2018-11-19 00:41:24
The nation’s first national park becomes a fascinating landscape of fire and ice during the winter months. Hiking past steaming hot springs against the backdrop of pristine snow-covered forests of pine and Douglas fir is an otherworldly sight, and snowmobiling and cross-country skiing are activities that have drawn visitors to Yellowstone in the snowy months for decades. GETTING TO YELLOWSTONE Many visitors reach Yellowstone National Park by air via the two small Wyoming regional airports that service the park. Yellowstone Regional Airport near Cody is approximately 50 miles from Yellowstone’s east entrance, and Jackson Hole Airport, located at the edge of Grand Teton National Park, is approximately 50 miles south of Yellowstone’s south entrance. Both airports have car and shuttle services to nearby towns and hotels. From early November to mid-April, most of the park’s roads are only open to oversnow travel — or guided snowmobile and snowcoach tours. Find a list of companies authorized to provide snow safari tours and over-snow transportation to Yellowstone’s attractions from towns near the west, south and east entrances at nps.gov/yell. THINGS TO DO Explore the backcountry and trek past the national park’s famous thermal features in silence by snowshoeing or Nordic skiing on groomed trails specially prepped for wintertime visitors. Gear is available for rent from local outfitters, and if you’d prefer not to go it alone, there are authorized guides who can show you the sights as well. Get out early in the morning when animals like deer, wolves and bison are most active and the light is prime for taking photos. Arrange for snowcoach tours to the Norris and Upper geyser basins, Old Faithful and Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, or the National Park Service typically hosts ranger-led excursions and activities from mid-December through mid-March. Those seeking a faster ride can check out Yellowstone’s portion of the Continental Divide Snowmobile Trail with an authorized commercial guide from Cody or Flagg Ranch in Moran (go to nps.gov/yell to see a full list of guides). You can also apply for a Non-Commercially Guided Snowmobile Access Program Permit, which are awarded annually through a lottery system at recreation.gov. A limited number of snowmobilers are allowed access to the trails each day, and advance reservations are recommended. REST EASY Old Faithful Snow Lodge and Cabins, which has dining facilities and visitor services year-round, is the only lodging available inside the park itself. The Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel and Lodge is closed for renovations for the 2018/2019 season but will reopen for the 2019/2020 season. Visitors can also stay in Jackson, Cody or other nearby towns and book excursions into the park with authorized NPS concessionaires like Jackson-based Teton Science Schools or Scenic Safaris and Cody-based Gary Fales Outfitting. Browse our lodging listings starting on p. 79 or visit TravelWyoming.com/places-to-stay.
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