Yellowstone National Park - Sled access question

[Jeff C]

I was reading an article in the most recent Snotech mag, about YNP and about the fact that Skidoo has 10 models certified as best available technology and are granted access to the park.

It goes on to say that snowmobiles need to be "certified" before they enter the park.

I stopped going into the park years ago, when these restrictions came into play.

Now, I want to back in and bring my son on our own sleds.

If I show up with my 2012 M1100T will I be "granted" access?

Is that access granted with some sort of test at the gate or are 4 stroke sleds pre certified before hand and on some sort of list so when you show up with your mandatory "guide" (This alone makes me sick), you get in?

Anybody know how this works?

 

[Clarke673]

no. you have to be on a guided tour. I have been in hte park on my assault under emergancy travel and i still get a stink eye from it. Best part is, that there are alot of rangers with 2 strokes...

 

[Dam Dave]

you have to rent sleds from an outfitter and hire a guide, only way to ride sleds in the park now, better deal is jump in a snow coach and take a nice warm ride to old faithful

 

[Dam Dave]

FYI not sure what year this BS started but Arctic Cat has the first certified sled approved for park use, the Yellowstone special T600 or something

 

[rockdog2112]

Still has to be guided.

 

[Jeff C]

I realize you need a guide, but you dont have to rent a sled do you?(If your sled is BAT?)

 

[Dam Dave]

I realize you need a guide, but you dont have to rent a sled do you?(If your sled is BAT?)

No you dont have to rent a Doo they have every brand of 4 stroke I believe, but you do have to rent a sled from a outfitter and a guide, But you can ride your own sled outside the park, tons of riding outside the park

 

[Dam Dave]

I realize you need a guide, but you dont have to rent a sled do you?(If your sled is BAT?)

I think your still confused, you CAN NOT take YOUR sled into park no matter what it is, you have to rent sled from approved vender

 

[Jeff C]

Screw it then....... I think I'll just get in one of them nice warm snowcoaches, pack a cocktail, and let them drive.........

I was hoping to take my son on our own sleds, like I used to do 20 years ago, but even with your own sled that is BAT, they still require you to rent an approved sled.......

That sucks.........

I want him to see YNP in the winter, but it is not like it used to be, which is sad really......

 

[messickzr]

I know my son would love the park! Our two trips through before the rule changes were amazing for scenery. Yes, the riding is not as good as outside the park but it is still a great experience. I don't know what to do as far as the future and our plans to go through the park, but I definitely want to take my son through the park as well someday.

 

[Blk88GT]

How old does a kid have to be to drive his own rental sled on one of these guided tours?

 

[Bacon]

Damn greenies. They have to ruin all the fun. Let's not even talk about how much more pollution is caused in the summer with all the tour buses and vehicles. But at least they are keeping a bunch of nasty sledders out of the park.

 

[phatty]

How old does a kid have to be to drive his own rental sled on one of these guided tours?

16 or valid drivers license (some states issue at 15).

Check with three bears lodge for good rental deals and guide service. I booked a gig in February. They basically said, were going to give you a guide, but you can pick anywhere you want to go and the guide will take you. So you plan out where you want to go before hand. Not like you just have to follow the guide on whatever he wants to do. We can do up to like 200 miles a day in the park. I am actually looking forward to cruising through the park with heated seats on a touring sled. It wont be the same as when i was 7 years old driving my own sled through the park, but hey, i think my wife will enjoy it just the same...

 

[Clarke673]

Screw it then....... I think I'll just get in one of them nice warm snowcoaches, pack a cocktail, and let them drive.........

I was hoping to take my son on our own sleds, like I used to do 20 years ago, but even with your own sled that is BAT, they still require you to rent an approved sled.......

That sucks.........

I want him to see YNP in the winter, but it is not like it used to be, which is sad really......

Come through gardiner, bring your sleds. Take a ride into the park with Xantera. after that i can take you to a location where you can see some hotsprings that arn't in the park on sleds. Then you can go to cooke city and ride in some of the best mountains there are.

 

[suitcase]

We wanted to take a trip into the park on sleds this winter as well. Before you cant access it any more on snowmobiles.

15 yrs old to beable to ride your own sled into the park. that is BS, my son is 12 now and has been riding his own sled for 7 yrs. and is more than capable of riding on a trail at 35 MPH. with others on the trail. He would no more want to ride on the back of a two up sled with his mother or me than the man on the moon.

boy they are doing a good job of keep people out of the park. Or should I say keeping people from wanting to go into the Park!

 

[Jeff C]

Come through gardiner, bring your sleds. Take a ride into the park with Xantera. after that i can take you to a location where you can see some hotsprings that arn't in the park on sleds. Then you can go to cooke city and ride in some of the best mountains there are.

We will be in island park during that week . I gave been to cooke and its a nice destination.

 

[AZ800]

Screw it then....... I think I'll just get in one of them nice warm snowcoaches, pack a cocktail, and let them drive.........

I was hoping to take my son on our own sleds, like I used to do 20 years ago, but even with your own sled that is BAT, they still require you to rent an approved sled.......

That sucks.........

I want him to see YNP in the winter, but it is not like it used to be, which is sad really......

Yeah, it's sad, especially as much as my kids like snowmobiling. Last trip was the winter of 02-03? for us and we had to argue the db thing with the noise cops. (After they insisted that I had to be "full throttle" from the test start point to the noise test point and I flew by them at about 80mph!! they allowed "partial throttle" for the test). Had to afro engineer my OE 800 RMK exhaust onto my buddy's 700 with twins/stingers. Didn't run that great, but good enough to cruise the trails. Even my wifes bone stock 500 had db issues.
All said it was fun and something I really looked forward to doing with the family in the future. Not any more!

 

[sdsnocop]

We wanted to take a trip into the park on sleds this winter as well. Before you cant access it any more on snowmobiles.

15 yrs old to beable to ride your own sled into the park. that is BS, my son is 12 now and has been riding his own sled for 7 yrs. and is more than capable of riding on a trail at 35 MPH. with others on the trail. He would no more want to ride on the back of a two up sled with his mother or me than the man on the moon.

boy they are doing a good job of keep people out of the park. Or should I say keeping people from wanting to go into the Park!

The 16 year old age limit is not just a Yellowstone thing you will find most rental operators will not allow anyone under 16 to operate their sleds. It's a liability insurance issue. However I would bet your son could ride the sled safer and better than many operators of rental snowmobilers I have seen.

 

[suitcase]

LOL thanks, Im will have to ask him what he would like to do now we know this little set back. He went to bed so he would be ready to ride tomorrow. But if I know him he will say that he won't be interested in going to the park. He has been there in the summer, and we wanted to take a winter trip. Well I guess it will be IP instead. LOL