Snowmobilers: Know before you go
Contact a local club for current trail information
Although much of Wisconsin has experienced colder temperatures and accumulating snow has allowed Iron County to open a small portion of its trails, the Association of Wisconsin Snowmobile Clubs (AWSC) wants to remind snowmobilers the vast majority of the 25,000mile statewide network of public snowmobile trails is not open yet. To ensure you know when and which trails are open in your area, go to at awsc.org or travelwisconsin.com/ snowreport/snowmobile for the latest trail information on the county you’re interested in riding.
Before a trail can be opened, the ground under the snow needs to be frozen to ensure trails crossing wet areas are safe. In agricultural areas, adequate snow is necessary to protect the ground and crops the trail travels over. After trails are opened, ride cautiously as early season trail conditions magnify possible hazards under the snow. Snowmobilers should always ride with caution and never ride on trails crossing lakes or rivers that are not marked by the local snowmobile club.
TheAWSCiscomprised of over 610 snowmobile clubs from every county in Wisconsin. Community- based snowmobile clubs and their 41,000plus volunteer members are solely responsible for developing and maintaining over 25,000 miles of public snowmobile trails. These local volunteers brush, clear, sign and prepare the trails, along with grooming them to ensure they are smooth and safe. Each year, local club members work many hours in partnership with dozens of gracious landowners to ensure trail access, as most trails are on private property. Without the support of thousands of Wisconsin landowners, the trail system would not exist. Thus, riding on closed trails or traveling off a marked trail is not only dangerous – it’s trespassing.
Wisconsin’s snowmobile program is administered by the Department of Natural Resources, but unique in that it is a userfunded program. In short, snowmobilers provide the funds – through sled registrations and trail pass fees – to create, maintain and sustain the largest public trail system in the nation. Additional funds for the snowmobile program come from gas tax monies snowmobilers generate. These user-generated funds help reimburse local clubs for some of the expenses they incur.
The season is here, so make sure your snowmobile has a current registration and a 2022-23 Wisconsin Trail Pass. For more information on registration and trail pass requirements, go to gowild.wi.gov.
Snowmobiling is not only fun; it provides millions of dollars that fuel Wisconsin’s winter economic engine. For more information, or if you would like to join a local club, go to the AWSC website at awsc.org.
