Errant riders cause snowmobile trail closures

Saturday brought inches of snow to the area, improving snowmobiling conditions.

“Yesterday, because of the snow, people were itching to get out and ride,” said Randy Hinck, a member of the Cliff and Coulee Riders Snowmbile Club.

But a key trail leading into Lake City had recently changed, and some snowmobilers cut corners and left the marked trail.

“Today (Monday) we went out and closed that section of trail,” Hinck said.

The loss of the trail means the loss of a connection between the Cliff and Coulee Riders trails and trails maintained by another club, Hinck said.

That club, the Wells Creek Riders, recently had to close a section of its own trail network, also due to riders leaving marked trails and venturing onto private property.

Rick Schafer of of the Wells Creek Riders said in an email that the section of trail between Staehli Park Road and Frontenac had “two intersections that direct riders to Frontenac, Lake City, Hay Creek, and Bellechester.

“This trail is very scenic and it has a 90-foot bridge that we just rebuilt this fall.”

Schafer said that even before there was snow this year, people were removing gates and illegally driving vehicles onto private land.

“Then after the first snow (not enough snow yet for us to open the trails) we had snowmobile riders riding around the gates, running over small trees to access the closed trail. The landowner then asked the club to mark the trail closed, which we did.”

Snowmobile clubs in Minnesota aren’t just groups of people who enjoy snowmobiling. They share a responsibility for developing and maintaining a trail network available to all riders.

That means getting permission from landowners to run an eight to 10 foot trail through their property, Schafer said. “We will install culverts, gates and bridges as required to ensure a safe trail. Then every year we mark and brush the trail, so it is ready for use when the snow comes. Once we have enough snow we will groom the trails with our groomers to keep them smooth and flat. As part of this we have to purchase and maintain chainsaws, tractors, UTVs, mowers, groomers and drags. Signs are provided by the (Department of Natural Resources) but the clubs need to attach them to a stake.”

Hinck said the clubs are required to carry liability insurance

Clubs get an allotment of snowmobile registration and gas tax money from the state to fund their work, which they often supplement with other fundraising.

Cliff and Coulee Riders maintains about 65-75 miles of trail, Hinck said. Schafer said the Wells Creek Riders maintains about 55 miles.

Clubs work hard to maintain relationships with the landowners who host the trails.

The majority of both clubs’ trail network is on private land.

The contract that landowners sign protects the landowners from legal liability for incidents on the trail. It also gives the club an easement for the trail that runs from December 1 through April 1.

But that easement is contingent on riders respecting private property.

“The landowner can close this at any time for reasons such as what happened just this weekend,” Hinck said.

He said the clubs are very appreciative of the landowners who allow trails – without them they’d have few places to ride. And they don’t blame a landowner who decides to close a trail because of riders, or others, trespassing.

Both Hinck and Schafer said its hard on the clubs to have to close trails.

Volunteers work year-round to provide trails, but it doesn’t take long for a reckless person to cause a trail closure.

“We do it because if we don’t do it, somebody else would have to,” Hinck said. “We’re just trying to ride. That’s why we do it.”

The Lake City trail closure hit Hinck pretty hard.

“Now I’m going to have a hard time getting to the top of the hill and riding,” he said.

And when a trail closes, club’s aren’t always able to find an alternate route.

“Probably the biggest issue is what we are facing right now,” Schafer said. “(Landowners) are hesitant to allow access for fear of trespassing/damage to the property.”

He said trespassing is a problem that seems to have gotten worse this year, both locally and in other areas he’s traveled.

“It appears to be a general disrespect of our landowners. Many people believe that it is a lack of knowledge by new riders, but when you come to a locked gate and purposely go around it, that’s not a lack of knowledge,” he said. “The last couple years I have stopped and talked to riders that were off of the trail to inform them that they are jeopardizing the trail system and the response is typically: ‘what’s the problem we aren’t going to hurt anything.’ I try to explain that when the landowner signs the trail permit it is for the designated trail only, not the entire property.”

They say one of the best ways to ensure a healthy trail network is to get involved with a local club.

“By attending some meetings and reading the state magazine you will gain a better understanding of what goes into maintaining these trails, what the major issues are and what the rules are,” Schafer said. “You may find new friends and find out that you want to help us.”

Often landowners will provide warnings before closing a trail. Clubs then put up signs, fences, and post messages on their Facebook pages and elsewhere to help rein in the behavior, Schafer said.

It’s important to pay attention to trail markings.

“If you come upon a gate that is closed, turn around. It is closed for a reason.”

He said riders can check their local clubs’ Facebook pages for trail conditions, trail issues and meeting notices.

Snowmobile trails are for snowmbiles only, he said.

“It is illegal to ride an ATV, UTV, or any wheeled vehicle on snowmobile trails - summer, fall, winter or spring,” he said. “The only exception is when club members are performing maintenance on the trails.”

And riders should remember: “Riding the trails is a privilege - not a right,” he said.