Source 2026 Wyoming Official Travel Guide - Wyoming Official Travel Guide
Experience the Magic of Winter in Yellowstone
2025-12-29 03:15:41
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 is an otherworldly experience, as is cross country skiing or snowmobiling through the backcountry.
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 and Jackson Hole Airport, located at the edge of Grand Teton National Park. 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 oversnow transportation to Yellowstone’s attractions from towns near the west, south and east entrances at nps.gov/yell.
THINGS TO DO
Trek past the national park’s famous thermal features by snowshoeing or Nordic skiing on groomed trails specially prepped for wintertime visitors. Gear is available for rent from local outfitters. If you’d prefer not to go it alone, authorized guides can show you the sights. 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.
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 (go to travelwy.com/ynp-snowmobile-guides to see a full list of guides). You can also apply for Non-Commercially Guided Snowmobile Access Program permits, 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.
WINTER TIPS
Visiting Yellowstone in winter means fewer crowds around popular park attractions like Old Faithful. Find Yellowstone accessibility guidance at travelwy.com/nps-yell-access.
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