10 Reasons to Visit Yellowstone National Park in Winter

Let’s start by answering the most obvious question: Yes, Yellowstone is open in the winter! In fact, some may say this is the most magical time of year to visit. Across Yellowstone and the nearby Tetons, wolves stalk their prey, great herds of elk and snow-crusted bison roam unfettered and steaming geysers and bubbling mud pots are bejeweled with glittering ice crystals. What’s more—the crowds of summer are nowhere to be seen.

Winter is a pristine time in the Lamar Valley and the rest of the park, a time when nature enthusiasts can commune with the landscape and feel the raw authenticity of a winter wildlife safari. From a trip to Old Faithful by private Yellowstone snowcoach, watching as this most famous of geysers erupts against a snowy backdrop, to a horse-drawn sleigh ride across the National Elk Refuge near Jackson Hole, visiting Yellowstone in winter reveals the secret wonders of the quiet season.

Why Is Winter a Good Time to Go to Yellowstone?

With miles of trails through frosted forest and snow-packed meadows stretching out as far as the eye can see, Yellowstone is a winter wonderland. Animals stand out against winter’s white mantle, making for dramatic photography. Parts of the 2.2-million-acre national park feel like your own once the warm-weather crowds are nonexistent and a serene stillness takes over the region. What’s more, this is the best time to glimpse the Yellowstone National Park wolves, when you’re accompanied by expert guides who bring along the spotting scopes, cameras and general wolf wisdom that all but guarantee sightings of these beautiful and elusive creatures.

10 Reasons to Visit Yellowstone National Park in Winter

1. You’ll See a Different Side of the Park When Visiting Yellowstone in Winter

It’s not everyone who jumps at the chance to head to a snowy, cold landscape mid-winter and spend quite a bit of time outside, all bundled up. For those who relish in-depth nature and wildlife experiences, however, that kind of opportunity sounds dreamy. At Yellowstone in the winter months, you’ll experience the park as few others do, getting around on snowcoaches and mainly traveling in the company of the park’s rangers and expert guides who know where to go and what to experience during these chilly days. There’s no better time of year to soak up the spirit of the landscape and reconnect with nature and the great outdoors.

2. You Can Watch Geysers Soar Against a Snowy Backdrop

There’s something ethereal about watching Old Faithful erupt more than 100 feet into the air against a bluebird sky and a backdrop of pristine, white snow. As Yellowstone geysers shoot into the sky, the near-boiling water is transformed into “geyser rain,” tiny ice crystals that fall back down to Earth—definitely not an experience you’d have in July or August! As for the colorful hot springs for which Yellowstone is famous, these appear even more vibrant and otherworldly against the snow.

3. You Can Easily Spot Yellowstone’s Wildlife

That same bright-white backdrop that makes the bubbling hot pots and geysers so dramatic also makes it easier than ever to spot wolves, bison, fox, moose, elk and more. Against the virgin snow, you can see their dark coats and look for their tracks. While you’re likely to spot wildlife in most areas, your best chances are in the Northern Range. This region of the park—the only area accessible by car year-round—is not only the best for wolf watching in Yellowstone but also one of the best places to view wolves in the world. This area—which includes Mammoth Hot Springs, Tower Fall and the famous Lamar Valley—is the richest in wildlife in the winter months, and almost any time of year.

4. You Can Commune with Wolves

If it feels like we can’t stop talking about Yellowstone’s wolves—well, you’ll forgive us. Wolves were reintroduced to Yellowstone between 1995 and 1997 in the Lamar Valley and it is here that your wolf safari will focus. Join your expert guide on a guided winter wildlife-watching program and learn why there is no better time or place for wolf-viewing in Yellowstone National Park.

5. You Can Learn How to Track Wildlife

With an expert naturalist or park ranger from the Yellowstone Forever Institute at your side, you’ll learn how to decipher wildlife tracks that crisscross forest trails and meadows. During a Yellowstone winter tour, you can look for evidence of tromping, trudging, scurrying and sliding animals who survive and thrive here in the winter.

6. You Can Gape at Snow-Covered Bison

Speaking of bison, they’re particularly impressive and somewhat primeval looking in winter. Balls of snow covered in frost and fragile icicles dangle from their bushy beards. And you know how you can see your breath when it’s cold? These beasts’ breath literally hangs in the air near their heads, making for an impressive sight and even more extraordinary wildlife photography.

7. You Can Partake in Winter Snow Activities

If you’re a winter recreationalist, you’ll find endless opportunities for snowshoeing, cross-country skiing and even ice skating during a winter visit to Yellowstone National Park. Glide past a bison or elk herd. Follow the tracks of a hare on snowshoes or skis or take the trail to Lone Star Geyser from the Old Faithful Snow Lodge. Most Yellowstone winter lodging offers guided snowshoe tours and rental equipment daily.

8. You Can Travel by Snowcoach

Wondering how you’ll get around the park with all that snow? Yellowstone snowcoaches are the answer. They’re equipped with special oversized, low-pressure traction tires, sometimes even front skis, so that they can move easily on top of the snow. This way, you’ll be able to venture into areas of the park and find wildlife off the beaten path. Since most park roads close from the third week of December until the end of February, this (and some snowmobiling) is really the only way to travel within the park.

9. You Can Take Epic Photos

When you’re sharing your photos of Yellowstone in wintertime with family and friends, you won’t find too many who have similar photos from their summer visits. The clear-blue skies, snow-carpeted meadows, dramatically steaming geysers and wooly animals draped in frost make for spectacular nature photography. On a photo safari, you’ll travel in the company of renowned regional naturalists and photographers for whom Yellowstone is their big backyard. They’ll help you hone in on where the gray wolves of Yellowstone may be hiding and capture shots of the stunning landscape and shy animals you might not otherwise have found.

10. You Can Ice Skate at Mammoth Hot Springs

The travertine pools and white chalky calcified terraces of Mammoth Hot Springs may look a bit like frozen waterfalls most of the year, but when they are covered in snow and thick with frost in the winter, this geothermal wonderland makes for a truly fantastical scene. And yes, there’s a community ice-skating rink nearby.

Discover Yellowstone—and the nearby Tetons—on a rare winter wildlife safari and your spirit will never be the same.

About the author: Michelle Peters View all posts by Michelle Peters

From her home office in northwest Seattle, Michelle has been crafting compelling content about travel destinations worldwide for more than 20 years. In those two decades, she made the leap from editor for the hotel and resort department at Virtuoso to a full-time freelance editor and writer—and never looked back.