One of the oldest sleds at the Blast from the Past vintage snowmobile ride was from the 1960s. All photos by Tryg Solberg

By Tryg Solberg - Boreal Community Media - February 11, 2026

Last weekend, the Lutsen Trail Breakers Snowmobile Club hosted their “Blast From the Past” vintage snowmobile ride from Cascade Lodge. For a suggested donation of $25, riders could join the ride and cast their votes for a variety of awards. 

A wide array of snowmobiles was on display at the ride, some dating back to the 1960s. With sleds from manufacturers such as Evinrude and Johnson, the event was a showcase for the unique history of snowmobiling’s prime, when up to 175 companies were in the business. 

A crowd of vintage snowmobilers gathered at Cascade Lodge last weekend.

At 8 degrees above zero, it was a warm day compared with some of the recent frigid days the Upper Midwest has experienced. A group of 30 sleds followed a 20-mile loop that included sections of the Deer Trail, Muehlberg Trail, and Caribou Snowmobile trails. 26 of the sleds fell into the “vintage” category, as they were at least 25 years old. 

 Many of the vintage snowmobiles were from the 1990s or early 2000s.

Afterwards, the club congregated in the Cascade Restaurant, where awards were given for several categories, including Best in Show, Coolest Vintage Sled, Coolest Vintage Outfit, and “Thors Hammer”, the trailside repair award, were handed out. A “Blade” model sled from Fast, a boutique sled manufacturer out of Eveleth, MN, won Best in Show. “Thor’s Hammer” was awarded to a rider from the Twin Cities who broke down on a 1960’s Ski Doo. An Arctic Cat Pather won the award for the coolest vintage sled with a rare 4-stroke powertrain. 

Larry McNeally, president and trail administrator of the Lutsen Trailbreakers, said the event went well and had a higher turnout than in previous years. The oldest rider was 83, and the youngest was 2. The furthest a rider travelled from was Chicago. The club prides itself on being family-oriented, as evidenced by the children in the vintage Arctic Cat Cat Cutter pull-behind sled. 

 Two children rode in a vintage Arctic Cat sled.

McNeally was very appreciative of the event sponsors, including Cascade Lodge and Restaurant, the U.S. Forest Service, MN DNR, and Visit Cook County. All the proceeds from the event go into grooming and maintenance for the season. 

The local clubs, including the Superior Timberwolves in Tofte, Cook County Ridgeriders in Grand Marais, and the Grand Portage Snowmobile Club, coordinate to avoid overlapping events so people can attend as many as possible. Lutsen Trailbreakers is looking forward to their next event, an ice fishing competition on Caribou Lake on February 21st. 

See their Facebook page for more details.

 The Fast Blade from Eveleth, MN, won the award for Best in Show.