Vehicle travel restricted in backcountry

Snow groomers and Kootenai County Sheriff’s Office Backcountry are installing barricades at National Forest Trailheads this week so trail grooming can begin.

Once the barricades are in place, only snowmobiles and authorized off-highway vehicles will be allowed onto the trails.

Additionally, users of the groomed trails must purchase and display the current year’s registration and Groomer’s Sticker. Violations of this ordinance constitute a misdemeanor.

An authorized off-highway vehicle is an all-terrain vehicle, motorcycle, or utility type vehicle — weighing less than 2,000 pounds and less than 74 inches wide —designed for travel on snow or ice over natural terrain and is steered by tracks, skis or runners.

Trail users are cautioned not to pass a groomer on a trail in either direction. Instead, wait for the groomer operator to see you and they will stop and let you by in a safe place.