Saturday, January 06, 2007

Gitchi-Gami State Trail a Snowmobile Route?


There is a question raised in the comment from Rhonda Silence. Are snowmobiles permitted on the Gitchi-Gami State Trail? The DNR says no motorized vehicles, including snowmobiles. The signs say no motorized vehicles.
The snowmobilers feel that they have been told they can run their sleds - motorized, of course - on the Gitchi-Gami State Trail; that contrary to the signage and the regulations they feel have been promised by the DNR that the regulations and the signs do not apply to them because of representations made to them as the trail was being developed.
Others feel that a trail built specifically for exclusive, year round, bicycle and pedestrian traffic under a program that dedicates it for those uses and prohibits motorized vehicles by law, and is posted to reflect those restrictions is indeed not to be a snowmobile route.
Who is right?
With the lack of snow it is sort of a moot point so far this winter, except for the previously noted incident, but it is an important issue relating to pedestrian safety in the winter time and the rights the snowmobilers have to operate their sleds in Grand Marais.
Where is the DNR Trails and Waterways when you really need them?
True

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