Winter in Yellowstone
Yellowstone’s frosty landscapes create the perfect white canvas for spotting wildlife of any shape and size or capturing the frosty steam from a wintry waterfall. The scene is ever changing. Some days bring brilliant blue skies with ‘snow dawgs’ silhouetted against the pines and diamond-studded reflections off snowy fields. Other days bring the steady, silent descent of powdery flakes from leaden skies covering everything with a soft downy blanket of new snow. No wonder so many refer to Yellowstone as a true ‘Winter Wonderland.’
Yellowstone’s unique thermal geography continually generates heat. Steam rises from thermal meadow areas reducing snow depth. Active hydro-thermals keep lakes and rivers from freezing over and ensure a steady source of fish throughout the winter. The open water and easier access to last summer’s grasses encourage large herds of elk and bison to migrate from the deeper snows found in the interior of the Park. And, with the ungulates comes their predators. Nowhere else in the world can you find such a concentrated and diverse range of winter wildlife.
Winter is also the best time to spot of some of Yellowstone’s more unusual mammals. Yellowstone’s unique geology makes the perfect environment for river otters. Watch for otters along the waterways of Yellowstone, particularly where creeks empty into larger rivers or lakes including along the Madison River between Seven Mile Bridge and Nine Mile Hole, the West Thumb of Yellowstone Lake, in Hayden Valley, Trout Creek, and along the banks of Soda Butte Creek. Last winter, an especially large river otter was spotted regularly under the bridge leading to the Upper Canyon area
One of the Parks most colorful sights is the occasional red fox whose rare daylight forays are much easier to photograph against snowy meadows. Their brilliant red fur and bushy silver tails make for an incredible photograph. With their large ears, foxes can hear mice and rodents under several feet of snow and can put on quite a show as they bound through heavy snows to pounce on escaping mice.
This year the West entrance at West Yellowstone, will open for this winter season on December 15, 2009 and close again March 15, 2010.
Winter visitors to Yellowstone have two options. The road from the park’s North Entrance at Gardiner, Montana, to the Northeast Entrance at Cooke City, Montana, is open all year to automobile traffic although snow tires are usually required between Mammoth and the northeast Silver Gate entrance. This is the one road that stays open year-round to wheeled vehicles and services local residents.
The other option is to take an over-the-snow vehicle from the west, east or south gates. Commercially guided snowcoach or snowmobile trips travel over snow covered, groomed roads to popular destinations including Old Faithful and the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone. These vehicles travel on the same roads that you do in the summer over snow prepared by groomers. The groomers work to smooth and pack the snow ensuring that the roads are adequately covered and making for a much smoother ride for visitors.
Snowcoaches can be outfitted with either a rubber track or a ski system (replacing tires). Often called by the brand name, Mattracks, these rubber track systems can travel over thinner snow depths and even bare road patches without tearing up roadways. Metal-based ski systems can cause more damage or get stuck on traveling over snow-less patches. Subsequently, the park service may restrict certain roads to just Mattrack-equipped snowcoaches based on road conditions.
Snowmobiling on the park’s snow-covered asphalt roads was allowed beginning in 1968. The Today’s newer models of four-stroke snowmobiles, approved for use within the park, also have more rider-friendly features such as heated hand-grips and thumb-warmer, seats, mirrors and even reverse. This makes them easier to drive, even for someone who has never driven a snowmobile before. Many models are two-up allowing a driver and passenger to share the same snowmobile.
Some people choose to tour by snowmobile because of the individual mobility and more personalized interaction with the environment. You’ll feel the cold of a winter breeze balanced by the warmth of an afternoon sun, the close encounters with wildlife as bison and elk walk and graze along the roads. Conversely, others choose snowcoaches as a relaxed, climate-controlled, and environmentally friendly way to tour the park. Families with small children, seniors, or physically challenged visitors can still travel into the interior of Yellowstone.
Both snowmobile and snowcoach tours stop along their routes for a chance to see winter wildlife, experience the smells and sounds of a rushing, icy river, or grab the perfect photo opportunity. Snowmobiles (like snowcoaches) must be guided by an approved Yellowstone park concessionaire. These guides not only ensure your safety, but also enhance the overall experience.
