Rules and Regulations

Winter Fatbiking in Montana’s Gallatin National Forest

What you need to know about winter bicycling in Montana’s State Lands and National Forests.  A simple frequently asked questions and information doc regarding fatbikes, snowmobiles, skiers, and how we can all get along and share the trails.  

Where Can I Legally Ride and Not Ride?

Trails that are designated as "groomed and marked cross country ski / snowshoe trails" are off limits to bikes until April 15th in the Gallatin National Forest.  The 400 or so miles of trails that are groomed for snowmobiles as well as the trails that are groomed for both snowmobiles AND skiers are open to bicycles so long as they have a state grooming pass (see below).

Gallatin National Forest Over Snow Route Maps

http://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/stelprdb5338988.pdf

http://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/stelprdb5400264.pdf

Trail Grooming

• Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks offers a three year snowmobile/fat bike “Resident Trail Pass”.  This pass is required for anyone riding on State and Federal lands.
• This $18.00 pass will be required to ride your bike on any public lands in Montana, whether it be a groomed trail or not.
• The money goes into the grooming fund at State Level and is used for items related to grooming, Groomers, Trailers, Trucks, etc.
• More info can be found under “Permits” at this link: http://goo.gl/lC7HQ1
• Fatbikers and snowmobilers are also recommended to join their local snowmobile club which performs hundreds (if not thousands) of miles of self-funded grooming work all over the state.
• Find your local club and pay their annual membership fee.  This will give fatbikers a voice at the club level and also show that we support the work this fine organizations are already doing.  

Montana Snowmobile Clubs
Name	Address	Town	State	Zip Code
Anaconda Snowmobile Club	45 Fire Lane	Anaconda	MT	59711
Beaverhead Sno-Riders	P.O. Box 867	Dillon	MT	59725
Big Hole Snowmobile Club	P.O. Box 141	Wisdom	MT	59761
Big Sky Snowriders	P.O. Box 365	Livingston	MT	59047
Bitterroot Ridge Runners	P.O Box 265	Hamilton	MT	59840
Cabinet Ridge Runners	P.O. Box 1577	Trout Creek	MT	59874
Cut Bank Snowgoers, Inc	P.O. Box 301	Cut Bank	MT	59427
Deer Lodge Snowmobile Club	P.O. Box 44	Deer Lodge	MT	59722
Eureka Ten Lakes Snowmobile Club	P.O. Box 404	Eureka	MT	59917
Flathead Snowmobile Association	P.O. Box 1221	Whitefish	MT	59937
Gallatin Valley Snowmobile Association	P.O. Box 3164	Bozeman	MT	59772
Helena Snowdrifters Snowmobile Club	P.O. Box 505	Helena	MT	59604
Kings Hill Grooming Association	P.O. Box 69	Black Eagle	MT	59414
Lincoln County Snow-cats	P.O. Box 1180	Libby	MT	59923
Little Belt Snowmobile Club	P.O. Box 213	Hobson	MT	59452
Mining City Trail Riders	P.O. Box 4885	Butte	MT	59701
Missoula Snowgoers	P.O. Box 2441	Missoula	MT	59806
Montana Night Riders Snowmobile Club	P.O. Box 420242	Haugan	MT	59842
Montana Snowmobile Association	P.O. Box 70	Black Eagle	MT	59414
Ponderosa Snow Warriors	P.O. Box 933	Lincoln	MT	59369
Seeley Lake Driftriders	P.O. Box 174	Seeley Lake	MT	59868
Sweet Grass County Recreation Association	P.O. Box 922	Big Timber	MT	59011
Upper Yellowstone Snowmobile Club	P.O. Box 1111	Cooke City	MT	59020
Snowmobile Club-Vigilante Snowmobilers	P.O. Box 145	Virginia City	MT	59755
West Yell. Chamber of Commerce	P.O. Box 458	West Yellowstone	MT	59758
Wise River Jackpine Savages	P.O. Box 65	Wise River	MT	59762