Winter transforms Yellowstone National Park into a snow covered wonderland complete with steaming geysers, frost covered landscapes and abundant wildlife. Heavy snow in higher elevations force most animals into the Park's valleys where food is easier to find and allows for excellent wildlife watching especially in the Northern Range. Large herds of bison and elk make the Lamar Valley their winter home and they're followed by predators such as wolves, coyotes and mountain lions. Plus, there are far fewer crowds to contend with as compared to the summer months, providing a quieter, more natural experience for observing the many species who call Yellowstone home.
In winter only the road between the North Entrance at Gardiner, Montana, to the park’s northeast entrance near Silver Gate and into Cooke City, Montana, remains open to visitors’ vehicles. The rest of the park is only accessible via snow coaches or snowmobiles. For more information and current road conditions be sure to check Yellowstone's current conditions or check out the video below to get you started.