Good snow means great cross-country ski trail conditions (February 13, 2008)
Good snow means Minnesota’s more than 1,800 miles of grant-in-aid and state-operated cross-country ski trails are in great condition. “We’ve seen an increase over last year in ski trail use as a result of good snow and trail conditions,” said Andrew Korsberg, Trail Program coordinator for the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR). “People are dusting off their skis and buying ski passes to take advantage of winter.”
State law requires skiers to purchase and possess a daily, annual or three-year pass before using any grant-in-aid and state-operated cross-country ski trails. All money raised from the sale of cross-country ski passes supports 1,800 miles of designated cross-country ski trails throughout Minnesota.
“Purchasing a ski pass is an investment in the sport of skiing,” said Korsberg. “The money collected goes directly into the grant-in-aid program to maintain and groom ski trails across the state.”
Ski passes cost $5 for the daily, $15 for the annual, and $40 for the three-year pass. The Minnesota Legislature established the ski pass in 1983. The law requires skiers 16 years of age and older to have a valid Minnesota ski trail pass with them at all times while on a grant-in-aid or state designated trail. Skiers without a pass will be ticketed.
Ski trail information, locations, maps, grooming and conditions, and snow depths are available on the DNR Web site at
www.mndnr.gov/skiing/index.html.
Skiers may purchase passes at any one of nearly 1,800 electronic licensing agents throughout Minnesota and at most state parks that have ski trails. Annual and three-year passes may also be bought on line at
www.wildlifelicense.com/mn, by calling 1-888-665-4236, or by mail from DNR License Center, 500 Lafayette Road, St. Paul, MN 55155-4026. Passes ordered by mail require approximately two weeks for delivery. A $3.50 convenience fee will be added to the sale of passes sold over the Internet or by phone.
