Rural Cass Snowmobile Club

About Rural Cass Snowmobile Club

Rural Cass Snowmobile Club is a volunteer run snowmobile club in Cass County, North Dakota, maintaining roughly 130 miles of marked and groomed trail through the farm country around Fargo. The club formed in 1995, works in partnership with the East Central Valley Trail Association, and became a 501(c)(3) non profit in 2022. Its trail system links small towns including Harwood, Argusville, Arthur, Mapleton, Davenport and Casselton, and its annual SnowJam ride is one of the best known vintage sled events in the state.

A North Loop and a South Loop

The trail system is split into a north loop and a south loop, each with its own trail coordinator. The north loop was proposed in 2003 to connect Harwood, Argusville and Arthur, adding nearly sixty miles of trail, much of it away from road ditches. That matters on the Red River Valley’s open, flat ground, where riding through fields and shelterbelts makes for a far better ride than following a highway.

Every mile of it depends on landowners and volunteers. Club members sign the trail in the fall, groom it through the winter and pull the signs back out in spring. The club tracks volunteer hours and posts a trail signing breakdown on its website, and when the north loop was nearly closed in 2018 for lack of help, new members stepped up to keep it open.

The club also built its own 16 by 20 foot warming house and keeps a storage container at Argusville for equipment.

Snow Comes First

In eastern North Dakota, the trails only open when there is enough snow to groom without damaging crop ground, and the club is honest about how often that fails. Its own history records a string of winters where SnowJam was cancelled for lack of snow, and one season where the association groomed only a single thirty mile stretch.

Good years make up for it. The 2022 to 2023 season brought the best snow in years, with major snow on the trails right up to the April 1 closure, and the club’s membership passed 100 that year.

Before riding, check the grooming update page on the club website. It is the most reliable way to know which sections are open and groomed.

SnowJam

SnowJam is the club’s signature event, held each February when snow allows. It combines a group trail ride with a vintage sled show, and it has grown into a statewide draw. Recent SnowJams have brought close to 100 registered riders and dozens of vintage sleds on display.

The vintage ride is named the Ryan Mayer Memorial Vintage Ride, in honor of a longtime club member from Casselton. The club has also hosted the North Dakota state ride through its trail association.

Joining the Club

Membership is open to anyone and is handled through an application on the club website, with online payment available. Membership dues and fundraising pay for grooming, signs and trail upkeep, so joining is the most direct way to keep these trails open.

Club meetings run through the season, typically at the Ringneck Bar in Leonard, North Dakota, and the final meeting of the year each spring covers sign retrieval and officer elections. Volunteers are always welcome, especially for fall signing and spring cleanup.

Riders should also confirm current North Dakota snowmobile registration and trail permit requirements through Snowmobile North Dakota before heading out.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where are the Rural Cass trails?

In rural Cass County, North Dakota, around the Fargo area, connecting towns including Harwood, Argusville, Arthur, Mapleton, Davenport and Casselton.

How many miles of trail are there?

About 130 miles, split into a north loop and a south loop.

When are the trails open?

Only when snow cover is enough to groom, typically midwinter, with trails closing April 1. Check the grooming update page on the club website for current conditions.

What is SnowJam?

The club’s annual February event, combining a group ride with a vintage sled show and the Ryan Mayer Memorial Vintage Ride.

How do I join?

Fill out the membership application on the club website. Online payment is available.

Is the club a non profit?

Yes. Rural Cass became a 501(c)(3) non profit organization in 2022.

When was the club founded?

More information on Rural Cass Snowmobile Club; Click here https://ruralcass.org/

For more snowmobile venues click here: https://www.plainspowersports.com/category/snowmobile/