Snowmobiling in Montana’s Yellowstone Country; Deep powder, big hill climbs, and fantastic scenery.
Cooke City, Silver Gate, Montana, Photo by Dan Armstrong
It's hard to believe it's almost snowmobile season! Montana's Yellowstone Country is full of big mountains and lots of trails. Our region has four main areas to sled: West Yellowstone, Big Sky, the Bridger Mountain Range, and Cooke City/Silver Gate.
West Yellowstone
West Yellowstone is considered some of the best riding in the country. Within just a few minutes of town, you'll find 400 miles of trails, with an average of 153 inches of snow each year.
Yellowstone National Park
And, if you've never experienced Yellowstone National Park in the winter, it's a definite must-add to the bucket list. You can take a guided snowmobile tour or apply for a non-commercially guided access permit. Each day, up to four non-commercially guided parties can enter the park. These permits are awarded by lottery, and applications are being accepted until Aug. 31. Permits are awarded in September.
Soda Butte Lodge, Cooke City, Montana, Photo by Kaden Harrison
Cooke City/Silver Gate
Cooke City and Silver Gate are also on the sought-after list by hard-core enthusiasts. Here, you'll find big hill climbs, groomed trails that lead to stunning vistas and lots of late-season snow, which sometimes sticks around until spring, where the longer days offer more riding! In both Cooke City and West Yellowstone, you can ride right from the front door of your accommodations!
Big Sky
Big Sky is an excellent place for beginners. Buck Ridge and Taylor Fork have groomed and maintained trails, plus wide-open meadows, spectacular alpine scenery and many powder fields. It's also less busy than other areas, so you'll have more room to roam.
Cooke City, Montana, Photo by Dan Armstrong
Bridger Mountain Range
The Bridger Mountains, also known for their light, dry and deep snow, are another favorite. Olsen Creek is 24 miles of trail leading to epic views of the Bridger and Crazy Mountain ranges. Fairy Lake Road is another local favorite, just a few miles past Crosscut Mountain Sports Center. Bozeman is a great place to home base, but you could also stay in Livingston and access these trails from the Shields Valley. Either way, you'll have excellent restaurants to choose from, and if you time it right, some live music too!
You can find more information on our website, or check out the itineraries on Glaciers to Geysers, and make a plan to see even more of our great state!