Temporary re-routes open snowmobile trail system

[iceman]

The snowmobile trails in Beltrami Island State Forest and Lake of the Woods County are changing. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and local club members have identified temporary routes using forest roads, unmaintained forest roads and management routes to be signed and groomed starting March 3 and continuing until the snow melts this year.
Logging is occurring in the forest and snowmobile riders are reminded to use caution on all plowed portions of the re-routes. The DNR is working with local clubs to permanently re-route the trails before the 2007-08 snowmobile season.
The temporary re-routes were made to address a recent decision by the Red Lake Band of Chippewa Indians to close approximately 10 miles of snowmobile trails in Beltrami Island State Forest and Lake of the Woods County. Due to the sovereign status of the Red Lake Band, tribal lands are private lands and should be respected as such. They are not posted in any unique way. As is the case with all private lands, snowmobile riders who cross tribal lands without permission from the Red Lake Band could be cited with trespass. For more information, contact the Red Lake Band Department of Natural Resources at (218) 679-3959.
“While we work through the re-routes over the next year, we are asking riders to stay off Red Lake tribal lands,” said Mike Carroll, DNR northwest region director. “Make sure you know where you are when riding in the vicinity of the reservation and tribal lands and treat those lands just like you would private property.”
For more information about the trails impacted, see the DNR Web site at www.dnr.state.mn.us or contact the Thief River Falls DNR office at (218) 681-0889.