Alaska

Alaska seems like the perfect state to start with in a discussion about awesome off-trail riding opportunities or trails less traveled.

In some states, off-trail riding is somewhat of a novelty. In Alaska, groomed trail riding is the novelty.

The state is pretty much wide open and covered with snow. The off-trail opportunities in Alaska are virtually endless with the only limitations being how big the gas tank is on your snowmobile.

Of course, some spots in Alaska are more popular than others, but usually only because they're close to the state's population centers. But even those spots aren't as crowded as you might think.

The state is so big that snowmobilers are easily dispersed in the vast backcountry. Every kind of backcountry experience you can imagine-except groomed trails-can be had in Alaska, from mild to wild and absolutely everything in between.

While we can't recommend just one or two spots you should give a try-there are probably hundreds if not thousands of great riding areas-we do have one recommendation: take a local snowmachiner along with you. Someone who knows the area, especially when it's as big as what you'll find in Alaska, and the associated hazards, such as crevasses in glaciers or avalanche danger, can be invaluable on a snowmachine trip in the Final Frontier. Even advanced riders should have people with them who know the area.

If you don't know anyone, a good place to start would be to contact the Alaska State Snowmobile Association through its website, www.aksnow.org.