ATV's on Sled trails????

[Rock Star]

Is it legal or illegal where you live, ha or where I live, to ride wheeled vehicles on state groomed sled trails????

Today we were coming out of the hills and blastin the last 10 miles down a state groomed road and all the sudden there are clowns tearing up the groomed trail. I see one going the same direction as me and from a distance I just didn't trust him. Sure as heck about the time I got to him to pass on the left he pulls a hard left right into my path. even at 30 mph it would have been a mess. 4 guys on ATVs are ripping up our trails? wtf? is this legal? it's stupid no matter. Note: I ride ATVs. Just not on sled trails. so, criminals or just idiots?

 

[sdobbs20]

i don't think it should be allowed. do they pay for a grooming sticker? it tears up trails way worse than sleds do. the massive ruts they create is a disaster for the groomers.


this year we were up riding and there was a guy and his wife on a big quad that were way up the trail into the fresh snow. i have a feeling they turned aroudn where we saw them because they were still on hardpack and we had fresh pow on our hoods.

 

[snojunkee]

here in washington it's illegal for wheeled vehicles to be on the groomed trails. but that doesn't stop them. some people are just stoopid dinks, with no respect.

 

[One]

Hell last year in Colville a few buddies followed me up the trail in their pickups...and preceeded to get pretty well stuck. Way to go guys.

 

[89sandman]

here in southern oregon atv's are allowed on certain groomed trails. thats how i started snowmobiling, we would take our quads up to diamond lake and ride then one time my brother inlaw came up with his sled and that is when i knew i had to have one. i don't see the problem, sled ditch banging leave HUGE humps of snow when you hit the gas to bang the bank. or just when some guy takes off and pins it and leaves another nice hump. in fact on hardpacked days love the way they churn up the snow! is a very good way to get more people into our sport, i personally could live without ever seeing a groomed trail, they just bring trail riders and wanna be mountain riders out closer to my riding areas...

 

[Tackbtch]

Mont.

Here in MT it is illegal for a wheeled vehicle to run on groomed trails...our club eats some crap from lion hunters over this as the only road-trail we groom is a popular cat hunting trail. Cat hunters are concerned that we might expand our grooming efforts. Cat hunters treat the trail very well here I must say. Never have seen or heard of a hunter driving up the groomed trail. Only a few drive up the trail, even with signs posted about the legality of driving on groomed trails it still happens. Wheel ruts suck big time. Dino

 

[skidoo_guy]

Illegal in ND and in the black Hills of SD I know.

 

[Chubby]

Wisconsin Its ok as long as its below freezing. I dont agree. In minnesota Its not ok

 

[Snowizard]

Sam Ting (same thing ) in MN, but there's always a few who ignore any rules. (Chubby types faster than I do. LOL.)

Edit: Also in MN snowmobile "season" as far as Grant-in-Aid trails is closed on April 1st.

 

[dafarmer]

It's illegel in SD as well. To be on a groomed trail it must be powered by tracks and steered by skiis. Once the trail signs are gone in April then the trails are open to anyone.

 

[Blu Du]

wis have some trails that are legal

 

[Bigrock33]

Rock - I think that it is legal. I had a similar experience last year coming back from Soap, about 2-3 miles from the parking lot thru the turns, downhill and come around a corner and had a herd of the dumbazzes blocking the entire trail trying to get one unstuck. Had to bail out thru the trees and off the trail or it would have been carnage. Jeff, my son, who was following me down the trail, damn near took out one of them. I asked a Forest Service guy about it at the snowmobile show this year and he said that the trails are open to motorized all year long unless posted. Were you up by Soap - I see the ATV's every time that I ride up there if you park on the MLH side.

 

[Ex-Member]

Only seen an ATV on a sled trail once before. This was 15 Nov, well before the snow was good. Probably should have taken an ATV or dirt bike out that day, snow was pretty thin. About like this weekend.

In fact, I think the snow was better mid-november than it is now.

Guy was nice enough, i didn't see a problem with it.

 

[Vern]

up here i think wheeled vehicles are allowed on the trails but they have to be under a certain weight limit. so 4 wheelers legal trucks not legal. but i still dont like how the trails turn out after a herd of quads head down it.

 

[powerstrokeguy]

heard once it was illegal in idaho to take a wheeled vehicle on a groomed trail. I personally don't mind if a few guys take their wheelers up them a small distance but this year has been worse than most others. i have seen wheeler tracks several miles in, back in mid february. Even came across a dodge dakota half a mile in the other week it was stuck good. looks like the groomer yanked it out the following week. Just wish people would respect thing more. Ruts suck very bad

 

[Lake Cle Elum]

here in washington it's illegal for wheeled vehicles to be on the groomed trails. but that doesn't stop them. some people are just stoopid dinks, with no respect.

You are correct SnoJunkee - Was discussion at a recent groomer meeting that even things like the Rhino with tracks need to have a permit to be legal. Most have an ATV sticker, but never grooming permit.....

 

[Lake Cle Elum]

ATV's - Hell, I met a Pickup and a car on a groomed trail a few weeks ago - Seen a total of 3 this year......

 

[DallanC]

What is this "groomed trail" thing you guys speak of? Where I unload its the start of 10 miles of 2ft woopdeedoos to get to the open areas. Trail is just a trail, open to anyone that can fit between the 48" gate posts.


-DallanC

 

[mod03rmk800]

Most places have a date range on a little sign when you can have sleds,jeeps,atv etc. here in Mt. Most are hanging on a gate which during the winter is usually buried under the snow.
I wouldn't have a problem with atv's on the trail/road that would be typically open year round without the snow. I don't think they would make it very far around here before they break through and they better have a plan for that.
If I almost hit one on the trail it would be my fault for going to fast for sure.
We have snowboarders,skiers,snowshoer's,dog sledders and tubers all over in close proximity to the trail heads, with some quit a ways away. Plus there are always the trail only types that may be plugging up the entire trail for any number of reasons. I have seen little kids in "harms" way associated with pretty much all the mentioned groups.
I haven't seen the damage that atv's can cause a trail, but have seen what a truck has done. I drove right threw and over the ruts. Was not much of an issue for my sled to handle. Ugly torn up look about it, yes!

 

[Rock Star]

some areas i guess it's ok and some it's not.

seems to me it's just a basic respect issue. If it's hard pack it's fine. If it's soup... well why dig up what we pay to groom?

Yes, Larry it was up by soapstone. They come out in the spring like now. we're a month ahead with this weather. I may be up there with mine in another week., ha. not! Not unless we lose ALL our snow.