Frequently Asked Questions

Below you will find information that might help you understand how to find things or learn about information you might need to know about your city or town.

Snow Groomer

10

  • Barricades are installed on December 15th each year per a written agreement with the U.S. Forest Service. Barricades cannot be installed before December 15th. Barricades are installed at the Bunco Rd. parking area, Fernan Saddle, Fourth of July Pass parking area and Hayden Creek. Barricades are removed when grooming operations have ended for the season, which is determined by snow depth at the trailheads and must be no later than March 15th per the agreement.

    Snow Groomer

  • Eight to ten inches of snow is necessary to prevent damage to the track systems, and twelve inches of snow is necessary to prevent damage to equipment implements, per manufacturer recommendations.  

    Snow Groomer

  • The Snow Groomer program is funded with a percentage of state snowmobile registration and department salaries are paid by the County using other funding. 

     

    Snow Groomer


  • - Bunco Road

    - 4th of July Pass - Interstate 90

    - LOWER Fernan Hill parking area, directly across from the Fernan Gun Range.  

    Snow Groomer

  • The Forest Service owned parking lot at Bunco is plowed by Lakes Highway District as time and resources allow. The parking lot at 4th of July is owned and plowed by Idaho Transportation Department as time and resources allow. LOWER Fernan Hill parking area, directly across from the Fernan Gun Range, is intermittently plowed as time and resources allow. 

    Snow Groomer

  • The Snow Groomer department provides groomed snowmobile trails, located in Kootenai County and parts of Shoshone County, in the Coeur d’Alene National Forest. The Snow groomer program does not provide towing and recovery services, road maintenance, plowing, trash removal, or restroom maintenance at facilities owned by the Forest Service.

    Snow Groomer

  • Idaho requires all out-of-state snowmobilers to purchase a nonresident snowmobile user certificate. The certificate costs $59.50 and is available at authorized snowmobile registration vendors. It is good for a period of one year. Short term certificates are not available. Nonresidents may designate their certificate fees to the county snowmobile program of their primary use.

    Purchase Snowmobile User Certificate Here

    Snow Groomer

  • The Kootenai County Snow Grooming Department does not select or decide which trails are groomed. Trail grooming routes are selected by the citizen Snowmobile Advisory Board with input from the Forest Service, Kootenai County Sheriff Office, Idaho State Parks and Recreation, the Coeur d’Alene Snowmobile Club.    

    Snow Groomer

  • Kootenai County Snowgroomer Department: (208) 446-1289

    - Trail Maps

    - Trail Grooming Operations

    - Program Administration  


    Kootenai County Sherriff Office: (208) 446-1300

    - State and Local Rules and Laws 

    - Enforcement 

    - Reporting Accidents 

    - Vehicles Blocking Groomed Snowmobile Trails

    - Vandalism 

    - Search and Rescue Activities


    Idaho State Parks and Recreation: (208) 769-1511

    - State Snowmobile Registration

    - Avalanche Safety Training 

     

    •Forest Service:  (208) 769-3000

    Report issues with any of the following:

    - Forest Service Roads

    - Downed Trees

    - Gates

    - Restrooms

    - Shelters/Warming huts



    Snow Groomer