New York State has some 10,300 miles of snowmobile trails. That's more than Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont and Michigan combined. But many of those trails and their scenic views are hidden gems. That's why, as Brian Dwyer reports, New York is giving out-of-staters a chance to try them out for free.
LOWVILLE, N.Y. -- A hidden treasure is just that; hidden. Until someone finds it.
Governor Andrew Cuomo is hoping people from all over country and even Canada get a chance to find the gold that is Upstate New York and the North Country.
"From a tourism point of view. From a geographic beauty point of view, I mean, nothing compares to what to what we have in Upstate New York," the governor said Thursday in Lowville.
To illustrate, Cuomo used the Tug Hill as his treasure map. He, his daughters, the Lieutenant Governor, state officials and the Lewis County Snowmobile Club hit the trails for a 90 minute ride.
It's a kickoff to what Cuomo calls a big chance to share in the wealth. On the weekend of March 7 and March 8, those out of staters and Canadians can come try the trails for free. The typical $100 registration fee will be waived.
"We want to invite them up. We want them to come up. We want them to visit," Cuomo said. "We want them to share what God gave us here."
The idea is if people experience what New York State has to offer, tourism, these snowmobile trails, they'll come back again and again.
"So many people don't know about the Tug Hill Plateau and the quality of snowmobiling, cross-country skiing, just outdoor recreation in general. If we can expose them to it once, it's great," 1000 Islands Tourism Council director Gary DeYoung said.
"Our friends in Canada, they pay much more for fuel. They pay much more for a trail pass. I think they are going to flock here to New York," NYS Snowmobile Association director Dominic Jacangelo added.
Now is the time, Cuomo said, to put an X over Tug Hill to mark the spot.
The state has pumped about $15 million into the snowmobile trail system. Cuomo said that's not enough and will look for ways to do more.
He also plans a major push to promote the free weekend.