Yellowstone National Park's winter landscape offers a magical experience for those willing to brave its cold temperatures. Most roads in the park are groomed for over-snow traffic via either snowcoaches or snowmobiles. The majority of visitors to the park travel these roads with commercially guided tours. However, the park has set aside four trips per day for groups that want to enter Yellowstone without commercial guides. This program, called the Non-Commercially Guided Snowmobile Access Program (N-CGSAP), allows one group of up to five snowmobiles through each of the North, South, East and West entrances per day. Trips can be 1, 2 or 3 days in length. Groups may apply for permits for up to three days/two nights and can leave and re-enter the park through any gate during that time. Group leaders must be 18 years old by the first day of their trip and all snowmobile operators must carry a valid driver's licenses. Costs include a $6 application fee and a $40 per day recreation fee upon trip confirmation. Entrance fees will be collected at the time of your arrival. The lottery opens annually for applications in August. Open dates/entrances (due to cancellations or spaces that were not filled through the lottery) will be available on a first-come, first-served basis on Recreation.gov beginning October 1 and throughout the remainder of the season. Permits may be available throughout the winter open season due to non-assignment or cancellation. Check back often.