Trail News

Review these trail etiquette and group riding guidelines to help improve your trail riding experience.

• Keep to the right.
• Always yield to to the vehicle ascending a hill, versus the ones descending on a single trail.
• Smaller groups yield to larger groups riding on a single trail.
• Slower group permits faster group to pass on a single trail.
• Use hand signals to indicate number in party. Last in party indicates last by raised fist. (see graphic)
• When passing another vehicle, slow down to keep air born debris to a minimum.
• Yield to larger vehicles.
• When encountering someone on horseback, it's best to stop the vehicle and turn off the engine. Let the horse rider indicate when it's safe to continue.

Local clubs are the heart of any outdoor recreation system. The trail ambassador program in Wisconsin encourages participation from local clubs. We are very proud to have 15 active trail ambassador members in Turf and Tundra.

The trail ambassador program provides a presence on the trail systems with volunteers to reassure the public there is a group watching over them and the trail system they are enjoying. 

From reporting dangerous conditions on the trail system, to talking with riders about how to enjoy their sport while taking the necessary precautions to protect themselves are few of the many duties of a trail ambassador. If you have an interest, you can learn more at www.trailambassador.com. If you would like to speak to one of our club ambassadors you can email Garry or Eric.

Should you come across an emergency situation on the trail, call 911 and assist if possible. Once first responders are onsite, you might consider assisting with traffic or securing the site.

If you run across some bad behavior on the trail you can text our lead ambassador at 651-470-3904 and he will contact the Local Sheriff or DNR Officer.

• From the Friday of Memorial Day weekend through September 15, when trails are officially opened, you may operate your ATV/UTV on State-funded Summer Use Trails only. These trails are marked with white blazers. Only machines meeting the State definition of an ATV/UTV are allowed on these trails. (See Summer Use ATV Trail Map for trail locations.) All other trails are closed to ATV/UTV use. Please contact individual townships for their rules and regulations for ATV/UTV use on their town roads this time of year.
• From September 16 through November 30, you may operate your registered ATV/UTV on existing snowmobile trails, fire lanes, and logging roads on Burnett County Forest Lands. Logging roads must be at least eight-feet wide in order to ride on them. No off-trail use is allowed and operation on private lands is illegal unless you have permission from the private landowner. Please contact individual townships for their rules and regulations for ATV/UTV use on their town roads this time of year. These trails are also currently multi-use trails, which means that any street legal, licensed vehicle can be on these trails. No off-road motorcycles are allowed on our trails or on Burnett County Forest Lands at any time. Trails are not being maintained during this time of year. It is your responsibility to know whose property you are on. Additional information (PDF)...
• From December 1 through March 31, once trails have been officially opened, you may ride your ATV/UTV on State-funded, winter-use trails when a four-inch groomed snow base is present. These trails are shown on the Winter Use Trail Map and are marked with blue blazers. If there is no snow, the Frozen Ground ATV Winter Trail will be open for use once conditions are favorable. These trails are marked with green blazers. All other trails are closed to ATV/UTV use. Please contact individual townships for their rules and regulations for ATV/UTV use on their town roads this time of year. Go to Trail Updates for current conditions.

• From April 1 to the Friday of Memorial Day Weekend, all Burnett County Forest Lands are closed. 
• When County or State Emergency Fire Regulations are in effect, or when Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR) wildfire danger is posted at a Red Flag Alert.
• When trails or roads have been gated, signed, or bermed as closed to motorized vehicles.