As snowmobile riders prepare for the upcoming riding season, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources reminds riders of important information about safety, registration and trail conditions.
The snowmobile riding season can start as early as Dec. 1, but several conditions must be met before trails are opened, groomed and ready for travel:
- The ground must be frozen. Where trails cross wetlands, 15 inches of ice are needed to support the weight of trail groomers.
- Snow cover of about 12 inches must be on the ground to allow for trail packing and grooming.
- Trails must be cleared of fallen trees, signs put in place and gates opened.
To see if trail conditions are ready for riding, check DNR’s snow depth page, which also includes conditions of state parks and state trails that allow snowmobiling.
Nearly all of Minnesota’s groomed snowmobile trails — 21,000 of 22,000+ miles of trails — are Grant-in-Aid trails maintained by local snowmobile club volunteers, rather than the DNR. Many clubs post conditions of local trails online. To find the nearest club, visit the Minnesota United Snowmobilers Association website.
Snowmobile registration and safety
While snowmobilers wait for snow and groomed trails, now is a good time to make sure registrations are current and snowmobiles are in good operating order. It’s also an opportune time to review safety training and check local trail maps for route changes or new trails. Don’t forget to review the 2025 snowmobile regulations to refresh on state laws.
New snowmobile registrations, registration renewals and out-of-state trail stickers can be purchased in person at a deputy registrar of motor vehicles or at the DNR License Bureau in St. Paul. Renewals and out-of-state stickers can also be obtained on the DNR’s licenses and vehicle registrations website.
Minnesota law requires a snowmobile safety certification for residents born after Dec. 31, 1976, but DNR recommends all riders complete a safety course. Information about safety training courses can be found on the DNR website.
Important snowmobile riding safety tips include:
- Be weather aware and don't ride in adverse weather conditions.
- Check the DNR snow depth webpage and trail conditions before leaving home.
- Measure ice depth before riding on lakes and rivers. The DNR recommends a minimum of 5 to 7 inches of new, clear ice for snowmobiles. Full ice safety guidelines are available on the DNR website (mndnr.gov/safety/ice/thickness.html).
- Always stay on designated snowmobile trails. Venturing off trails can result in accidents, and landowners can revoke right-of-way permission for trail riding on their property.
- Don't drink alcohol and ride. Alcohol is a factor in more than 60% of fatal snowmobile accidents in Minnesota.
- Always wear a quality DOT-approved helmet and facemask.
An interactive snowmobile trail map is available on the DNR’s snowmobiling website. Paper trail maps are available from the DNR Information Center. Email [email protected] or call 888-646-6367 from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Saturday.