Grooming Resort, Lodge & Campground Trails Without a Snowcat

You can groom trails at a resort, lodge or campground without a snowcat by pulling an ultra-light tow-behind groomer behind a tracked UTV or long-track snowmobile, which lays down firm corduroy for skiing, snowshoeing, fat biking and walking at a fraction of a snowcat’s cost. For most properties, a Snow Groomer Pro 72 behind a tracked UTV handles the main trails, and a 48-inch or narrow-trail groomer handles tighter paths.

This guide covers which groomer fits each kind of trail, what it costs compared with a snowcat, and how to run a simple grooming program with your own staff.

Why resorts and lodges are grooming without a snowcat

Snowcats are hard to beat in deep powder, steep terrain and tight alpine places. But for the trail systems most lodges, guest ranches, campgrounds and golf courses run, you do not need all that power and complexity to lay down great corduroy. In our comparison of snowcats versus side-by-sides, we point out that side-by-sides have enough power and track on the snow for a lot of grooming, and they drive like a car, so more of your staff can run them.

The cost gap is large. Our groomers range from a few thousand dollars to about $14,000. By contrast, a 2026 state bid for a new PistenBully 100 was quoted at $323,950, and Sledder Magazine reports older used cats at around $50,000 to $60,000 with seasonal operating costs of $50,000 to $70,000. Our own analysis of what machine to snow groom with found that cost per hour with small machines can be about 20% of large groomers.

Matching groomers to resort, lodge and campground trails

The main trail: Snow Groomer Pro

The Snow Groomer Pro is built in modular 24-inch sections from 48 to 120 inches wide, and every Pro includes the Power Lift Razor Plow, a wheel kit and a battery with charger. The razor cuts down bumps and moguls, and the wheel kit lets staff move the groomer across parking lots and plowed roads between trail sections. Tracked UTVs are about 70–75 inches wide, so a 72-inch groomer matches the vehicle’s footprint well.

Guest paths: Sno-Blaster

For snowshoe, walking and fat-bike trails, the Sno-Blaster uses a V-plow design on the 20-inch Path-Master chassis to clear and pack narrow trails of about 32 to 44 inches. Our post on making fat bike snow trails explains why fat bikers love a groomed track.

Mid-size trails: SNO-MASTER 48

The SNO-MASTER 48 weighs 102 pounds empty with wings and grooms a 72-inch pass. It is a good second groomer for a smaller crew or snowmobile.

Winter activities a groomer makes possible

Properties that already have summer guests can keep them coming in winter. In our article on winter golf course revenue, we list ideas that work just as well at lodges and campgrounds:

• Cross-country ski trails for skate and classic skiing
• Snowshoe and winter walking paths
• Fat-bike trails
• Groomed sledding hills
• Ski rentals, lessons and small events

Golf courses have a head start because cart paths already form a mapped trail system. Lodges and campgrounds can use access roads, campground loops and summer hiking trails the same way. If guests drive or ride into a remote cabin, a groomer also removes the whoops and ruts that form on snow roads, as we explain in our cabin snow groomer post.

Running a grooming program with your own staff

Before the season

• Clear rocks, stumps, logs and brush from trails in summer or fall.
• Plan trails at least 10 feet wide where you want both skating and classic skiing.
• Mark trails with signs, reflectors and flags.

During the season

• Start grooming with at least 6 to 12 inches of snow.
• Groom after each snowfall, ideally in the early evening when it is 25–30°F with a below-freezing night ahead.
• Wait at least two hours before opening freshly groomed snow to guests.
• Drive at 5–12 mph, as covered in our snow grooming speed guide.

Our groomers use shear pins and bolts so they break away if they hit something hidden under the snow, and we stock parts for groomers that are 20 years old. For more ideas, see the best snow groomer for recreational use.

Getting a quote for your property

Use Find My Groomer to narrow down a model, or request a written quote. If your property is run by a park, town or other public or tax-exempt organization, mark that on the quote form: parks, towns and schools receive a tax-exempt written quote in one business day.