MINNESOTA UNITED SNOWMOBILE ASSOCIATION FOR THE SPORT OF IT

Contact: Randy Baudler

PO Box 444

Osseo, MN 55428

Phone: 763-420-5526

Northwest Trails Association was formed as a non-profit volunteer organization in 1973. The Trail Association's aim is to build and maintain snowmobile trails in northwestern Hennepin County, with the help of the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources and their Grant-in-Aid Program.

The Association, after many years of hard work by dedicated volunteers, has created over 150 miles of groomed trails throughout northwestern Hennepin County for all to enjoy. Permission to construct and maintain these trails has been granted by private landowners as well as government agencies. Our trail runs through the park reserves of Crow-Hassen, and Elm Creek, Baker and Lake Rebecca. The Wright Country Trail System is accessible from several locations.

Our success with the trail system, and the success of snowmobiling as a sport, is owed to the willingness of landowners who let snowmobilers travel on their private property. We as an association are very grateful to all the landowners for extending this privilege to Northwest Trails and the snowmobilers who use the trails.

It takes many hours of volunteered labor to mark and maintain our trail system throughout the year. We begin putting out the trail signs in October, for the December 1st trail opening and then remove them in April. The trails are groomed using 2 modern Tucker Sno-Cats and our custom built drags. Driver training is held in early December for all members interested in operating the groomers.

We feel the future of snowmobiling depends on all snowmobilers working together to promote the sport. Being a member of Northwest Trails Association is a way to promote safe, responsible snowmobiling as well as supporting a good local trail system to snowmobile on.

Family involvement is encouraged. Our social activities include: dinner outings, club trail rides. Youth Safety Training is provide each fall by own dedicated DNR trained instructors. All youths age 12-15 are encouraged to participate.