Caution urged on busy snowmobile trails, lakes

A winter season with plenty of snow has made for excellent snowmobiling conditions throughout the state, and the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources made efforts last week to remind eager riders to make safety a priority.

The increase in snowmobile use has resulted in injury and fatal crashes. Already this season, too many rides have ended in tragedy, the DNR reported. While the DNR doesn’t yet have official reports for all fatalities, preliminary reports indicate six riders have died in crashes so far — that’s the same number as the entire 2021-22 season and double the number of the 2020-2021 season. Eleven snowmobile riders died in 2019-2020 and 10 died in 2018-2019.

“Opportunities to ride snowmobiles are entirely dependent upon the weather, and in years when there’s a lot of snow, like this year, we see an uptick in riders,” said Capt. Jon Paurus, DNR Enforcement education program coordinator. “It’s imperative that anyone who plans to head out makes good decisions and keeps safety at the top of their mind.”

DNR conservation officer Tony Elwell, based in Cloquet, reported that last week there was a lot of snowmobile activity, especially on lakes, where slush has created a vehicle access problem for anglers. “Snowmobiles (are) the primary mode of transportation on the ice,” Elwell said. “Numerous snowmobilers were contacted on the trails as well, with various violations being observed and addressed.”

The DNR is reminding riders to lean into efforts to make a safe ride:

• Stay on marked trails. Minnesota’s snowmobile clubs work hard to maintain good riding conditions on the state’s trails. Riders who stay on groomed trails are less likely to strike an obstacle or trespass onto private property. Civil penalties for snowmobile trespass have doubled this year.

• Don’t ride while impaired. Drinking and riding is a primary cause of crashes and plays a role in about 60 percent of those that are fatal.

• Watch speeds and stay to the right. Going too fast is another main cause of crashes. Many serious and fatal crashes occur when a speeding snowmobiler loses control or strikes an object. When meeting another snowmobile, always slow down and stay to the right.

• Be careful on the ice. In recent years, nearly every through-the-ice fatality has involved people who were riding a snowmobile or all-terrain vehicle when they fell through. There must be at least 5 to 7 inches of new, clear ice to support the weight of a snowmobile and rider. Check the ice thickness as you go.

• Take a snowmobile safety course. It’s required of anyone born after 1976 and recommended for everyone. Riders holding snowmobile safety certification are less likely to be involved in serious or fatal crashes.

Officer Jacob Willis, based in Brookston, has also seen heavy snowmobile use this month, saying that trail conditions have improved since the storms late last year, when heavy snow and ice left trails littered with tree debris. “Registration violations are still very common, both in improper display and expiration,” Willis said.

Aside from registration violations and urging safe rising, Willis noticed that there are loud snowmobiles out there that put the trail experience in peril. “Loud pipes continue to be found on the trail,” he reported. “Riders are encouraged to keep their exhaust stock, not only because loud exhaust is illegal, but this is one of the biggest reasons private landowners change their minds about allowing trails through their property.”