Beginning Saturday, people can apply to win the opportunity to snowmobile in Yellowstone National Park without a commercial guide this coming winter.

Authorized in 2013, the Non-commercially Guided Snowmobile Access Program allows one group of up to five snowmobiles to enter Yellowstone from each of the park’s four winter entrances per day.

The lottery for permits for the 2020-2021 winter will be open on www.recreation.gov from Aug. 1-31. Successful applicants will be notified in early September. Unclaimed or canceled permits will be made available on a first-come, first-served basis beginning on Oct. 1. There is no waiting list. Cancellations may occur throughout the winter season, “so check the website often for openings,” the National Park Service advises.

Trips can be for a maximum of three days in length, and permits cost $40 per day with a $6 application fee.

Permit holders are considered non-commercial guides and must be at least 18 years old on the first day of their trips. All snowmobile operators must possess a state-issued driver’s license and successfully complete the free online Yellowstone Snowmobile Education Certification program. Anyone can take the course, which offers instruction in the park rules that “help visitors safely enjoy the unique experience of winter in Yellowstone while also protecting park resources.”

All snowmobiles must meet the park’s New Best Available Technology standard. To learn more about planning a winter trip to Yellowstone, visit www.nps.gov/yell/planyourvisit/visiting-yellowstone-in-winter.htm.