The Utah Division of Parks and Recreation operates a fleet of groomers that smooth more than 1,200 miles of trails in Utah.

The most popular of these areas is the Monte Cristo trailhead 17 miles north of Huntsville.

It is the busiest riding area in Utah, said Roland Bringhurst, area manager for the DPR.

"We'll have anywhere from 650 to 1,000 sleds here on a Saturday or holiday. The week between Christmas and New Year's we had more than 3,000 machines," he said.

"People like the area because there's a lot of places to ride, and the terrain is pretty stable. There are only two areas where an avalanche is possible.

"Also, we're pretty close to the Wasatch Front, so it's a convenient area to ride. It's also a fun area, and we typically get good snow."

The state grooms a 61-mile loop out of the Monte Cristo station, with a couple of feeder legs. This section also links up with the Hardware Ranch complex with nearly 150 miles of groomed trails, which then connects into the Idaho trail system, which opens up hundreds of miles of riding opportunities.

Because of its popularity and the need to remove snow for a large parking area, the Monte Cristo trailhead is the only fee access area in Utah. A season permit is $50 and a day pass is $5.

All of the money collected, said Ann Evans, off-highway vehicle education specialist with the DPR, goes back into maintenance and snow removal at that trailhead.

Because of the riding popularity, this, too, is an area where some of the problems associated with snowmobiling show up.

The biggest problem Bringhurst sees is faulty equipment.

"People need to make sure of their equipment before they leave the trailhead, and even better, before they leave home. They need to make sure it's in top condition," he said.

"They also need to know their limits. And with the new machines today, they shouldn't be riding a machine that is beyond their limits."

Another issue is helmets. Everyone should wear one, but those below the age of 18 are required to wear a helmet. Only those helmets approved for automotive use are acceptable.

Snowmobiling has become more popular in Utah. In the mid-1980s there were just over 10,000 registered machines. Last year, there were 28,718 registered snowmobiles, which is a 1.7 percent increase over 2005 figures.

And with more machines on the trails and riders looking for challenging slopes to climb, the chances of an avalanche breaking loose increase, which is all the more reason people need to be smart about where they ride and to make sure they are prepared.