North Dakota Snowmobile Registration and Trail Permit

Short answer: North Dakota does not sell a separate trail pass to its own residents. The trail tax is built into the registration. Every snowmobile run on public land by a North Dakota resident must be registered with the North Dakota Department of Transportation (NDDOT). The state lists the fee at $50 for a two-year period. Owners of out-of-state registered sleds buy a non-resident public trails and lands access permit instead. It costs $25 per year.

We checked the official North Dakota Parks and Recreation Department page on Oct. 31, 2026. It gives no fee year, so treat the figures as current as of that date. Residents register at NDDOT offices. Out-of-state riders buy the access permit through the state's online reservation site, which the Parks and Recreation page links to.

Rules and fees can change. The official page is the source: Snowmobile Permits & Registration.

Quick facts

Registration for North Dakota residents

The Parks and Recreation Department says all snowmobiles operated on public land must be registered with NDDOT at any of its statewide offices. The fee is $50 for a two-year period, and it must be paid in odd-numbered years.

State law explains the $50. Chapter 39-24 of the North Dakota Century Code sets a $5 registration fee and a $45 snowmobile trail tax for each snowmobile. The registration period is two years, beginning Oct. 1 of each odd-numbered year.

What else the law says about registration:

• The application must carry the owner's name and address. A copy of the application is carried on the sled and counts as proof of registration for up to 30 days.
• The registration number must be at least 1.5 inches high, reflective, and fixed on each side of the sled where it can be read.
• A lost or damaged number or card can be replaced for no more than $5.
• Sleds bought after July 1, 1973 must be titled under chapter 39-05 to be operated.
• If you sell the sled, move, or lose it, written notice to the director is due within 15 days.
• Dealers collect a $5 safety fee from the buyer on every new or used sale.

Bring your questions to an NDDOT office. We did not confirm an online registration option, so we do not claim one.

Out-of-state riders

Owners of out-of-state registered snowmobiles must buy a non-resident public trails and lands access permit. The cost is $25 per year.

The law adds these details:

• The permit must be displayed on the sled when it is run on public land in the state.
• For up to five business days after you buy it, an online or printed receipt can stand in for the permit.
• The permit applies to sleds exempt from North Dakota registration because they are validly licensed in another state and have not been in North Dakota more than 30 consecutive days, or because they are registered in another country and temporarily used here.

So the plan for a visitor is short. Keep your home registration current. Buy the $25 access permit. Display it.

Who is exempt from registration

State law lists these exemptions from registration and fees:

• Sleds owned and used by the United States or another state.
• Sleds run only on land the owner owns or leases.
• Sleds that cannot go faster than 10 miles per hour and have an engine under 100 cubic centimeters.
• Collector snowmobiles.

A collector snowmobile is 25 years old or older, was built as a separate make by a manufacturer, and is owned and used solely as a collector's item. The Parks and Recreation page lists a $5 title fee, and 5% motor vehicle excise tax is due when you apply for a title. The director can issue a special permit for parades, group outings and up to 10 days a year of personal transportation. The form is linked from the Parks and Recreation page.

Age rules and the safety course

North Dakota sets age rules in law and on the Parks and Recreation safety page.

The Parks and Recreation page says youth age 10 and older without a driver's license or permit must take a safety certification class. The certificate is needed to legally operate a sled on any public land. That includes the state trail system and ditches.

To get certified, you must be at least 10 and take the on-demand online Snowmobile Safety Course. The page also offers a free practice quiz. If you cannot show the certificate when an officer asks, the law treats that as presumptive evidence that you do not hold one. Carry it.

The Parks and Recreation Department also runs classes on request for agencies, nonprofits and private groups, depending on staff time. The page lists these group classes at about 4 hours.

Helmets, lights and insurance

• Anyone under 18 who operates or rides on a snowmobile must wear a helmet that meets U.S. Department of Transportation standards.
• A sled needs one headlamp, one taillamp and working brakes.
• A factory or equivalent muffler in good working order is required.
• On property run by the Parks and Recreation Department that is open to the public for sled use, you need liability insurance. The minimums are $25,000 for injury to one person, $50,000 for two or more people, and $25,000 for property damage. Show proof within 20 days if an officer asks.

Road and ditch rules

Do not ride on the roadway, shoulder or inside slope of a road, street or highway, except as the chapter allows. Do not ride in the right of way of an interstate, except for emergencies or across on an overpass or underpass. Riding in a highway right of way is unlawful between April 1 and Nov. 1.

A direct crossing of a non-interstate road is allowed if all of this holds:

1. You cross at about 90 degrees, where nothing blocks a quick and safe crossing.
2. You stop fully before the shoulder or main traveled way.
3. You yield to oncoming traffic that is an immediate hazard.
4. On a divided highway, you cross only at an intersection with another public road.

Do not ride on posted private land. Do not ride drunk or on drugs. Do not ride in a careless or reckless way.

Where to ride

The Parks and Recreation page says North Dakota has 13 state snowmobile trails, just over 2,800 miles, maintained by members of Snowmobile North Dakota. Trails are open from Dec. 1 through April 1, if the trail has at least 4 inches of packed snow. Many trails cross private land by easement. Stay on marked segments.

Trail conditions, including recent grooming, update every week by noon CST on Thursday during the season. The page links to a trail map and an interactive status map. Check them before you go.

Penalties

North Dakota law sets these penalties:

• Failing to register, or failing to display a decal or permit: a $50 fee. Show proof of registration afterward and the fee may be cut in half.
• Most other operating violations in section 39-24-09: a $20 fee.
• Riding without required liability insurance on Parks and Recreation land: a class B misdemeanor and a fine of at least $100.
• Reckless operation or riding on posted private land: a class B misdemeanor.
• Riding impaired: an infraction or a class B misdemeanor.
• Riding in an interstate right of way outside the exceptions: a $100 fee.

Safety first

A permit does not make a trail safe. Check the weekly trail report and the forecast before you go. Stay on marked trails. Stay off ice you have not checked. No ice is ever 100% safe. Check it yourself. Tell someone your route and return time.

FAQ

How much is North Dakota snowmobile registration?

The Parks and Recreation Department lists $50 for a two-year period, paid in odd-numbered years. State law splits it into a $5 registration fee and a $45 trail tax. We checked on Oct. 31, 2026.

Is there a separate trail pass in North Dakota?

Not for residents. The trail tax is part of the $50 registration. Out-of-state riders buy a $25 per year non-resident public trails and lands access permit.

Where do I register my snowmobile?

Residents register with NDDOT at any statewide office, per the Parks and Recreation Department. Out-of-state riders buy the access permit through the online site the Parks and Recreation page links to.

Can my child ride a snowmobile in North Dakota?

Children under 10 may ride only on private land. Ages 10 and 11 need a safety certificate and a parent or guardian present. Ages 12 and up need a driver's license or a safety certificate. Anyone under 18 must wear a DOT-standard helmet.

When are North Dakota's state snowmobile trails open?

Dec. 1 through April 1, if the trail has at least 4 inches of packed snow. Trail conditions update by noon CST each Thursday in season.