Winter in Yellowstone: Tours, Trips, Vacations

Wildlife and geothermal sites still abound in Yellowstone come winter, but tourists are scant, making it an unexpectedly beautiful and serene time to visit. Explore a crowd-free Yellowstone when the snow falls via snowmobile, snow coach, ski, or snowshoe.

Overview

Bison roam quietly through giant white snow-drifts. Steam and boiling water break through Yellowstone’s frozen surface, erupting through the ice-covered earth. Winter in Yellowstone is stunning. And not to mention, crowd-free. Snowmobile, take a snow coach, ski, or snowshoe through the park in the quieter cold months for a unique Yellowstone experience.

Snowmobiling

Yellowstone lets in up to 318 snowmobiles on its over 200 miles of trails each day in winter, and all must be professionally guided. Explore the providers below and choose from day trips or overnights in the park.

Snow Coach

Sign up for a private or group snow coach tour and you’ll get to explore the park from the comfort of a temperature controlled vehicle. Access is guaranteed regardless of snow conditions, so you’ll be sure to have a chance to spot roaming bison, visit the hundreds of geothermal features, and check out Old Faithful or Yellowstone’s snow-covered grand canyon.

Ski and Snowshoe

Stick to groomed ski and snowshoe trails within the park or venture into the backcountry for an intimate view of Yellowstone in winter. Either way, you may want to join a guided day-long or overnight expedition. Many outfitters offer Yellowstone ski and snowshoe tours out of West Yellowstone, but Lone Mountain Ranch leads trips that leave directly from Big Sky. For solo adventures, maps of the park’s five major cross-country ski areas are available online (http://www.nps.gov/yell/planyourvisit/skiyell.htm).