Overview
Wyoming has one of the largest connected snowmobile trail systems in the United States, anchored by the Continental Divide Snowmobile Trail (CDST). The CDST runs 368 miles across the state from South Pass in the southern Wind River Range north through Dubois and Togwotee Pass and into the Yellowstone corridor, linking Bridger-Teton and Shoshone national forests into a single rideable arc. That trail network, combined with the separate Bighorn National Forest system in northeastern Wyoming and the Snowy Range above Centennial in the southeast, makes Wyoming one of a handful of states where you can spend a full week on a sled without repeating terrain. The Wyoming Travel Guide covers the broader winter picture, but snowmobiling has its own infrastructure out here: dedicated sled lodges at Togwotee, park-permitted operators in Yellowstone, and rental shops from Jackson to Buffalo.
Yellowstone in winter is its own category. The park gates close to cars in early November, and from mid-December through mid-March, the only way in by motorized oversnow vehicle is with a licensed commercial guide. The park's commercial use plan limits daily visitors and requires all snowmobile groups to travel with a certified operator. That constraint is a feature: groups are small, guides are knowledgeable, and the Yellowstone interior in January is genuinely different from anything you can access in summer. For tour operators and guides running both the open-trail Togwotee system and the Yellowstone oversnow program, the directory lists permitted outfitters by area.
What to Expect
The Togwotee Pass area sits at 9,658 feet along US-26/287, about 48 miles northeast of Jackson and roughly an hour's drive from the JAC airport. Groomed trails from the Togwotee corridor spread through Bridger-Teton National Forest, with more than 200 miles of maintained routes on the local system alone. Terrain runs from wide, groomed two-track through lodgepole timber to open powder meadows above tree line on the Continental Divide where experienced riders can high-mark and run sleds hard. Intermediate riders comfortable on a machine handle the groomed network without trouble. The more technical terrain is above Togwotee Summit where the trees open up and you are riding on the Divide with Wind River peaks to the south and the Teton Range visible to the west. Lodges along US-26/287 in the Togwotee corridor cater specifically to snowmobilers: heated sled garages, fuel on-site, groomed trail access from the property, and dining built around early morning departures.
Yellowstone's oversnow routes run on park-designated roads through the interior, generally from the South Entrance off US-89/191 near Moran Junction (about 55 miles north of Jackson) or from the west at West Yellowstone, Montana. A standard full-day south-entrance route covers the interior toward Old Faithful and the Fountain Paint Pots, passing through Hayden Valley, where bison are visible year-round and wolves occasionally cross the road. Elk, coyotes, and trumpeter swans appear regularly in the river meadows near Yellowstone Lake. Operators bring spotting scopes and stop for wildlife, which means a guided snowmobile day in Yellowstone overlaps meaningfully with a winter wildlife experience. Yellowstone Vacation Tours, based in West Yellowstone, runs guided oversnow programs on the west-side route with consistently high reviews for guide knowledge and group management. For riders who want to combine a Yellowstone sled day with a separate winter wildlife outing in the Tetons, Jackson Hole EcoTour Adventures operates winter naturalist programs including snowshoe tours and vehicle-based wildlife surveys out of Jackson that pair well with a Togwotee or Yellowstone snowmobile day.
Best Season
The Togwotee Pass system typically becomes rideable by early December and holds through late February, with January and the first two weeks of February delivering the most consistent deep powder. Snowpack at Togwotee is among the deepest in the continental United States in a strong year, reaching 12 to 15 feet at the summit, which means even thin-snow winters leave adequate coverage through February. March is worth watching in a big year but conditions are less predictable as the days lengthen and sun-effect starts on south-facing slopes. Peak weekend crowds at Togwotee run from Christmas week through Presidents' Day in mid-February. Weekdays in mid-January are the practical sweet spot: full trail grooming, deep base, and parking lots that are not packed by 9 a.m.
Yellowstone's oversnow season runs from roughly mid-December through mid-March under the park's commercial use authorization, though exact opening and closing dates are set annually. Operator booking slots for Christmas week, New Year's, and Presidents' Day fill three to six months ahead, sometimes earlier. If a Yellowstone snowmobile day is part of a Yellowstone and Grand Teton road trip, book the oversnow tour before you book anything else. The Bighorn National Forest snowmobile system near Buffalo follows a similar arc to Togwotee, with US-16 as the main approach from Worland or Buffalo. The Snowy Range in Medicine Bow National Forest opens for snowmobiling from December through March, with Wyoming Highway 130 from Centennial providing access to groomed trails above 10,000 feet. After a full day on a sled, the area around Togwotee connects logically to the hot springs at Thermopolis in Wind River Canyon, about 80 miles east and south via US-26/287 through Dubois and WY-120.
Typical Costs
Snowmobile rentals at outfitters near Togwotee Pass run an estimated $175 to $325 per day depending on machine type, with two-up (passenger) sleds at the higher end and performance single-rider units available for experienced riders. Full-day guided open-trail tours from Togwotee-area operators run approximately $200 to $350 per person, including machine, fuel, and a guide who knows the trail conditions that week. Half-day options are available at most outfitters for roughly $150 to $225 per person. Some lodges bundle multi-night accommodation with sled rentals into packages that run an estimated $250 to $450 per person per night, all-in, which typically beats pricing things separately on a busy weekend.
Guided Yellowstone oversnow tours carry higher prices because of the park's permit system and the guide certification requirement. Budget an estimated $250 to $400 per person for a full-day guided Yellowstone snowmobile tour, depending on operator and departure point; smaller groups and private tours sit at the upper end of that range. That cost reflects the park permit fee built into the operator's price, specialized sleds certified under park emission standards, and the guide's expertise. For visitors comparing the snowmobile experience with broader Wyoming winter options, some dude ranches in Wyoming offer winter packages that include snowmobile access on adjacent forest land at rates that can compete with à la carte Togwotee lodging and rental costs.
How to Book
For Togwotee open-trail riding, contact outfitters along US-26/287 directly. Most lodges in the Togwotee corridor manage their own sled fleets and control trail access from the property, so availability and conditions information come straight from them. Flying into JAC (Jackson Hole Airport) and driving 48 miles northeast on US-26/287 is the standard approach from Jackson; the highway is plowed and the drive takes about an hour in normal winter conditions. Riders approaching from the east come in via Dubois on the same US-26/287 corridor, about 35 miles west of Dubois to the Togwotee summit. Book peak-week Togwotee stays four to eight weeks ahead, longer for the top-reviewed properties that fill their sled garages early.
For Yellowstone oversnow tours, confirm that your chosen operator holds current National Park Service commercial use authorization. Yellowstone Vacation Tours operates on the west-side route from West Yellowstone and has a strong track record on the interior snowmobile program. Jackson-based operators cover the South Entrance route; BrushBuck Wildlife Tours, while primarily a wildlife vehicle operation out of Jackson, can connect you with winter guide networks for combination snowmobile-and-wildlife itineraries in the Tetons region. A complete, up-to-date list of permitted Wyoming operators is in the tour operators directory. The drive between Togwotee and Jackson along US-26/287 is one of the state's better winter corridor drives, with the Tetons filling the windshield on the western return; for more options on the roads that connect Wyoming's snowmobile regions, the scenic drives guide covers the full-state picture.
Frequently asked questions
Do you need a guide to snowmobile in Yellowstone National Park?
Yes. Yellowstone's commercial use plan requires all snowmobile groups to travel with a licensed, park-certified guide. You cannot enter the park on your own sled without a permitted operator. The program also restricts total daily visitors, which keeps groups small and makes for a better experience than you might expect from a mandatory-guide setup. Tours run from the South Entrance near Moran Junction (south side approach from Jackson) and from West Yellowstone, Montana (west side approach). Book early: Christmas week and Presidents' Day weekend slots fill three to six months out.
What is the best place to snowmobile in Wyoming?
Togwotee Pass along US-26/287, about 48 miles northeast of Jackson, is the most popular open-trail destination in the state and one of the premier snowmobile areas in the continental United States. The Continental Divide Snowmobile Trail connects Togwotee into a 368-mile network linking the Wind River Range to the Yellowstone corridor. For a guided, managed experience with spectacular winter scenery and wildlife, Yellowstone's oversnow program is in a category of its own. The Bighorn National Forest near Buffalo (US-16 corridor) and the Snowy Range near Centennial (Wyoming Highway 130) are solid alternatives for riders based in northeastern and southeastern Wyoming.
When is the best time to snowmobile in Wyoming?
Mid-January through mid-February is the most reliable window for deep, consistent snowpack across the Togwotee Pass area and the Bighorn National Forest system. Snowfall at Togwotee Summit can reach 12 to 15 feet in a strong year, and the base holds well through February. Christmas week and Presidents' Day weekend are the busiest times; weekdays in late January give you the same conditions with shorter lift lines and more open trails. For Yellowstone, the oversnow season runs mid-December through mid-March, with January and February as the peak booking window.
How much does it cost to rent a snowmobile in Wyoming?
Rental rates near Togwotee Pass run an estimated $175 to $325 per day depending on the machine. Guided full-day tours on the open trail system cost approximately $200 to $350 per person including the sled, fuel, and a guide. Guided Yellowstone oversnow tours are higher, typically $250 to $400 per person for a full day, reflecting the park permit fee and specialized certified equipment required for entry. Multi-night lodge-and-sled packages at Togwotee properties can run $250 to $450 per person per night all-in and often offer better overall value than booking nightly accommodation and rentals separately. All price ranges above are labeled estimates.