Here's what the Wisconsin Trail Pass looks like

renegade600

Active member
Couple of things on this that are still "grey areas" for me.....

I have several sleds and am a WI resident.... A couple of sleds still have active regisration from previous... am i buying a trail pass for those sleds.. seems to me this should be covered on the "old" system.....When they come due then go to the new registration/trail pass...

Also, I find it kind of backwards that a non-resident can go into a service center and buy a trail pass, but myself being a resident has to order through the DNR (we are not members of a club).....Unless I'm missing something...

Good thing I pulled all the original stickers off my sled so i can sticker bomb it with registrations..... blech :)
 

whitedust

Well-known member
Couple of things on this that are still "grey areas" for me.....

I have several sleds and am a WI resident.... A couple of sleds still have active regisration from previous... am i buying a trail pass for those sleds.. seems to me this should be covered on the "old" system.....When they come due then go to the new registration/trail pass...

Also, I find it kind of backwards that a non-resident can go into a service center and buy a trail pass, but myself being a resident has to order through the DNR (we are not members of a club).....Unless I'm missing something...

Good thing I pulled all the original stickers off my sled so i can sticker bomb it with registrations..... blech :)

Unless using on WI private land all sleds using WI trails need a trail pass for 2015/2016 season. Your best bet is to join a club for for multiple sleds costs way less at $10 vs $30 per sled non club member.
 

jr37

Well-known member
Couple of things on this that are still "grey areas" for me.....

I have several sleds and am a WI resident.... A couple of sleds still have active regisration from previous... am i buying a trail pass for those sleds.. seems to me this should be covered on the "old" system.....When they come due then go to the new registration/trail pass...

Also, I find it kind of backwards that a non-resident can go into a service center and buy a trail pass, but myself being a resident has to order through the DNR (we are not members of a club).....Unless I'm missing something...

Good thing I pulled all the original stickers off my sled so i can sticker bomb it with registrations..... blech :)



You need to buy a Trail Pass for all sleds that ride the trails, even it has a registration that doesn't expire until next year.

As far as buying the Trail Pass like out of state riders do, that is still a work in progress. This year we will need to buy them through the AWSC office or the DNR. By next season there hopefully will be other ways to buy them, I know they are working on it.
 

renegade600

Active member
You need to buy a Trail Pass for all sleds that ride the trails, even it has a registration that doesn't expire until next year.

As far as buying the Trail Pass like out of state riders do, that is still a work in progress. This year we will need to buy them through the AWSC office or the DNR. By next season there hopefully will be other ways to buy them, I know they are working on it.

The part about trail passes for the existing registration is interesting, this is the first time I heard of this "double dipping" on the part of the DNR. I have not received any notice on those sleds that this is needed (as opposed to the one sled that comes due this year).

Hopefully, they will have the trail pass thing ironed out. At least this year they should be able to send out "X" amount of trail passes in one shot so each sled does not need to be mailed back and forth.

Out of state trail pass is $50. In state with registration is $10 per year (for (3) year tag) and an additional $30 for the pass, for a total of $40 per year per sled. This is only a savings of $10 per year if I'm a tax paying resident.
 

whitedust

Well-known member
The part about trail passes for the existing registration is interesting, this is the first time I heard of this "double dipping" on the part of the DNR. I have not received any notice on those sleds that this is needed (as opposed to the one sled that comes due this year).

Hopefully, they will have the trail pass thing ironed out. At least this year they should be able to send out "X" amount of trail passes in one shot so each sled does not need to be mailed back and forth.

Out of state trail pass is $50. In state with registration is $10 per year (for (3) year tag) and an additional $30 for the pass, for a total of $40 per year per sled. This is only a savings of $10 per year if I'm a tax paying resident.

Join a club & go to AWSC website really very easy & can order all your trail passes for multiple sleds at 1 time. Mail delivery has been really fast so far.
 

jr37

Well-known member
The part about trail passes for the existing registration is interesting, this is the first time I heard of this "double dipping" on the part of the DNR. I have not received any notice on those sleds that this is needed (as opposed to the one sled that comes due this year).

Hopefully, they will have the trail pass thing ironed out. At least this year they should be able to send out "X" amount of trail passes in one shot so each sled does not need to be mailed back and forth.

Out of state trail pass is $50. In state with registration is $10 per year (for (3) year tag) and an additional $30 for the pass, for a total of $40 per year per sled. This is only a savings of $10 per year if I'm a tax paying resident.


The new Trail Pass took effect July 1st, along with the new 3 year sled registration. The Trail Pass is yearly, registration is a 3 year. I don't think it is double dipping by having you buy a Trail Pass this year for a sled that has a registration that expires next year. That sled should be treated the same as a sled that requires a new registration, or a renewal, this year. I think it would only be double dipping if you were required to renew your registration this year, on a sled that didn't expire until next year.
 

eagle1

Well-known member
In state sleds can only get the trail pass through the AWSC or the DNR. Not Walmart or Fleet Farm.

Isn't that where DNR sells they're stuff like Hunting,fishing licenses,stamps?? So we have to go to actual DNR station?

What if you ride only lakes, like people who ice fish, you still need a pass?
 

whitedust

Well-known member
Isn't that where DNR sells they're stuff like Hunting,fishing licenses,stamps?? So we have to go to actual DNR station?

What if you ride only lakes, like people who ice fish, you still need a pass?

State owns all lake surface people can own land surrounding lakes,some lakes have marked trails crossing them. With that said I have never seen sleds stopped on remote lakes with no trail access so pretty good odds you could ride those without being stopped for not having a trail pass but spltting hairs at that point. Phelps allows road riding to trails & lakes but I would not do that without a trail pass. Usually boils down to only place you don't need a trail pass is on private land. U can buy your WI trail pass online & by phone from DNR or AWSC over the counter purchase would be a waste of time imo.....much easier ways to do it & mail delivers to your door your step. Only delay I see is for last minute snow chasing purchase that could be a problem or buying in season sled that does not have a current trail pass not sure how fast that will go?
 

renegade600

Active member
The new Trail Pass took effect July 1st, along with the new 3 year sled registration. The Trail Pass is yearly, registration is a 3 year. I don't think it is double dipping by having you buy a Trail Pass this year for a sled that has a registration that expires next year. That sled should be treated the same as a sled that requires a new registration, or a renewal, this year. I think it would only be double dipping if you were required to renew your registration this year, on a sled that didn't expire until next year.
Bought a new/used sled in March (from dealer) for next season, had to purchase registration under old system with registration good only one year (2016)... now a trail pass on top of it. Looks like double dipping for anyone who bought a sled this last winter (did not get pro-rated for the (1) year)....I do understand the new system, but maybe just a unique chain of events....
 

whitedust

Well-known member
Bought a new/used sled in March (from dealer) for next season, had to purchase registration under old system with registration good only one year (2016)... now a trail pass on top of it. Looks like double dipping for anyone who bought a sled this last winter (did not get pro-rated for the (1) year)....I do understand the new system, but maybe just a unique chain of events....

Out with the old in with the new system does sound like you got screwed on old registration system.....something I didn't know....interesting.
 

longtrack

Member
If you want a $30 Resident Trail pass you can buy it at Fleet Farm or Walmart. I just read it again on the AWSC Website.

You have to go thru AWSC to get the discounted one.

AWSC also says only needed for public Trail, they do not say Lakes or Roads. "TRAIL"

The Wisconsin Trail Pass is $30 for snowmobilers who are not members of a snowmobile club and the Association of Wisconsin Snowmobile Clubs (AWSC). This pass may be ordered online or purchased at any DNR license sales agent. Trail passes will be delivered by U.S. Mail.

All snowmobiles operating in Wisconsin will be required to display a Wisconsin Trail Pass to operate on trails and corridors. The pass will be 3” x 3” and required to be placed on the lower center of the windshield
 

eagle1

Well-known member
Thanks longtrack, that clears things up a lot.
Here's a chart to figure out what everyone needs.


 
This is from the DNR site:


The snowmobile trail pass is:
snowtrailpass.png



nrsnowtrailpass.png




  • an annual pass valid until June 30 each year.
  • separate from snowmobile registration.
  • a 3” x 3” decal required to be permanently affixed to the bottom center portion of the snowmobile windshield.
  • not required to operate on private property, on a snow route, or on frozen water if not on a marked corridor.
 
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