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As snowmobile riders prepare for the upcoming riding season, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources reminds riders of important dates, safety tips and registration requirements.

While the snowmobile riding season can start as early as Dec. 1, as yet this year there are no locations in the state with suitable conditions for trail grooming. Several conditions must be met before trails are open, groomed and ready for travel:

The ground must be frozen. Where trails cross wetlands, 15 inches of ice are needed to support the weight of trail groomers.

Adequate snow cover of about 12 inches must be on the ground to allow for trail packing and grooming.

Trails must be cleared of fallen trees and signs put in place and gates opened.

While snowmobilers await the arrival of more snow and groomed trails, now is a good time to make sure registrations are current and snowmobiles are in good operating order, review safety training and check local trail maps for route changes or new trails.

Registrations for new snowmobiles must be purchased in person at a deputy registrar of motor vehicles or at the DNR License Bureau in St. Paul. Renewals of registrations and state trail passes for snowmobiles not registered in the state of Minnesota can be handled in person at these same locations or at mndnr.gov/licenses).

The DNR shares information about snow depth and state-managed trail conditions at mndnr.gov/snow_depth. Local trail conditions are often posted online by tourism associations, chambers of commerce and volunteer snowmobile clubs.

• Important snowmobile riding safety tips include:
• Be weather aware and don’t ride in adverse weather conditions.
• Check the trail conditions and weather forecast for the destination before leaving home.
• Measure ice depth before riding on lakes and rivers. The DNR recommends a minimum of 5 to 7 inches of new, clear ice for snowmobiles.
• Always stay on designated snowmobile trails. Venturing off trails can result in accidents, loss of trails from landowners and trespass violations.
• Don’t drink alcohol and ride. Alcohol is a factor in more than 60% of fatal accidents in Minnesota.
• Always wear a quality DOT-approved helmet and facemask.