trail and getting high up into the mountains. Ideal for going to the summit. Typical features are powerful engines for hill climbing, narrow and light weight parts for maneuverability, wide skis to float over soft snow, and long tracks for maximum traction.
Trail / Touring: These snowmobiles are great for trail riding. They’re comfortable, stable, reliable and ideal for commuting and touring. Typical features are luxurious suspension, seating for two, a choice of engines, and plenty of add-on options.
Performance: These snowmobiles are built to go fast. Typical features on these snowmobiles are powerful engines, light weight chassis, and state of the art drive systems.
Crossover: These snowmobiles are a mixed-breed combining aspects of trail snowmobiles and mountain snowmobiles. Perfect for the Yukoner who wants one machine that can do it all. The features on these snowmobiles are carefully combined to offer a good balance of on-trail comfort and off-trail capability.
Utility: These snowmobilers are the heavy haulers of the snowmobile world. Ideal for hauling firewood, big game hunting, ice fishing and trail grooming. Typical features found on utility snowmobiles include heavy duty frames, wide tracks, strong bumpers, large cargo spaces, sturdy tow hitches and low gearing.
Youth: These simple little snowmobiles are built small and have limited power output, perfect for younger generations of snowmobilers to learn on.
Riding gear?
Once you have a snowmobile picked out, you’ll need some riding gear. A properly fitting helmet is highly recommended and is mandatory in many areas. You’ll also want some eye protection. Some snowmobile helmets include visors and some are designed to be paired with goggles, both styles work so personal preference will determine which one is best for you. For most riding conditions you’ll also want to wear a thin but warm balaclava under your helmet.
You’ll need a good snow suit, either a onesie or a combination of snow pants and warm coat will work. Be sure to also wear your long underwear and some middle layers that you can easily add and remove as the temperature changes throughout the day. Good quality full-height snow boots with room for warm socks (ideally wool socks or equivalent) are a must. Don’t forget your gloves!
Another important aspect is safety equipment. We recommend all riders travel with a small survival kit, first aid kit, fire starter, rope, shovel, and a satellite based communication device. If you’re going anywhere near avalanche terrain you’ll also need avalanche gear.
These items are available in the Yukon from several retailers, and a Klondike Snowmobile Association membership card will get you a discount at some of them. Check out https://ksa.yk.ca/membership/membership-benefits/ for details.
Insurance and Registration?
We recommend registering and insuring your snowmobiles. In Whitehorse registration and public liability insurance is required for all snowmobiles operating within city limits, and in the rest of the Yukon they are required any time you are operating your snowmobile on or across a maintained roadway. Visit https://ksa.yk.ca/resources/snowmobile-bylaws/ for more information.
Registering a snowmobile in the Yukon works the same as any other motor vehicle. Visit any Yukon Government Motor Vehicles office with proof of ownership and proof of insurance and they will issue you a registration and license plate for your snowmobile.
Snowmobile insurance in the Yukon is done through private companies. Most insurance brokers offering car & truck insurance will also do your snowmobiles, and most will let you add snowmobiles to an existing automotive insurance policy if you ask them to.
Snowmobile Safety?
Safe riders make snowmobiling safe. Please visit our Snowmobile Safety page at https://ksa.yk.ca/safety/ for more information.
We also highly recommend snowmobilers check out the Safe Riders! program. It’s an online snowmobile safety course perfect for beginners, and also offers lots of great additional material for more experienced riders. Best of all it’s free. Check it out today at https://www.saferiderssafetyawareness.org/index.html.
If you’re going anywhere near avalanche terrain we also recommend taking an avalanche safety training course. Links to current offerings can be found on our safety page.
Where to ride?
The Yukon has an abundance of motorized multi-use trails for all to enjoy. Most public land is also open to snowmobiles. There are some specific areas that have limitations or are closed entirely to snowmobiles, such as parks, environmentally sensitive areas, private property, and some areas of Whitehorse.
There are several free maps available for Yukon snowmobilers, and you can find links to them here on our website at https://ksa.yk.ca/resources/maps/.
Who to ride with?
It’s always a good idea to snowmobile with a buddy, especially when you are new to snowmobiling. The good news is there are many snowmobilers in the Yukon, so if you ask your friends and co-workers about snowmobiling there’s a good chance one of them would love to go for a ride with you.
Another great way to meet riding buddies is by coming out to Klondike Snowmobile Association events. We host several group snowmobile rides each year for a variety of skill levels. We also partake in other events around town such as social evenings, recreation expos, and more. All are welcome to attend our events, so come on out and say hello!
Dates and details of our upcoming rides and events are posted on our Events page at https://ksa.yk.ca/coming-events/. Please do contact us any time if you have questions.
Support your local club?
Volunteers make snowmobiling happen! There are over 700 volunteer snowmobile clubs in Canada, and they’re working hard for snowmobilers year-round.
Snowmobile club volunteers advocate for snowmobilers to ensure trails and riding areas remain open. Snowmobile club volunteers groom and maintain thousands of kilometers of multi-use trails for you to enjoy. Snowmobile club volunteers organize rides and events to keep snowmobiling fun. Snowmobile club volunteers work hard to ensure maps, trail reports, safety programs, and other resources for snowmobilers remain available and up to date.
To accomplish all of this these volunteers rely on support from snowmobilers like you. Annual membership fees helps to keep our equipment out on the trails, and growing membership numbers helps to keep our voices strong. In return, many clubs offer their members a long list of benefits and discounts.
The Klondike Snowmobile Association is no exception, so join us today and support snowmobiling in the Yukon! Learn more about our benefits and discounts, and sign up online today at https://ksa.yk.ca/membership/.
Learn more…
Welcome to snowmobiling. We love seeing new riders discover the fun and excitement of snowmobiling, and part of our mission is to ensure new riders have easy access to all the resources needed to be safe and enjoy snowmobiling for many years to come.
Our website is full of great information for new and experienced snowmobilers alike. Please take some time to explore our website and make use of the many links available. Also follow us on social media for all the latest updates.
If you have any questions about snowmobiling in the Yukon please contact us any time!
