Review Minnesota Horse Pass
Minn. Stat. § 85.46 states "While riding, leading, or driving a horse on horse trails and associated day use areas on state trails, in state parks, in state recreation areas, and in state forests, a person 16 years of age or over shall carry in immediate possession and visibly display on person or horse tack, a valid horse trail pass. The pass must be available for inspection by a peace officer, a conservation officer, or an employee designated under Minn. Stat. § 84.0835." The DNR's Division of Trails and Waterways administers the program for the Department of Natural Resources.
Each person needs to have their own signed pass and must "...carry (it) in their immediate possession and visibly display the pass on their person or horse tack..." The pass is valid only for the individual whose name and signature are on that pass.
Examples include:
* When two people are riding the same horse, they would both need a horse pass.
* Only the driver of a horse and buggy would need a pass; any passengers would not be required to have a pass.
* Should a person be riding one horse and leading another horse (without a rider), the person needs only one pass.
* If a stable brings a horse onto a designated trail with different riders throughout the day, each rider needs their own horse pass.
Ideally, the trail user would acquire a pass prior to arriving at the horse trail facility. In the event that he or she did not purchase a pass prior to arrival, a self-registration system will be available, similar to that used by the cross-country ski pass program. Using this self-registration envelope, the trail user fills out the form, selecting either a daily or annual horse pass option, encloses payment and drops the postage paid envelope into the mail or payment box, if one is provided. If the user selected an annual pass, it will be mailed to them. Trail users retain one copy of this form as either a daily pass or temporary annual pass. Horses can be ridden in some state parks, state forests and on some state trails.
Refer to the Horse Pass FAQs
Contact the MN Dept. of Natural Resources Information Center at 651-296-6157 or 888-646-6367 or refer to Minnesota Department of Natural Resources
See Minn. Rules 6100.1355, subpart 2 and Minn. Rules 6100.1950, subpart 7E.
Annual Pass fee - $21 (For an individual 16 years of age or over)
Daily horse trail pass - $5 (Daily pass is valid only for the date shown)
Annual passes are valid for one year beginning January 1 and ending December 31.
Electronic License System (ELS)
ELS gives three options for buying licenses: Online, phone or in person.
Online License Sales
PHONE
A Minnesota Horse Trail Pass may be purchased by phone: 888-665-4236 (1-MN-LICENSE). Call any time of day or night, seven days a week. This toll-free call provides immediate licensing by way of a license identification number, which will be issued at the time of the call. The license identification number is valid until you receive an actual license in the mail. All purchases must be made by credit card. There is $3.50 convenience fee per transaction.
IN PERSON
Use the License Agents search tool to search by county to find a location where you can buy hunting and fishing licenses and ski passes and apply for hunting lotteries in person.