Off-Trail Winter Rides

(Courtesy of Lynx, Artic Cat, Ski-doo, Yamaha, Polaris)

Snowmobiles are fun for enjoying well-maintained, groomed trails, but anyone who wants to make first tracks will like this sampling of mountain-ready sleds.

(Courtesy of Lynx)

Make Your Own Trail

Lynx Xterrain

$17,849, BRPLynx.com

The Lynx was created in Finland, where snowmobiles are not just for recreation but often serve as a necessary means of transportation in the winter. Accordingly, this snow machine keeps going even beyond the end of the groomed trail. The streamlined Radien² design features a short tunnel and extruded running boards to allow operation in deep snow with less rider effort, and improved noise insulation for minimal environmental impact.

(Courtesy of Artic Cat)

Adventurers Wanted

Arctic Cat M 600 Alpha One

$14,099, ArcticCat.com

The M600 Alpha One is ready to venture off the groomed trails to make the first set of tracks. It is equipped with low thermal-conductive running boards to help prevent snow buildup and a PowerClaw™ track with forward-facing paddle towers to keep going in even the deepest snow. Powered by a 599cc engine, it has a single-beam rear suspension to add agility while improving flotation, making this machine extremely nimble and thus ideal for tight trails.

(Courtesy of Ski-doo)

The Industry Standard

Ski-Doo Summit

$13,099, Ski-Doo.com

Ski-Doo snow machines were among the first to conquer winter landscapes, and the Summit proves they have continued to get better with time. The design combines a very responsive suspension with the firm’s proprietary Rotax two-stroke engines, including an optional turbocharged model. The Summit also features a 10.25-inch touchscreen display to monitor performance and fuel status, which can also be paired with navigation applications to keep you on track and get you home safe.

(Courtesy of Yamaha)

King of the Mountain

Yamaha Mountain Max LE 165

$16,299, YamahaMotorSports.com

Yamaha is well-known for performance motorcycles, and they’ve applied all that technology to this snow speedster. Features, including high-pressure gas shock absorbers and three compression-damping settings, make the Max 165 more comfortable and controllable off-trail. The 165-inch-long track has three-inch-tall, forward-curved paddles, while the 10.6-gallon fuel tank provides plenty of range for exploring new areas. A reverse gear gets the machine out of tight spots, while the tall steering post allows stand-up maneuvering.

(Courtesy of Polaris)

The SUV of Snow Machines

Polaris 650 Voyageur 146

$14,799, Polaris.com

While many snow machines are intended just for pleasure, this one is set up to work hard and then play just as hard. The Voyageur 146 is ready to earn its keep by carrying up to 25 pounds of cargo on the integral rack or hauling sleds of firewood using the standard-equipment trailer hitch, followed by an afternoon exploring new trails. Internal floating-piston shock absorbers and gripper skis ensure full control on all surfaces.