Locals and tourists alike enjoy world class snowmobile trails in the Eagle River area. What they might not know is that it takes a lot of work behind the scenes during the offseason and on the trails in-season to make it happen.
Area snowmobile clubs like the Sno-Eagles are a big part of why Eagle River is the Snowmobile Capital of the World®. Some might say snowmobiling is the reason the Northwoods became a year-round destination. Snowmobile club volunteers spend thousands of hours every year to ensure public and private landowner agreements are put in place ahead of winter and that trails are properly groomed—nearly nightly—during snowmobile season.
The Sno-Eagles were formed under the original name of the Sno-Mo Club by Doc Doyle and Rudy Spiess in 1965. At first, the club was created for members to meet socially and go on dinner rides. In fact, the first marked trail was formed from Eagle River airport to Mapleview Resort in Conover in 1967. The 10-mile trail took an entire evening to travel to Conover and back.
Perhaps the most iconic Sno-Eagles creation was the reflective orange diamond trail markers. First used in the late 1960s, these markers gained popularity in following years and were adopted by the American Council of Snowmobile Associations to be used across the country. If you’re snowmobiling anywhere in the country—even in the Northeast or Mountain West—and see orange diamond trail markers, you can thank the Sno-Eagles.
For more information about the Sno-Eagles or to support their mission, visit snoeagles.org.
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