Snowmobile season officially comes to an end
Posted 4/10/02

The snowstorm of April 1 may have extended winter a bit but it did not extend the winter snowmobile season.

Officially, Minnesotaís grant-in-aid trails closed April 1st.

Historically, there are one or two more blasts of winter near the end of March that tempts snowmobilers to get one last ride in for the winter. However, Minnesotaís grant-in-aid trails, which cross private property, closed that day, said Tim Browning DNR Regional Trails and Waterways supervisor. That leaves only the Paul Bunyan Trail in the Brainerd lakes area and the Willard Munger Trail as their only April snowmobiling option.

"The Paul Bunyan Trail is usually the first place to ride and the last place to ride," Browning said. "If conditions warrant, and if youíve got to go riding, the Paul Bunyan Trail is the place to go."

All-Terrain Vehicle owners cannot trade in their snowmobile for their ATV. ATVs are not allowed on the grant-in-aid trail system. They are allowed in roadside ditches and on designated ATV trails.

Minnesotaís snowmobile system is built mostly on private property. It exists because landowners have agreed to allow only snowmobilers on their property. Trespassing during other times of the year could result in a loss of that snowmobiling privilege.