Aside from a few select exempt classifications*, all snowmobiles operating on a Wisconsin snowmobile trail or corridor must display a valid snowmobile trail pass whether registered in Wisconsin or another state.

Current Prairie Riders Members

If you are a member in good standing with the Prairie Riders for the current season, see this post for more information about buying a trail pass. 

Non-Member Wisconsin Residents

If you are not a current member of the Prairie Riders and need a Wisconsin snowmobile trail pass immediately,  see the options below.

If you are:

• • A current member of an AWSC-recognized club member who has a Wisconsin-registered snowmobile – You must have your AWSC member number (shown on your yellow membership card and on the cover of Wisconsin Snowmobile News) and your Wisconsin registration number. All trail passes are delivered by US mail but if you buy online, a temporary trail use receipt is issued to operate legally on snowmobile trails. Carry the receipt with you until your pass is delivered by US mail and affixed to your snowmobile’s windshield.
    Trail pass cost: $10
    Order at www.awsc.org
  • Not a current member of an AWSC-recognized snowmobile club but you do have a Wisconsin-registered snowmobile trail pass  – for a snowmobile registered in Wisconsin. All Wisconsin snowmobile trail passes will be shipped by US Mail within 2 business days to the address specified. A temporary trail use receipt is issued to operate legally on snowmobile trails. Carry the receipt with you until your pass is delivered by the US mail and affixed to your snowmobile’s windshield.
    Trail pass cost: $30
    Order online from the DNR or get from an in-person sales agent

If you not are a Wisconsin resident

If a nonresident needs a Wisconsin snowmobile trail pass immediately and you are:

• A current member of an AWSC-recognized club member who has a Wisconsin-registered snowmobile. Nonresidents of Wisconsin can register their snowmobiles in Wisconsin and join an AWSC-recognized club and qualify for a discounted trail pass as long as both registration and membership are in good standing. To purchase a snowmobile trail pass, you must have your AWSC member number (shown on your yellow membership card and on the cover of Wisconsin Snowmobile News) and your Wisconsin registration number. All trail passes are delivered by US mail but if you buy online, a temporary trail use receipt is issued to operate legally on snowmobile trails. Carry the receipt with you until your pass is delivered by US mail and affixed to your snowmobile’s windshield.
  Trail pass cost: $10
  Order at www.awsc.org

• Nonresident snowmobile trail pass ($50) – If you do not qualify for a discounted trail pass as a nonresident (see above), you must purchase a nonresident snowmobile trail pass. for a snowmobile registered in or in the process of being registered in another state, province or country. Available online, or at sales agent. All Wisconsin snowmobile trail passes will be shipped by US Mail within 2 business days to the address specified. A temporary trail use receipt is issued to operate legally on snowmobile trails. Carry the receipt with you until your pass is delivered by the U.S. Mail and affixed to your snowmobile’s windshield.
  Trail pass cost: $50
  Order online from the DNR or get from an in-person sales agent

In summary, the snowmobile trail pass fee is dependent upon whether the snowmobile for which you are purchasing the trail pass is registered in Wisconsin and whether the owner of that snowmobile is a member of a snowmobile club and the Association of Wisconsin Snowmobile Clubs (AWSC). You will need both your regsistration number and your AWSC member number, and they must match. The DNR will not honor refund requests if the snowmobile’s owner purchases a full-priced snowmobile trail pass and later purchases a club member pass at the discounted rate.

Snowmobile trail pass fees are non-refundable.

Why Does Wisconsin Have a Snowmobile Trail Pass?

Revenue generated from the sale of snowmobile registrations and Wisconsin Trail Passes goes to the segregated snowmobile account, which is used to maintain and develop Wisconsin’s snowmobile trails. Wisconsin’s trails are USER-FUNDED, not state funded. Your trail pass dollars are used to create, groom, brush and otherwise maintain Wisconsin snowmobile trails.

Wisconsin snowmobile trails are made possible by snowmobile club volunteers who provide the labor to brush, sign and groom the trails and the landowners who allow trails to cross their property.

For more details on finding a WI snowmobile club to join or further details on the WI Trail Pass, please visit the AWSC website at www.awsc.org. For more information on the Trail Pass and snowmobiling in WI, visit the WI DNR website at dnr.wi.gov and search “snowmobile” or call 1.888.936.7463.

*The following snowmobiles are exempt from displaying a trail pass:

• a snowmobile owned by the U.S., another state or political subdivision thereof if the owner’s name is displayed on the cowling.
• a snowmobile that is present in this state for a period not to exceed 15 days provided it is used exclusively as part of an advertisement being used for the manufacturer of the snowmobile.
• a snowmobile that is 35 years or older and displays antique registration.

Wisconsin snowmobile registration is effective for 3 years and costs $30.