5 Reasons to Experience Greater Yellowstone in Winter

Winter transforms Greater Yellowstone into a serene, snow-blanketed wilderness. While access to Yellowstone National Park is restricted, Gather Away provides fully equipped, specially adapted snow coaches and snowshoes, allowing travellers to explore this winter wonderland in search of stunning wildlife encounters – imagine misty herds of bison and elusive wolves on the hunt. Your expert guide will place you at the heart of the action. After a day of adventure, unwind in true hygge style, relaxing in a cosy cabin or soaking in naturally heated hot springs, all framed by snow-capped mountains.

Beyond the National Park, a wealth of winter activities awaits, including dog sledding and horse-drawn sleigh rides in pursuit of vast herds of elk. Gather Away understand that it’s all in the details and have partnered with an incredible local catering service, ensuring guests enjoy warming meals while immersed in the breathtaking beauty of Greater Yellowstone during its quietest, most magical season.

Winter in Greater Yellowstone offers a rare opportunity to observe wildlife in a serene winter-scape. With fewer visitors and the park blanketed in snow, animals like bison, elk, and wolves stand out against the white backdrop, making them easier to spot. One of the most exciting species to see in winter is the grey wolf, reintroduced in 1995. Early mornings in Lamar Valley offer the best chance to witness these majestic creatures as they hunt and interact with their pack.

In addition to wolves, thousands of elk spend the winter at the National Elk Refuge, and a horse-drawn sleigh ride provides a close-up view of these large herds, allowing you to experience their beauty in a peaceful setting. Grand Teton National Park is another prime location for winter wildlife viewing. With the help of a knowledgeable naturalist guide, you can search for moose, coyotes, bighorn sheep, eagles, and more.

Greater Yellowstone offers a range of winter activities that allow you to experience the park’s landscape in a truly unique way. With fewer crowds than in the summer, the snow-covered trails and roads provide the perfect setting for exploration. Join an expert guide for a morning snowshoe trek and immerse yourself in the serene landscape while learning wildlife tracking techniques. The fresh snow reveals a hidden ecosystem, with tracks and signs of animals that thrive in the harsh winter environment, offering a closer connection to nature. For a more thrilling adventure, dog sledding is a must-try.

Embark on an exhilarating ride through the wilderness with an expert musher, and even try your hand at driving the sled team. If you’re seeking something more peaceful, enjoy a horse-drawn sleigh ride along the banks of the Snake River. This tranquil ride allows you to soak in the quiet beauty of the Jackson Hole area, with the snow-covered landscape and wildlife creating a truly magical experience.

If you’re travelling with expert naturalists, you’ll always enjoy a quieter, more exclusive experience in Greater Yellowstone. We guide you away from the crowds, even during the peak seasons. However, Winter offers an entirely different level of serenity and beauty. With only 2% of Yellowstone’s millions of annual visitors making their way to the park in winter, experiencing Yellowstone in its snowy splendour is an exclusive, awe-inspiring experience.

The peaceful, snow-covered landscape, combined with the opportunity to witness wildlife in a quieter, more intimate setting, makes winter the perfect time to truly connect with the park’s natural wonders.

Winter transforms Yellowstone into a breathtaking wonderland of ice, snow, and steam, offering unique photography opportunities at every turn. The low-angle winter sun casts long shadows and soft light, creating the perfect conditions to capture the park’s stunning landscapes, geysers, and wildlife. The contrast between the snowy terrain and the rising steam from thermal features makes for dramatic, one-of-a-kind shots that are hard to replicate any other time of year.

Exploring geyser basins on foot lets you get up close to Yellowstone’s geothermal wonders, such as Mammoth Hot Springs, where the interplay of snow and steam creates an ethereal atmosphere for photography. With an expert guide, you’ll be perfectly positioned to capture the most dramatic misty morning shots, and have the chance to photograph bison as they gather around thermal areas for warmth.

Winter in Greater Yellowstone offers the perfect setting to embrace hygge, the Danish art of cosy contentment and well-being. Start your mornings by traversing snowy trails with an expert guide, searching for wolves, bison, and more, as you immerse yourself in the park’s natural beauty. Afterwards, warm up by soaking in naturally-fed hot spring pools, rich with over six unique mineral compounds that soothe both mind and body.

Then, retreat to a cosy cabin near the park for a private, secluded retreat. Relax by a roaring fire, enjoying the comfort and warmth after a day of outdoor exploration.

Marketing Worldwide are proud to stand by Gather Away, a specialist operator with many years of experience curating exceptional wildlife experiences in Yellowstone and Jackson Hole. With a focus on private, guided tours, they offer a uniquely personalised way to explore the park’s most awe-inspiring landscapes and diverse wildlife, venturing into Yellowstone’s wildest, most untouched corners.

Their highly experienced guides, deeply in tune with the rhythms of the land and animal behaviour, take guests off the beaten track to discover the park in a way that few others experience. Offering front-row access to extraordinary moments, such as thousands of elk gathering with wolves in pursuit or capturing the misty atmosphere of bison at dawn, Gather Away ensures that every guest is immersed in nature’s raw beauty.