Out of state trail permits for WI & MI can be pricy. 1 sled not so bad 4 sleds down right expensive. People are cutting back living by budgets so probably will make a choice WI or MI. Me I have both & use both a lot but live on WI / MI border. Some families will not buy both to save some trip bucks. Just sayin it will work that way for some people the higher the cost becomes.
Price of Michigan trail permit last year?
- Thread starter skidoo50
- Start date
I can't imagaine $10 is going to keep anyone from riding in MI. Even $40 for 4 sleds.
polarisrider1
New member
Thank you Dave B. Makes sense to me.
polarisrider1
New member
Don't blame MSA. I signed up each child in my family as they were born as life members in MSA. oldest is 26. What a deal. I have been a life member for about 26 years myself. Paid like $100 or $150, don't remember.
Under employed & unemployed puts % around 20% of people that are stressed to make ends meet. If they don't cut costs on permits some riders can't afford to make the trip or will come less often shorter stays to save bucks. When I changed jobs in winter sleddin took a back seat = no trips rode local trails & not much of that either. Again just saying rising costs will hurt & deter some riders just that way it is now days.
What do you think an appropriate price is? What should they cut to get the price down to that? Less trail maintenance, bridge building, grooming, etc.? Or should more support come from the state via gas taxes or some other support? Should the funding instead be paid via a local-option sales tax instead of a user fee (trail permit)? Just wondering what other ideas are out there to fund the trails other than trail permits.
If I remember correctly, a large chunk of the increase is going towards the purchase of permanent trail easements.
Personally I have been pleased by the quality of grooming in the UP (I don't ride in lower Michigan). I have much more of an issue with how the DNR seems to exist to collecting fees by hiding and watching for those rolling through stop signs (like me).
If I remember correctly, a large chunk of the increase is going towards the purchase of permanent trail easements.
Personally I have been pleased by the quality of grooming in the UP (I don't ride in lower Michigan). I have much more of an issue with how the DNR seems to exist to collecting fees by hiding and watching for those rolling through stop signs (like me).
polarisrider1
New member
$50 would be fair. Rolling through stop signs is usually what they hit me for to, but again it is illegal. I buy 4 permits per year for my sled and sometimes the Canada permit. So deaf ears from me on this issue. In Michigan for $50 most of you all are actually riding the trails. All my permits are to, use the trails to a minimum, and to get me to the "off trail".
I wouldn't think under/unemployed people will be making any trips north anyway, atleast if it were me. Go north or pay bills should be an easy choice to make if you're in that situation. I would hope all hobbies would take a back seat.
No doubt. If you are that bad off being unemployed the sleds go up for sale.
bearrassler
Well-known member
$45.00 for a permit is well worth it if that is where you ride. Snowmobiling is not cheap and is getting more expensive every year, but if you are from out of state and want to take a 3 or 4 day trip somewhere, and Wisconsin or northern Minnesota are similar distances and the trail fee is $16.00 (MN), and you have 3 or 4 sleds to purchase the permits for, it might help make your decision as to where to go. We used to go to Canada almost every year and have not been there for 8 years because of permit fees and money exchange.
chords
Active member
If I have this right
09/10 was $25
10/11 $35 - whats another $10
11/12 $45 - whats yet another $10
It has nearly doubled in cost from 2 riding seasons ago - whats another $20
For a MI rider a short drive away or anyone who can pound out hundreds of miles a month, $20 may be worth it. But for groups or familys wanting a destination of the UP or Lower, the "out of pocket " or trip cost can add up for any short MI trips or limited MI riding, times 2/3/4 sleds.
09/10 was $25
10/11 $35 - whats another $10
11/12 $45 - whats yet another $10
It has nearly doubled in cost from 2 riding seasons ago - whats another $20
For a MI rider a short drive away or anyone who can pound out hundreds of miles a month, $20 may be worth it. But for groups or familys wanting a destination of the UP or Lower, the "out of pocket " or trip cost can add up for any short MI trips or limited MI riding, times 2/3/4 sleds.
xsledder
Active member
How do you boil a frog. Put it in a pot of cold water and slowly turn up the heat. Even Wisconsin is doing it. Started out at $15, then $18, then $25, now $30. 100% increase since they started it. So, Wisconsin should be raising theirs to $40 or $45 since the UP is there.
I just wonder when it is going to stop?
polarisrider1
New member
I gave up fishing when the license went from $12 to $15. I guess fishing just wasn't a priority to me. I can't look any one in the eye and say the permit is to much after spending over $11,000 for one new sled. The increase to have good trails is worth it. The cost of maintaining trails has gone up like everything else. Our wages, has no influence as to the cost per mile to maintain trails at the level the snowmobiling public demands. It does affect if you can still come out and play. I grew up on the West Michigan Snowmobile trail and clearly remember bridges being nothing more than skids thrown into a creek. The clubs had no money for a groomer and had to beg landowners for permission to run across their corn fields. We still had fun but heck it was 1972 and our sleds usually broke down within site of home anyways. This went on for a couple decades. Now we run on state of the art trails with state of the art sleds. We, the consumer wanted this and the MSA and local clubs went to work for us, to get us that. Now you complain that it has a price. Get real folks. For the price of a few packs of smokes or a meal for 4 at Arby's you get to ride any and all trails in the upper and lower Michigan and to see our State for all the beauty it offers. Invest in your snowmobiling future and Join the MSA.
The point is everything regarding a snowmobile trip is going up. Vehicle and snowmobile gas. Oil. Lodging. Sleds. Food. Clothing. Gear. Income isn't increasing as fast as costs are. It is an expensive sport/hobby but we're getting to the point we do have to walk a tightrope. If I save $75 on gas, it's an extra night at a closer destination. I live in Minneapolis and it's a long drive up to the U P. Gas is $1/gallon more this year. Everything is more money. I hate it but I'll have to check out riding options closer to home. I've gone to the U P every year in my 8 years of riding, sometimes 3 times a month. Will it be the 1st year I skip the U P?? I'm spoiled by the perfect conditions..... ( a couple years ago I did 516 miles in one day on an '08 Yamaha Phazer in the U P. Snow and trails were perfect!!!) Will I still have fun driving on dirt, rocks and ungroomed trails in MN? Will WI have good snow?? It's not just expensive trail stickers, everything adds up. When will we get a break??? Why does snowmobiling have to be so dang much fun????
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polarisrider1
New member
It's an addiction. Ride the trails in MI. avoid the rocks,sticks, dirt and ungroomed trails. Ten dollars doesn't buy much in the way of parts.
I think it's going to stay constant for 5 years now. I am not trying to sound like a ****, but look at the MSA website and there are explanations for the increases (at least there were last year). There is way more grooming than there used to be, trails are now maintained to a different standard, etc. I know people are pissed, but it's better to try to understand the causes for the increases than to complain on here about it. The MSA is open to feedback.
Like I said before when your income drops something has to go and my MSA membership and the Raffle Tickets I always bought are optional. The Stickers are mandatory and required. If I am going to be able to continue to ride my Sled some items will have to be cut. Our business is off by about 40% and I do not see a change until we have a new election and the big Lib is sent back to Chicago.
A new higher TAX does not always increase revenues, and I will bet anyone a Pastie at Krupps that Trail Permit sales will drop this year.
A new higher TAX does not always increase revenues, and I will bet anyone a Pastie at Krupps that Trail Permit sales will drop this year.