ShareTrails | Update: Yellowstone will be Announcing Non-CommerciallyGuided Snowmobile Access Program for this Coming WinterSeason 2023-2024!

Here are some highlights of this coming year’s Yellowstone Non-Commercially Guided Snowmobile Access Program for this winter season (2023-2024).

FIRST: Each day during the coming winter season, there will be up to five snowmobiles in each of four Non-commercially Guided Transportation Snowmobile Events/trips, one from each of the four Yellowstone Park Gates.

SECOND: You will be required to possess a non-commercial snowmobile access permit which would be awarded annually through an online lottery system. The lottery located at the www.recreation.gov   website started on August 1, 2023 to determine the trip dates for Non-Commercially Guide Leaders wanting to visit Yellowstone this coming winter season (2023-2024). The lottery will remain open until August 31, 2023.

After the lottery is finished and the initial trips are awarded (only one trip from the lottery) you can still sign up to lead a trip or a second trip at www.recreaction.gov on a first-come-first-served basis for the dates still available. Note these remaining dates will be available October 1, 2023. Finally a total of only two trips allowed per season per non-commercial guide are allowed; the trips can last up to 3 days. Note, you will be charged $40 for each day of your permit, day permit $40.00 two day permit $80.00 three day permit $120.00.

THIRD: Each snowmobile operator will be required to have successfully completed the Yellowstone Snowmobile Safety Education Certification training course. The training course is available online.  This course was developed with the help and sponsorship of the Wyoming State Snowmobile Program.  This “No Cost” course is now available at website below:
http://provalenslearning.com/yellowstone-snowmobile-education-certificate

FOURTH: You will be required to use only current Best Available Technology (BAT)
snowmobiles in your group. Note these required machines can be rented at location
near the four gates.

For the complete detailed information on the Non-Commercially Guided Access Program, please see the Yellowstone Park Service website at: www.nps.gov/yell/learn/management/ngsap.htm

For additional information on the Yellowstone Winter Use issue and snowmobile community’s combined twenty plus years of effort to keep snowmobile access to Yellowstone in winter, visit our dedicated website www.saveyellowstonepark.com .
Please remember one of our collective main efforts during the last SEIS Winter Planning process was to have a “Non commercially Guided access program for entry into Yellowstone.  We accomplished that and now is your chance to plan a trip into the Park without a commercial guide. Please consider signing up during the lottery period, which will run from August 1, 2023 until August 31, 2023. 

After the lottery is finished and the initial trips are awarded you can still sign up to lead a trip at www.recreaction.gov on a first-come-first-served basis for the dates still available. A total of only two trips allowed per season. The open signup period will begin in October 1, 2023 for an opportunity to lead a non-commercially guided trip into
the Yellowstone Park this season (2023-2024).

The Park opens for the 2023-2024 Winter Season
North Gate December 15th, 2023, closes March 3rd , 2024
East Gate December 15th, 2023, closes March 15th, 2024
South Gate December 15th, 2023, closes March 15th, 2024
West Gate December 15th, 2023, closes March 15th, 2024

Thank you,

Jack Welch,
Snowmobile Ambassador
BlueRibbon Coalition
303-324-7185