The SnoCobra ski system essentially converts your ATV or side-by-side into a snowmobile, allowing you to use your machine in the winter on snowmobile trails if allowed by the state. Using an ATV or side-by-side on snowmobile trails without skis and rear tracks is prohibited in most states because wheels can gouge and rut trails, which makes the SnoCobra ski system a great option.
Trail use and snowmobile definitions vary by state. Check with your local, regional and state organizations to verify that SnoCobra skis with rear tracks installed on your machine meet the
definition of a snowmobile. Your local ATV, off-road and snowmobile clubs are also great resources to find trail maps and areas open for use.
Every Season Products promotes safe and lawful operation of machines for the enjoyment of all outdoor enthusiasts. Never ride on posted land without permission and always use care and consideration of the environment.
The table below clarifies the definition of a snowmobile by state. Check with your state for trail fees or licensing before riding in your area.
State | Definition | Source |
Alaska | A snow vehicle is a vehicle propelled by mechanical power, supported in part by ski’s, belts, cleats, or low pressure tires and primarily designed to travel over ice and snow. ATVs with low pressure tires may be registered as snow vehicles | Alaska DMV |
Arizona | No registration required | AZ Game and Fish Department |
California | 557. A “snowmobile” is a motor vehicle designed to travel over ice or snow in whole or in part on skis, belts, or cleats, which is commonly referred to as an Over Snow Vehicle (OSV). | CA DMV |
Colorado | (11) “Snowmobile” means a self-propelled vehicle primarily designed or altered for travel on snow or ice when supported in part by skis, belts, or cleats. “Snowmobile” does not include machinery used strictly for the grooming of snowmobile trails or ski slopes. | CO Legislature |
Connecticut | (2) “Snowmobile” means any self-propelled vehicle designed for travel on snow or ice, except vehicles propelled by sail; | CT Legislature |
Idaho | “Snowmobile” means any self-propelled vehicle under on thousand (1,000) pounds unladened gross weight, designed primarily for travel on snow or ice over natural terrain, which may be steered by tracks, skis, or runners. | Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation The definition is in Idaho Code 67-7101 |
Illinois | Snowmobile – “snowmobile” means a self-propelled device designed for travel on snow or ice or natural terrain, steered by skis or runners, and supported in part by skis, belts, or cleats | IL DNR |
Indiana | “Vehicle” defined Sec. 7. As used in this chapter, “vehicle” refers to an off-road vehicle or a snowmobile | IN DNR IC 14-16-1-8 Registration; requirement; exemptions |
Iowa | Snowmobile: A motorized vehicle weighing less than one thousand pounds which uses sled-type runners or skis, endless belt-type tread with a width of forty-eight inches or less, or any combination of runners, skis, or tread, and is designed for travel on snow or ice. “Snowmobile” does not include an all-terrain vehicle, as defined in section 321I.1, which has been altered or equipped with runners, skis, belt-type tracks, or treads | IA DNR |
Maine | Snowmobile. “Snowmobile” means a vehicle propelled by mechanical power that is primarily designed to travel over ice or snow and is supported in part by skis, belts, or cleats. | Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife |
Maryland | “Snowmobile” means a track-powered vechile manufactured specially for recreational use over snow. | MD DNR |
Massachusetts | “Snow vehicle”, a motor vehicle designed to travel over ice or snow, having a curb weight of not more than 453 kilograms or 1,000 pounds, driven by track or tracks in contact with the snow or ice and steered by a ski or skis in contact with the snow or ice. | MA DMV |
Michigan | “Snowmobile” means any motor-driven vehicle designed for travel primarily on snow or ice of a type that utilizes sled-type runners or skis, an endless belt tread, or any combination of these or other similar means of contact with the surface upon which it is operated, but is not a vehicle that must be registered under the Michigan vehicle code, 1949 PA 300, MCL 257.1 to 257.923. | MI DNR |
Minnesota | Snowmobile” means a self-propelled vehicle designed for travel on snow or ice steered by skis or runners. | statue 84.81 MN Legislature |
Montana | (11) “Snowmobile” means a self-propelled vehicle of an overall width of 48 inches or less, excluding accessories, designed primarily for travel on snow or ice, that may be steered by skis or runners and that is not otherwise registered or licensed under the laws of the state of Montana | Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks |
New Hampshire | Snowmobile means a vehicle not more than 54 inches wide and not more than 1,200 pounds designed to travel over snow or ice, supported by skis, belts or cleats. | NH Fish and Game Department |
New York | “Snowmobile” shall mean a self-propelled vehicle designed for travel on snow or ice, steered by skis or runners and supported in whole or in part by one or more skis, belts or cleats. | NY DMV |
North Dakota | “Snowmobile” means a self-propelled vehicle designed for travel on snow, ice, or a natural terrain and steered by skis or runners. | North Dakota Parks and Recreation |
Ohio | Ohio law defines “snowmobile” as a self-propelled vehicle steered by skis, runners or caterpillar treads and designed to be used principally (mainly) on snow or ice. | OH Stark County Sheriff’s Office |
Oregon | Oregon Revised Statutes (ORS) 801.490 defines a snowmobile as a self-propelled vehicle that: Is capable of traveling over snow or ice; Uses, as its means of propulsion, an endless belt tread or cleats or any combination of tread and cleats or similar means of contact with the surface upon which it is operated; Is steered wholly or in part by skis or sled-type runners; and Is not registered in Oregon as a vehicle other than a snowmobile. | OR DMV |
Pennsylvania | “Snowmobile.” An engine-driven vehicle which is all of the following: (1) Is designed to travel over snow or ice. (2) Has an endless belt track or tracks.(3) Is steered by a ski or skis. (4) Has an overall width of 48 inches or less. | PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Chapter 77 Title 75 of All Terrain Vehicles & Snowmobiles Law |
South Dakota | “Snowmobile,” any engine-driven vehicle of a type which uses sled type runners, wheels, or skis with an endless belt tread or similar means of contact with the surface upon which it is operated. | SD DMV 32-20A-1. Definition of terms. Terms used in this chapter mean: |
Utah | (21) “Snowmobile” means any motor vehicle designed for travel on snow or ice and steered and supported in whole or in part by skis, belts, cleats, runners, or low pressure tires. | Utah State Parks |
Vermont | (5) “Snowmobile” means a self-propelled vehicle intended for off-road travel primarily on snow, having a curb weight of not more than 793.783 kg (1,750 lbs.); driven by track or tracks in contact with the snow and steered by a ski or skis in contact with the snow. The maximum width of a snowmobile shall be no more than 48 inches. An all-terrain vehicle converted to operate with tracks shall not be considered to be a snowmobile. | VAST – Vermont Statutes Online |
Washington | “Snowmobile” means a self-propelled vehicle that is capable of traveling over snow or ice that (1) utilizes as its means of propulsion an endless belt tread or cleats, or any combination of these or other similar means of contact with the surface upon which it is operated, (2) is steered wholly or in part by skis or sled type runners, and (3) is not otherwise registered as, or subject to, the motor vehicle excise tax in the state of Washington. | Washington State Legislature |
Wisconsin | Snowmobile—An engine-driven vehicle that is manufactured solely for snowmobiling that has an endless belt tread and sled-type runners or skis, to be used in contact with snow. A snowmobile does not include a vehicle that is any of the following: A vehicle that has inflatable tires or a vehicle that is driven by a motor of 4 horsepower or less and that is operated in sanctioned races, derbies, competitions or exhibitions or only on private property. A snowmobile cannot be over 48 inches wide if it was manufactured after May 7, 1994. | WI DNR |
Wyoming | (a) (ii) “Snowmobile” means any mechanically driven vehicle of a type which utilizes sled type runners, or skis, or any endless belt tread or combination of these, designed primarily for operation over snow. | Wyoming State Trails Program |