General snowmobiling season opened Dec. 1 on the Flathead National Forest, with groomed and ungroomed trails available on 800,000 acres of land.

Areas closed to snowmobiles include designated wilderness areas, such as the Bob Marshall, Great Bear and Mission Mountains Wildernesses, and the Jewel Basin Hiking Area. It is each snowmobiler's responsibility to know where off-limit boundaries are, regardless of the presence or absence of signs. Information and maps are available from any Flathead Forest office or online at www.fs.usda.gov/flathead.

Snowmobiles used on public lands must be registered and include appropriate safety equipment. Out-of-state snowmobilers must obtain a state permit available from vendors in the Flathead.

State law prohibits snowmobiles from riding roads used by other motor vehicles. Roads plowed for motor vehicles are not open to snowmobile travel.

All winter recreationists should stay current with local weather conditions and avalanche danger. Avalanche advisories and other information are available online at www.fs.usda.gov/flathead and www.glacieravalanche.org or by calling the Forest Service at 758-5204 and the Avalanche Advisory Hotline at 257-8702.

Snowmobile rangers will provide trail and safety information and monitor winter recreation use across the Flathead Forest throughout winter.