Snowmobiling Access Tools

This social-media meme promotes importance of respecting closed areas for snowmobilers.

"Trespassing" video PSA—30-second PSA about snowmobiler trespassing from a partnership of the American Council of Snowmobile Associations (ACSA) with funding provided by the Recreational Trails Program administered by the U.S. Department of Transportation – Federal Highway Administration (FHWA).

This 8 ½” x 3 ½” advertisement promotes smart snowmobiling on public land. Ask First, Before You Go.

This 8 ½” x 3 ½” advertisement promotes smart snowmobiling on public land. Ask First, Before You Go.

Use this press release about trail access for distribution in newsletters to club members or send to local media and social media groups

This social-media meme promotes smart snowmobiling on private land. Ask First, Before You Go.

This 8 ½” x 3 ½” advertisement promotes smart snowmobiling on private land. Ask First, Before You Go.

Vertical Poster of Snowmobilers and text "Wilderness is Closed. Know your Location and Stay Out. It's not worth a $5,000 fine, jail, and losing your sled."
Quarter and half page ads (for both newspaper and magazine format publications) that feature the poster message is also available by contacting the ACSA office.

Vertical Poster of Snowmobilers and text "Respect Private Property. If You Trespass, We All Lose"
Quarter and half page ads (for both newspaper and magazine format publications) that feature the poster message is also available by contacting the ACSA office.

This social-media meme reminds riders of the importance of riding a snowmobile only on snow.

This compilation of scientific research provides web links or summaries from 160 studies related to snowmobiling impacts. These studies can also be viewed in the library section of this site where over 120 studies can also be downloaded.

Whether old or new, this research information has relevance to present day discussions about snowmobiling access. Important perspectives can be gained by following the progression of knowledge forward in time, from old to new, as impact topics gain perspective with new research that either dispels myths or better defines real impacts. This compilation represents the ‘best available information’ about snowmobiling impacts.

30-second PSA about the importance of staying on snow when snowmobiling from a partnership of the American Council of Snowmobile Associations (ACSA) with funding provided by the Recreational Trails Program administered by the U.S. Department of Transportation – Federal Highway Administration (FHWA).

"Trails Lost/Sound and Trespass" audio PSA—30-second PSA about about snowmobile trails lost due to noise and trespass from a partnership of the American Council of Snowmobile Associations (ACSA) with funding provided by the Recreational Trails Program administered by the U.S. Department of Transportation – Federal Highway Administration (FHWA).

This social-media meme promotes keeping your sled on snow.

This social-media meme warns of loud snowmobiles affecting access to snowmobile trails.

This social-media meme warns of the loss of trail access due to loud snowmobiles.

This 3 1/2" X 8 1/2" advertisement warns of the dangers of loud snowmobiles to trail access.

This project took an in-depth look at issues and effects related to the operation of wheeled UTVs/side-by-side OHVs on groomed snowmobile trails. Its intent was not to either encourage or discourage concurrent UTV use but rather to provide landowners, recreationists, trail providers, and political jurisdictions with better information to help them make objective local decisions. This report helps expand trail managers’ and local decision-makers’ knowledge about the potential effects of UTV use on groomed snowmobile trails during the winter season. All decisions regarding UTV use on groomed snowmobile trails are clearly reserved for implementation by local jurisdictions and local trail grooming managers consistent with their local priorities, conditions, and resources. In this vein it presents a summary of findings, detailed results from field testing, and ten factors that should be considered before making decisions whether or not to allow concurrent snowmobile-UTV/UTV use on groomed snowmobile trails.

Allowing any type of OHV use on groomed snowmobile trails must be a local decision based upon local circumstances. Tent suggested best management factors are provided for trail managers to consider when deciding to either allow or disallow concurrent wheeled or tracked OHV use on groomed snowmobile trails.

This project took an in-depth look at issues and effects related to the operation of ATVs on groomed snowmobile trails. Its intent was not to either encourage or discourage concurrent ATV use but rather to provide landowners, recreationists, trail providers, and political jurisdictions with better information to help them make objective local decisions. This report helps expand trail managers’ and local decision-makers’ knowledge about the potential effects of ATV use on groomed snowmobile trails during the winter season. All decisions regarding ATV use on groomed snowmobile trails are clearly reserved for implementation by local jurisdictions and local trail grooming managers consistent with their local priorities, conditions, and resources. In this vein it presents a summary of findings, detailed results from field testing, and twelve factors that should be considered before making decisions whether or not to allow concurrent snowmobile-ATV use on groomed snowmobile trails.

This project collected information about existing or potential tracked OHV use on groomed snowmobile trails. It does not advocate for or against allowing any type of OHV use on groomed snowmobile trails; that clearly must be a local decision based upon local circumstances. The report includes: 1) a compilation of ‘snowmobile’ definitions currently used by U.S. and Canadian jurisdictions since this is a primary means by which tracked OHV use can be either allowed or prohibited, 2) findings from a trail manager survey that identified current winter OHV use trends, 3) field test observations that compared snowmobile and tracked OHV impacts, and 4) general recommendations to help guide local trail management policies.

Allowing any type of OHV use on groomed snowmobile trails must be a local decision based upon local circumstances. Eight suggested best management factors are provided for trail managers to consider when deciding to either allow or disallow concurrent tracked OHV use on groomed snowmobile trails.

The U.S. Forest Service issued an amended Travel Management Rule (TMR) – Subpart C related to over-snow vehicle (OSV) travel in January 2015. This OSV Travel Rule will affect all National Forest System lands where snowfall is adequate for OSV use to be allowed and requires that a system of roads, trails and areas be designated for motorized OSV use. Once roads, trails and areas are designated under Subpart C – all other OSV use is prohibited if not in accordance with the prescribed OSV use designations.

Subpart C is distinctly different than Subpart B of the TMR which applies to all other motor vehicles. Consequently it’s important to understand those differences – whether snowmobilers, Forest Service employees, or other trail managers and users – to properly apply the OSV rule on the ground to help ensure an appropriate range of desired snowmobile riding opportunities remain available going forward.

This resource includes a Power Point training program along with an implementation guidance manual developed by Trails Work Consulting and ACSA. It provides: 1) an overview of the OSV Travel Rule, 2) an outline of the ‘six steps’ in the Forest Service OSV designation process, 3) guidance on adapting the ‘4 E’s’ to effective OSV travel management, and 4) an Appendix containing the Forest Service Travel Management Rule – Subpart C in its entirety, along with other associated pertinent travel management regulations.

The U.S. Forest Service issued an amended Travel Management Rule (TMR) – Subpart C related to over-snow vehicle (OSV) travel in January 2015. This OSV Travel Rule will affect all National Forest System lands where snowfall is adequate for OSV use to be allowed and requires that a system of roads, trails and areas be designated for motorized OSV use. Once roads, trails and areas are designated under Subpart C – all other OSV use is prohibited if not in accordance with the prescribed OSV use designations.

Subpart C is distinctly different than Subpart B of the TMR which applies to all other motor vehicles. Consequently it’s important to understand those differences – whether snowmobilers, Forest Service employees, or other trail managers and users – to properly apply the OSV rule on the ground to help ensure an appropriate range of desired snowmobile riding opportunities remain available going forward.

This resource includes a PowerPoint training program along with an implementation guidance manual developed by Trails Work Consulting and ACSA. It provides: 1) an overview of the OSV Travel Rule, 2) an outline of the ‘six steps’ in the Forest Service OSV designation process, 3) guidance on adapting the ‘4 E’s’ to effective OSV travel management, and 4) an Appendix containing the Forest Service Travel Management Rule – Subpart C in its entirety, along with other associated pertinent travel management regulations.

"Give Groomers a Break" audio PSA—30-second PSA about about respecting the role of snowmobile groomers from a partnership of the American Council of Snowmobile Associations (ACSA) with funding provided by the Recreational Trails Program administered by the U.S. Department of Transportation – Federal Highway Administration (FHWA).

30-second PSA about importance of trail groomers and proper etiquette when encountering a groomer from a partnership of the American Council of Snowmobile Associations (ACSA) with funding provided by the Recreational Trails Program administered by the U.S. Department of Transportation – Federal Highway Administration (FHWA).

This PowerPoint training program was developed by Trails Work Consulting and ACSA to help grooming managers and groomer operators be adaptive to changing snowmobile trail grooming needs. It outlines numerous top grooming tips and includes illustrative photos, video clips, and detailed presenter notes.

This PowerPoint training program was developed by Trails Work Consulting and ACSA to help grooming managers and groomer operators be adaptive to changing snowmobile trail grooming needs. It outlines numerous top grooming tips and includes illustrative photos, video clips, and detailed presenter notes.

A resource guide for trail grooming managers and equipment operators. This resource guide provides guidelines for:

• Grooming recreational snowmobile trails to help improve the quality of trails and the effectiveness of grooming efforts and expenditures
• Training snowmobile trail groomer operators on the proper operation and maintenance of grooming equipment; proper trail grooming objectives, principles, and practices; and trail grooming safety issues
• Increasing community awareness of snowmobile trail grooming requirements and practices, including the need for the public to allow proper set up time on freshly groomed trails and safe operating procedures for snowmobilers when encountering groomers on the trail

The manual's seven chapters cover an introduction to trail grooming; an overview of grooming equipment; managing grooming operations, equipment and safety; operating grooming equipment; maintaining grooming equipment; recordkeeping; and recommendations for groomer operator certification.

This series of over 500 Power Point training slides has been produced to accompany Chapters 1 - 6 of Guidelines for Snowmobile Trail Groomer Operator Training.

• Chapter 1: Intro to Grooming [2.6 MB]
• Chapter 2: Grooming Equipment [3.8 MB]
• Chapter 3: Managing Operations [2.5 MB]
• Chapter 4: Operating Grooming Equipment [5.8 MB]
• Chapter 5: Maintaining Grooming Equipment [0.9 MB]
• Chapter 6: Record-Keeping [0.3 MB]
• Group Discussion Exercise [8.4 MB]

Tips for encountering grooming equipment on trails.

This social-media meme promotes the importance of groomers on snowmobile trails.

Use this press release about trail grooming for distribution in newsletters to club members or send to local media and social media groups