CODY YELLOWSTONE IS A HIDDEN GEM FOR SNOWMOBILING ENTHUSIASTS

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.

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.

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.

Warming up to Winter

I have to admit that despite being known as a “kid at heart” with my friends and family when it comes to winter with its snow, ice and cold temperatures I’ve become somewhat of a scrooge.  I used to love snow days where I’d spend hours sledding down the neighborhood's boat ramp onto the icy lake by our house or spend the afternoon in battle royal snow ball fights with all the kids on the block celebrating a day off from school.  As an adult though, I’ve found myself with more of a Bah Humbug attitude when it comes to the winter.  I’m not actually sure what led to this digression of attitude. Was it the bone chilling walks to class in college, the long commutes to work surrounded by people who are either too scared to or too reckless to drive safely on icy roads, or maybe the next door neighbor who snow blows everything in his driveway directly into the road so that the city snowplow piles it up blocking my garage that changed my attitude?  It doesn’t really matter; I had lost my childhood appreciation of snow days.

Then it snowed over this Christmas holiday.  This was the first time since my children were born we’ve had a thick enough snow fall to go out and play in it and we really took advantage of it!  The kids made snow angels, I helped my son build his very first snow man, and we spent a day sledding at a local park.  I was reminded by my children about the magic of a snow day and how I had loved winter myself as a child.  During these recent snow days, I was able to help my son and daughter enjoy a childhood love of winter and we created some cherished memories that everyone in our family is always going to appreciate.  Do I love winter again now? NO, but I am warming up to it!

What are your favorite winter activities? Are there any special or unique things you do on snow days with your children? Share your thoughts with us in the comment section below.