SUPPORT THOSE THAT SUPPORT YOUR CLUB
CHECK YOUR BEACON. KNOW YOUR GEAR
Check your Gear Before you Ride!
The Upper Yellowstone Snowmobile Club (UYSC) has installed beacon check stations throughout the Cooke City riding area to help promote avalanche safety.
These stations allow riders to quickly check that their avalanche transceivers are transmitting properly before heading into the backcountry.
Don't just carry the gear — know how to use it!
Each winter, The Friends of GNFAC set up a Beacon Practice Park located at the Field of Cream softball field, across from the Forest Service/Dump parking lot. Whether you're new to avalanche safety or just need to brush up on your skills, the practice park is a great place to train.
Need avalanche gear? Rental equipment is available at local businesses in Cooke City.
A huge thank you to Reed Youngbar with Beartooth Powder Guides and the UYSC Groomer operator's for helping with the installation of our beacon check stations!
Please use these stations, encourage your riding partners to do the same, and help us keep avalanche safety a priority in Cooke City.
Ride Smart. Ride Prepared. Come Home Safe.
PLEASE TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS TRAINING!!!!
WE ALL WANT YOU TO COME HOME TO YOUR FAMILY!!!!
Beacon Check Station Locations
East Exit - Highway 212
East Exit - Highway 212
East Exit - Highway 212
Located east of Cooke City along Highway 212, this was one of the original beacon check stations. The station was provided by the Friends of the Gallatin National Forest Avalanche Center, with electricity donated by Alan Adams (Patagonia and DPS Skis). This location also features a memorial board displaying a map of past avalanche fatalities in the area. Take a moment to look it over while checking your beacon. It's an important reminder of why avalanche awareness and preparation matter.
Miller Road
East Exit - Highway 212
East Exit - Highway 212
Located near Miller Trailhead, this beacon check station was donated by B. Boe in memory of a close friend, who tragically lost their life in an avalanche on Daisy Pass Road. Power for the station is provided by the Cooke City Schoolhouse.
PLEASE RESPECT OUR LOCAL COMMUNITY
When stopping to check your beacon, remember that the Cooke City School is nearby. Please keep noise to a minimum and be mindful of students who may be outside or in class. There's plenty of backcountry to let your sled roar. No need to do it next to the school! Thank you for respecting our community and helping keep Cooke City a great place to ride.
Pilot Creek Parking Lot
East Exit - Highway 212
Lulu/Round Lake Trailhead
Located at the Pilot Creek parking area off Chief Joseph Highway on the Wyoming side. This beacon check station was generously donated by Tom and Jen Kobza, owners of TKI CNC, in memory of Rob Kincaid #103 and Jody Verhasselt. Whether you're heading into Cooke City from the east or riding toward the Beartooth Mountains, take a moment to stop and check your beacon before heading into the backcountry. A huge thank you to Tom and Jen for supporting avalanche safety in our riding community!
Lulu/Round Lake Trailhead
Lulu/Round Lake Trailhead
Located at the Lulu Pass and Round Lake junction, this beacon check station was generously donated by John Payne and The Buckhorn Yellowstone in Livingston, Montana. The station allows riders to check their avalanche beacons before heading up Lulu Pass or exploring Round Lake and the surrounding backcountry. A huge thank you to John Payne and The Buckhorn Yellowstone for supporting avalanche safety in the Cooke City riding area!
Forest Service Dump Parking lot
Forest Service Dump Parking lot
Located at the Forest Service/Dump parking lot on the south side of Cooke City. This beacon check station was generously donated by Tom and Jen Kobza, owners of TKI CNC. The station provides snowmobilers and skiers with a convenient place to check that their avalanche beacons are transmitting properly before heading into the backcountry. A huge thank you to Tom and Jen for their continued support of avalanche safety in Cooke City!