Ride Northwest Minnesota
We're a sled shop in Fosston, smack in the middle of ~1,600 miles of groomed club trail. This is our riders' cheat sheet: maps, trail conditions, the rules, and the local clubs who make it all happen.
Trail maps & conditions
MN DNR map of every state & club trail. Works on your phone. Snow Depth & Grooming →
DNR's weekly snow depth and groomed-trail report, by county. MN Snowmobile Regs (PDF) →
The official rulebook: speed, lights, trespass, youth rules. Registration & Trail Pass →
Renew online or find a deputy registrar.
Want a paper map? Call the DNR Info Center at 888-646-6367 (M–F 8–6, Sat 8–4:30) and they'll mail you free state trail maps.
Trails near Fosston
These local clubs groom the Grant-in-Aid trails around us. Miles are from the MN DNR FY2025 Grant-in-Aid list.
| Club / trail system | Area | Trail miles |
|---|---|---|
| Knightriders (our home trails) | Fosston | 209.7 |
| Clearwater Trail Blazers | Clearwater Co. | 192.7 |
| Sandhill Snowcruisers | Polk Co. | 153.8 |
| SE Mahnomen Co. trails | Mahnomen Co. | 141.3 |
| Wapiti & 4G North | Pennington Co. | 121.7 |
| Riverland | Red Lake Co. | 112.1 |
| Oklee Moonlighters / Riverland East | Red Lake Co. | 32.0 |
| Crookston Driftbusters | Polk Co. | 60.2 |
| Fourtown–Grygla Snowmobile Trails | Beltrami Co. | 201.5 |
| North Country Trails | Beltrami Co. | 372.8 |
| Total | 1,597.8 |
Clubs run on volunteers and memberships. Find and join one through the Minnesota United Snowmobilers Association (MnUSA). And thank a groomer.
Before you ride: the quick rules
- Registration: MN trail-use registration is $105 (+$8.50 issuing fee) and is good for 3 years.
- Out-of-state sled? You need a MN State Trail Pass: $50 (+$1 issuing), valid Nov 1 – Jun 30.
- Non-trail (yellow decal) sleds can't ride state or Grant-in-Aid trails, including road ditches.
- Safety certificate: Minnesota residents born after Dec. 31, 1976 need a snowmobile safety certificate (nonresidents 18+ are exempt). Youth riders have extra rules, so check the regs.
- When do trails open? Riding can start as early as Dec. 1, but only once the ground's frozen, there's about 12 in. of snow, and the clubs have cleared, signed, and opened gates. Stay off closed trails; landowners give us these trails.
- Ice: DNR recommends at least 5–7 in. of new, clear ice for a sled. No ice is ever 100% safe.
- Don't drink and ride. Alcohol is a factor in more than 60% of fatal MN snowmobile crashes (MN DNR).
Ride-ready checklist
Also pack: a charged phone, tow strap, basic tools, a headlamp, and a printed or downloaded map. Cell service gets spotty out in the woods.
Stop in before you head out
Riding through Fosston? Visit our showroom for gear, belts, plugs, oil, and local trail talk!