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DNR proposes 200 miles of ATV trails
Tom Meersman, Star Tribune
Published February 4, 2004 ATV04
State officials proposed Tuesday that more than 200 miles of existing roads and trails in five Minnesota state forests be approved for motorized recreation, mainly by all-terrain vehicles.
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR), which recommended the trails, will hold public meetings in April to hear citizens' comments before final routes are selected.
The trails are in Foot Hills State Forest in Cass County, and in four forests in Pine County: Nemadji, St. Croix, General C. C. Andrews and Chengwatana.
In the Foot Hills area, which already has about 30 miles of designated trails, officials proposed to designate 60 miles of roads and trails as open to all motorized vehicles and 44 miles for off-highway vehicles. Those areas would be signed for motorized use, and all other corridors -- about 170 miles of existing trails on state and adjacent county land -- would be off-limits to driving.
The plan for the four Pine County forests in east-central Minnesota would allow driving on about 100 miles of existing routes. Other areas in the forests would be closed to ATVs, dirt bikes and four-wheel-drive trucks.
DNR officials also reviewed Pillsbury State Forest, a relatively small area in southern Cass County that is popular with horseback riders, and proposed that it be closed to all motorized use. The closed classification would not apply to snowmobiles, which are now allowed in the area.
The proposals are the first in a series of recommendations that the DNR will issue this year. Last year the Legislature ordered it to inventory most state forests, determine which roads and trails are appropriate for motorized use, decide how many should be designated for those activities and close the rest.
DNR proposes 200 miles of ATV trails
Tom Meersman, Star Tribune
Published February 4, 2004 ATV04
State officials proposed Tuesday that more than 200 miles of existing roads and trails in five Minnesota state forests be approved for motorized recreation, mainly by all-terrain vehicles.
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR), which recommended the trails, will hold public meetings in April to hear citizens' comments before final routes are selected.
The trails are in Foot Hills State Forest in Cass County, and in four forests in Pine County: Nemadji, St. Croix, General C. C. Andrews and Chengwatana.
In the Foot Hills area, which already has about 30 miles of designated trails, officials proposed to designate 60 miles of roads and trails as open to all motorized vehicles and 44 miles for off-highway vehicles. Those areas would be signed for motorized use, and all other corridors -- about 170 miles of existing trails on state and adjacent county land -- would be off-limits to driving.
The plan for the four Pine County forests in east-central Minnesota would allow driving on about 100 miles of existing routes. Other areas in the forests would be closed to ATVs, dirt bikes and four-wheel-drive trucks.
DNR officials also reviewed Pillsbury State Forest, a relatively small area in southern Cass County that is popular with horseback riders, and proposed that it be closed to all motorized use. The closed classification would not apply to snowmobiles, which are now allowed in the area.
The proposals are the first in a series of recommendations that the DNR will issue this year. Last year the Legislature ordered it to inventory most state forests, determine which roads and trails are appropriate for motorized use, decide how many should be designated for those activities and close the rest.
