Tuesday, October 25, 2022

CODY YELLOWSTONE IS A HIDDEN GEM FOR SNOWMOBILING ENTHUSIASTS

yellowstone national park

With almost 7,000 square miles and a population of only about 30,000 people, Wyoming’s Park County is a wintertime snowmobiling paradise for enthusiasts who enjoy exploring pristine trails and wide-open wilderness. The Cody Yellowstone region of the state truly is a hidden gem to be treasured by snowmobiling enthusiasts. The area has a 1,000 miles of snowmobile trails on land outside Yellowstone National Park plus there are groomed roads for traversing around the park.

Much of the land outside Yellowstone is federally owned and part of the Shoshone National Forest where off-road snowmobiling is permitted. Visitors and residents alike can ride their own sleds or rent them locally. In addition, guided tours are available through a number of Cody outfitters.

“Trails, snow and thermal features – we have everything you need for a memorable snowmobile experience,” Ryan Hauck, executive director of Cody Yellowstone, touted to ageekdaddy.com. “And with the National Park Service (NPS) relaxing some its rules on snowmobiles inside Yellowstone, opportunities are more plentiful than they have been in the past to enjoy the winter weather riding a sled.”

At one point, only commercially guided snowmobile tours were permitted. This year, NPS is allowing both commercially guided and non-guided sledders to enter the park’s East Gate and continue to its world’s-best collection or geysers, hot springs and other thermal features. Snowmobilers must follow posted speed limits and stay on park roads.

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Guided tours are available inside the park as well. Gary Fales Outfitting operates at the Rimrock Dude Ranch 25 miles from the East Gate of Yellowstone. Tours of the park range from one to three days with some tours including overnight accommodations in park hotels as well as in gateway communities. The outfitter also rents snowmobiles by the day for self-guided tours.

Snowmobiling not your thing? Cody Yellowstone offers an array of other winter adventures. Sleeping Giant Ski Area features 184 skiable acres and a terrain park constructed of materials found on the hill. In addition to being the only resort in Wyoming with “SNO-GO” bikes, Sleeping Giant will offer night tubing and skiing, a big New Year’s Eve party with live music and yurt and tent rentals for groups.

cody yellowstone

Visitors who prefer non-downhill activities can try ice-skating Homesteader Park in Powell, climbing on one of many frozen waterfalls or cross country skiing Wood River Valley Ski Touring Park.

Indoor options include watching the Yellowstone Quake Hockey Team, ice skating at the Victor J. Riley Arena or checking out various attractions like the world-class Buffalo Bill Center of the West, Heart Mountain WWII Interpretive Center and the Cody Firearms Experience.

If you are looking for a winter adventure getaway, Cody Yellowstone may be the place you want to be.

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