Is Yellowstone park open in winter?

Yellowstone National Park in winter is a completely different world—quiet, snowy, and awe-inspiring. While many people imagine Yellowstone as a summer destination filled with crowds and wildlife sightings, few realize that the park remains open during the winter months, though in a much more limited and controlled way. Winter transforms Yellowstone into a serene wilderness of steaming geysers surrounded by snow-covered landscapes and frosted trees, offering a rare and unforgettable experience for those who visit during this season. However, accessibility and services are significantly reduced, and visitors must plan ahead carefully to make the most of their trip.

Quick Reference: Is Yellowstone park open in winter?

Category	Winter Information for Visitors
Park Accessibility	Yellowstone remains open in winter, but most roads close to regular vehicles due to snow. The North Entrance to Northeast Entrance road (Gardiner to Cooke City) is the only one open year-round.
Transportation Options	Access to interior areas like Old Faithful and Canyon Village is only possible via snowcoach or guided snowmobile tours.
Weather Conditions	Extremely cold with temperatures often below freezing (-10°F to 20°F / -23°C to -6°C). Snowstorms and icy conditions are common—visitors must dress in warm, layered winter clothing.
Lodging Available	Limited accommodations are open: Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel and Old Faithful Snow Lodge (accessible by snowcoach only). Reservations are essential.
Open Areas	Mammoth Hot Springs, Lamar Valley, and Tower Junction remain accessible by car. Perfect for wildlife watching and scenic photography.
Activities	Popular activities include wildlife viewing, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, snowcoach tours, and photography.
Wildlife Sightings	Winter is prime time to spot wolves, bison, elk, foxes, and eagles. Lamar Valley is the best area for viewing animals.
Safety Precautions	Be prepared for extreme cold, limited daylight, and slippery surfaces. Always travel with guides or inform rangers of your plans.
Dining & Services	Only a few restaurants and visitor services operate in winter, primarily near Mammoth and Old Faithful. Bring essentials.
Experience Highlight	The park is peaceful and crowd-free, offering surreal beauty with steaming geysers, snow-covered landscapes, and frosted wildlife scenes unlike any other season.

Yellowstone National Park does not fully close in winter, but only certain areas remain accessible to visitors. Most park roads are closed to regular vehicles from early November to mid-April due to heavy snow. The one major exception is the road between the North Entrance at Gardiner, Montana, and the Northeast Entrance near Cooke City, Montana, which stays open year-round. This stretch of road passes through Mammoth Hot Springs and Lamar Valley, areas that offer spectacular winter scenery and some of the best wildlife viewing opportunities in the park. All other park roads are closed to private vehicles but open for specialized winter travel such as snowcoaches and snowmobiles.

To reach interior areas of Yellowstone in winter, such as Old Faithful and the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, visitors must use authorized guided tours via snowcoach or snowmobile. These over-snow vehicles provide access to places that would otherwise be unreachable due to deep snow. The snowcoach experience, in particular, is a favorite among winter visitors because it allows comfortable travel through the park while enjoying the beauty of frozen waterfalls, steaming geysers, and the stark contrast of wildlife against the white landscape. Guided tours are required for snowmobiles to ensure both visitor safety and the protection of Yellowstone’s delicate ecosystem.

Lodging options during winter are limited but still available. Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel, located near the North Entrance, stays open for much of the winter season and offers comfortable accommodations and easy access to some open areas of the park. The Old Faithful Snow Lodge, accessible only by snowcoach, also operates during the winter months and provides a cozy retreat near one of Yellowstone’s most iconic features. These lodges offer a warm refuge after days spent exploring the frosty outdoors, though reservations are often needed months in advance due to limited availability.

Winter in Yellowstone is also a magical time for photography and solitude. The park’s landscapes are blanketed in snow, geysers send up plumes of steam that glisten in the sunlight, and animals like bison, elk, and wolves can often be seen moving across the open valleys. The absence of crowds means that visitors experience Yellowstone in its most peaceful and pristine state. However, it is important to prepare for extreme weather conditions, as temperatures can drop well below freezing, and storms can arrive unexpectedly.

For those willing to brave the cold, the rewards of a winter visit to Yellowstone are immense. Visitors can enjoy cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, and guided wildlife tours that offer a glimpse into how animals adapt to harsh winter environments. The unique combination of geothermal heat and deep snow creates surreal and otherworldly scenes found nowhere else on Earth.

In summary, Yellowstone National Park is indeed open in winter, but it operates on a limited schedule with restricted access. Only certain areas and facilities remain available, and most of the park can be reached only by snowcoach or snowmobile. With careful preparation, proper gear, and respect for the park’s conditions, a winter trip to Yellowstone can be one of the most rewarding experiences a traveler will ever have—a rare chance to witness the park’s raw beauty and power in its quietest, most enchanting season.