Yellowstone National Park Superintendent Suzanne Lewis stated that sometime early Saturday morning, January 10, 2004, two snowmobilers illegally entered the park and purposely drove through several meadows between the West Entrance and Madison Junction. Their off-road activities were readily apparent to the numerous visitors traveling along the West Entrance Road that morning and will remain visible until the next significant snowfall.

Evidence shows that the individuals entered the park by following a groomed ski trail at the east end of the town of West Yellowstone, Montana. They drove down the ski trail to the West Entrance Road and continued east about 13 miles on the groomed road surface to near Madison Junction. Along the way, the snowmobilers ventured off-road onto several meadows. Tracks showed that the individuals drove back and forth across the meadows. In some areas their tracks dug deep through the snow and into the soil, and some shrubs and small trees were trampled.

This is the worst case of off-road snowmobile travel ever recorded along the West Entrance Road. Rangers are actively working to locate the individuals responsible for the damages. Any person with information that could help in the investigation is encouraged to contact Yellowstone National Park Criminal Investigator Chris Fors at: 307-344-2125.

Superintendent Lewis reminds all winter visitors that the use of oversnow vehicles off designated routes is prohibited, that recreational oversnow vehicle travel in Yellowstone National Park is allowed only by guided snowmobile tours or by commercial snowcoaches, and use is restricted between the hours of 7:00 am and 9:00 pm.

Information provided by the NPS

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