Yellowstone National Park is one of the most beautiful pieces of public land on this Earth. It has everything from soaring cliffs to picturesque waterfalls and streams to flora and fauna galore—just because friend-shaped, does not mean friend, though. It's a slice of heaven nestled between a number of stunning Western states, one of which is Montana where I just returned from.
But Yellowstone has a problem: People.
See, I've been through the park multiple times over the years. I've driven through it in a car in the spring, I've ridden through it on a motorcycle in the summer, and I've watched as budget cuts have made the park almost unnavigable in recent months, as crowds have soared, but staff have been cut to ensure everything's working. People line the roads, they stop to pet bison, they gawk at grizzly bears, and generally cause traffic throughout the park, which makes your enjoyment far less than it should.
By no means am I saying don't go, as visitorship is absolutely required to keep these places open, and fosters more love toward the outdoors and our public lands. But it's a fact of life that the spring, summer, and fall aren't great if you want to truly revel in the majesty of the park. That's where winter snowmobiling comes into play, as it's the best place to see the park.
And if you act fast, you could get a permit so as to skip the guided tours and do it yourself.
There are two ways snowmobilers can enjoy the park: guided and unguided. Two years ago, I did the guided tour and, while it was everything I could've hoped for, I was still at the wishes and wants of our guide. I couldn't truly go explore all the little nooks and crannies of the park, nor be alone enough to properly breathe in the caldera's air. There are, however, no real limitations to those guided tours, and you can show up in West Yellowstone, pay a guide company some money, and head out into the park.
But for those who want to be more lonesome and find the solitude of the park, you'll have to apply for a permit for the coming year.
According to Cherokee News, "Beginning Friday, Aug. 1, people may apply to the 2025-2026 winter lottery for permits to snowmobile in Yellowstone National Park without a commercial guide. Authorized in 2013, the Non-Commercially Guided Snowmobile Access Program allows permit holders to enter the park for up to three days with a group of up to five snowmobilers." Folks wanting to apply for the draw will need to go to recreation.gov and submit their application.
A successful permit will set you back $46, but that includes the application fee. Those who are successful will get notified in early September so they have adequate time to start planning their trip to Yellowstone, while any unclaimed or turned back permits will also go on sale around then. Basically, it acts like a hunt permit system, for those familiar with that side of the recreation fence.
The outlet does, however, reiterate that anyone successful in the draw will have to follow some guidelines, including "Permit holders are considered non-commercial guides and must be at least 18 years old on the first day of their trip. All snowmobile operators must possess a state-issued driver’s license and successfully complete the free online Yellowstone Snowmobile Education Certification program." And you can't pet the animals, cause they're wild animals that'll kill you.
But again, this is one of the best ways to see the park. At least, in my opinion. So hop on the opportunity to do something very, very cool now!
