15 Best Snowmobile Riding Tips for Mountains of Fun

There are birthday adventures and then there are birthday adventures. Snowmobiling through the Colorado Rockies with fresh powder under your skis and mountain views in every direction turned out to be one of my favorite ways to celebrate—and I did not even have to plan it myself. Whether you are booking a guided snowmobile tour or heading out on your own, a little preparation goes a long way toward making sure your day is as fun as it is safe.

If you are new to snowmobiling, do not let that stop you. These 15 tips will walk you through everything you need to know before you hit the trails, from what to wear to how to handle the machine. Chris and I capped our Colorado snowmobile adventure with a soak at the hot springs in Glenwood Springs, which I highly recommend as the perfect ending to a day in the cold. Your legs will thank you.

15 Best Snowmobile Riding Tips

Snowmobiling is one of those adventures that looks effortless until you are actually on the machine—and that is exactly why a few safety basics go a long way. If snowmobiling is on your adventure bucket list, take a few minutes to set yourself up for a day that is as safe as it is fun before you hit the trails.

Every outdoor adventure comes with its own set of safety considerations, whether you are paragliding off Mt. Pilatus in Switzerland, hiking in Rocky Mountain National Park, or snowmobiling at Sunlight Mountain Resort outside Glenwood Springs. The mountains do not care if it is your first time. A little preparation makes all the difference.

1. Think Safety First on Your Snowmobiling Tours!

Safety is priority number one.

Imagine zooming through the snowy backcountry of the Colorado Rockies on a snowmobile. Exhilarating right? Whether you are a first time rider or seasoned snowmobiler, safety is always the priority for your snow adventures. A few essentials to remember:

• Never drive recklessly
• Follow safety and driving rules
• Don’t ride beyond your experience level
• Dress appropriately

2. Book Snowmobiling Tours

Snowmobiling tours in the Colorado Rockies are an excellent way to learn the ins and outs of snowmobiling and offer a unique and exciting winter experience. 

If you sign up for snowmobiling tours, your tour company typically provides the snowmobile (also called a sled), helmets for snowmobiling, and possibly footwear.

You will need to bring the appropriate cold weather clothing that can be layered, snowmobiling gloves, and the appropriate jackets. 

I wore two puffy jackets on our tour in Colorado over a shirt and a fleece jacket and the warmth was just right for a 30° day.

Sunlight Mountain Resort Snowmobiling Tours

Chris and I were visiting Glenwood Springs for the weekend and were happy to find snowmobiling tours with Sunlight Mountain Resort Tours. Chris skied there as well and found it to be a smaller yet pleasantly nice to ski.

Our tour guide, Ty, arrived at the rental shop at 9:30 to open it and sign in tour participants. We were in a group with a family of five from New York, a mom and her young daughter (about 7), and a twenty-something couple. 

I was impressed that Ty knew and used everyone’s names within minutes of learning them. He was fun to joke with us, yet used the familiarity to help us stay safe

All members of your group will be asked to sign a liability waiver.

Snowmobiling Tours Around the World

3. Book Your Snowmobiling Rental & Tour from a Reputable Company

If you are a beginning snowmobile rider, snowmobiling tours are likely your best option for your first snowmobiling experience. As with all travel tours and trips, DO YOUR RESEARCH! Read reviews and make sure you choose a licensed tour company.

You want to have a positive experience and guides will outline their safe snowmobile riding tips, share their expertise, stop for must-see views, and point out great spots for you to practice your driving skills.

4. Wear the Right Snowmobile Gear

You will want to come prepared with your own personal snowmobile gear. Don’t count on the rental country to provide more than the sled, helmets for snowmobiling, and maybe boots. Some outfits may provide snowsuits and boots, but that is likely based on the location, ie., Alaska vs Colorado.

When Chris and I took our tour with Sunlight Mountain Snowmobile Tours, their website said a helmet and the snowmobile would be provided. When we arrived, boots were included with the rental. I brought my own boots, but Ty recommended a pair of boots that were slightly taller…just in case.

If your snowmobiling rental does not provide boots, you want boots that are tall enough that the tops won’t fill with snow if you step off your sled.

What snowmobile gear is recommended to be worn over your clothing:

• Tall snow boots
• Warm gloves (gloves with a removable lining work great)
• Snow pants (or a snowsuit if you have one or they are offered as part of your rental gear)
• Fleece-lined pants (you can find these in pants or leggings)
• Fleece jacket
• Balaclava (avoid scarves as they may become tangled in things)
• Puffy jacket (or two)
• Cell phone (fully charged)
• Sunglasses
• Sunscreen
• Hand warmers

Check out my Amazon Storefront Hiking Gear for products I recommend.

4. Be Sure to Wear Helmets for Snowmobiling

If you are on a snowmobiling tours, you WILL be wearing a helmet. Trust me, you’ll be grateful.

Are the helmets for snowmobiling pretty? Not really, they are simply a helmet with a clear face mask. They are intended to provide protection for your head in an accident and also to keep you warm and shielded from the wind as you speed across the snow.

Pro tip * When you stop your snowmobile, be sure to lift the face mask on your helmet. It fogs up pretty quickly otherwise.

5. Find a Comfortable and Safe Riding Position

Our tour guide, Ty, was great about explaining how to ride a “sled.”

For the driver, find a comfortable position with a good reach to the steering column and handles. As you navigate corners, you will want to move your entire body to the right or to the left so that half your butt is hanging off the seat as you navigate a turn. This gives you maximum ability to lean into the turn and steer your machine.

If you are riding with a passenger on a two-person machine, the passenger will want to keep an eye on the trail or your body movements as well and follow your lead by leaning into the turn. If you as the driver are leaning into the curve, but your passenger is leaning in the opposite direction hoping to get a clear photo or movie clip, you’ll have a heck of a time trying to steer through the turn.

Similar to driving an ATV, the snowmobile has a hand brake on the left handle with a lever on the right to increase your speed. On our snowmobile rentals, there was a red button in the middle of the steering column which you pushed to turn off the motor.

6. Pick a Good Speed

Many snowmobiling tours cater to first time snowmobile drivers. Your guide understands that you might be a little nervous snowmobiling in the mountains and following others at a safe distance.

While the snowmobiles can go much faster, safe speeds are usually under 40 mph.

7. Follow Your Snowmobiling Tours Guide

There might be a temptation to go faster than your tour guide. Please don’t. They are the tour guide for a reason! They know the area. They are responsible for everyone that signs up for snowmobiling tours, so help them out and follow the rules.

Since our group was small and fairly confident driving the machines, Ty took us a little farther than he normally did for his morning “family” tour. He brought us to an open field and gave some instruction of things to avoid and where to drive. 

We had a couple of teenage boys in our group and they were more than ready to have some free rein. We spent about 45 minutes in the meadow, took some pictures and videos, and then started back toward the check in building.

8. Learn Your Guide’s Hand Signals

Our guide, Ty, taught us hand signals prior to starting the snowmobiles so that he could do a quick check of everyone in the group.

If he raised his arm to the square, it was the signal to come to a stop close to him on the trail. Members of the snowmobiling tour passed the signal along so that everyone back to the person bringing up the rear knew to stop.

If Ty tapped his helmet twice, you tapped your helmet back in response if you were fine. 

9. Observe the Rules of Snowmobiling in the Mountains

• If you need to stop, pull off the trail to allow others to safely pass.
• Stopping on a hill or a curve is not recommended. If you are going uphill, you want to maintain your momentum to make it all the way up the hill.
• When crossing a road or trail, pick a point with good visibility. Come to a complete stop, look both ways before proceeding, and then drive forward slowly before gaining speed.
• Only ride with a passenger if your machine is designed for two people and teach them how to lean into the turns.
• Use good judgment.
• Leave enough space between you and the snowmobile in front of you.
• Establish hand signals for your group.
• You will likely encounter hazards along the way, so be on the lookout for trees, rocks, barbed wire, and other snowmobilers.
• If you are riding at night, use slower speeds.
• Pay attention to the signs of the trail.
• Bring a snowmobile backpack filled with emergency supplies if you are not riding with a tour group. You will want to include flares, a tarp, matches, first aid kit, radio, shovel, and supplies for building a fire.

10. Don’t Ride Alone

This doesn’t mean don’t ride on a snowmobile alone, it means don’t zoom off into the wilderness without a travel buddy. Be sure to let people know where you are going, how long you plan to be gone, and what time to expect your return.

11. Liability for Snowmobiling Tours

A signed release of liability is required for all snowmobiling tours. You are responsible for any and all damages to the snowmobiles. For our snowmobiling rental with Sunlight Mountain Resort, Renters Insurance was not available for purchase. Some tours may provide this option.

12. Bring a Fully Charged Cell Phone

If you are not navigating with your cell phone on snowmobiling tours and simply following your guide, you may think you have nothing to worry about. However, in the event of an emergency or if you happened to get lost, having a fully charged cell phone is essential. I would also recommend that you bring along a portable charger as well.

If you want to capture some of the amazing scenery while snowmobiling in the mountains, you may want your phone camera to capture a few selfies, photos, and video clips. It is definitely more convenient than carrying a large DSLR.

Be sure to keep your cell phone in an interior pocket as close to your body warmth as possible. Having a cold cell phone may cause it to not work as it should.

13. Don’t Drink & Drive

This should be self explanatory, but some people need to be reminded. If you have signed up for snowmobiling tours, you will want to make sure you drive sober. Judgment and ability can be impaired just as much while snowmobiling in the mountains as it can be while driving a car.

14. Pack a Snowmobile Backpack

Depending on the length of your snowmobile rental, you may wish to bring a backpack with a few snacks, drinks, and emergency supplies. It always pays to be prepared.

A true snowmobile backpack is something that your tour guide will carry and will contain the emergency supplies listed above.

15. Don’t Forget to Use the Handwarmers

I brought the Hot Shots hand warmers but was pleasantly surprised to see that both the driver and the passenger had heated handles with varying levels of heat.

I never felt as though I was cold with the gear I was wearing along with the hand warmers.

I’m not sure if all snowmobiles are equipped with hand warmers on the handles; you may wish to bring your own hand warmers just in case, especially if you are prone to getting cold.

Snowmobiling Lingo

• Snowmobile – A machine designed for winter travel and recreation on the snow, aka snow machine, ski-doo, toy, motorized snow vehicle and sometimes as a money pit!
• Sled – Another name for a snowmobile
• Sledding – Riding a snowmobile
• Ski-dooing – What a non-sledder calls a snowmobile
• Sled Head – A person who lives and breathes snowmobiling
• Snow Chaser – A person who goes where the snow is each winter
• White Gold – Freshly fallen snow with no tracks
• White Out – Blizzard like conditions
• Gnarly – Challenging or requiring a high level of skill
• Sick – Awesome, incredible, amazing
• Shredding – Off-trail riding that leaves no spot of snow untouched
• POI – Point of Interest
• Pit Stop – Time to stop for pics, snacks, lunch
• In the Rhubarb – When you overestimate your abilities and your sled goes off the trail into the bush
• Hit the Trails – Go trail riding with your buddies

Frequently Asked Questions

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Your Best Snow Day Starts Here

One of the things I love about having a travel website is the motivation and “courage” it gives me and my husband to try new things. Would I have paraglided in Switzerland otherwise? I’m not sure.

Snowmobiling was another fun and epic adventure inspired by my desire to share a new experience, tips, and advice with you. When you are finished your day of snowmobiling around Glenwood Springs, head to the nearest hot springs for some well earned relaxation.

“Know before you go” is a great motto for your snowmobiling tours. Discover the best snowmobile gear, learn snowmobile riding tips, stay safe, have fun, and be prepared for an epic adventure snowmobiling in the mountains.

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