Yellowstone National Park
Winter Activities
A WINTER VISIT TO YELLOWSTONE
Come to Yellowstone in winter and enjoy a truly spectacular landscape. The contrast with the park in summer is astonishing: While snow blankets the park, geysers spout towering plumes of steam and water through the cold, crisp air.
Yellowstone will be open for the 2007—2008 winter season, and visitors will be able to enjoy the over-snow experience through snowcoach and snowmobile tours, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing and many other winter park programs. For the latest information and tips on planning your winter visit to Yellowstone, visit the website at www.nps.gov/yell/ planyourvisit/index/htm.
What to Wear
Winter temperatures can range from well below zero degrees throughout the day, to occasional highs in the 20s°F to 30s°F. Guard against frostbite by dressing warmly. When preparing for any park activity, dress in layers and wear a hat, gloves, sunglasses, sunscreen and comfortable boots.
Road Information
All park roads are restricted to tracked, over-snow vehicles such as snowmobiles and snowcoaches, except for the road from the North Entrance to Cooke City and the portion of US 191 that passes through the park on the west side, which are open year-round.
Winter Lodging and Services
Make reservations in advance for in-park lodging, activities and tours by contacting Xanterra Parks & Resorts®, Yellowstone National Park, WY 82190; toll-free (866) GEYSERLAND (866) 439-7375. If you are already staying at Yellowstone and wish to reserve additional lodging or activities, the front desk staff at the park lodges can make arrangements.
Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel: The only winter lodging facility accessible by car, the hotel features a full-service dining room, espresso service and lounge, ski shop, rentals, lessons, ski supplies, hot tub rentals, guided snowmobile tours and ice skating. Special winter events include Sunday breakfast buffets, a New Year's Eve dinner and theme dinners in January and February (such as chocolate buffet, Winemakers's dinner and Brewmasters dinner). Yellowstone General Store and a medical clinic are nearby.
Old Faithful Snow Lodge: This award-winning lodge is accessible in winter only by over-snow vehicles. Guests are welcomed by accents of cascading rock, complemented by wildlife-themed furnishings and decor. A family-style dining room, a quick-service restaurant, the Firehole Lounge, a gift shop, massage therapy and ice skating are available. Special winter events include Christmas and New Year's Eve dinners and a Brewmaster's dinner. The full-service Bear Den ski shop rents ski equipment and snowshoes, and offers ski guides, lessons and a repair shop. Snowcoach excursions run daily.
Winter Adventures
Visit Yellowstone in the winter and experience something extraordinary. Yellowstone National Park lodges offer many options for building the perfect adventure. Take off on your own or let our knowledgeable guides lead you on an in-depth exploration you will never forget. No matter which route you take, you will treasure your memories of Yellowstone in winter. For more details and rates on the activities below, pick up a Winter Rates and Packages brochure at any park hotel, or call toll-free (866) GEYSERLAND (866) 439-7375 for more information.
Cross-Country Skiing and Snowshoeing: Skiing and snowshoeing are popular wintertime activities. Seemingly limitless ungroomed backcountry trails and groomed trails await both novices and experts. Enjoyable short trails are located throughout Yellowstone, including the Blacktail Deer Plateau, Tower and Indian Creek areas. Forty miles of trails wind through the spectacular Old Faithful area where skiers can see hot springs, geysers, elk and bison.
Check at the front desk at any lodge for information about snowcoach and van shuttles that transport skiers to and from ski trails. Ski rentals, waxes, trail maps and other equipment are available at Old Faithful Snow Lodge and Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel ski shops. Private and group lessons are offered as well. You can pick up ski maps at ski shops, visitor centers and hotels. In addition to the regular schedule of specialized guided ski tours, guide service can be arranged for individuals or groups.
Guided Snowmobile tours: Get a completely different perspective of Yellowstone perched on the back of a snowmobile. Tours, which depart from the Old Faithful Snow Lodge and Mammoth Hotel, allow you to see many of the parks highlights in a relatively short period of time. Rentals are available for guided touring only and there is a limit of 720 sleds in the park per day, so plan in advance. To make reservations, please call Xanterra Parks & Resorts® at (866) GEYSERLAND (866) 439-7375 or one of the many guide services based in West Yellowstone.
Snowcoach Tours: Our heated over-snow vehicles transport you into the heart of this snowy paradise of frosty bison, sculpted ghost-trees, steamy thermal pools and angelic trumpeter swans, while our knowledgeable guides reveal the various chapters of the park's winter story.
Ski/Snowshoe Shuttles: Vans and snowcoaches from Mammoth Hot Springs and Old Faithful Snow Lodge provide convenient shuttles to your own personal Nordic heaven.
Grand Canyon Ski Tour: Journey by snowcoach to the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone. An experienced guide leads you to the frozen, sculpted Lower Falls where glistening snow dusts the golden canyon walls.
Cooke City See & Ski: Travel from Mammoth Hot Springs through glacier-carved valleys, and look for elk and bison enroute to gentle ski trails in the heart of the magnificent Absaroka Mountains. Enjoy lunch on your own in downtown Cooke City, Montana.
Guided Snowshoe Touring: Certain sights are best enjoyed via the quiet strides of snowshoes. Even with no previous experience, "shoeing" over a glistening snowfield seems almost effortless. You'll feast your eyes on the unearthly plumes of geysers, stunning scenery and wild creatures.
Rent Your Wings in Nordic Heaven: Ski Shop Services at Mammoth Hot Springs and Old Faithful include:
•â€‚ Cross-country ski, skate ski and snowshoe rental packages.
•â€‚ Ski and snowshoe instruction for groups and individuals.
•â€‚ Private guides for hire to enhance your winter wanderings.
Winter amenities and services at Mammoth and Snow Lodge include:
•â€‚ Private hot tubs that will ease you into a blissful return from your day (Mammoth only).
•â€‚ Ice skates for use on the Mammoth Hot Springs or Old Faithful Snow Lodge rinks.
Lodging and Learning Packages
Lodging and Learning Packages are affordable adventures based at park hotels. During the day participants explore the park with an expert instructor from the Yellowstone Association Institute. Each night they return to historic park hotels for excellent meals, comfortable accommodations, and entertaining evening programs provided by Xanterra Parks and Resorts®.
Winter packages are based at Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel and Old Faithful Snow Lodge. They include two wildlife programs (Winter Wolf Discovery, Winter Wildlife Expedition), a ski program (Yellowstone on Skis), a family program (Family Winter Holiday), a program designed to provide a general introduction to Yellowstone in winter (Winter in Wonderland) and a special secret season program (Winter Rendezvous), a program allowing the opportunity to experience a choice of scheduled daily activities.
For more information about this award-winning program, please visit www.YellowstoneAssociation.org or call (307) 344-5566.
Warming Huts
Warming huts are located throughout the park for snowshoers, skiers and snowmobile travelers. Some warming huts are staffed during the day, but all are open 24 hours a day (except for Mammoth and Old Faithful). Snacks, sandwiches, hot items and beverages are available at Madison. Beverages and vending machines are at the other warming huts except Indian Creek and West Thumb.
Park Programs
The NPS conducts numerous talks, illustrated programs, and informational tours, designed to help you appreciate the park's wonders. Interpretive ranger-led special-interest hikes and walks covering a variety of topics are also offered. Check at visitor centers for schedules.
Current information is subject to change. For updates, ask a ranger at a visitor center, or at your park lodge's front desk or activities desk.
Yellowstone In Depth
News from the Parks
75th Anniversary of the Civilian Conservation Corps
August 29, 2008 - 1:49pm
This year marks the 75th anniversary of the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), designed by Franklin D. Roosevelt as part of the New Deal to provide relief from the Great Depression. The CCC employed over two million young men to work in America’s parks and forests, creating and renovating roads, trails, campsites, social halls, amphitheaters and visitor centers. The program provided work in a time of great instability, but more importantly it offered disheartened Americans the chance to improve the nation's future, while strengthening their dignity and hope. They were making history by providing easier access to the treasures of the national park system. Nicknamed "Roosevelt's Tree Army," the CCC was operated through the cooperative efforts of four departments. The Department of Labor oversaw the selection of enrollees, the Army ran the camps, and the Interior and Agriculture departments provided work projects. Initially, unmarried men, between the ages of 18 and 25 and from families on relief, could apply. They enlisted for six months, with an option to reenlist for up to two years. The "CCC boys" worked for $30 a month, $25 of which was sent to their families. Eventually, "Local Experienced Men" (LEMs) and World War I veterans could enroll. Although a few work camps were established for women, most CCC enrollees were men. Nationwide, the CCC operated 4,500 camps! The CCC advanced natural resource conservation by decades, and provided education, training and experience for a generation of young men and women. Since then, millions of visitors to the national park system have enjoyed the work of the CCCs! Parks nationwide are commemorating the inspiring government leaders and hardworking young men that made up the Civilian Conservation Corps, and its contributions to parks across the country! Happy Birthday Civilian Conservation Corps!
August 29, 2008 - 1:49pm
This year marks the 75th anniversary of the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), designed by Franklin D. Roosevelt as part of the New Deal to provide relief from the Great Depression. The CCC employed over two million young men to work in America’s parks and forests, creating and renovating roads, trails, campsites, social halls, amphitheaters and visitor centers. The program provided work in a time of great instability, but more importantly it offered disheartened Americans the chance to improve the nation's future, while strengthening their dignity and hope. They were making history by providing easier access to the treasures of the national park system. Nicknamed "Roosevelt's Tree Army," the CCC was operated through the cooperative efforts of four departments. The Department of Labor oversaw the selection of enrollees, the Army ran the camps, and the Interior and Agriculture departments provided work projects. Initially, unmarried men, between the ages of 18 and 25 and from families on relief, could apply. They enlisted for six months, with an option to reenlist for up to two years. The "CCC boys" worked for $30 a month, $25 of which was sent to their families. Eventually, "Local Experienced Men" (LEMs) and World War I veterans could enroll. Although a few work camps were established for women, most CCC enrollees were men. Nationwide, the CCC operated 4,500 camps! The CCC advanced natural resource conservation by decades, and provided education, training and experience for a generation of young men and women. Since then, millions of visitors to the national park system have enjoyed the work of the CCCs! Parks nationwide are commemorating the inspiring government leaders and hardworking young men that made up the Civilian Conservation Corps, and its contributions to parks across the country! Happy Birthday Civilian Conservation Corps!
September Featured Species: Zebra Mussels
August 29, 2008 - 12:53pm
Mussels are a key part of our aquatic ecosystems. They’re filter feeders, meaning they filter the water as they eat the debris that floats in it. They also serve as a food source for birds and small animals as well as fish … and humans. Usually there’s not much more to say about this animal, but one particular species has made a journey that highlights not only its hardiness but also the vulnerable balance of native ecosystems. Zebra mussels are small, freshwater mollusk species named for the stripes that commonly line the outside of their shells. Their sizes and shapes range can vary – oblong to almost circular, measuring anywhere from the size of a fingernail to two inches long – so it can be tricky to identify at first. The species is native to the lakes of Southern Russia but has been introduced, and has since caused quite a stir, in North America, the British Isles, Spain and Sweden. In these places the species has overgrown, and while it filters the water and provides food for bottom feeders in waterways, it’s more of an unchecked pest than anything. Zebra mussels are prolific. An adult female can produce between 30,000 and a million eggs in a year, which are fertilized during spring spawning sessions. What’s more, there are too few predators to keep the species in check. Having so many mussels around may not seem like a big problem on its face, but it has proven to be quite costly not only to the other members of its ‘host’ ecosystem but to humans as well. Many native lakes in North American have seen their native mussel populations drop due to the invasion of the zebra. It tends to latch onto the hardest substrates in the watery environment. In silty sands, these objects are the native mussels themselves, which are then often killed by the attachment of the zebra. The US coastguard estimates the cost of economic losses and control measures around the zebra to be worth about 5 billion dollars each year! These are hearty creatures that can survive out of water for several days or weeks if the temperature and humidity allow for it. Since 1988 they’ve have reproduced and weathered their way to richly populate all of the great lakes and begin a sprawl into the major rivers in the US. Scientists predict that the zebra mussel will continue to spread its population range by riding along the bottoms of small vessels and tourist ships. Zebra mussels can disrupt the food chain in freshwater ecosystems, ruin facilities like docks and rams, clog pipelines and engines and litter beaches with their smelly shells. But you can help to stop this trend of their growth in the US. Before launching your boat, you can check it thoroughly. Remove all mud, plant and animal debris from the boat, trailer and other equipment to enter the water. When you’re out of the water, drain the boat, motor and live well so that it can dry out – the boat needs to be completely dry for at least five days before entering another body of water. Doing your part will help protect freshwater ecosystems around the US and in our national parks, as well as reduce the dollars spent to reduce the damage caused by this prolific species.
August 29, 2008 - 12:53pm
Mussels are a key part of our aquatic ecosystems. They’re filter feeders, meaning they filter the water as they eat the debris that floats in it. They also serve as a food source for birds and small animals as well as fish … and humans. Usually there’s not much more to say about this animal, but one particular species has made a journey that highlights not only its hardiness but also the vulnerable balance of native ecosystems. Zebra mussels are small, freshwater mollusk species named for the stripes that commonly line the outside of their shells. Their sizes and shapes range can vary – oblong to almost circular, measuring anywhere from the size of a fingernail to two inches long – so it can be tricky to identify at first. The species is native to the lakes of Southern Russia but has been introduced, and has since caused quite a stir, in North America, the British Isles, Spain and Sweden. In these places the species has overgrown, and while it filters the water and provides food for bottom feeders in waterways, it’s more of an unchecked pest than anything. Zebra mussels are prolific. An adult female can produce between 30,000 and a million eggs in a year, which are fertilized during spring spawning sessions. What’s more, there are too few predators to keep the species in check. Having so many mussels around may not seem like a big problem on its face, but it has proven to be quite costly not only to the other members of its ‘host’ ecosystem but to humans as well. Many native lakes in North American have seen their native mussel populations drop due to the invasion of the zebra. It tends to latch onto the hardest substrates in the watery environment. In silty sands, these objects are the native mussels themselves, which are then often killed by the attachment of the zebra. The US coastguard estimates the cost of economic losses and control measures around the zebra to be worth about 5 billion dollars each year! These are hearty creatures that can survive out of water for several days or weeks if the temperature and humidity allow for it. Since 1988 they’ve have reproduced and weathered their way to richly populate all of the great lakes and begin a sprawl into the major rivers in the US. Scientists predict that the zebra mussel will continue to spread its population range by riding along the bottoms of small vessels and tourist ships. Zebra mussels can disrupt the food chain in freshwater ecosystems, ruin facilities like docks and rams, clog pipelines and engines and litter beaches with their smelly shells. But you can help to stop this trend of their growth in the US. Before launching your boat, you can check it thoroughly. Remove all mud, plant and animal debris from the boat, trailer and other equipment to enter the water. When you’re out of the water, drain the boat, motor and live well so that it can dry out – the boat needs to be completely dry for at least five days before entering another body of water. Doing your part will help protect freshwater ecosystems around the US and in our national parks, as well as reduce the dollars spent to reduce the damage caused by this prolific species.
15th Annual National Public Lands Day
August 29, 2008 - 12:18pm
Don’t miss this great opportunity to join more than 100,000 volunteers in the country’s single largest hands-on volunteer effort for America’s public lands. In addition to celebrating the natural beauty of our parks, trails, lakes and seashores, you’ll have a chance to get involved in your community by helping with a variety of volunteer projects, including building trails and bridges, planting trees and plants, and removing trash and invasive plants. American Park Network is proud to announce that our long-standing partner, and supporter of parks, AVEENO®, is now the national sponsor of National Public Lands Day. If you decide to volunteer, be sure to add a camera to the list of gear you’ll need on NPLD! Everyone is encouraged to participate in the Ninth Annual National Public Lands Day Photo Contest, which is open to all NPLD volunteers! The contest will showcase the natural beauty of our country's public lands and give volunteers the chance to win great prizes from AVEENO®. The contest has two categories. The first is “Volunteers in Action,” highlighting the great work taking place on NPLD and all of the people who make the day a success. The second category, “Transformative Change,” will enable volunteers who care so much about our public places to show the nation the impact they’ve made during NPLD. In addition to great AVEENO® gifts for the contest winners, there will be a $500 donation made to the sites affiliated with the top five photos in the “Transformative Change” category in support of their commitment to transformation!
August 29, 2008 - 12:18pm
Don’t miss this great opportunity to join more than 100,000 volunteers in the country’s single largest hands-on volunteer effort for America’s public lands. In addition to celebrating the natural beauty of our parks, trails, lakes and seashores, you’ll have a chance to get involved in your community by helping with a variety of volunteer projects, including building trails and bridges, planting trees and plants, and removing trash and invasive plants. American Park Network is proud to announce that our long-standing partner, and supporter of parks, AVEENO®, is now the national sponsor of National Public Lands Day. If you decide to volunteer, be sure to add a camera to the list of gear you’ll need on NPLD! Everyone is encouraged to participate in the Ninth Annual National Public Lands Day Photo Contest, which is open to all NPLD volunteers! The contest will showcase the natural beauty of our country's public lands and give volunteers the chance to win great prizes from AVEENO®. The contest has two categories. The first is “Volunteers in Action,” highlighting the great work taking place on NPLD and all of the people who make the day a success. The second category, “Transformative Change,” will enable volunteers who care so much about our public places to show the nation the impact they’ve made during NPLD. In addition to great AVEENO® gifts for the contest winners, there will be a $500 donation made to the sites affiliated with the top five photos in the “Transformative Change” category in support of their commitment to transformation!
Kautz Creek: Nature's Power Is Evident
August 28, 2008 - 5:06pm
I used to know exactly how many switchbacks it took to get to Indian Henry's Hunting Ground from Kautz Creek. I have forgotten the number, but there are many. I did remember most of the trail was in the forest, an advantage on a hot day.
August 28, 2008 - 5:06pm
I used to know exactly how many switchbacks it took to get to Indian Henry's Hunting Ground from Kautz Creek. I have forgotten the number, but there are many. I did remember most of the trail was in the forest, an advantage on a hot day.
Popular N.C. Beach Reopened for Vehicles
August 28, 2008 - 4:58pm
A popular beach on North Carolina's Outer Banks that has been closed to off-road vehicles has been reopened by the National Park Service in time for Labor Day weekend visitors.' The Cape Hatteras National Seashore said Thursday the area known as Bodie Island Spit is open to give fishermen access to Oregon Inlet.
August 28, 2008 - 4:58pm
A popular beach on North Carolina's Outer Banks that has been closed to off-road vehicles has been reopened by the National Park Service in time for Labor Day weekend visitors.' The Cape Hatteras National Seashore said Thursday the area known as Bodie Island Spit is open to give fishermen access to Oregon Inlet.
