WEST YELLOWSTONE: Snowmobiling Capital of the World, a 3-Day Guide

West Yellowstone is often called the “Snowmobiling Capital of the World,” and this 3-Day Guide will help you plan your unforgettable trip.

Rookie snowmobilers welcome!

First, if you’ve never snowmobiled before, don’t let that deter you. From personal experience, I will tell you, you do NOT need to be someone who has done hours of riding to enjoy this trip.

In fact, even if you’re a snowmobiling rookie, you’ll be just fine. It’s been said, if you can steer a lawnmower you can drive a snowmobile.

And, the local outfitters will get you everything you need, so owning a snowmobile (or even a winter coat!) is not required for this one-of-a-kind adventure.

WEST YELLOWSTONE SNOWMOBILING TRIP SUMMARY

Travel to West Yellowstone (Day 1)

If you plan to fly to the area, the closest airports to West Yellowstone are Bozeman, Montana (100 miles) and Idaho Falls, Idaho (110 miles).

Of course, if you own snowmobiles and are hauling them out there, well then you’re all set. 

A rental car is not really needed

Car rental companies are available at both airports, or from Bozeman you can hire a shuttle company called, Karst Stage, to take you round-trip to/from the airport. If you’re staying right in the town of West Yellowstone, this might be a great option. That’s because once you get your snowmobile rental, that is what you’ll use to get around town! You’ll see snowmobiles all lined up in the parking spots outside of bars, restaurants, stores, etc. Lots of places are within walking distance too in the town. So, really, a car rental is not necessarily needed – unless there is not enough snow to cover the streets.

The West Yellowstone snowmobiling rental season runs from about mid-December to mid-March. 

Where to stay

There are a number of hotels in West Yellowstone (most are 2-stars and 3-stars), as well as VRBO or AirBNB options. The four properties owned by Yellowstone Vacations are a great place to start your lodging research. Wherever you end up staying, hopefully it has a hot tub as nothing feels better then a hot soak after a long day out on the trails.

Explore West Yellowstone Snowmobile Trails (Day 2)

Plan on getting up before 7 a.m. so you can get some breakfast and be at the rental place to pick up your sled by the time it opens (8 a.m. for most places). That way, you can maximize the daylight hours and be on the trail as much as possible. 

Where to rent

There are a number of rental places in/near West Yellowstone. Personally, we had a great experience with Yellowstone Vacations. All places have a variety of models to choose from, and they can walk you through the options when you call to reserve your sleds and gear.

Snowmobile features and costs

It’s fun to drive your own snowmobile, but if you’d rather just ride or if you have kids along, a two-up sled is the way to go. All the snowmobiles have heated hand grips and thumb warmers (on the throttle), which was a welcome feature out on the trails.

The cost to rent a snowmobile is about $150 – $200/day, depending on the type of sled you reserve. (High-performance sleds for the backcountry trails and expert snowmobilers will run you closer to $250/day).

What to wear

Honestly, you really don’t need to wear all that much winter gear to the outfitter. Here’s what is suggested:

• Thermal long underwear
• Warm ski socks
• Comfortable layer of pants & sweatshirt/sweater
• Ladies: a sports bra (you’re welcome!)

Gear to rent

The outfitters have high-quality outerwear to rent by the item or as a package. Such options include: 

• Snowmobile suit
• Boots
• Helmet & helmet liner
• Mittens
• **Gear is highly-rated for extreme cold, and sizing ranges from toddler to 5XL.

Geared up and Ready

After you’re all geared up, hit the trails! There are over 500 miles of well-marked, groomed trails beyond Yellowstone’s borders. This trail system is one of the most extensive, easy to navigate systems available to recreational snowmobiles world-wide.

My group, for example, snowmobiled the first day from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. On one trip, we covered about 120 miles, and crisscrossed across the continental divide between Montana and Idaho.

The Madison Arm Loop is where many beginner snowmobilers and families go first. It’s a flat, winding, 20-mile trail along two rivers with gorgeous views.

The next place I’d head is to Two Top Mountain. It has the most storied snowmobiling trail in North America. Besides the 2,000-foot elevation change, its famed for its “snow ghosts.” Constant driven winds create ghostly ice patterns plastered on the trees at the top of this mountain.

On a clear day, the mountaintop also provides stunning views of Yellowstone National Park, and Wyoming’s Teton Mountains.

Stop and warm up

An awesome place to stop midday for lunch and to warm up is the Meadow Creek Lodge. Tucked in the forest, just off one of the trails, is this family-owned restaurant where you can get things like a burger basket, a hot bowl of chili, hot chocolate, beer, etc. Be sure to bring cash as they don’t take credit cards.

Late afternoon, you’ll want to be heading back towards the place you’re staying with plenty of daylight left. Being out on the trails at night is not the smartest move, especially when you’re not familiar with the area.

Weather warning

Another word of caution: pay attention to the weather. We learned of a snowstorm coming through the area and when it hit we could not see 10 feet in front of us; it was a complete whiteout. That can be dangerous if you’re in the mountains, but the trails are well marked.

Since the West Yellowstone snowmobile outfitters allow you to keep your rentals even in the evenings, that’s what you can take to dinner each night in town. More than cars, you’ll see snowmobiles parked outside of all the bars and restaurants. 

Yellowstone Guided Snowmobile Tour (Day 3)

On this day, I’d highly recommend a guided snowmobile tour inside Yellowstone National Park. You’ll likely see a ton of wildlife, and winter brings the lowest tourist levels of the year.

For the most part, the bison herds use the trails to get around in the winter in order to conserve energy when food is scarce. The good news is, fortunately, that due to this goal of conserving energy, we were told by the park rangers that they move slower and are less aggressive in the winter. But even still, it was a bit nerve-wracking to be this close to these huge, wild animals that didn’t seem bothered at all by our presence.

Guided snowmobiling tours in the park book up quickly, so if that happens to you, you’re next best option is the warm comforts of a snowcoach tour. These day trips depart from the town of West Yellowstone and offer two destinations: Old Faithful or Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone.

Highlights experienced on the tours include stops at the mud pots, hot spring pools, numerous geysers and frozen waterfalls. 

The beauty of God’s world sure is on full display here:

Snowmobile on the West Yellowstone Trails (Day 4)

Finally, head outside the park again for your last day of snowmobiling on the West Yellowstone trails. If you’re lucky, maybe you’ll spot a moose hanging out in a stream like we did…

Travel (Day 5)

Time to head home after your four-night stay. For us, those three days of snowmobiling in West Yellowstone felt like the perfect amount of time and provided us with a great long weekend getaway to break up the long winter. 

More time?

• Grizzly and Wolf Discovery Center – a not-for-profit wildlife park and educational facility in West Yellowstone.
• Yellowstone Dog Sled Adventures – a 2.5-hour option is offered that allows you to drive your own dogsled, or a 1-hour ride-only option.
• Rendezvous Ski Trails – some of the best cross-country ski trails in the world can be found near West Yellowstone. 
• Big Sky Ski Resort is located just 50 miles to the north of West Yellowstone. Moonlight Basin Ski Resort is also nearby, as is Bridger Bowl Ski Area (located about two hours away in Bozeman, MT).

Pin this West Yellowstone Snowmobiling Guide for later!

More ideas.

Have you been to the area snowmobiling? What do YOU recommend? Kindly, include your tips in the comments section below.

And, be sure to follow “Whoa, What a View” on social media to see the comments other travelers are leaving about their favorite parts of snowmobiling in and near Yellowstone.

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