Yellowstone Snowcoaches: Your Ultimate Winter Ticket

A strange fleet of vans roams the snow-covered roads of Yellowstone National Park each winter. They stand taller than your average van, with massive panoramic windows perfect for sightseeing. But their most striking feature is the enormous, low-pressure tires, measuring about four feet tall and three feet wide. These are Yellowstone National Park Lodges’ custom 13-passenger snowcoaches, the 21st-century sleighs that offer an unparalleled ticket to ride through a winter wonderland.

These specialized vehicles are your key to unlocking the magic of winter in America’s first national park. They glide over deep snowpack, revealing a landscape transformed by ice and steam.

A Modern Sleigh for a Wild Wonderland

The secret to the snowcoach’s success lies in its unusual tires, inflated to a mere 12 pounds of pressure. These tires distribute the vehicle’s weight over a large surface area, allowing it to almost float over snow instead of sinking. This is crucial in a place where seasonal snowfall can exceed 600 inches, leaving a snowpack that can tower 10 feet above the road.

This engineering marvel makes Yellowstone accessible during a season that was once off-limits to most. While winter remains a quieter time in the park compared to the summer rush, it has grown in popularity. More visitors are discovering the unique serenity and stark beauty of a snow-covered wonderland. As long-time driver and guide trainer Leslie Quinn notes, people who have only seen the park in summer are curious about what it’s like “when it’s a lot colder and covered in snow.” The snowcoach is their answer.

From Clunky Machines to Eco-Friendly Cruisers

Winter travel in Yellowstone has a long and inventive history. In the 1930s, local communities pushed for year-round road access, but the park’s harsh conditions made it impossible. Entrepreneurs in West Yellowstone took matters into their own hands, experimenting with contraptions to traverse the snow. By 1949, the first motorized winter visitors arrived in “snowplanes”—enclosed cabs on skis powered by rear-mounted airplane propellers.

In 1955, the first true snowcoaches appeared. For decades, the dominant models were the classic Canadian-made Bombardiers. These 10-passenger vehicles ran on rear tracks and front skis. While effective, they were not built for comfort. Passengers sat on inward-facing benches, looking at each other more than the scenery outside.

Later innovations in the 1980s included vans with rear tracks and front skis, which at least offered forward-facing seats. The park also used Swedish-made military vehicles that were, in Quinn’s words, “unstoppable, but slow and loud.”

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Today’s fleet of modified Ford vans represents a massive leap forward. Not only do they provide superior comfort and stunning panoramic views, but they are also significantly more sustainable. These modern snowcoaches achieve up to 12 miles per gallon, a fourfold improvement over the 3 miles per gallon of earlier models. This commitment to efficiency allows you to enjoy winter’s magic while minimizing your environmental impact.

Choosing Your Winter Adventure

Snowcoaches are the backbone of Yellowstone’s winter transportation system. They shuttle guests between lodges, transport skiers to trailheads, and lead a wide array of guided tours. Whether you want a full-day expedition or a short, magical outing, there is a snowcoach adventure for you.

All-Day Immersive Tours

For those who want a deep dive into the winter landscape, full-day tours offer incredible experiences.

• Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone: Journey to the breathtaking, ice-rimmed Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone. You can choose a snowcoach tour from the Mammoth Hotel or the Old Faithful Snow Lodge. You’ll get up close to the frosted trees and the powerful, partially frozen Lower Falls while keeping a lookout for wildlife along the way.
• Winter Photo Safari: Designed for photographers, this tour follows the Firehole and Madison Rivers, stopping frequently for wildlife and landscape photo opportunities. Capture images of frost-covered bison, steaming rivers, and the unique winter light.

Unique Shorter Adventures

If you have less time, several shorter tours pack a lot of magic into a few hours.

• Madison Wildlife Excursion: The 7-mile corridor that parallels the Madison River west of Madison Junction will be the focal point of this search for wildlife in their winter habitat. Many species of birds and mammals winter along this scenic route and you never know what you might see. This tour departs from Old Faithful Snow Lodge.
• Steam, Stars, and Winter Soundscapes: This is a truly one-of-a-kind evening tour. A snowcoach takes you into the geyser basins after dark. You’ll stand under a canopy of brilliant stars, far from any city lights. Listening to the gurgle of geysers and the quiet crunch of snow underfoot is a remarkable way to connect with the wilderness. This tour departs from Old Faithful Snow Lodge.

Plan Your Winter Visit

Exploring Yellowstone by snowcoach offers a perspective on the park that few get to see. It’s an adventure that combines modern comfort with the untamed beauty of the wild. Whether you are seeking thrilling wildlife encounters, peaceful moments in a pristine landscape, or the simple joy of traveling through a snowy wonderland, a snowcoach tour delivers an unforgettable journey. It is truly the ultimate ticket to ride into the heart of winter.