After meeting with the Forest Service in West Yellowstone, it appears that all "marked or groomed winter trails" (essentially all trails, ski, snowmobile, multiuse) are technically closed to "wheeled vehicles". So as per the current Gallatin National Forest Travel Plan, snowbikes are not allowed on ANY trail.
Thankfully, the current winter trail map produced by the Forest Service says "no motorized wheeled vehicles on any marked/groomed winter trail". So, the maps are incorrect and also already distributed, so due to this mixed info, I anticipate some flexibility, mostly around snowmobile trails.
While this clearly makes no sense, it is the way of bureaucracy and the Forest Service and will take years to remedy so snowbikes have approved access in the Travel Plans and are not subject to ticketing. Until then, we are subject to ticketing, and we have some work to do to educate land managers, work respectfully with other trail user groups, and play by the rules so we maximize future possibilities for snowbiking around Montana.
Until then, write some letters to the Forest Service. All contact info for Hebgen, Bozeman, and other ranger districts are available on the web.
After meeting with the Forest Service in West Yellowstone, it appears that all "marked or groomed winter trails" (essentially all trails, ski, snowmobile, multiuse) are technically closed to "wheeled vehicles". So as per the current Gallatin National Forest Travel Plan, snowbikes are not allowed on ANY trail.
Thankfully, the current winter trail map produced by the Forest Service says "no motorized wheeled vehicles on any marked/groomed winter trail". So, the maps are incorrect and also already distributed, so due to this mixed info, I anticipate some flexibility, mostly around snowmobile trails.
While this clearly makes no sense, it is the way of bureaucracy and the Forest Service and will take years to remedy so snowbikes have approved access in the Travel Plans and are not subject to ticketing. Until then, we are subject to ticketing, and we have some work to do to educate land managers, work respectfully with other trail user groups, and play by the rules so we maximize future possibilities for snowbiking around Montana.
Until then, write some letters to the Forest Service. All contact info for Hebgen, Bozeman, and other ranger districts are available on the web.