Well folks, I've finally found a paradise of sorts.  The trail system maintained by the Cranbrook Snowmobile Club is hereby officially awarded the title of BEST GROOMED TRAILS IN BC.  Lyliane and I begged a couple of sleds from Koocanusa Publications - publishers of SnoRiders West, among many other mags.  Thanks Keith (publisher) for the use of your 2004 REV Summit 800 (151 x 16) and the 2003 Summit 700 (144).

Of course, the weather couldn't have been better.  It was sunny and mostly clear with temps close to -3 or -4.  Several days of foul weather dumped lots of fresh powder in the area which we were glad to plow into.  The groomer was obviously out the day before, as we hit untracked trails groomed to perfection.  Miles of them!!

A short drive south of Cranbrook on Hwy 3 took us to the Lumberton Forest Service Road.  Just across the railway tracks we were greeted by the Snowmobile Patrol - a club member posted to check for trail passes.  He informed us that the drive into the marshalling area was about 15kms up the road keeping left on the Moyie River FSR.  We found the parking lot with no trouble and unloaded the machines.  I would suggest a 4 X 4 for sure - the road is very icy in spots and there are a few switchbacks and steep sections.

There are two groomed trails leaving from the parking area - the one to the south is called the Cabin Cutoff.  We took the trail to the west following the Moyie Forest Service Road.  It was groomed to perfection for about 12-15kms where we came upon some more sledders playing in the very deep powder in the trees.  Continuing on ungroomed trails, we started climbing up towards an area known as Heaven.  There was so much snow that nobody had been able to climb up the ridge to the bowl on the other side.

I pointed the REV straight up the hill and burst over the top on the first try.  I was duly impressed with the deep snow / hill climbing performance of this sled.  Of course, not knowing where to go after climbing up, I took a few photos and then joined Lyliane back at the bottom.

After playing around a bit in the trees, we searched out the club cabin.  After a few kms of beautifully groomed trail, we came upon a spectacular little cabin in the woods.  It is beautifully furnished, and finished nicely inside and out. The sleeping quarters upstairs boasts enough room for 21 people.  The kitchen is well equipped and there is a 5.5KW generator that is enough to keep the place well lit at night.  The wood stove was burning and it was nice and cozy warm inside.  Just outside there is another building that boasts a sauna as well as a first aid/emergency room.  We were told a satellite system was being installed for the poker run weekend coming up in a few weeks.  This is one club with its act together!!!

If you are looking for well groomed trails, a great place for the family to ride with all types of terrain to play in, I highly recommend visiting this area.  In all my travels across BC, Lumberton is a virtual small paradise for the average snowmobiler.  Well done Cranbrook!!