Yellowstone National Park is one of the most incredible natural areas in the world. In fact, Yellowstone is the reason we have a national park system today. After first being explored by Americans in 1871, the stunning scenery, awe-inspiring geysers, hot springs, and abundant wildlife convinced US congress to protect this area from development – a revolutionary idea at the time. It wasn’t until 1916 that the National Park Service was created, further protecting this wild landscape from vandalism and poachers. Today, Yellowstone is one of the most popular national parks with around 5 million annual visits. 60% of these visits happen in the summer months from June through August and only 6% of visits occur in the winter months of November through March. With less people and a snowy landscape ideal for spotting wildlife, winter is the best time to experience Yellowstone. Visiting Yellowstone in winter does present its challenges and much of the park is actually closed during the winter months; however, with the right preparation, visiting Yellowstone in winter is magical. Here’s my complete guide to visiting Yellowstone in winter.
Getting to Yellowstone in Winter
I recommend flying into Bozeman, Montana and making the 1.5-hour drive to Yellowstone through the north entrance/Gardiner.
Entrances That are Open in Yellowstone in Winter
Although much of Yellowstone is closed in the winter, it is possible to visit the most iconic spots in the park. The only entrances that are open in Yellowstone in winter are the north entrance in Gardiner, Montana and the northeast entrance in Cooke City, Montana. Unfortunately, the only way to get to Cooke City in the winter is from Gardiner, so you’ll need to plan to enter the park through the north entrance in Gardiner. In the summer, Cooke City can be reached via the northeast entrance by driving about 2.5 hours from Billings and going over Beartooth Pass, but the pass is closed in winter usually until Memorial Day. The west thumb, south, and west entrances are all closed during the winter.
What Roads are Open in Yellowstone in Winter?
The N Entrance Road that goes from Gardiner to Mammoth and the NE Entrance Road from Mammoth to Cooke City are the only paved roads that are plowed for cars in the winter. The route from Gardiner to Cooke City is about 55 miles long and takes about 2 hours to drive in the winter. Thankfully, this road has some of the best wildlife viewing in the country. Plan to spend lots of time driving this road and looking for wildlife or pulling off to do some cross-country skiing.
All other interior roads are closed to standard vehicles in the winter. You can still visit deeper parts of the park such as Old Faithful, Upper Geyser Basin, and the Canyon, but you’ll need to book commercially guided snowmobile or snow coach tours or travel by cross country ski/snowshoe along designated trails (see below).
Yellowstone Winter Accommodations
During the winter, I recommend staying just outside the north entrance in Gardiner, Montana or staying inside the park. If you want to stay in Yellowstone National Park in winter, you have 2 main options:
Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel & Cabins
Mammoth Hot Springs is the main winter tourist area in Yellowstone. Here you’ll find a hotel, restaurant, general store, ample parking, and the family friendly mammoth terraces boardwalk/hiking area. The Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel is affordable and comfortable with large rooms and lots of history. This is where we stayed for all 3 nights of our trip and I highly recommend it. The hotel is open winter through early March when it closes for about a month to prepare for summer.
Old Faithful Snow Lodge & Cabins
The Old Faithful Snow Lodge is open mid-December through early March but can only be accessed by pre-arranged snow coach. Book your snow coach transfer here: Snowcoach Transportation | Yellowstone National Park Lodges
Make sure to arrange transport to and from Old Faithful. Pickup is at Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel in front of the hotel.
Book your hotels in the park here: Winter Accommodations – Yellowstone National Park Lodges
Yellowstone Winter Activities
Wildlife Viewing in Yellowstone
Winter in the best time to see wildlife in Yellowstone (except for the bears who are hibernating).
With the ground covered in snow, spotting animals in the distance is easier. Plus, fewer people make for an experience that is calmer and more relaxed.
Self-Guided Wildlife Viewing
If you prefer to spot wildlife on your own (without hiring a guide), drive NE Entrance Road from Mammoth to Cooke City several times and keep your eyes peeled for any animals. You will definitely see hundreds of Bison. If you’re lucky, you may also see coyotes, bald eagles, elk, moose, wolves, river otters, ducks, owls, and foxes. Good binoculars are very helpful. I recommend the Vortex Diamondback HD 12×50 Binoculars. These are the binoculars I used, and I was able to see a pack of wolves moving together about a mile away plus very clear images of animals a bit closer.
I recommend the followings areas:
- North Entrance area: best for viewing Elk and pronghorns
- The area from Mammoth Hot Springs to Tower Junction: bald eagles, Elk, Bison
- Tower Junction to Slough Creek: wolves, moose, coyotes (if you’re lucky you might catch a glimpse of the Junction Butte pack far in the distance, I recommend parking at Slough Creek and scanning the hills in front of the bathrooms)
- Lamar Valley: coyotes, wolves, Bison, river otters in the Lamar River, ducks
- Silver Gate/Cooke City: foxes, Bison
Spotting Wolves in Yellowstone:
One of the most elusive animals in the park is the wolf. Yellowstone is home to 80-100 wolves divided into about 10 packs who live throughout the park. During the winter, you’ll have the best luck trying to see the Junction Butte Pack who reside near Tower Junction and Slough Creek. It is rare to see wolves up close. Your best bet is to use good binoculars or a spotting scope and hope to find the group of regular wolf watchers who congregate around sunrise and get tips from them.
If you’re lucky, you may meet Rick McIntyre. Rick is the most iconic long-term wolf watcher in Yellowstone. He has spent decades tracking and studying wolves and often helps visitors spot the wolves in the park. We happened to meet him one morning and he was very kind pointing out the wolves to us and allowing us to look through his spotting scope.
See the full story of the day we spotted wolves in Yellowstone: Seeing Wolves in Yellowstone
Guided Wildlife Tours:
If a guided tour is more your speed or you’re short on time and want to try and see as much wildlife as possible, you can book a guided wildlife tour. Check out Yellowstone Forever or look on yellowstonenationalparklodges.com.
Scenic Driving
One of the best things to do in Yellowstone in winter is to take a scenic drive. Drive NE Entrance Road from Mammoth Hot Springs to Cooke City. You will see plenty of wildlife and some amazing views. I recommend you make the following stops along the way:
- Undine Falls– parking area is 4 miles from Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel on the left. Walk down a few stairs to a viewing platform where you can see the falls
- Tower Junction Service Station– great place to stop for lunch in the parking lot with great views and Bison
- Lamar Valley- stop at any of the various pull-outs/viewpoints and take in the views/look for wildlife. Walk down to the Lamar River and see if you can spot river otters and ducks
- Soda Butte– stop to view this very strange calcium carbonate mound (yes that smell is normal) and the incredible views from this spot
- Cooke City– turn around after you reach Cooke City. I recommend a vanilla latte and a cinnamon roll at Cooke City Coffee.
Cross Country Skiing/ Snowshoe Touring
You can rent cross country skis or snowshoes from Bear Den Ski Shop located inside Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel. Here you can ask staff about trail conditions and trail recommendations. You can also reserve shuttles to ski areas. No reservations are needed. Rentals are first come first served.
Guided Ski Tour
For an epic all-day ski adventure, I recommend checking out the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone Ski Tour. With this tour, you will travel 2 hours by snow coach to the canyon area and then ski 6 miles along the canyon rim before being transported back. The tour starts at 7:45am and you will return to the hotel at 6pm. Lunch is included. Your cross-country ski level must be at least advanced beginner. Ski rentals are not included in the price, which is $400 per adult, $200 per child.
Self-Guided Skiing/ Snowshoe
If you are skilled and experienced in cross cross/backcountry skiing, you can check out the following ski trails in the tower area. Make sure to carry maps and inquire first about trail conditions. Maps are available in Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel and Bear Den Ski Shop. Many of the trails can also be traveled by snowshoe but make sure to stay off of the ski path and make sure snowshoe is allowed before heading out to a particular trail.
- Tower Falls Trail– 2.5 miles one way. Easiest. Groomed. Begin at the parking area southeast of Tower Junction. You’ll follow the unplowed tower canyon road up a gradual slope past Calcite Springs Overlook to Tower Fall. Walkers/snowshoers use far left lane.
- Blacktail Plateau Trail- Groomed. Moderate. 8 miles one way starting from a point 8 miles from Mammoth and ending near Tower Junction. Can be done as an out and back or with an arranged shuttle pickup.
Snow Coach Tours
If you’d rather explore the park via snow coach, there are several guided snow coach tours available to book on yellowstonenationalparklodges.com including wildlife tours, Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, and Norris Geyser Basin. These tend to be expensive but include transporation and lunch.
Mammoth Terraces
A fun, fairly easy activity is hiking around the incredible Mammoth Terraces. The parking area is located just a quarter mile from the Mammoth Hotel. The walking path is 2.2 miles total with steps and boardwalks suitable for most abilities. The path winds through steaming pools, layered limestone rocks, and striking formations. In winter the terraces are especially magical with snow and ice accentuating the terraces’ intricate textures.
Yellowstone Hot Springs
For a nice relaxing afternoon, drive about 10 minutes past Gardiner away from the park to soak in the mineral pools at Yellowstone Hot Springs. The price is about $18 per person and no reservation is needed. There are multiple pools including a hot pool (103-105°) and a main warm pool. The pools are open 9am-9pm and the views are fantastic.
Dinner in Gardiner
The only food in the park during winter is at the Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel Restaurant and quite frankly, it is overpriced. I recommend buying groceries to make food for breakfast and lunch but grabbing dinner at Wonderland Cafe and Lodge in Gardiner. The food is delicious and the atmosphere is cozy with local art on the walls.
Final Thoughts
Visiting Yellowstone in winter feels like stepping into another world, one where steam rises through frozen air, bison move like dark silhouettes across endless white valleys, and the usual crowds are replaced by a profound, almost sacred stillness. The cold sharpens every color, every sound, every moment. It’s not the easiest season to visit, but that’s exactly what makes it unforgettable. Winter in Yellowstone isn’t just a trip, it’s an experience that slows you down, humbles you, and reminds you how wild and beautiful this planet truly is.