Officers Corner

Who decides when to open or close trails in Winnebago Co.? 

Ever wonder how the decision to open or close our trails is made?

It’s not just the number of inches of snow or the Parks dept. decision, but rather the local clubs communicating together amongst themselves and the County Snowmobile Alliance.   And because we live in an agriculture region, we have to take landowner concerns into consideration.  Winnebago County also has many water hazards, which create safety concerns.

Local clubs take all this into consideration and determine what is best for their landowner concerns and the general safety of snowmobilers, then make their decision. This decision is then passed onto the County Alliance through each club’s trail bosses. The Alliance then contacts the County Parks Dept., telling them which zones should be opened or closed.

History has taught us snow amounts can be quite different throughout the County. This is the reason for the different zones on our trail map. The zones were created primarily by grooming responsibilities. The clubs that own groomers are responsible for the grooming in each zone. They usually have the best knowledge of trail conditions and determining if trails should be open and what hazards to be concerned with.

So, be patient when calling to find out if trails are opened or closed. It’s not as simple as turning a light switch on and off. If you have questions as to why trails in your area are opened or closed contact your local club, because ultimately they are making the decision in that area. If you don’t belong to a local club, perhaps you should join one! Check out our clubs on this web site and join now!

Mark Bombinski, Pres.
Winnebago Co. SnowmobileAlliance