Booking a snowmobile tour in the Colorado high country is different from booking a restaurant table. You’re riding between 11,000 and 12,000 feet near Leadville, the weather changes fast, and the mountain passes that get you here can close with little warning. Knowing the rules ahead of time helps you plan smarter and book with confidence.
Here’s exactly how cancellations, weather, snow conditions, and gift certificates work at White Mountain Snowmobile Tours, which has been locally owned and guiding riders in Leadville since 1991.
Quick Answers
- Cancel 48+ hours ahead: full refund.
- Cancel inside 48 hours: a refund is no longer available- please call us to look into options of moving to another time/day pending availability.
- No-shows and last-minute group size cuts: not refunded.
- Tour season: generally early December to early April, depending on snowpack.
- Bad weather: our guides adjust terrain for conditions; if we cancel a tour for outstanding reasons we will provide a full refund, please know this is a rare occurrence. Tours are NOT cancelled for snow/snowy conditions.
- Gift certificates: yes, a snowmobile tour makes a great holiday gift. Gift cards can be purchased on our website. Or you can contact our office at 719 486 7354 or officewhitemountaintours@gmail.com and we can help you directly as well!
What is White Mountain’s Cancellation Policy?
We need at least 48 hours’ notice to issue a full refund. That window gives us time to offer your spot to other riders, since our tours regularly sell out, especially during the holidays and on weekends.
A few specifics worth knowing:
- No-shows are not refunded. If you miss your tour time without contacting us, the booking is forfeited.
- Last-minute group size changes are not refunded. If you booked six riders and four show up, the two empty spots are charged. If your group might shrink, adjust your booking before the 48-hour mark.
- Cancelling within 48 hours? Call us right away at 719-486-7354. We can’t promise a refund inside that window, but talking to us early gives us the best chance of working something out.
Pro Tip: Your tour time is your riding time, so plan to arrive 30 minutes early for check-in. That means being in Leadville, not just on the road, when check-in opens.
We recommend leaving extra travel time, especially on weekends or holidays, as highways often have some traffic. If you are traveling on i70 or from the Denver area, especially on the weekend, you must leave plenty of extra travel time to ensure you will arrive on time.
How Do Colorado Snowmobile Companies Handle Bad Weather?
Snowmobiling happens in winter weather, so snow, wind, and cold are part of the experience rather than a reason to cancel. Most of our best riding days come right after a storm, when fresh powder covers the trails.
Here’s how we handle conditions:
Safety comes first.
Guides choose terrain based on the day. Our veteran guides know this area extremely well, and many carry Wilderness First Aid and avalanche certifications on top of CPR and First Aid.
Dress for it, and you’ll ride comfortably. We provide helmets (ski helmets aren’t permitted), but we don’t provide snow suits, boots, or goggles. Come in a warm jacket, snow pants, insulated gloves, goggles or sunglasses, and a scarf, face mask, or neck gaiter. Guests who arrive underdressed can’t ride, and that counts as a no-show. Visit our trip planning page for info on gear rentals.
What if the roads are bad and I can’t get there?
Our main base camp is on Highway 91 between Copper Mountain and Leadville, and the Prospector Tour meets at Turquoise Lake, about 10 minutes from downtown Leadville. It is best to leave plenty of extra travel time. Long timed road closures are rare, in the rare occurrence that this happens we work with each customer individually. Please note, if you are visiting Colorado in the winter time it is likely that it will snow and this is a snow activity. We do not cancel tours because it is snowing – most of the time road ways remain open and very passable outside of the few larger storms that pass through. Please leave plenty of extra travel time to reach your destinations.
Because road closures aren’t the same as the tour being cancelled, it’s smart to:
- Stay in Leadville the night before a morning tour if you’re coming from Denver or the Front Range.
- Book the 12:00 pm or 3:00 pm slot if you’re driving in on the same day.
- Check CDOT road conditions (cotrip.org) before you leave.
- Leave plenty of extra travel time– especially on weekends/holidays.
We don’t provide transportation, and Uber and Lyft are unreliable here because cell service is spotty. Local shuttle services are listed on our FAQ page.
What Happens to My Booking If There Isn’t Enough Snow?
Our tours run on snowpack, which is why the season generally runs early December through early April. Riding at 11,000 to 12,000 feet gives us more reliable snow than lower-elevation areas, but an early season or a dry spell can still affect trail conditions.
If you’re booking early in the season:
- Early-season dates depend on snowpack. Opening day isn’t fixed; we open when there’s enough snow to ride safely.
- If there isn’t enough snow to run your tour, we will contact you and reschedule or provide a refund.
- Low snow doesn’t always mean no tour. Our guides may adjust the route to the areas with the best coverage, including our private-land terrain on the slopes of Mount Arkansas.
- Want the most reliable snow? Late December through March is typically the safest window to plan a trip around.
Can I Gift a Colorado Snowmobile Tour for Christmas or the Holidays?
Yes, and it’s one of the most memorable gifts you can give someone who loves the mountains. Gift certificates can be purchased by calling our office at 719-486-7354 or through our website and are redeemable toward any tour.
To pick the right amount, match the gift to the rider:
*Please note these prices are based on base season pricing, pricing is subject to change in the future and during peak times*
| Tour | Best for | Price |
| Prospector Tour (2 hrs) | Families, first-timers, couples sharing a sled | $250 per driver, $100 per passenger |
| Performance Tour (2 hrs) | Solo riders who want more speed | $275 per driver |
| High Adventure Tour (2 or 3 hrs) | Experienced riders who want backcountry powder | $325 / $400 per driver, plus included guide gratuity |
| Zip Line Combo (4+ hrs) | The full-day thrill seeker | From $382.50 per driver |
Gifting tips:
- Encourage early booking. Holiday week and weekends sell out fast, so recipients planning a Christmas or New Year’s ride should reserve as soon as they know their dates.
- Check the rules before gifting to kids. Children must be at least 6 to ride as a passenger. Drivers riding solo must be 15+ with a valid permit or license, and drivers carrying a passenger must be 18+ with a valid driver’s license.
- Include the gear note. Let the recipient know to bring their own winter clothing and goggles.
- Pregnant guests can’t participate in any of our activities, so keep that in mind when choosing who to gift.
Other Booking Details Worth Knowing
- Waivers are signed before or at check-in, and a credit card is required to cover any potential damage.
- Gratuities aren’t included on the Prospector, Performance, and some Combo Tours. High Adventure Tours include the guide gratuity, and groups of 6+ receive an automatic 15% gratuity.
- Two check-in locations: Prospector Tours meet at Turquoise Lake Base Camp (1668 County Road 99). All other tours meet at White Mountain Base Camp (6492 Highway 91). Double-check which one you need.
FAQ
How far ahead do I need to cancel a snowmobile tour for a refund?
At least 48 hours before your tour time for a full refund. Inside 48 hours, call us as soon as possible.
Do snowmobile tours run in snowstorms?
Yes, this is a snow-dependent activity!
When is snowmobile season in Leadville, Colorado?
Generally early December through early April, depending on snowpack.
What if my tour is cancelled for low snow?
We’ll contact you to reschedule or refund your booking.
Can I buy a snowmobile tour as a gift?
Yes. You can call our office at 719 486 7354 or email us at officewhitemountaintours@gmail.com or they can also be purchased via our online booking platform, Rezdy. To purchase online, visit our website, whitemountainsnowmobiletours.com, select Reservations, and then the gift cards are listed for purchase. To purchase a specific day/time/tour you can reach out to us directly!
