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Rules to Snowmobile by in Iowa
In Iowa, snowmobiles must be registered on an annual basis at $15 per
year plus writing fees. An antique registration is available for $25 for
snowmobiles 30 years and older. By early 2006, renewals can be made
electronically, and only the issued sticker/decal is required to be affixed on
the sled. Registration numbers are not.
Effective in 2006, $15 trail passes are required for non-resident
snowmobilers in Iowa and may be purchased electronically at any agent
where hunting and fishing licenses are sold. Trails are patrolled by a fleet
of IDNR recreational safety officers.
What follows here are other general rules and regulations to follow in Iowa:
see while out on Iowa's snowmobile trails. Additional signs as well as the
complete rules and regulations governing the sport of snowmobiling in
Iowa can be found in the online version (.pdf) of the Iowa Department of
Natural Resources' '2005 Iowa Snowmobile Regulations' manual.
In Iowa, snowmobiles must be registered on an annual basis at $15 per
year plus writing fees. An antique registration is available for $25 for
snowmobiles 30 years and older. By early 2006, renewals can be made
electronically, and only the issued sticker/decal is required to be affixed on
the sled. Registration numbers are not.
Effective in 2006, $15 trail passes are required for non-resident
snowmobilers in Iowa and may be purchased electronically at any agent
where hunting and fishing licenses are sold. Trails are patrolled by a fleet
of IDNR recreational safety officers.
What follows here are other general rules and regulations to follow in Iowa:
- Ride Safe.
- Zero Tolerance on Alcohol.
- Stay on Trails. Do Not Trespass.
- No Safety Flag Required.
- No ATVs on snowmobile trails.
- Snowmobile Must Be Currently Registered in County of Residence.
- Certain Restrictions Apply to Riders Under 18 Years of Age.
see while out on Iowa's snowmobile trails. Additional signs as well as the
complete rules and regulations governing the sport of snowmobiling in
Iowa can be found in the online version (.pdf) of the Iowa Department of
Natural Resources' '2005 Iowa Snowmobile Regulations' manual.
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Please Notifiy ISSA of Any Corrections
The ISSA-endorsed IDNR mandate of GPSing all snowmobile trails in
Iowa is nearly complete, according to ISSA President Merv Hoermann and
ISSA Trails Specialist Terry Durby.
A map updated through May of 2007 is located at right.
"Please look over the map with a fine tooth comb. If your area looks
okay or if you see your area is not complete, please let Terry Durby know
either way," Hoermann said. "It sure would be nice to finally finish up this
map, so it could be made available by this coming snow season."
According to Durby, digitizing trail maps is essential to creating a
statewide network of trails and to make it easier for non-local
snowmobilers to find their way around the fields, ditches and wooded river
bottoms of Iowa.
The ISSA currently owns seven handheld Magellan Meridian Gold
GPS units, and they are available for use by member-clubs. Reserve one
today by contacting your respective ISSA Region Director. Instructions
(.pdf) for plotting a trail map with GPS technology are available here.
Completed maps and downloads should be emailed to either Durby or
to Molly Oliverson at the IDNR. Memory cards may be also be mailed. For
more information, contact Durby at (641) 903-9294.
The ISSA-endorsed IDNR mandate of GPSing all snowmobile trails in
Iowa is nearly complete, according to ISSA President Merv Hoermann and
ISSA Trails Specialist Terry Durby.
A map updated through May of 2007 is located at right.
"Please look over the map with a fine tooth comb. If your area looks
okay or if you see your area is not complete, please let Terry Durby know
either way," Hoermann said. "It sure would be nice to finally finish up this
map, so it could be made available by this coming snow season."
According to Durby, digitizing trail maps is essential to creating a
statewide network of trails and to make it easier for non-local
snowmobilers to find their way around the fields, ditches and wooded river
bottoms of Iowa.
The ISSA currently owns seven handheld Magellan Meridian Gold
GPS units, and they are available for use by member-clubs. Reserve one
today by contacting your respective ISSA Region Director. Instructions
(.pdf) for plotting a trail map with GPS technology are available here.
Completed maps and downloads should be emailed to either Durby or
to Molly Oliverson at the IDNR. Memory cards may be also be mailed. For
more information, contact Durby at (641) 903-9294.
Event Permits from IDNR
Snowmobile clubs in Iowa which sponsor functions throughout the
year are reminded by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources to request
Special Event Permits from the department four weeks prior to a scheduled
event.
According to Snowmobile Program Coordinator David Downing, this
paperwork procedure--which has been on the books for better than 30
years--informs local authorities of the functions and ensures “everybody is
on the same page and insured.”
Events include but are not limited to snowmobile grass and ice drags,
radar runs and fun runs. There is no charge for the permit, and forms can
be obtained by contacting Downing’s office at (515) 281-3449 or david.
downing@dnr.state.ia.us.
“Our officers can and will shut you down if you fail to secure a
permit,” Downing said. “Also remember if your event involves children 12
to 18, they must have their snowmobile youth safety certificates in their
possession.”
Snowmobile clubs in Iowa which sponsor functions throughout the
year are reminded by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources to request
Special Event Permits from the department four weeks prior to a scheduled
event.
According to Snowmobile Program Coordinator David Downing, this
paperwork procedure--which has been on the books for better than 30
years--informs local authorities of the functions and ensures “everybody is
on the same page and insured.”
Events include but are not limited to snowmobile grass and ice drags,
radar runs and fun runs. There is no charge for the permit, and forms can
be obtained by contacting Downing’s office at (515) 281-3449 or david.
downing@dnr.state.ia.us.
“Our officers can and will shut you down if you fail to secure a
permit,” Downing said. “Also remember if your event involves children 12
to 18, they must have their snowmobile youth safety certificates in their
possession.”
| Copyright 2003-08 Iowa State Snowmobile Association. All Rights Reserved. Questions or comments? webmaster@iowasnowmobiler.com |
| Iowa GPS trail map. Click to enlarge. |
Having trouble getting a landowner to sign a snowmobile
trail lease in Iowa? David Downing with the Iowa
Department of Natural Resources offers the following:
trail lease in Iowa? David Downing with the Iowa
Department of Natural Resources offers the following:
