Frequently Asked Questions.
Snowmobiles & Gear
Guests are welcome to bring their own snowmobiles and gear as long as their sleds are appropriate for mountain riding, properly maintained, and in good working order.
Need a sled? Beartooth Rides and Guides offers rental snowmobiles for guided trips. We coordinate the details with you before your trip and have your rental sled ready to ride when you meet your guide in Cooke City, Montana or the Beartooth Mountains, Wyoming.
Required Avalanche Safety Gear
For backcountry trips, each rider must carry:
- Avalanche beacon
- Shovel
- Probe
- Backpack
- Radio
Required avalanche safety gear is available to rent through BRAG. Avalanche airbags are optional.
Personal Riding Gear
Guests are responsible for appropriate winter riding gear, including:
- Balaclava or face covering
- Gloves
- Snowmobile boots
- Outerwear
- Base layers
- Mid layers
Renting a snowmobile from BRAG? A helmet and goggles are included with your rental.
After you book, we’ll work with you to make sure you know exactly what you need so you’re prepared for a fun, comfortable, and safe day in the mountains.
Planning Your Trip
At Beartooth Rides and Guides, we want your trip to be easy to plan and built around your group. Have questions before booking? Reach out through our contact page and we’ll help you choose the right riding area, experience, rentals, and lodging.
Once you’re booked, your guide will contact you directly to go over the details of your trip, including:
- Your group — riding experience, number of riders, goals, and information provided during booking
- Lodging — options in and around Cooke City, the Beartooths, and Cody; BRAG can help with recommendations
- Meals — meals are not provided by BRAG, and we’ll let you know what to plan for and bring
- Meeting location — where and when to meet your guide
- Snowmobile rentals & gear — rental logistics and making sure you have the equipment you need
- Your trip plan — every guided trip is customized around your group’s experience, goals, snow conditions, and the riding area
Good communication is a big part of a great trip. We’ll work with you before you arrive so you know what to expect and can spend more time enjoying the mountains.
What Does a Typical Guided Day Look Like?
Every day in the mountains is different. Your guide will build the day around your riding ability, goals, chosen riding area, weather, snowpack, and avalanche conditions.
Morning Meet-Up
We generally meet around 9:00 AM. Before heading out, we’ll review the day’s weather, avalanche forecast, riding plan, terrain considerations, and complete a gear and safety check.
Time to Ride
Depending on your experience and the type of trip you’ve booked, your day may include backcountry exploration, mountain riding skills and progression, avalanche awareness, boondocking, tree riding, technical terrain, or simply exploring some incredible country.
Lunch on the Mountain
We’ll typically stop for lunch around midday. Lunch, snacks, and drinks are not provided, so please bring enough food and water for a full day in the mountains. Alcohol is not permitted before or during your guided ride.
Afternoon Riding
After lunch, we’ll continue riding and exploring. Your guide may adjust the day’s plan as weather, snow conditions, avalanche conditions, group ability, or other factors change.
Wrapping Up the Day
We typically begin heading back to the vehicles in the mid-to-late afternoon, generally wrapping up around 3:00–4:00 PM, depending on the day and conditions.
Riding Multiple Days?
We’ll work with you each day to keep the experience fresh—exploring different terrain, finding the best available snow, and continuing to build on your riding goals.
Whether you’re riding Cooke City, Montana or the Beartooth Mountains, Wyoming, the goal isn’t to follow the same itinerary every day. It’s to build the best day possible for your group and the conditions we’re given.
Yes! Beartooth Rides and Guides offers guided snowmobile experiences for beginner through expert riders.
For beginners and less experienced riders, we can start with scenic groomed routes and easier terrain, allowing you to get comfortable with the snowmobile and mountain environment.
As experience and confidence increase, rides can progress into off-trail and backcountry terrain, powder riding, tree riding, and more technical mountain riding.
For advanced and expert riders, we can focus on challenging backcountry terrain, technical riding, deep snow, and terrain that matches your ability and goals.
Every guided day is customized to your group. We meet you at your current riding level and progress from there, choosing terrain and riding objectives appropriate for your ability, conditions, and goals.
Gratuities are never required, but they are always appreciated. Tipping is customary in the guiding industry and is a way to recognize your guide’s preparation, professionalism, training, and the effort they put into creating a safe, enjoyable, and memorable experience.
If you feel your guide provided great service, 10–20% of the guiding cost is a common range to consider. If your guide went above and beyond to make your trip exceptional, you are always welcome to tip more.
Ultimately, gratuity is entirely up to you and should reflect your experience with your guide.
Beartooth Rides and Guides operates under U.S. Forest Service Special Use Permits in two premier snowmobile riding areas: Cooke City, Montana and the Beartooth Mountains, Wyoming.
In Cooke City, BRAG operates under a Special Use Permit with the Custer Gallatin National Forest. In the Beartooth Mountains, Wyoming, BRAG operates under a Special Use Permit with the Shoshone National Forest.
Both areas offer exceptional riding, but the terrain, snow, weather, and overall experience can be very different—even though the two riding zones are relatively close to one another.
Bringing your own snowmobile? Make sure you have the required snowmobile registrations/permits for the state where you’ll be riding. If your trip includes both Cooke City, Montana and the Beartooth Mountains, Wyoming, you will need the appropriate registrations for both Montana and Wyoming.
Want to experience both riding areas? Multi-day trips can be planned to include both Cooke City and the Beartooth Mountains, giving you the opportunity to experience two distinctly different riding zones during the same trip.
Contact us and we’ll help you decide which area—or combination of both—is the best fit for your group.
Absolutely! Beartooth Rides and Guides can help organize private, special, and custom group rides in Cooke City, Montana and the Beartooth Mountains, Wyoming.
Whether you’re planning a women’s ride, snowmobile club trip, corporate outing, family or friends adventure, private riding clinic, multi-day trip, or another special group experience, we’ll work with you to build a ride around your group’s size, riding abilities, interests, and goals.
Have something different in mind? Reach out and let’s build a unique experience for your group.
Call or Text: (307) 254-5703
Email: beartoothridesandguides@gmail.com
You’ll hear both names when planning your trip. The Beartooth Mountains are the larger mountain range, while “Top of the World” is the commonly used name for the high-elevation riding area along the Beartooth Highway in Wyoming.
When riders say they’re going to “Top of the World,” they’re talking about riding in the Wyoming Beartooths. Same incredible destination—Top of the World is part of the greater Beartooth Mountains.