On the trails with Rural Cass Snowmobile Club

ND Parks and Recreation Department owns a fleet of 14 groomers and drags.  The use and management of this equipment is contracted to Snowmobile North Dakota.  They require all groomer operators to have taken a state Groomer Certification Class in order to operate the equipment.  This class is held at Snowmobile North Dakota’s annual convention.

Classes outside of the convention are considered Remote Groomer Certification Classes and are scheduled as requested by the state trail associations.  After completing the class, new operators are required to spend four hours grooming with an experienced groomer operator (someone that has groomed for the state snowmobile trail program in previous years.)  During the four hours, the new operator is required to observe the experienced groomer operate the equipment for two hours.  The remaining two hours, the experienced groomer operator must observe and monitor the new groomer operate the equipment.

Groomer operators are paid employees of the state snowmobile trail system.  However, to help reduce costs for the program, many groomer operators donate their time.

Snowmobilers ages 12 and older must possess a Snowmobile Safety Certification or a driver’s license to legally operate on public land, including ditches and state snowmobile trails.  Register for upcoming certification classes in your area.  To find a class in your area call 701-328-5348 or visit the Snowmobile Safety Class Calendar.

Youth also can take a snowmobile safety course online.

Snowmobile North Dakota receives contract dollars from ND Parks and Recreation Department.  These contract dollars are pulled from the state snowmobile fund, which is generated by snowmobile registrations and a portion of gas tax.  The state snowmobile trail program assumes 70% of the trail grooming equipment, 100% of the trail insurance and 90% of the trail sign expenses.  The remaining funds are used to assist trail associations with grooming operation costs.  A large portion of grooming operation costs are funded locally through club events and community grants.

On average it costs over $114,000 to maintain just one of the 14 trail systems in the state.   The state snowmobile trail program has leveraged trail expenses with grant funding, making it possible to maintain over 2,800 miles of trail, even if there is no snow to groom.