Trail Permit & Trail Network Explained,  Permit Helps Fund the Trails

The snowmobile season is just around the corner. The State trail system officially opens on December 1st but some gates may stay closed until good snow conditions allow. A few reminders. Most trails are on or pass through private property, so please respect the land owners and stay on the trail. Remember land owners are kind enough to allow you to use their property so be gentle with it or it will be gone.

New this year is the trail permit you must buy to legally operate a snowmobile on any State or Grant in Aid trail. It is an annual fee of $16, $15 of which, stays with the trail system. You can buy a 3 year permit for $31 if you are renewing your registration or are purchasing a new machine.

I have much to share with you regarding snowmobiling and trails so first let’s start with the trail permit to clarify a few rumors. The trail pass idea was started and pushed by snowmobilers, clubs, and Minnesota United Snowmobilers Association ( MnUSA ) not the DNR or the State Legislature. The DNR and the State had to be involved in the process because the money is collected by the State and distributed through the DNR to the local government sponsor ( a city or county ) and on to the clubs from the Grant in Aid snowmobile account. Money for this dedicated account comes from money from a percentage of your registration fees, 1% of the unrefunded gas tax, and now this years addition of the trail permit. You may ask, why is the money needed? Wow, this is a big question. If I had to describe it in one word it would be expense! The cost of maintaining snowmobile trails is getting ridiculously expensive to fund. The snowmobile clubs can not afford to continue maintaining the trail system with a funding system that has not seen enough of an increase in their grants to keep up with the rising costs of equipment, fuel, and insurance. Something needed to be done. Everyone complains when the trials get rough, but most don’t have any idea what it takes to keep them in shape, let alone even available to ride on. More on that later. The following are some did you know questions that may surprise many.

Did you know:

* the State of Minnesota has over 20,000 miles of snowmobile trails?

* that the State only has around 2,000 miles of State owned and funded trails most of which are groomed by snowmobile clubs?

* snowmobile clubs have built and maintain over 18,000 miles of trails in this state?

* there are over 270,000 registered snowmobiles in the state?

* that less than 20,000 belong to a snowmobile club?

* club members volunteer their time and personal equipment to keep the trails clear of trees and brush, keep bridges in repair, and put signs up ( so some hunters can have target practice ) etc.?

this fall the Nevis Trailblazers have put in a combined effort of over 250 hrs. prepping the trials, not to mention the work we completed this spring and summer .

* that clubs have to get all land owners to give permission to put a trail through their private land and secure land lease agreements?

* most trails are on private property and we are having a tougher time keeping these leases signed due to the lack of respect some have for others land?

* clubs have to buy trail insurance to protect the land owner?

* clubs are shrinking in membership and are getting older in average age of its members?

* many think that the State takes care of the trails, when in fact it’s snowmobile clubs that keep them up and going?

* clubs buy their own grooming equipment?

* groomers in the early ‘90s cost around $35,000 and now in 2005 cost over $145,000?

* clubs must have workman’s comp insurance?

* that a percentage of the costs are reimbursable from the Grant in Aid trail account?

* fuel and insurance prices have gone way, way up?

Oh, did I mention that this all costs lots of money to do? This was the main drive behind the annual trail permit. To continue to fund the cost of grooming and maintaining the present trail system. We wanted to fix it before it was broken. Clubs have done a lot of hard work over the last 35 years and are very proud of the trail network that has been formed in this State and through out North America totaling over 225,000 miles. We don’t want to see the system start to fall apart and close down. This was a preventative measure to help ensure that you and others will have a way and place to enjoy the great winter outdoors through the sport of snowmobiling. We feel that $32 a year ( $16 for the permit and $16 for license & registration ) is a small price to pay for 20,000 plus miles of marked and groomed trail network. This also includes enforcement which we feel could be stepped up a lot.

Now, what is a grant in aid trail snowmobile trail? This trail is a combined effort between the DNR, a local unit of government, and local user groups ( clubs ). Here is how it works. A club needs to have a trail route planned, get approval from the land owners and have the land leases signed allowing the trail to pass though their private property, yes I stress again, private property which the land owner can close at anytime. They need to secure a local government unit such as a county, a city or township to sponsor the trail system. Then the DNR will review the plan and in some cases need to do an EAW. The clubs pay for this. Once this is done and approved, the club can build the trail as long as the permits have be signed and the trail has been approved. This means cutting trees, removing stumps, mowing brush, building bridges, signing, putting up gates if needed and so forth. They also have to buy trail insurance as well as expensive grooming equipment. Clubs can apply for a percentage of the costs from the Grant in Aid account if they have been approved to do so, but most of the work is volunteer.

Over the past 35 years the 300 plus clubs in this State have built and maintained over 18,000 miles of trails. Some on State and County parcels but most are on private property. Respecting the land is very important. Using private land is a privilege not a right. At any given time a land owner can shut a section down and in many cases a reroute is not possible or is cost prohibitive. Believe me, there are many clubs facing trail closures due to a few inconsiderate users who feel that if it is white they can ride on it. My advice is, please stay on the trail as tempting as it may be to stray. It’s that Important!

In closing, the trail pass is meant to keep the trail system and the clubs afloat. Without it the trails would disappear and the winter enjoyment of snowmobiling with family and friends would be gone. The economic impact of snowmobiling is said to be a 20 billion dollar annual industry in the State, from manufacturing, sales, lodging, dinning and so forth employing over 85,000 full time jobs.

From those of us in a club doing the work, think about joining a club or Minnesota United Snowmobilers Association ( MnUSA ) and start doing your share. For more information about a club in your area or the State Association look on the MnUSA web site at: www.mnsnowmobiler.org or the Nevis Trailblazers web site at: www.nevismn.com/trailblazers Thanks for your time and consideration on this very delicate matter.

Karl Dierkhising, Nevis City Council, Nevis Trailblazers President / Trail Coordinator