Snowmobiling trail pass rates increase for upcoming season
Snowmobilers and other groomed trail users in Montana will see changes to trail passes for the 2019/2020 riding season. Last spring, the 2019 Montana Legislature passed HB 355 which adjusted fees on the Montana Snowmobile Trail Pass and Non-resident Snowmobile Temporary Use Permit and designated a new Non-resident Groomed Trail Pass.
Montana residents will now pay $20 for the two-season Snowmobile Trail Pass, up from $18 for three seasons. This pass is required for riding snowmobiles, converted snow-bikes, fat tire bikes and e-bikes on groomed snowmobile trails.
Out-of-state visitors riding snowmobiles or snow-bikes are required to purchase a Nonresident Temporary Use Permit for $35, up from $25 last year. Nonresident fat tire bike and e-bike users must purchase the Nonresident Groomed Trail Pass to ride on groomed trails in Montana. This new trail pass is $35 and is also valid for 2 seasons. Fifty cents from each Non-resident Temporary Use Permit will also support search and rescue efforts across Montana. Riders who are caught recreating without the appropriate pass could face a fine of up to $100, said Seth McArthur, Snowmobile Program Manager for Montana State Parks.
“Every year, the cost of snowmobile trail grooming and grooming equipment increases,” McArthur said. “The new permit fees will help Montana’s 25 snowmobile clubs meet the rising cost of grooming the 4,000 miles of designated snowmobile trails in Montana.”
Trail grooming is carried out by members and volunteers associated with local snowmobile clubs throughout the state. It’s a practice that’s been going on since the 1970s, McArthur said, but can be a hardship for the clubs.
“We have tons of volunteer hours. Normally in a year we average about 10,000 volunteer hours to run our snowmobile program from the 25 clubs,” he said. “We’re at least trying to make sure we can provide the money for the clubs to do the grooming.”
McArthur hasn’t observed a drastic increase in groomed trail use, but noted that the user base is very consistent and also a good source of tourism dollars — an estimated 10,000 visitors travel to Montana each year specifically for snowmobiling, he said. A 2013 study conducted by Montana State Parks found that nonresident snowmobilers spend an average of $147 per day on things like lodging, activities, snowmobile rentals and food, totaling $14.3 million for the 2013-14 season.
“Without snowmobiling in many small communities … many of the businesses would go away just because they wouldn’t be able to survive the whole year,” McArthur said.
The trail network closest to Bigfork is Crane Mountain Trail, which runs from Ferndale to the lower end of Swan Lake. A spur off the main trail heads toward Mission Well — a great spot for powder riding after snowfall, according to the Flathead Snowmobile Association, which maintains three trail systems in the valley. The other two networks, Canyon Creek and Desert Mountain/Lost Johnny, are located outside of Columbia Falls. The passes may be purchased from local vendors or online at www.app.mt.gov/als/index/index.html. For more information about the program, visit www.stateparks.mt.gov or contact Seth McArthur at (406) 444-3753 or smcarthur@mt.gov. ¦