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Snowmobile Trail Grooming and Structures

Public Act (PA) 451 of 1994, as amended, defines the rights and restrictions for operating a snowmobile within the State highway Right-of-Way and establishes that the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) has jurisdiction over the establishment of two way snowmobile trails within the State highway Right-of-Way. The Michigan Department of Natural Resources (MDNR) must officially designate the trail and add it to their statewide recreational and snowmobile trail system prior to MDOT permit approval. 

Permission from the adjacent property owners must be granted prior to use of the State highway Right-of-Way.

Applicants must submit an individual permit application package and proof of the existence of an MDNR officially designated trail through the Construction Permit System (CPS) with the following, if applicable:

  • Special Conditions for Snowmobile Trail Structures, (Form 3715), is required if the permit application is for a snowmobile structure
  • Special Permit Conditions for Grooming Snowmobile Trails, (Form 3714), is required for snowmobile trail grooming.

When the permit application is for a snowmobile structure, MDNR shall be the permit applicant.  When the permit application is for snowmobile trail grooming, the permit applicant shall be the organization that is grooming the trail.