Flurries have already fallen in parts of New York State, and while temperatures may warm up a bit this month, it won\u2019t be long before winter arrives. For snowmobile enthusiasts, that means one thing: it\u2019s time to get ready for another season on the trails!<\/p>\n
New York is home to an incredible network of snowmobile trails stretching from Western New York to the eastern part of the state. Whether you\u2019re riding near Buffalo, heading toward Albany, or exploring other parts of the Empire State, there are plenty of trails to discover when winter conditions cooperate.<\/p>\n
Related: The “Three Foot” Snow Law Being Enforced in New York State<\/a><\/p>\n But if you\u2019re planning to introduce your kids to snowmobiling this winter, there are some important requirements you need to know before heading out.<\/p>\n New York State Has Snowmobile Safety Requirements for Kids<\/p>\n Getting children interested in snowmobiling at a young age can be a great way to enjoy the outdoors as a family. However, before they hit the trails, parents need to understand New York State\u2019s snowmobile safety requirements.<\/p>\n Under New York State law, children ages 10 through 13 generally need a valid snowmobile safety certificate to operate a snowmobile on public trails. There are additional rules and exceptions depending on a child\u2019s age and where they plan to ride, so parents should review the state\u2019s current requirements before heading out.<\/p>\n Read more: These Snowmobiles Are NOT Welcome on Tug Hill<\/a><\/p>\n Taking a snowmobile safety course is an important step toward helping young riders learn the rules of the trail and develop safe riding habits.<\/p>\n Snowmobile Safety Courses Available in Western New York<\/p>\n The New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation offers snowmobile safety education opportunities <\/a>to help riders prepare for the season.<\/p>\n There are also snowmobile safety courses offered in Western New York. If you\u2019re hoping to get your child certified before the snow starts flying, now is a good time to look for an upcoming class and register.<\/p>\n Classes can fill up quickly<\/a>, so don\u2019t wait until the first major snowfall to start making plans.\u00a0Visit the\u00a0New York State Parks website<\/a>\u2060 to find official snowmobile safety information and course sign ups.<\/p>\n Could New York See Plenty of Snow This Winter?<\/p>\n Fingers crossed that we get plenty of snow this season!<\/p>\n There has been plenty of discussion about a possible strong El Ni\u00f1o and what it could mean for the winter forecast. However, seasonal outlooks don\u2019t guarantee how much snow any particular part of New York will receive.<\/p>\n Here in Western New York, lake-effect snow can make a significant difference. When cold air moves across the relatively warmer waters of the Great Lakes, it can produce heavy bands of snow in localized areas.<\/p>\n That means some communities could see substantial snowfall while other areas receive much less.<\/p>\n For snowmobilers, the hope is that winter delivers enough consistent snow to open up plenty of trails and provide opportunities to get out and enjoy the season. If your family is planning to hit the trails this winter, now is the time to check safety requirements, find a course, and get prepared for snowmobiling season in New York State.<\/p>\n Massive Snowmobile Fire In New York State<\/p>\n Gallery Credit: Clay Moden<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Flurries have already fallen in parts of New York State, and while temperatures may warm up a bit…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":376856,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[232,9,11,10,49,51,50,382],"class_list":["post-376855","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-new-york","tag-lifestyle","tag-new-york","tag-new-york-headlines","tag-new-york-news","tag-new-york-state","tag-new-york-state-headlines","tag-new-york-state-news","tag-wny-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/376855","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=376855"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/376855\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/376856"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=376855"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=376855"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=376855"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}