Get the Heart Pumping on a Nighttime Snowmobile Tour | Seattle Refined

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Head to Mountain Springs Lodge, just north of the Bavarian-themed village of Leavenworth, to experience the sparkle of fresh snow on the headlights of a snowmobile with Leavenworth Snowmobile Tours. (Rachael Jones / Seattle Refined){ }

Leavenworth Snowmobile Tours offers a bucket list, two-hour nighttime tour called Starlight Express that promises a whole new level of thrill for powder-thirsty adventurers. (Rachael Jones / Seattle Refined)<p></p>

The crew at Leavenworth Snowmobile Tours are super dedicated to customer satisfaction, and in particular, enhanced cleaning and pandemic protocols. Get fitted for a squeaky clean helmet and keep your personal items in a sanitized bin while you ride. (Rachael Jones / Seattle Refined)

While its recommended to wear your own winter sports attire, Leavenworth Snowmobile Tours offers these amazing, retro ski suits and bibs. (Rachael Jones / Seattle Refined)<p></p>

A bright yellow Jeep Wrangler sits beside a Utility Terrain Vehicle, both outfitted with hefty snow tracks. These two pieces of equipment keep the snowmobile paths groomed and ready for daily riders. (Rachael Jones / Seattle Refined)<p></p>

Leavenworth Snowmobile Tours offers various other guided tours, like a one-hour option for first-time riders. Or, if you’re a seasoned pro and very familiar with snowmobiles, you can also rent one for a full day or half-day fee. (Rachael Jones / Seattle Refined)

For all tours, the trained guides at Leavenworth Snowmobile Tours will prepare{ } riders and passengers with instructions on how to operate the snowmobile, including{ } driving techniques and any potential hazards. (Rachael Jones / Seattle Refined)

<p>Depending on trail conditions, the two-hour, Starlight Express tour will typically include traversing on 20-miles of private and forest service groomed trails. And, you'll likely reach a top speed of 25-35 mph on straightaways. (Rachael Jones / Seattle Refined)<br></p>

Pressing in on the thumb throttle, the riders are off to a 15 mph start, directly behind guide Marc Cram in the bright red jacket. Cram has been creating, designing and leading adventure tours at Leavenworth Snowmobile Tours and Mountain Springs Lodge since the '90s. (Rachael Jones / Seattle Refined){ }

The first pit stop for riders is a visual stunner, and also a chance to stretch the legs from the chilly ride. Pro tip: Be sure to bring a winter-friendly camera to capture the must-see vantage point. (Rachael Jones / Seattle Refined)

Dirty Face Peak and Lake Wenatchee make an appearance through the trees as the sun starts to set on the two-hour Starlight Express tour. (Rachael Jones / Seattle Refined){ }

A two-seater snowmobile is parked along the mountain trail overlooking Dirty Face Peak, a mountain told to be named after JS Barnard, the man who homesteaded at the base of the peak in the 1800s. (Rachael Jones / Seattle Refined)<p></p>

From here, riders will get good use of their snowmobile headlights. And new-to-the-sport riders will use driving tactics like leaning into curves and short braking techniques. (Rachael Jones / Seattle Refined)

Snowmobiles are parked with headlights on at the last breath-taking viewpoint. A surprising, untold perk of the two-hour Starlight Express tour: riders chase the setting sun. In fact, about half the ride follows the hazy orange and blue skies around every S-curve until the sky falls into night. (Rachael Jones / Seattle Refined)

About a dozen miles from the starting point, riders stop for a final view. The next leg of the journey back will be along narrow, snowy paths in the dark. (Rachael Jones / Seattle Refined)

In Leavenworth, passing others on snowmobiles just comes with the territory. Guides teach all drivers the common passing signal: Hold up a hand with the number of fingers for the amount of passengers remaining behind you; make a fist for zero if you're the last in the crew. (Rachael Jones / Seattle Refined)<p></p>

Visit Leavenworth Snowmobile Tours at Mountain Springs Lodge to book the Starlight Express tour now through the end of the season. Or, surprise someone with a moonlight dinner ride, a private sleigh ride, or cozy getaway in a spacious cabin for Valentine’s Day. (Rachael Jones / Seattle Refined)

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