June 5, 2025



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*Minnesota DNR News
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*FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
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June 5, 2025




*For more information:*

Contact the DNR Information Center by email  <[email protected]>or call 888-646-6367.





In This Issue

* New education requirements in effect July 1 for some boaters in Minnesota [ #link_1491411839600 ]
* ATV riders can explore Minnesota riding opportunities for free June 14-15 [ #link_1491411977526 ]

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New education requirements in effect July 1 for some boaters in Minnesota

The requirements aim to make boating even safer

Beginning July 1, 2025, more people who operate motorboats or personal watercrafts on Minnesota waters must obtain a valid watercraft operator’s permit. The updated requirements, passed into law during 2023, are intended to make boating safer by ensuring people operating motorized watercraft know the rules and are properly trained.

Initially, the law applies to:


* People who were born after June 30, 2004, and are aged 12 or older.
* Anyone who wishes to serve as an “accompanying operator” for people without a valid watercraft operator’s permit, or for people under the age of 12 and not eligible to obtain a permit.
* Individuals who wish to rent/operate motorized rental watercraft.

People who already possess a valid watercraft operator’s permit from Minnesota or another state do not need to obtain a new permit to meet these requirements. The requirements will incrementally include more people over time. When the law is fully implemented on July 1, 2028, all motorized watercraft operators born after June 30, 1987, will be required to have a valid watercraft operator’s permit. Boaters born before July 1, 1987, generally are not required to obtain a watercraft operator’s permit.

Instances in which people born before July 1, 1987, need a watercraft operator’s permit include:


* If they’re an “accompanying operator” and allow youth or person without a watercraft operator’s permit to operate a motorboat. Accompanying operators must be 21 years of age or older; in the boat or on the personal watercraft; within immediate reach of the motor controls; and possess a valid operator’s permit or be an “exempt operator” (possess a valid U.S. Coast Guard license for maritime personnel, for example).
* If they’re renting a motorized watercraft. Renters must be 18 years of age or older and possess a valid watercraft operator’s permit.

“Minnesota has a long and proud tradition of safe outdoor recreation, and a key part of that is safety education,” said Capt. Adam Block, DNR boating law administrator. “While this new law won’t initially apply to many boat operators, we still encourage all boaters – regardless of their age – to obtain their watercraft operator’s permit.”

More information, including a link to complete the watercraft operator’s permit course, is at mndnr.gov/safety/boatwater/boater-education-law.html [ [link removed] ]

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ATV riders can explore Minnesota riding opportunities for free June 14-15

Minnesotans with an all-terrain vehicles registered for private or agricultural use won’t need to pay the additional registration fee ($60 for three years) to ride the state’s public ATV trails on June 14-15. Out-of-state riders can explore Minnesota’s ATV trails this weekend as well without the need for a nonresident ATV trail pass ($31 for one year).

This annual “No Registration Weekend” gives riders access to over 3,000 miles of state forest and grant-in-aid trails. The event falls on the second weekend of June each year and occurs during Great Outdoors Month [ [link removed] ] (June).

“We see this free riding weekend as a great opportunity to showcase the wide variety of state and grant-in-aid trails across Minnesota,” said Joe Unger, OHV program consultant. “There are many privately registered ATVs across the state that, during this weekend, can try the public trails for free.”

Some great places to start, according to Unger, include: 


* The Iron Range Off-Highway Vehicle State Recreation Area, a 1,200-acre OHV park in Gilbert, Minn., with over 45 miles of scenic trails for riders of all abilities.
* The 100-mile trail system in Nemadji State Forest, which connects to the Matthew Lourey State Trail and the Gandy Dancer Trail for more riding opportunities.
* The 167-mile Prospector’s Loop near Ely, Minn., which follows forest roads and trails connecting trails on the North Shore of Lake Superior to the Voyageur’s ATV Trail System for more riding opportunities.
* The 200-mile Northwoods Regional Trail System in Aitkin and Itasca counties, where riders will use the Soo Line Trail to connect to great communities and trail loops.

All other laws and regulations remain in place during the weekend. Riders are reminded to keep safety in mind when out on the trails. Safety training is recommended for everyone who operates an ATV and is required for ATV riders born after July 1, 1987. Youth under age 18 must wear a DOT-certified helmet. Riders aged 16 and under must fit the ATV they are operating and be able to properly reach and control the handlebars and reach the foot pegs while sitting upright on the ATV.

Trail maps, updates on trail conditions, youth ATV safety training and other OHV information can be found on the DNR’s OHV riding website [ [link removed] ] (mndnr.gov/ohv).

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