Snowmobiles in Olympic National Forest?

[birdshooter1189]

I'm hoping someone can give me a quick summary of the rules regarding snowmobiles in olympic national forest on the south side of Olympic National Park. The area between Lake Cushman and Lake Wynoochee.  As far as I can tell it is:

-Not a national park
-Not a wilderness area
-Not a designated snow park
-Not in one of the seasonally closed wildlife sensitive areas

Does this mean I can park my truck on the side of the road(with a national forest parking pass), and then ride a snowmobile on all the forest service roads?

Are other permits required? Is there something I'm not aware of that prohibits snowmobiles from this entire area?

[KFhunter]

If you can ride ATV there you should be able to ride snowmobile too. 

[JimmyHoffa]

I've seen a number of them out there on the roads between Quilcene and Sequim.  After a good snow, they would be out.  Usually in groups just out cruising.  They didn't seem to be trying to hide it. 
If you don't get an answer here, you could try the ranger stations.

[KFhunter]

If you start riding NF roads that aren't groomed, carry a chainsaw 

[birddogdad]

here was a quick lookup for GPNF, so there would be rules to find for that national forest too i am certain.

https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/giffordpinchot/news-events/?cid=fsbdev3_004949

[CP]

"national forest parking pass"  - Never heard of that.

Each NF is different but roads are usually open for snowmobiles.  In some places they aren't even limited to the road.   

[birdshooter1189]

"national forest parking pass"  - Never heard of that.
 

"Northwest Forest pass" is what I meant to say.

Thanks for the input guys!

[Russ McDonald]

If you can ride ATV there you should be able to ride snowmobile too.

I can tell you that there is not where that I know of on the Olympic NF that you can ride an ATV/UTV on

[birddogdad]

If you can ride ATV there you should be able to ride snowmobile too.

I can tell you that there is not where that I know of on the Olympic NF that you can ride an ATV/UTV on

https://www.fs.usda.gov/activity/olympic/recreation/ohv   yup pretty clearly written in RED

[Bob33]

If you can ride ATV there you should be able to ride snowmobile too.

I can tell you that there is not where that I know of on the Olympic NF that you can ride an ATV/UTV on

https://www.fs.usda.gov/activity/olympic/recreation/ohv   yup pretty clearly written in RED

I'll bet those are very similar to designated trails.

"The only off-road motorized riding use allowed on the Olympic National Forest are e-bikes or registered dirt bikes, on desiganted trails."

[birdshooter1189]

I called the forest service office and got an official answer.

Olympic national forest service roads are closed to snowmobiles.....unless they have so much snow that they are impassible for vehicles.  So if you drive your truck about as far as you possibly can, you can unload and ride a snowmobile beyond that.  But can't go racing up and down the side of a road where vehicles are driving.

The guidance on this page:

https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/giffordpinchot/learning/safety-ethics/?cid=fsbdev3_004949

applies to Olympic national forest service roads:

"Where can snowmobiles be operated legally on Forest roads?

Roads not formally closed by forest order are made legal for snowmobile use by the forest’s “closed by snow” convention. This convention states, “A road is considered closed to wheeled motorized use when there is one foot of snow.” "

[Fidelk]

If you can ride ATV there you should be able to ride snowmobile too.

I can tell you that there is not where that I know of on the Olympic NF that you can ride an ATV/UTV on

https://www.fs.usda.gov/activity/olympic/recreation/ohv   yup pretty clearly written in RED

"other forms of four wheeled OHV's".......said wheeled not tracked.

[Russ McDonald]

If you can ride ATV there you should be able to ride snowmobile too.

I can tell you that there is not where that I know of on the Olympic NF that you can ride an ATV/UTV on

https://www.fs.usda.gov/activity/olympic/recreation/ohv   yup pretty clearly written in RED

"other forms of four wheeled OHV's".......said wheeled not tracked.

When you track your atv/ UTV you ha e to get a snowmobile tag on it in order to ride on snowmobile trails.  Otherwise it is still an ATV/UTV and not authorized.

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