With winter trail recreation strong, DNR urges caution
(Released February 14, 2014)
With winter trail recreation up this year, the Department of
Natural Resources advises people to be aware that some winter trails,
such as groomed ski trails, are not open to bicyclists.
“We have had a great snowmobile and cross-country ski season so far,” said Andrew Korsberg, state trail program coordinator for the DNR’s Parks and Trails Division. “Snowmobile registrations and ski pass sales are up from last year, and we have seen an increased interest in other types of winter sports, such as winter bicycling.”
The DNR grooms, plows and packs trails for many types of winter recreation and asks trail users to pay close attention to which are which. There are legal restrictions on trail use in some cases and safety considerations in others.
In addition to the usual questions about whether it’s OK to walk or snowshoe on groomed ski trails (it’s not), the DNR has been getting a variety of questions this year about where fat bikes are allowed. Fat bikes have wide, low-pressure tires designed for use on snow and sand. They are not allowed on groomed ski trails. They are also prohibited on the state’s 21,000 miles of grant-in-aid snowmobile trails, many of which are on private property, where landowners have given permission only for snowmobiling.
For winter cycling enthusiasts, there are an increasing number of places to ride fat bikes throughout the state. There are about 10 miles of groomed trails for fat bikes at Cuyuna Country State Recreation Area near Brainerd.
The DNR also allows fat bikes on two state trails in the Twin Cities. In the east metro, fat bikes can ride the 12-mile stretch of the Gateway State Trail from Cayuga Street to Jamaca Avenue. In the west metro, they can ride the 7-mile segment of the Luce Line State Trail, from Vicksburg Lane to Stubbs Bay Road.
Find more information about the fat-bike trails at Cuyuna Country State Recreation Area.
Find maps of the Gateway and Luce Line state trails online or contact the DNR Information Center at info.dnr@state.mn.us or call 651-296-6157, toll-free 888-646-6367 between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.
“We have had a great snowmobile and cross-country ski season so far,” said Andrew Korsberg, state trail program coordinator for the DNR’s Parks and Trails Division. “Snowmobile registrations and ski pass sales are up from last year, and we have seen an increased interest in other types of winter sports, such as winter bicycling.”
The DNR grooms, plows and packs trails for many types of winter recreation and asks trail users to pay close attention to which are which. There are legal restrictions on trail use in some cases and safety considerations in others.
In addition to the usual questions about whether it’s OK to walk or snowshoe on groomed ski trails (it’s not), the DNR has been getting a variety of questions this year about where fat bikes are allowed. Fat bikes have wide, low-pressure tires designed for use on snow and sand. They are not allowed on groomed ski trails. They are also prohibited on the state’s 21,000 miles of grant-in-aid snowmobile trails, many of which are on private property, where landowners have given permission only for snowmobiling.
For winter cycling enthusiasts, there are an increasing number of places to ride fat bikes throughout the state. There are about 10 miles of groomed trails for fat bikes at Cuyuna Country State Recreation Area near Brainerd.
The DNR also allows fat bikes on two state trails in the Twin Cities. In the east metro, fat bikes can ride the 12-mile stretch of the Gateway State Trail from Cayuga Street to Jamaca Avenue. In the west metro, they can ride the 7-mile segment of the Luce Line State Trail, from Vicksburg Lane to Stubbs Bay Road.
Find more information about the fat-bike trails at Cuyuna Country State Recreation Area.
Find maps of the Gateway and Luce Line state trails online or contact the DNR Information Center at info.dnr@state.mn.us or call 651-296-6157, toll-free 888-646-6367 between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.
21,000 miles for Snowmobiles, 29 miles for Fat-Bikes, right?
ReplyDeletePerhaps when you bike owners pay upwards of 14 million a year, then spend thousands of hours working with landowners, you too could have your own trails. That is what snowmobiler's do EVERY year.
DeleteBanning bikes on winter trails where snowmobiles are allowed is wrong minded. I have ridden winter trails for years and shall continue to ride them.
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry, but we snowmobilers have worked with land owners for access to use for snowmobile use. Stay off them or you will be arrested for tress-passing.
DeleteThe trails aren't free, us snowmobilers pay around 14 million a year in taxes, registration, trail permits fees that are all dedicated to snowmobile trails and support.
DeleteI don't see any bicycle riders contributing to the grant-in aid trails or working with landowners. I'm sure the bicycle riders would be one of the first ones to complain if snowmobiles rode on the bicycle trails.
ReplyDeleteIf the cyclists decided they need to move in that direction they would.....perhaps you have never heard of MORC or MOCA or COGGS or IMBA for that matter. These groups have helped build, pay for, and maintain trails in areas where there were none or were in disrepair. Cyclist could be good allies, the fat bike thing is in it's infancy as far as access so there is no wonder you have not seen them contributing to GIA . On the contrary.....they work with land owners all the time
DeleteSo if fat bikers could purchase snow mobile passes for their struggle buggies, it would be ok to ride them on grant and aid trails? I believe that this is how either Idaho or Wyoming handles fat bikes. Pay to play.
ReplyDeleteLook up the STATE trails on the DNR website...many of them show a bike symbol as well as a snowmobile symbol. The Arrowhead 135 started paving the way for fat bikers on snowmobile trails...The DNR seems to have their tit in the ringer now... skirting the issue.... not knowing how to handle it when it clearly states bicycles as well as hikers and skiers are allowed on these multi-use trails. Furthermore it states nothing about a trail pass unless you are skiing or horseback riding. If they see fit to have a fat-bike pass then we can cross that bridge when we get there. As far as riding bikes on the trail I have not seen any issues...I have personally ridden nearly 1000 miles on the arrowhead trail (964 to be exact) over the last ten years and have met many friendly snowmobilers and have had no conflicts. This goes for the trail leaving out of shakopee as well with more miles logged over a longer period of time. We should all try to get along and have lots of fun
ReplyDeleteI am a state park ranger, and responsible for X-C Ski grooming a State Forest Recreation Area north of the Cities. I am also a Pugsley driver. As frustrating as it is for me because I cannot ride any of the trails where I work, I understand the system. Grant-in-aid funds come from snowmobile registrations and trail user fees, and that pays for grooming those trails. Ski pass funds pay for cross-country ski trail grooming. (In the summer, state horse trail pass funds go to those trails and programs.) Most people do not realize the amount of work that goes into grooming and maintaining trails, nor do they realize that skiers and snowmobilers are paying for the privilege. I honestly believe we should be doing like Wisconsin and have a trail pass system for ALL trail use activities. Our trails would certainly be in better shape if we did. But until our managers see the advantage of that, we will continue to have and enforce the rules as they exist. That being said, there are ever-increasing opportunities to ride your fatties on county and municipal trails. For example, Isanti County Parks (where I live) has worked with the Cambridge Cycling Club and the Backcountry Trail Patrol to groom 5+ miles in 3 county parks for fat-biking and snowshoeing, and more is probably coming since the MTB singletrack at Springvale Park has yet to be packed and groomed. Rather than rale at the state land managers, see what is, or could be available in your own community, just by approaching the parks management (like we did in Isanti County). You may just get a whole new pace to ride!
ReplyDelete