OHV Trails - Open or Closed? Check First !

[Dave]

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is reminding off-highway vehicle (OHV) riders that grant-in-aid snowmobile trails are not open to OHV use. Snowmobile trails that cross private lands and are maintained by local snowmobile clubs were closed April 1.

These snowmobile clubs get seasonal trail permits from landowners that allow the public to snowmobile on the trails. The permits allow the club to groom, sign and maintain trails between Dec. 1 and April 1. Public use of these lands is not allowed at any other times of the year. "Minnesota is fortunate to have an extensive snowmobile trail system," said Les Ollila, Grand Rapids regional trails supervisor for the DNR. "The system depends on the generosity of private landowners. We remind people to respect private property so that landowners will allow snowmobile trail use again next season."

OHV RIDERS SHOULD CHECK TRAIL CONDITIONS

With the warmer weather and closing of snowmobile trails, many OHV riders are anxious to hit the trails.

"Spring is hard on trails," said Tim Browning, Bemidji regional trails supervisor. "The spring thaw leads to soft soils, which may be susceptible to damage. We will have some temporary closings. But, we also want to give riders as many riding opportunities as possible.

"The DNR will work to let users know when and where they can ride, and will lift road and trail closures as soon as possible," said Browning. "In turn, we ask users to check before riding, to avoid areas that are temporarily closed, and to ride responsibly wherever they are."

Trail information is available on the DNR home page www.dnr.state.mn.us or by calling the DNR Information Center at (651) 296-6157 or toll free 1-888-MINNDNR (646-6367).

DNR will also post signs at entry points and at parking lots in state forests. Road and trail closing information will be updated weekly. Closures will depend on the local precipitation and soil conditions.

DNR also reminds riders that Minnesota law prohibits ditch riding south of the agriculture line between April 1 and Aug. 1. The agricultural line runs roughly from Moorhead to Taylors Falls along highways 10 and 95.