Picture-perfect snowscapes, prime wildlife watching, peaceful trails…with all the compelling reasons to visit Yellowstone in the winter, we know that the frosty weather won’t keep you away. Plus, there are plenty of ways to warm up when you need to. Here are some of our favorites:

 

Visit a hydrothermal area

Do what the wildlife does and visit a hydrothermal area like the Upper Geyser Basin or the Mammoth Hot Springs Terraces. Animals of all sizes congregate near the park’s geysers and hot springs for warmth.

 

Take a guided (and heated!) snowcoach tour

Book a snowcoach for a scenic tour of the park, and to reach Old Faithful, which is only accessible in the winter by over-snow vehicle.

 

Check out a Visitor Center

The Old Faithful Visitor Education Center and the newly renovated Albright Visitor Center are open 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. throughout the winter season. They offer interactive exhibits, films (at Old Faithful), and the opportunity to chat with a ranger.

 

Join a Yellowstone Forever Institute program

Choose from a Private Tour or Field Seminar where you’ll practice cross-country skiing while learning about Yellowstone’s wildlife, geology, and history from a park expert.

 

Claim a fireside chair

Grab a book and relax hearthside in the lobby of the Old Faithful Snow Lodge or the Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel.

 

Drive the Northern Range

Assuming your car has heat, you’ll have a warm front-row seat to see wildlife and some of Yellowstone’s most open and scenic vistas. This route from Mammoth to Cooke City is the only road open to wheeled vehicles year-round.

 

Attend an evening Ranger Program

Yellowstone offers free, indoor Ranger Programs several nights per week throughout the winter at Old Faithful and Mammoth. Each one highlights a fascinating aspect of the park’s natural, cultural, or scenic wonders.

 

Stop by a warming hut

If you’re feeling chilly, thaw out in one of Yellowstone’s warming huts, which are scattered throughout the park.

 

Keep moving

Walk, ski, or snowshoe to keep your blood moving while enjoying the snowy landscape. Yellowstone has many accessible winter trails, several of which are groomed for Nordic skiing, and equipment is available to rent. You can even go ice skating on the rinks at the Old Faithful Snow Lodge.

 

Photos, top to bottom: Lamar Buffalo Ranch –  NPS/Neal Herbert; Snowcoach – NPS/Jacob W. Frank; Albright VC – YF/Matt Ludin; Snow Lodge Fireplace – Xanterra; Skiers – YF/Matt Ludin