So after riding for over 40 years, I believe that is time for an out west trip. This is all new to me so be kind and help a guy out. Looking for recommendations for area, lodging, etc. We live in West central Wisconsin. Looking mainly for trail riding as we are getting too old to play in the deep stuff. Is Yellowstone extra money and worth it? We would be taking our own sleds. Probably a group of 6. Thanks in advance..
Yellowstone Trip
- Thread starter kecogaty
- Start date
OK< my 2 cents, a trip out west is almost something all snowmobile's should; do, the scenery is worth it on that alone!
now as for where to stay, ask yourself what you want and pick a place that meets your needs
West Yellowstone IMO< is the best place to go for a first time visit, they just have way more things to offer for a first timer out there
as for going in the park, IMO< the time I went in I highly enjoyed things, but I have been in there before the guides were required,
so if you wanted to go in the park now, you will HAVE to rent a sled and a guide to take you,
I'd say do it if you like to see sights and critters at a slower pace and just enjoy the views
if you don;t want to rent and pay, outside of the park also offers a Lot of views you can enjoy
as for taking your own sled's out there,
I have done so in the past, but to be honest from me, it was always a way cheaper deal to rent
all the more so with current fuel prices!
I personally would rather fly and save my ass from a lot of sitting in a vehicle towing thru?? unknown weather conditions, and flying gets me there faster and can just stray there longer!
since SO many places offer packaged deals on stay and ride deals, some even throw in free tank of fuel each day, get you on a brand new model sled, and many sleds to pick from, and if anything goes wrong on a sled, they give you a new one!(and I have had that happen a few times out there)
IMO< the best suggestion to do, is honestly look at all options and see what the math tells you, I'm in PA< so its about 36+ hr one way for me to drive pending weather, could be longer!
add in again fuel, toll's and time
flying just saves me money and I get to use/abuse someone else sled HAHA!
another idea or food for thought too is, if you or anyone in your group wants to TRY the OFF trail you can always rent a off trail sled and have at it
But West yellowstone area will have the most trails to ride , if you really only want to ride trails!
and keep in mind almost NO one rides out there at night, all riding is pretty much day time ONLY
trails typically get groomed every night, so each morning the trails are the smoothest!
if you visit Wyoming snowmobile tourist info
travelwyoming.com
there tourist web site they (used too) have a snowmobile travelers pack, you sign up for and they will MAIL it to you that lists all places to stay, and rentals, and a current trail map to look at! I;m sure its also offered in a PDF or online viewing as well, I just used to get the real USPS mailed info each time to plan my trips!
its worth getting if you planning a trip IMO
if you DO fly in, some hotels will offer free air port pick up, as well, but not all, some times renting a vehicle is worth doing , so you can work about your time frame as to the hotels on pick up and returns, , if you have a few folks going, splitting costs makes this rather cheap too!
or I always felt is was and was worth the costs!
once in West Yellowstone, you don;t really need a vehicle, can get to everything on your sled, unless snow conditions are bad?
best of luck,
now as for where to stay, ask yourself what you want and pick a place that meets your needs
West Yellowstone IMO< is the best place to go for a first time visit, they just have way more things to offer for a first timer out there
as for going in the park, IMO< the time I went in I highly enjoyed things, but I have been in there before the guides were required,
so if you wanted to go in the park now, you will HAVE to rent a sled and a guide to take you,
I'd say do it if you like to see sights and critters at a slower pace and just enjoy the views
if you don;t want to rent and pay, outside of the park also offers a Lot of views you can enjoy
as for taking your own sled's out there,
I have done so in the past, but to be honest from me, it was always a way cheaper deal to rent
all the more so with current fuel prices!
I personally would rather fly and save my ass from a lot of sitting in a vehicle towing thru?? unknown weather conditions, and flying gets me there faster and can just stray there longer!
since SO many places offer packaged deals on stay and ride deals, some even throw in free tank of fuel each day, get you on a brand new model sled, and many sleds to pick from, and if anything goes wrong on a sled, they give you a new one!(and I have had that happen a few times out there)
IMO< the best suggestion to do, is honestly look at all options and see what the math tells you, I'm in PA< so its about 36+ hr one way for me to drive pending weather, could be longer!
add in again fuel, toll's and time
flying just saves me money and I get to use/abuse someone else sled HAHA!
another idea or food for thought too is, if you or anyone in your group wants to TRY the OFF trail you can always rent a off trail sled and have at it
But West yellowstone area will have the most trails to ride , if you really only want to ride trails!
and keep in mind almost NO one rides out there at night, all riding is pretty much day time ONLY
trails typically get groomed every night, so each morning the trails are the smoothest!
if you visit Wyoming snowmobile tourist info
Wyoming Snowmobiling Spots to Explore During Winter
Discover eight of the best places to snowmobile in Wyoming and take in jaw-dropping scenery, abundant natural snow and Western hospitality.
there tourist web site they (used too) have a snowmobile travelers pack, you sign up for and they will MAIL it to you that lists all places to stay, and rentals, and a current trail map to look at! I;m sure its also offered in a PDF or online viewing as well, I just used to get the real USPS mailed info each time to plan my trips!
its worth getting if you planning a trip IMO
if you DO fly in, some hotels will offer free air port pick up, as well, but not all, some times renting a vehicle is worth doing , so you can work about your time frame as to the hotels on pick up and returns, , if you have a few folks going, splitting costs makes this rather cheap too!
or I always felt is was and was worth the costs!
once in West Yellowstone, you don;t really need a vehicle, can get to everything on your sled, unless snow conditions are bad?
best of luck,
and if taking your sleds, make sure you get permits needed pending where you end up
Snowmobiling Permits
All snowmobiles in the state of Wyoming must have either a current Wyoming resident or nonresident user fee decal prominently displayed on the outside of each snowmobile. Permits are $35 and may be purchased at one of the several permit selling agents located throughout the state, at Wyoming State Parks or by calling 1-877-996-7275.
dfattack
Well-known member
I'm heading out to west yellowstone mid February 2023 and have rented an Airbnb. Numerous homes available at all price ranges. We are loading up the trailers and to bring our own sleds. Leaving from my place in Florence, WI.
I will be interested in hearing other's advice such as travel route and if they stop for the night mid trip where the best places were, etc. along with any other tips as this will be our first trip out west.
I will be interested in hearing other's advice such as travel route and if they stop for the night mid trip where the best places were, etc. along with any other tips as this will be our first trip out west.
600_RMK_144
Active member
Be aware that you can't take your sleds inside the park (unless they happen to be ones that qualify). Anything outside the National Park is fair game, but there are restrictions on what you can take inside the park + you have to win a lottery spot as they only allow 4 un-guided groups in per day (and again, the sleds must meet certain criteria. they have a list of "qualified" sleds). I have a link with the information if you want it.
Die hard sledders don't stop and drive straight thru... The adrenaline will get you thru the first day riding on no sleep. LOL! That said, it was 24hrs in the truck for us (hit some bad weather and it was slow going), so up to you if you decide to stop or not. In order to get into the National Park, you'll have to get a guide + rent one of their sleds, it was a tuff pill to swallow for us after hauling our sleds all that way, so we declined renting. Two guys in our group did take a day to rent and they saw some awesome wildlife that we did not. Still had a blast riding Two Top and other areas around Island Park. Two Top is beautiful, but does get tracked up very, very quickly as all the rental shops point their customers to that area. I've been told that there is some really awesome off-trail in the Two Top area, but trails get tracked up quick! There are plenty of trails to ride and fairly well marked for the most part. Better than average, with trailhead signs pointing you which way to go.
I hate ANYTHING that slows us down while out on the road, so I try to get trail stickers bought and paid for in advance to have them mailed to us. My group when we went out there were not planners, so we had to make a stop at a gas station to get them (another reason it took us 24hrs to get there). Since you have the time, I'd get those ordered now. Depending on what trails you ride, you may need both Wyoming and Montana as there are some trails that connect and cross boarders. They day we rode Two Top we rode in both states.
Other than that, enjoy the scenery and take lots of pics. It was a bucket list trip for me and I'm glad we went (kinda still wish we would have bit the bullet and rode inside the park). Also --- The altitude will kill you. Get those lungs in shape now. If anyone in your group is a smoker, they will be sucking wind BAD!!!! I haven't made it out West in the past few years, but when I did, I would start on the treadmill the day after Thanksgiving and hit it religiously every day until the trip. Still felt winded every time I hopped off my sled. LOL! It's no joke, it will get to you if you get stuck and have to dig out for sure!!!! <<< with that in mind, don't get stuck. LOL!
Die hard sledders don't stop and drive straight thru... The adrenaline will get you thru the first day riding on no sleep. LOL! That said, it was 24hrs in the truck for us (hit some bad weather and it was slow going), so up to you if you decide to stop or not. In order to get into the National Park, you'll have to get a guide + rent one of their sleds, it was a tuff pill to swallow for us after hauling our sleds all that way, so we declined renting. Two guys in our group did take a day to rent and they saw some awesome wildlife that we did not. Still had a blast riding Two Top and other areas around Island Park. Two Top is beautiful, but does get tracked up very, very quickly as all the rental shops point their customers to that area. I've been told that there is some really awesome off-trail in the Two Top area, but trails get tracked up quick! There are plenty of trails to ride and fairly well marked for the most part. Better than average, with trailhead signs pointing you which way to go.
I hate ANYTHING that slows us down while out on the road, so I try to get trail stickers bought and paid for in advance to have them mailed to us. My group when we went out there were not planners, so we had to make a stop at a gas station to get them (another reason it took us 24hrs to get there). Since you have the time, I'd get those ordered now. Depending on what trails you ride, you may need both Wyoming and Montana as there are some trails that connect and cross boarders. They day we rode Two Top we rode in both states.
Other than that, enjoy the scenery and take lots of pics. It was a bucket list trip for me and I'm glad we went (kinda still wish we would have bit the bullet and rode inside the park). Also --- The altitude will kill you. Get those lungs in shape now. If anyone in your group is a smoker, they will be sucking wind BAD!!!! I haven't made it out West in the past few years, but when I did, I would start on the treadmill the day after Thanksgiving and hit it religiously every day until the trip. Still felt winded every time I hopped off my sled. LOL! It's no joke, it will get to you if you get stuck and have to dig out for sure!!!! <<< with that in mind, don't get stuck. LOL!
I drove out last winter from Duluth to West Yellowstone. A perfect spot for me to stop on the way out was Billings. That was 12 hours and then I was meeting my son and friends at 11:00 the next morning to start riding. I've done the drive all night thing like 600RMK mentions and it sucks. That first day is brutal and then we'd leave after riding the last day and drive all night home. I have a lot more vacation time now than I used to so I'll take the extra day each side of the trip. That said, I did drive straight through from West to Duluth on my way home and it was 16 hours but I had my sled in my truck, not pulling a trailer, and I left at 6:00 AM so it was fine.
For areas to ride don't be afraid to trailer out of town. We went up to Taylors Creek trail head one day, went to another spot another day via vehicles. Black canyon south of Yellowstone is a lot of fun to explore.
have fun!
dfattack
Well-known member
Well here we are 6 months later and getting real close to heading out west. Excitement is starting to grow now for sure. We have our stopping points figured out for the trip out and will be meeting the rest of the group early to mid afternoon the day before our first ride to get trail passes and coordinate our route for the next day. None of us are going off trail as most of us our not only older but don't have the machines for off trail. Some decided to ride into the park on the last day (day 4). I'm not one of them.
We did decide to take a guide on the first day to learn the local trails and our way around. Supposed to be a great snow year so far which is awesome. Really looking forward to this.
We rented an Airbnb in Island Park, ID and the rest of the group rented another house in the same town. This (and west yellowstone) will be our base camp for the week. Does anyone have any particular routes, restaurants and any other tips for us?
We did decide to take a guide on the first day to learn the local trails and our way around. Supposed to be a great snow year so far which is awesome. Really looking forward to this.
We rented an Airbnb in Island Park, ID and the rest of the group rented another house in the same town. This (and west yellowstone) will be our base camp for the week. Does anyone have any particular routes, restaurants and any other tips for us?
I
If your staying on the trails, don't be afraid of being self guided. There's a ton of enjoyment to be had, be safe, and enjoy!
dfattack
Well-known member
The house we are renting is literally right on the trail. I've been getting myself familiar with the trail maps so should be good. Most of the group wanted a guide for the first day so I didn't want to rock the boat and figured we should stick together. I am however a little concerned being on the trail that riders like the ones that rip off Kip at the gas pumps might see my trailer and get curious. Hoping the pine trees I see on google earth will be big enough to block the view. Different than staying in a hotel where there are parking lot lights and more commotion.
Either way we should have a great time.
venturenorth
Member
Darren I think I mentioned to you at the lunch....we were out at Yellowstone last summer,
stayed at the Marriott Island Park, on the Henry Fork River, about 30 mins from W. Yellowstone
I know they offer snomo rentals and guided tours right along the river, and lots of heavily wooded trails all over.
Some pricey lodges and fine dining restaurants in the area, I'm sure very close to your BNB,
Cafe Sabor was right on the river, good mexican. A memorable trip for you guys....getting there half the fun....
stayed at the Marriott Island Park, on the Henry Fork River, about 30 mins from W. Yellowstone
I know they offer snomo rentals and guided tours right along the river, and lots of heavily wooded trails all over.
Some pricey lodges and fine dining restaurants in the area, I'm sure very close to your BNB,
Cafe Sabor was right on the river, good mexican. A memorable trip for you guys....getting there half the fun....
dfattack
Well-known member
Ken the marriot is fairly new too. Our airbnb is about 3-5 mins from there.
When I meet my son out there last spring the plan was my wife was going to come with and we were going to ride the park for a day and she'd do that. But all tours were full 6 months in advance and then the park closed the middle of the week we were there (mid-march). I was really looking forward to doing that although it would've been stupid expensive with having to rent sleds just for the day.
Have a great trip.
dfattack
Well-known member
Thanks.
Not sure if I mentioned in a previous post but half the group is going in the park on the last day. I’ve watched some videos of people on the tour and it looks real slow and large groups. Not my thing. BUT, the wildlife viewing looked pretty cool. Tons of buffalo on the trail and elk. MAYBE if I was with my wife I would try it but I know my son wouldn’t care for it.
Cass would hate it. I had a buddy that signed up for the in park ride with his Dad and they both hated it. Tons of snow but he said half of the people had no idea how to ride snowmobiles and the 25mph speed limit was painful. Huge disappointment for him definitely not the thing for spirited riders.
Yeah, well, it's nothing as it used to be before the restrictions took place. Really a shame, however as the way some irresponcable snowmobilers conduct themselves these days, it wouldn't work. Sadly, so it is.
Oh yeah, it would be painfully slow but I still think it would be worth it once. My brother got to do it once before they out all the restrictions in place and he said it was neat.
Starlaker 1
Member
Bullwinkles in WEST yellowstone a great place to grab a meal and it's all decorated in Green Bay Packer decor, also! if some in your group are looking for something to do the day half go into the park the wolf & Grizzly discovery center is also a cool place to visit in West Yellowstone! Have a great trip and enjoy and safe travels and bring extra oxygen!
Starlaker 1
Member
That is correct dfattack! If you do all trail riding, chances are you won't get stuck, but if you can't resist getting off in the play areas powder be prepared. It will literally take your breath away digging out, sounds like you will have lots of help with you though. Get your crew out early when heading into the park by the end of the day the trail gets pretty rough.Great idea! Thank you.
And when you say oxygen you don’t mean extra helmets right ?
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