It’s official.  Summer is upon us and Yellowstone is starting to fill up with tourists.  I get it.  Summer is a beautiful time to hike, swim, and photograph this national gem.

But with those beautiful, sunny days comes a downside- crowds.

And if you’re like me, your idea of a relaxing day in our first National Park doesn’t include a wall of people and seemingly endless traffic.  I’d much rather connect with nature, and not someone’s tail lights.

And that leads me to Yellowstone’s best kept secret – Winter.

1. Why Visit Yellowstone in Winter

Unlike the vast number of people you find in the park during summer months, winter is virtually deserted.  Because the roads are closed, the only people you’ll run into are tour groups on snowmobiles or snow coaches.  These tours are limited, so you’ll often find yourself at points of interest virtually alone.

One great example of this is Old Faithful.  Go in the summer, and you’ll be competing with thousands for a view of this timely treasure.  But visit during winter, and you’ll be around only a handful of other people.  I like those numbers.

It’s also an incredible opportunity to see the local wildlife without throngs of people gawking alongside you.  If you’ve ever been during the summer, I’m sure you’re familiar with the traffic jam that occurs whenever there’s a bison.  And there are a lot of bison.

However, in the winter you’ll find them walking along nearly empty roads.  If you were brave (or incredibly stupid), you could almost reach out and touch them from your snow coach!  Not advisable, but it gives you an idea of just how close you can get to them during the offseason… from the safety of the vehicle… with your arms and head securely inside.  Basically, enjoy their majestic beauty without becoming a cautionary tale.

2. How to Visit Yellowstone in Winter

Because roads into the park are closed, the only way to enter is with a tour company.  I booked an excursion with SeeYellowstone.com, which offers both regular and classic bombardier snow coach tours.  Word to the wise, the bombardiers look super awesome, but they’re far less comfortable than the newer snow coaches.

There are also snow coaches that utilize over-sized tires instead of the traditional tracks.  While these are much quieter, I’d still opt for the tracked vehicles.  The snow tires don’t seem to have as much traction, which can lead to some sketchy situations.

Another way to enter the park is by snowmobile.  Only a few non-guided tickets are offered each year by lottery, so you’ll need to book with a tour company.  If you’re bummed about being in a group, don’t be.  I snowmobiled into the park years ago without one, and got myself into a couple hairy situations.  Like when my snowmobile won’t turn back on and I had a massive bison heading toward me.  It’s good to have safety in numbers.

3.  Unique Winter Experiences in Yellowstone

Yellowstone is filled with natural wonders that make any visit unique.  However, there are some experiences that you can only have during winter.

One of these is seeing the layer of frost around the geysers and hot pots.  Because temperatures are so cold (as in, -20’F and below), the steam from these thermal features creates a thick layer of frost on the surrounding landscape.  Trees, railings, and the ground have beautiful ice crystals that delicately cover their surfaces.  You can even expect to have crystals cling to your hair and eyelashes!

Along with the frost comes the steam.  During the early morning, the steam can become so thick that you can barely see your hand in front of your face.  It creates a beautifully eerie landscape, where snow covered trees seem to materialize out of thin air.  Dead trees are especially stunning.  Their skeleton-like frames covered in frost and shrouded in haze make them resemble something out of a Tim Burton movie.

Between the layer of frost and not being able to tell where the ground ends and the sky begins, it’s almost as if you’re walking into heaven.  If heaven were numbingly cold… and a little stinky (did I mention the thermal features smell like a fart?  Now before you start pointing fingers don’t worry, that’s just the sulfur.)  I feel like I may be losing you here but trust me, it’s gorgeous.

And there you have it, Yellowstone’s best kept secret!  Sure, it may be a little chilly and your hair may freeze.  But Yellowstone’s quiet stillness enjoyed with only a few other visitors makes Winter one of the best times to see this national treasure.

Have you been to Yellowstone National Park?  Comment below, I’d love to hear about your experience!

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