4 Places To Snowmobile Near Youngstown, Ohio

Youngstown, Ohio, gets plenty of snow in winter, making it ideal for snowmobiling. This exciting sport is like riding a motorcycle and skiing at the same time, and it’s a great way for you to view the beautiful winter scenery with friends and family. Keep reading to learn about some of the best places to snowmobile in the area.

1. Mosquito Lake State Park

Image via Flickr by |Chris|

Mosquito Lake State Park is on the shores of Mosquito Creek Lake, about half an hour from Youngstown. It’s one of the biggest lakes in the state, covering more than 7,500 acres. The park opens almost 30 miles of trails for snowmobiling when the weather is appropriate, and many routes have excellent views of the lake that are ideal for taking photos.

The area has a wide variety of wildlife, including red foxes, woodchucks, muskrats, beavers, squirrels, raccoons, rabbits, and white-tailed deer. You can see several families of river otters, and robins, warblers, swallows, sparrows, woodpeckers, bald eagles, and golden eagles frequent the area.

Pets are welcome, and visitors have access to restrooms, a boat launch, showers, grills, and picnic tables. There are several campgrounds nearby, and you can use the 18-hole disc golf course for free all year. Ice skating, ice fishing, sledding, and cross-country skiing are allowed, but you can’t take your snowmobile on the lake. If you feel like taking a break from snowmobiling and exploring the area, you’ll find many other parks nearby.

2. West Branch State Park

West Branch State Park is about half an hour west of Youngstown, and it covers around 8,000 acres. It’s on the west branch of the Mahoning River, named for the Delaware Tribe word mahonink, meaning “at the salt lick.” Salt near the river attracted wildlife and hunters.

In 1965, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers finished the Michael J. Kirwan Reservoir, and West Branch State Park opened around it in 1966. The area has beautiful bogs and beech-maple forests and is home to red foxes, skunks, opossums, raccoons, songbirds, waterfowl, and shorebirds.

This park has approximately 12 miles of snowmobile trails that begin near the west boat ramp. When weather conditions are right, mountain bikers can share them. You can also go mountain biking in summer. The park permits outdoor activities such as ice fishing, cross-country skiing, ice boating, hiking, and horseback riding, as well.

Other park amenities include a dog park, an 18-hole disc golf course, and a campground with more than 200 sites, heated showers, laundry facilities, electrical hookups, and restrooms. Large groups can rent one of six pavilions to take breaks from the winter weather on their snowmobiling adventures.

3. The Western Reserve Greenway

The Western Reserve Greenway stretches for 43 miles, and snowmobiling is allowed on much of it. It starts near Warren, about half an hour from Youngstown, and it’s the largest public snowmobile trail in the state. The trail was once a railroad that transported iron ore to steel mills in Ohio and Pennsylvania. After the tracks went out of use, they were paved to create the Greenway. Today, you can bike, horseback ride, and in-line skate on the trail, as well. However, you can’t use any motorized vehicles other than snowmobiles or motorized wheelchairs.

A planned extension of this trail will eventually take it all the way to the shores of Lake Erie. Even without the extra miles, this long path is perfect for a snowmobiling adventure.

You can see several landmarks on the trail, including 12 interpretive signs about the importance of Ohio in the underground railroad and the historical steel trestle King Bridge built in 1897. The trail passes through a variety of landscapes, including farms and thick forests, and you can see waterfowl, wild turkeys, beavers, deer, and a variety of other wildlife. A volunteer bike patrol helps with maintenance and assists travelers when needed, making the Western Reserve Greenway a safe spot for less experienced snowmobilers.

4. Maurice K. Goddard State Park

The Maurice K. Goddard State Park is in Pennsylvania, about an hour from Youngstown. It covers 2,856 acres and features the 1,680-acre Lake Wilhelm. You can go snowmobiling on the paved part of the 12-mile John C. Oliver Multi-Purpose Trail Loop as well as on the paved north side of the lake. You can see spectacular views of the lake, but some sections of the trail might be too steep for beginners. The park prohibits snowmobiles with studded tracks and riding on less than 6 inches of snow.

On the south side of the trail, you can go hiking, biking, or cross-country skiing. Some sections of the trail allow vehicles. Visitors to Maurice K. Goddard State Park often go boating and ice fishing, as well, and boat rentals are available. You can see wetlands, old fields, and mature forests with a variety of wildlife, including beavers, waterfowl, bald eagles, and ospreys. Winter is an excellent time to see woodpeckers.

The park is open every day from sunrise to sunset and features a marina with a snack shop, a waterfowl observation station, picnic areas with charcoal grills, and several restrooms along the trail. Bring water, however, because there are no water fountains.

If you’re not sure whether you want to buy your own snowmobile, you can rent one from several places near Youngstown. Some cities and towns in the area allow snowmobiles on public streets and roads, but you can’t drive one on the highway. If you want to drive a snowmobile on a public road, you’ll need the same driver’s license as you would for a car, truck, or SUV. On private property, snowmobile drivers must be at least 16 years old, but they don’t need a license. Most snowmobiles can carry passengers, so younger people can enjoy snowmobiling, too.

Snowmobiling is a great way to enjoy fresh air and winter scenery. You can have fun alone or with friends and family. Did we miss any great snowmobiling trails near Youngstown? Contact us to share your favorites.