Winter in Yellowstone: Fire & Ice
Yellowstone in winter is a fairyland of steaming hot springs and spouting geysers combined with ice and sparkling snow.
Known for its snowy winters, Yellowstone is often at its frosty best in January. The Old Faithful area typically has several feet of snow on the ground during the first part of the year, providing superb outdoor recreation conditions. A ski or snow shoe around Old Faithful rewards hearty souls with views of ice rimmed ghost trees, turquoise hot pools and geysers that seem to erupt diamonds.
Winter’s snow at the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone decorates the Upper and Lower Falls with ice and snow bridges, tempting Canyon visitors to fill their camera’s memory card.
Here are a few tips, straight from a Yellowstone Naturalist-Guide, for your winter experience:
Take advantage of this cross country ski paradise. Because Yellowstone is a plateau, skiers can take their pick of flat to gently rolling trails or more challenging steeper terrain.
The Northern Range offers plenty of trails accessible by car: try an easy 5 mile trip along groomed tracks to Tower Falls or continue on for a longer ski around the Chittenden Loop. Blacktail Trail offers superb views of the Gallatin and Absaroka Mountains on clear days, or for a more back country experience, catch a ski drop snow coach to Indian Creek from Mammoth Hotel.
In the Old Faithful area, skiers can pick their distances and routes: ski along the Firehole River to Lone Star Geyser or ski to Fairy Falls and Imperial Geyser, both easy and flat to slightly rolling with the option of a ski drop to shorten distances. The Mallard Creek Loop offers a more challenging route, or consider a back country ski to Shoshone Lake.
After a day of outdoor activity on the trails, relax in the warmth and intimate atmosphere of the Old Faithful Snow Lodge.
This information provided by Julianne Baker, a Resident Instructor with the Yellowstone Association Institute. www.yellowstoneassociation.org.
Winter Programs to complete your Yellowstone experience
The Yellowstone Association Institute and Xanterra Lodges offer multi-day programs: Yellowstone on Skis, Old Faithful Winter Expedition and Winter Wonderland combine visits to the thermal areas, snowshoeing and/or skiing.
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