Wednesday, October 07, 2026
63.0°F

Nightriders Winterfest 2025 in photos

MONTE TURNER | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 1 year, 8 months AGO
by MONTE TURNER
Mineral Independent | January 21, 2025 11:00 PM

Nightriders Winterfest 2025 in photos

    David Brummer from Post Falls Idaho has 70 vintage snowmobiles but only brought 5 last weekend for the 8th Winterfest, but it was the first time it was held in Haugan, Montana. The Polaris he is working on is a 3-cylinder 440 cubic inch that is one of his favorites. He entered the timed event but was primarily there for the vintage snowmobile ride to the Montana Bar in Saltese for lunch on Sunday. (Monte Turner/Mineral Independent)
 
 
    A couple from Potomac, Montana brought their 3 boys and grampa, who is the real snowmobile enthusiast, last Saturday for the vintage snowmobile show and to watch others ride the timed course. The day had family rides, campfires, sledding and food with blue skies and low 20’s for a perfect setting. (Monte Turner/Mineral Independent)
 
 
    75 vintage snowmobiles were entered into the static show with models from the early 60’s on display. This event has been held in Lolo Hot Springs the previous 7 years, but Haugan is the new home where it will be on the 3rd weekend in January from now on. (Monte Turner/Mineral Independent)
 
 
    The Montana Nightriders Snowmobile club groomed the trails and racecourse Saturday morning just west of the $50,000 Bar in Haugan for Winterfest 2025. This upcoming weekend, the group will be even busier as they host the $1,000 Super Poker Ride where as many as 400 snowmobiles participate starting with the bonfire on Friday. (Monte Turner/Mineral Independent)
 
 
    75 vintage sleds were entered in the snowmobile show coming from Montana, Idaho and Washington, which was the most ever in the 8-years of the Winterfest. Haugan was selected as the new location because of the incredible work and commitment of the Montana Nightriders Snowmobile Club and their sponsors have provided in other snowmobile events over the years. (Monte Turner/Mineral Independent)
 CLARKFORKVALLEYPRESS 
 
 
    Tom Mullins from St. Ignatius, Montana is the unofficial president of the unofficial vintage snowmobile group, crosses the finish line in the individual timed event. Mullins enjoys the vintage sleds because he feels they are the forerunners of making family snowmobiling such a wonderful activity in the winter. (Monte Turner/Mineral Independent)
 CLARKFORKVALLEYPRESS 
 
 
    Modified vintage snowmobiles were on hand just like reconditioned classic hotrods are at car shows. From this point on, the $50,000 Bar will be the headquarters of the annual Winterfest, with the Montana Nightriders Snowmobile Club as the host and it will be the third weekend in January. Not to be confused with the $1,000 Super Poker Ride which is in the same location on the last weekend of January. (Monte Turner/Mineral Independent)
 CLARKFORKVALLEYPRESS 
 
 
    When kids weren’t roasting hotdogs and marshmallows over the small campfires or riding their own junior-sided snowmobiles, the reverted back to kid stuff of playing in the ample snow piles in Haugan at 2025 Winterfest. (Monte Turner/Mineral Independent)
 CLARKFORKVALLEYPRESS 
 
 
    The timed event on Saturday wasn’t only for vintage snowmobiles, but every make, model and year to see just how fast they could complete the salmon course in the huge field west of the parking lot of the $50,000 Bar. (Monte Turner/Mineral Independent)
 CLARKFORKVALLEYPRESS 
 
 
    Trophies were awarded at 2025 Winterfest for different categories of the traditional snowmobiles and the winners of the timed course on Saturday afternoon. Sunday consisted of a ride to the Montana Bar for lunch and then back to Haugan along the St. Regis River. (Monte Turner/Mineral Independent)
 CLARKFORKVALLEYPRESS 
 
 


ARTICLES BY MONTE TURNER

West End Fire to turn up the heat with chili cookoff fundraiser
October 7, 2026 midnight

West End Fire to turn up the heat with chili cookoff fundraiser

What better place to enjoy a bowl of full-blown, mega-scorching-hot chili than at a fire station stocked with wildfire equipment, fire extinguishers and a building full of professionally trained firefighters, EMTs and Quick Response personnel?

Senior center cooks up hot dishes with a side social fun
October 7, 2026 midnight

Senior center cooks up hot dishes with a side social fun

There’s something about a good home-cooked meal that can bring people through the door, and at the Superior Senior Citizens Center, head cook Jessica Williams seems to have figured out the recipe.

Montana-Idaho border reconfigured after survey retraces original state lines
October 4, 2026 1 a.m.

Montana-Idaho border reconfigured after survey retraces original state lines

The Bureau of Land Management has completed its official resurvey of the Montana-Idaho boundary near Lookout Pass, going back to the original survey monuments and retracing the line that was established more than 120 years ago.