A visit to Yellowstone National Park should be on everyone’s bucket list. The concentration of animals and the unique natural beauty of the park is unmatched anywhere. Find out some of the best things you can do on a visit to Yellowstone in winter with kids. 

The problem with going to a phenomenal iconic location is that a lot of other people are usually there which makes it feel a little less special in my opinion. Thankfully, Yellowstone National Park has a season where you can enjoy the park basically all to yourself. Winter is the off season due to most of its roads being closed and it being a little less accessible, but it is also one of the most magical times to visit the park.

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Why Book A Trip To Yellowstone In Winter With Kids?

Winter in Yellowstone National Park is a special time to visit. If you don’t mind bundling up with insulated coats and warm gloves, you can see bison covered in snowflakes, fox hunting under the snow, steam escaping from geysers, and much more.

It is actually a little easier to see the active animals in the winter because of the contrast in color between the snow and their fur.

Kids love playing in the fluffy snow, and there’s a lot of snow in the park. Choose between cross country skiing, snowshoeing, or taking a snowcoach through this snowy wonderland while seeking out moose or jackrabbits. 

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Best Things To Do In Yellowstone National Park In The Winter

Snowmobiling

If you are an adventurous traveling family, looking into a snowmobile tour in Yellowstone should be on your bucket list. You will see the park in a whole new way that many visitors don’t get to experience. The majority of the snowmobile tours into Yellowstone National Park are guided tours by commercial guides. 

If you have your own snowmobile and want to enter the park, you can’t just enter the park on your own. You have to apply for a permit. These permits are awarded through a lottery system and only four non-commercially guided tours are allowed to enter the park each day. The lottery system is only open in August, so plan ahead. Any canceled or unclaimed permits are available on a first-come, first-serve basis starting in October. 

Your best bet is to book a commercial snowmobile guided tour. There are quite a few options for Yellowstone snowmobiling tours. I would recommend booking a tour out of West Yellowstone. The two memorable tour options are to visit Old Faithful or the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone with various stops along the way. 

There are a couple of highly rated snowmobile tour companies you can check out. One is Yellowstone Vacation Tours and the other is See Yellowstone. For a family, I would advise booking a double sled and having the child sit with the driver. Drivers must be 16+ and passengers need to be at least 5 years old. 

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Ride A Snowcoach

Another exceptional option for what to do in Yellowstone in winter is to book a snowcoach tour. I would choose this option if you are traveling with younger children or want to see the natural beauty and animals of the park in a more comfortable and cozier manner. 

You can book a snowcoach tour from either Gardiner or West Yellowstone, but the majority of them leave from West Yellowstone as it is closer to Old Faithful. There are a few different companies to choose from. 

For the best rate, I would recommend Yellowstone Expeditions. They have day trip tours to Old Faithful and Grand Canyon of Yellowstone for the best price. 

Another great option is Yellowstone Vacation Tours. You can choose between leaving from West Yellowstone or Gardiner on their snowcoach tours. 

These all-day excursions can get a little pricey, but it is worth it to see the snow-covered paradise of Yellowstone in winter with kids. 

Nordic Skiing

If you are looking to exercise those legs and see the park on skis, cross country skiing is a very fun option. It is also a more affordable way to see the park than a snowmobile or snowcoach. 

You can access some of the cross country skiing trails from by parking along the northern road of the park.

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Self-Guided Nordic Skiing In Yellowstone

To see ski maps and trail descriptions in the park, head over to the Yellowstone National Park Lodge website or to the National Park’s website.

The ski trails you can access by car are from the Mammoth, Tower, Northeast and West Yellowstone areas, whereas the Old Faithful and Grand Canyon areas you will need to take a shuttle or tour. 

In addition, there is a ski shuttle that leaves from Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel where you can access interior ski trails in the Indian Creek Cross Country Ski Area. 

Here are a few wintry trails I’d recommend. They are easier paths, so if you are looking for something more advanced, visit the Yellowstone National Park Lodge website here. 

• Bannock Trail in the Northeast area – This trail is in the Lamar Valley where there is a higher concentration of wolves than in other areas of the park. 

• Upper Terrace Loop – In Mammoth areas, you can ski next to hot springs and terraces with views of Mammoth Hot Springs Historic District and the surrounding mountains. Travel clockwise on the Upper Terrace Loop for the easiest route. 

• Indian Creek Loop – Also in the Mammoth area, take the ski shuttle to the Indian Creek Loop. This easy ski trail travels gently through the forest with a good chance of seeing bison and elk. 

• Tower Falls Trail – Park at the entrance to Roosevelt Lodge and glide to Tower Falls with stunning canyon views of the Yellowstone River along the way. 

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Nordic Skiing Guided Tours

If you are interested in a guided tour, there are excellent options for this as well. A very family-friendly option for guided ski tours is In Our Nature Guiding Services.

What I like about this expert tour company is the flexibility they offer. You can choose between 2-3 hour tours or up to a full-day cross country skiing tour.

All expeditions are private, so you get personalized attention, ski rentals, hot drinks, and some food are all included. The pricing also makes sense with the first person’s cost as the majority of the fee and a smaller additional fee for extra people in the group. 

Snowshoeing In Yellowstone

Most groomed ski trails are also open to snowshoers. Please avoid walking on the cross country ski tracks, but other than that, you are welcome to hike on these snowy trails.

There is also a dedicated snowshoe-only trail in the Old Faithful area if you are staying there. The Observation Point Loop is 2.0 miles with views of Upper Geyser Basin and Firehole River. 

In Our Nature Guiding Services also has options for guided snowshoeing tours if you would like a personalized expert tour. 

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Mammoth Hot Springs

If you are looking to explore Yellowstone in winter with kids on your own, a visit to Mammoth Hot Springs should be one of your first stops. In the wintertime, Mammoth is a lot less crowded than it is during the busy summer months.

Its spectacular terraces will wow you as you hike around the boardwalks and explore how the steam has frozen onto the trees and plants. It feels like you are on another planet!

Keep your eyes alert for wildlife as well. I remember one time as we walked around we saw the coolest all-white Jackrabbit hopping amongst the trees. 

The Upper and Lower Terrace boardwalks are open and can be hiked in the winter. Mammoth is always changing and is a fascinating place to explore. 

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Lamar Valley

Next up on your self-guided adventure should be an exciting journey to the Lamar Valley.

Anytime of year, the Lamar Valley is the best place to see wildlife. As you drive you will spot bison, deer, elk, coyotes and hopefully wolves! Stop at the many pull-outs and take a moment to observe. 

Pro Tip 1: Slowly drive down the road until you see a few cars parked along the road. It is a sure sign that an amazing animal has been spotted!

Pro Tip 2: Bring binoculars. Lamar Valley is huge. Sometimes the animals are far away! 

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Stay At A Lodge In Yellowstone National Park

For a truly immersive and unique experience, stay the night at one of the lodges in the park. There are a couple of great options to choose from in the winter. 

Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel 

To stay in the North area of the park with easy access to the roads and fun snowy activities, the Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel is a great option. The hotel is also in a great location if you are planning on taking guided tours as many leave from the hotel.

On top of that, the Bear Den ski shop located in the hotel has equipment rentals, lessons, tips and tours for nordic skiing and snowshoeing. It is a convenient location, and if you are there during the holidays, it is also beautifully decorated! 

Old Faithful Snow Lodge

If you want to be located in the middle of the park, I would recommend a stay at the Old Faithful Snow Lodge.

The benefit of staying at Old Faithful is the easy access to the Upper Geyser Basin area of the park where you can cross country ski or snowshoe alongside the geysers. 

A popular groomed ski trail is to the Lone Star Geyser. We hiked this one in the summer and would highly recommend it. It is fairly flat, so skiing it should be fairly easy!

There is also a ski trail to the beautiful Fairy Falls, but it is a little longer at 10 miles round trip. 

For a snowshoeing only path, take the Observation Point Loop that starts next to Old Faithful or try the Mystic Falls Trail that leads to a beautiful 70 foot waterfall. 

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Take A Wolf Tour

If the main reason for your visit is to see wolves, I would suggest booking a wolf tour. Winter in Yellowstone National Park is your best chance of seeing these beautiful elusive creatures in their natural habitat.

They are not easy to spot, however. To increase your chances of seeing them in the wild, your best bet would be to go with someone that knows where the wolves live in the park. 

Yellowstone National Park Lodges, Yellowstone Wolf Tracker, Yellowstone Dreamin Adventures, and Yellowstone Guidelines all offer wolf watching tours. 

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FAQs About Winter In Yellowstone National Park

Can You Drive Through Yellowstone In The Winter?

Not really. Most of the roads in Yellowstone close to cars by early November. The exception is the northern road that connects Mammoth Hot Springs and the northeast entrance near Cooke City.

Once snow accumulates, the other roads in the park are only opened to snowmobiles and snowcoaches.

Roads start to reopen to cars in the park around mid-April. 

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