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Winter Overview Discover why vaca-tioning in Yellow-stone and Grand Teton in winter is so spectacular.

Getting ThereGet an overview of the parks, their entrances and information about how to get there.

Where to StayDiscover your lodging options that range from a his-toric hotel, a ranch or cabins.

48 Hours in the ParkHere are our

favorite things to do

in Grand Teton and

Yellowstone.

Wildlife GuideLearn about the area’s fantastic wildlife and the best places to spot these mammals.

What to Expect Check out our packing list and learn more about entrance fees and weather.

NATIONAL PARK TRIPS MEDIA

The Experts in National Park

Travel

NATIONAL PARK TRIP PLANNER

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OverviewSee a different side of Grand Teton and Yellowstone national parks when the snow starts to fall.

When snow begins to blan-ket Yellowstone and Grand Teton national parks, it creates a win-ter wonderland of new

opportunities for those who venture here. Despite the bears hibernating, you’ll spot all sorts of wildlife like elk, moose and trum-peter swans roaming the valleys in search of food. In Yellowstone, you’ll find a buzz of ac-tivity from snowcoach and snowmobile tours to cross-country ski trails. With far fewer snowmobiles touring around, Grand Teton is much quieter than Yellowstone, making it a cross-country skier and snowshoer paradise. Snowmobiles are only allowed in the park on the frozen surface of Jackson Lake for ice fishing only or on Grassy Lake Road on the John D. Rockefeller, Jr., Memorial Parkway.

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Most of Yellowstone National Park’s entrances close for the winter season. In fact, the North Entrance is the only entrance that enables

you to access the one park road that remains open to cars. That road connects Yellow-stone’s North Entrance in Gardiner, Mont., to Cooke City, Mont., via Tower Junction.

But several entrances enable you to access the park by snowmobile and/or snowcoach (a park-authorized vehicle with huge tires that drives travelers to various areas in the park) to enjoy the park’s incredible winter activi-ties: the North Entrance in Gardiner, Mont., the West Entrance in West Yellowstone, Mont., the South Entrance 40 miles north of Jackson, Wyo., and the East Entrance, 58 miles west of Cody, Wyo.

NORTH ENTRANCESay a big hello to Yellowstone’s winter won-derland hub. The North Entrance is about an 80-mile drive from the Bozeman-Yel-lowstone International Airport. It is open year round and enables you to drive right to

Mammoth Hot Spring Hotel & Cabins, one of the two park lodges open in the winter. To get to Mammoth, you can rent a car at the airport. From Mammoth, drive the northern park road through Tower Junc-tion east to Cooke City, Mont., in search of wolves and other wildlife. You also can ar-range for guided snowmobile and snowcoach tours in the park.

Or avoid airport rental car fees and the stress of driving on unfamiliar winter roads. Take a shuttle from a couple of companies that offer shuttle services. Xanterra, Yellow-stone’s lodging and dining concessionaire, has a winter season shuttle that will take you from the Bozeman-Yellowstone Interna-tional Airport to and from Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel & Cabins in Yellowstone Na-tional Park. Reserve your spot on the shuttle when you make your Yellowstone lodging reservations. On your return shuttle, the shuttle stops at the airport and the Boze-man Holiday Inn for guests spending the night in Bozeman before catching a flight out the next day. Amazing Taxi also offers an airport shuttle service from the Bozeman-Yellowstone International Airport to Mam-

moth Hot Springs Hotel & Cabins.  

WEST ENTRANCEDubbed the “Snowmobile Capital of the World,” West Yellowstone, Mont., sits close to the West Entrance. While there are no park roads open to private vehicle traffic from the West Entrance, you can choose from six park-authorized concessionaires to sign up for a guided snowcoach or snowmo-bile tour that will bring you from West Yel-lowstone, Mont., into the park. In West Yel-lowstone itself, there are hundreds of miles of groomed snowmobile trails.

To get to West Yellowstone, Mont., from Bozeman, Mont., you’ll drive 124 miles on Hwy. 287. It’s a long, lonely road with sparsely populated towns, so be sure you are comfortable with winter mountain driv-ing conditions (drive equipped with a shov-el, blanket and supplies) before you decide to rent a car. The alternative is to reserve a spot on the Amazing Taxi to shuttle you from the Bozeman-Yellowstone Internation-al Airport to West Yellowstone. You can reach the staff at 406-223-5344, or email amazingtaxi@yahoo.com.

SOUTH ENTRANCEThe South Entrance is a great place to enter the park on a guided snowmobile or snow-coach tour if you plan on basing out of Jack-son, Wyo. It’s 40 miles from Jackson, Wyo., to Yellowstone’s South Entrance, so there’s a drive involved in getting to the park. It’s a different experience than rolling out of bed in Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel & Cabins or at the Old Faithful Snow Lodge & Cab-ins and being in the heart of the action.

There are three authorized park conces-sionaires that offer snowmobile or snow-coach tours. Once in the park, you can snowmobile to Old Faithful and other Yel-lowstone sights, keeping your eyes peeled for wildlife along the way.

To get to Jackson, fly into the Jackson Hole Airport, which is seven miles from town and located completely in Grand Teton National Park. It’s serviced by Amer-ican, Delta, United and SkyWest. You can rent a car on site or take a taxi or the Jack-son Hole Shuttle.

EAST ENTRANCEFifty-eight miles from Cody is the East En-

Getting There: YellowstoneHere’s everything you need to know about Yellowstone National Park

from which park entrances are open in winter to how to get there.

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trance. You can fly into the Yellowstone Re-gional Airport in Cody. Because most of the activity in Yellowstone takes place on the west side of the park, there’s only one au-thorized snowmobile concessionaire to bring

you snowmobiling in the park here. There’s no guided snowcoach option. From here go on a guided wonderland tour up and over Sylvan Pass, past Yellowstone Lake, to Old Faithful, the Lower Geyser Basin and back.

Fly into Cody via the Yellowstone Regional Airport in Cody, Wyo. It’s serviced by a Del-ta connection operated by SkyWest Airlines through Salt Lake City and United Express through Denver.

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NOTE: IN WINTER, THE ONLY ROAD OPEN TO PUBLIC VEHICULAR TRAFFIC IS THE ONE FROM THE NORTH ENTRANCE TO THE NORTHEAST ENTRANCE.

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Getting There: Grand Teton Here’s everything you need to know from which Grand Teton National Park

entrances are open in winter to how to get there.

Many of Grand Teton National Park’s roads and ser-vices close in the winter, creating a wonderful sense of solitude you will not find in the summer season. However, the park’s main roads Hwy 89/191 and Hwy. 26/287 are plowed all winter and are open to

cars from Jackson, Wyo., north to Flagg Ranch, which is just two miles south of Yellowstone National Park’s South Entrance. A bonus to winter time in Grand Teton? There’s a park entrance fee discount. It’s just $5 to enter the park.

To get there, fly into the Jackson Hole Airport, which is seven miles from town and located in Grand Teton National Park. It’s the only airport in the country completely located in a national park. It’s serviced by American, Delta, United and SkyWest. You can rent a car on site or take a taxi or the Jackson Hole Shuttle.

GRANITE CANYON ENTRANCEThis entrance is accessed by the Moose-Wilson Road in Wilson, Wyo., which passes the Jackson Hole Mountain Resort before reach-

ing the park. The Moose-Wilson Road is closed to vehicular traffic beyond the Granite Canyon trailhead in the winter, so if you want to snowshoe or ski on the road, park at the trailhead parking area.  

MOOSE ENTRANCEThe park’s Moose Entrance is open to vehicular traffic only to the Taggart Lake Trailhead. From Taggart Lake trailhead, you can skate ski, cross-country ski or snowshoe a gorgeous 15-mile snow-packed surface that is intermittently groomed all the way to Signal Mountain Lodge. With the majestic Tetons towering above, skiing or snowshoe-ing here will be one of the most memorable experiences in your life.

MORAN ENTRANCE Thirty miles north of Jackson you’ll find the Moran Entrance. It’s less popular than the Moose Entrance because it’s farther from Jack-son but offers opportunities for winter enthusiasts to snowshoe or cross-country ski. You also can access the Teton Park Road groomed trail by snowshoe or skis from here.

GRAND TETON IN WINTER

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MYYELLOWSTONEPARK.COM 6WINTER DRIVING can be challenging. Park roads are frequently covered with ice or hard-packed snow. Winter storms create white-out driving conditions. Make sure your vehicle is equipped with winter or all-season tires and carry tire chains when crossing mountain passes.• Drive below the speed limit as conditions warrant.• Watch for wildlife on the roadway.• Carry an emergency kit and a shovel in your vehicle. • Snowstorms can occur at any time. • Roads may close at any time for visitor safety.• Always wear your seat belt.• Be prepared for changing weather conditions.

Open Roads During WinterThe park’s main roadways, Highway 26/89/191 and Highway 26/287, are plowed and open for winter travel.

Seasonal Road ClosuresMuch of the Teton Park and the Moose-Wilson roads are closed to motorized vehicles during the winter months. See the map above for additional seasonal road closures. The unplowed section of the road from Taggart Lake trailhead to Signal Mountain Lodge—a distance of 14 miles—is open to non-motorized use only (skiers, snowshoers and walkers). Snow bikes are not allowed.

Drive Safely!

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GRAND TETON NATIONAL PARK In Grand Teton, all’s quiet on the western front, except two unique lodging operations that come alive when the snow starts to fall.

DORNANS SPUR RANCH CABINS OPEN YEAR ROUND (BUT CLOSED NOVEMBER AND APRIL)Located near the Moose headquarters, Dornans offers a unique experience. Set on 10 acres along the Snake River, this family-owned and operated resort has eight one-bedroom cabin duplexes and four two bedroom cabin duplexes. Each cabin has a covered porch and BBQ grills. Kitchens are fully-equipped and you can purchase food at the Dornans grocery store. Every cabin has handcrafted lodgepole pine furniture and queen-sized beds with down comforters. The resort has cross-country skis and snowshoes for rent in its Trading Post. There’s a restaurant, gas pumps, a nationally recognized wine shop and gift shop.

TRIANGLE X RANCH OPEN DEC. 26- MID-MARCHYou won’t be able to experience a dude ranch experience like Triangle X anywhere else in the United States. Why? It’s the last dude ranch concession operating in the nation’s National Park Service system.

Located 26 miles north of Jackson on Hwy. 89, the ranch sits on the eastern edge of the park closer to the Moran Entrance than the Moose Entrance. It’s just 30 miles from Yellowstone. Since 1926, five generations of the Turner family have managed the ranch that has 20 cabins and a four-star restaurant. All built in the Jackson area, the cabins were relocated and have anywhere from one to four bedrooms, plus bathrooms with tubs and showers. They also have a

small refrigerator and a porch. The ranch has cross-country skis and snowshoes for guests to use and explore the surrounding area.

OUTSIDE THE PARKThe closest towns to Grand Teton National Park are Jackson, its smaller sister town, Wilson, and Teton Village where Jackson Hole Mountain Resort is located. All three are minutes from park entrances. For details on lodging, visit Jackson Hole Central Reservations at jacksonholewy.com.

YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARKIn Yellowstone, all lodging closes for the winter season, except two hotels that brave the cold and keep their doors open for winter enthusiasts.

MAMMOTH HOT SPRINGS HOTEL & CABINSOPEN DEC. 15, 2017- MARCH 5, 2018The only park hotel you can access with your car, Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel & Cabins sits on the northwestern boundary of Yellowstone, a several minutes drive from the town of Gardiner, Mont. Built in 1883, the hotel was the first high-class hotel built in the park to serve those who arrived by train and featured 141 rooms.  

In winter, there are several different types of rooms available from a standard hotel room to a cheaper version without a bathroom. There are shared bathrooms down the hall. Two suites are equipped with a bedroom, a sitting room with a couch and a single trundle bed. Otherwise, opt for a hot tub cabin.

OLD FAITHFUL SNOW LODGE & CABINSDEC. 16-MARCH 4, 2018The only way to get here is via snowcoach. Stay here and have

Yellowstone’s Upper Geyser Basin out your door. Home to Old Faithful and other amazing geysers, the majestic area provides endless opportunities to explore via snowshoes, ski or snowcoach.

At the lodge, which sits at 7,300 feet, choose between lodge rooms with western-style furnishings or cabins with varying amenities. To clarify, this is the not the Old Faithful Inn, a historic inn completed in 1904 that closes for the winter.

OUTSIDE THE PARKThere is lodging located near all four park

entrances open in the winter, although the East and South entrances require a longer drive to get to hotels. It’s 57 miles from Yellowstone’s South Entrance to Jackson, Wyo. It’s 52 miles from the East Entrance to Cody, Wyo.

The North Entrance sits right in Gardiner, Mont., so it’s just a few minutes from Mammoth to town. West Yellowstone, Mont., has a number of lodging options and is just minutes from the West Entrance, which makes getting into the park relatively quick and easy with a tour guide.

Where to Stay in Grand Teton and Yellowstone

Find out which lodges in the parks turn up the heat and keep logs burning in their fireplaces all winter.

TETON VILLAGE

8 YELLOWSTONE WINTER TRIP PLANNER 2018

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48 Hours in the ParkHead in and around Grand Teton (below) and Yellowstone (to the right) for amazing snow adventures.

SEE WORLD-RENOWNED ARTISTSAt some point, you’re going to want to warm up indoors. Head to the National Museum of Wildlife Art. Stop in here to see TINY: Charismatic Minifauna from the Permanent Collection, an ode to the tiny creatures through the eyes of artists like Pablo Picasso.

CROSS- COUNTRY SKI BELOW THE GRAND Beautifully groomed trails beneath the world-class Tetons set the bar high for any skiing you do afterwards in your life. Teton Park Road from Taggart Lake to Signal Mountain Lodge is closed to vehicles in the winter, but it is groomed for classic and skate skiing.

SLEIGH RIDE IN NATIONAL ELK REFUGEEstablished in 1912, it’s located just five minutes from downtown and the park and offers rides mid-December through early April. When was the last time you rode a sleigh to see between 6,000-7,000 elk up-close and safely? Don’t miss this opportunity.

SNOWSHOE WITH A PARK RANGER Go on a guided snowshoe hike led by a ranger that begins at the Taggart Lake trailhead in Grand Teton National Park. Rent snowshoes beforehand at Craig Thomas Discovery & Visitor Center from the Grand Teton Association ($5/adult;$2/child). Tours are offered four days per week Dec. 26 through mid-March, snow conditions permitting. Reservations are required at 307-739-3399.

MYYELLOWSTONEPARK.COM 9

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HOP ON A SNOWMOBILEMake advanced reservations and see the park via snowmobile with one of Yellowstone’s authorized guides listed on nps.gov/yell. You’ll see wildlife and some of the park’s most iconic sights like Old Faithful.

EXPLORE ON SKIS OR SNOWSHOESRent skis and take Xanterra’s Mammoth skier shuttle to the Indian Creek Cross Country Ski Area in Yellowstone. Or leave from the Snow Lodge via snowcoach to the Canyon area and go on a guided ski or snowshoe tour of the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone.

KICK BACK AND ICE SKATEYellowstone has an ice skating rink and ice skates are free to rent. Start practicing those figure eights.

DINE AT THE OLD FAITHFUL SNOW LODGEWarm up and fuel up for the next day at the Obsidian Dining Room. The menu includes local sustainably harvested food whenever possible, so you’ll discover items like bison short ribs. Reservations are required at 307-344-7311.

GO ON A WILDLIFE SAFARIWake up in Yellowstone and head out on the Lamar Valley Wildlife Tour. From the heated snowcoach, you’ll look for magnificent bison, wolves and eagles in Yellowstone’s winter wonderland.

Yellowstone, All Year Long.

Gardiner to Cooke City, Montana

YellowstoneNorthernRange.comDiscover Yellowstone’s only year-round access at:

Colter Pass/Cooke City/Silvergate Chamber of Commerce Gardiner Chamber of Commerce

Photo credits: Background image and Bison/Yellowstone NPS; Wildlife Watchers/Eric Ian; Snowmobiler/Arctic Cat and CCM; Cabin/Creekside at Yellowstone

10 YELLOWSTONE WINTER TRIP PLANNER 2018

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Wildlife Field GuideIn winter, a blanket of snow covers the landscape, making it a splendid time of year to see animals. In addition, many migrate to

lower elevations where it’s a little warmer, bringing them that much more into focus.

Trumpeter SwanTrumpeter swans are the largest waterfowl in North America and about 29 live in Yellowstone year round. In winter, their popula-tion increases by several thousand when migrating birds from Canada fly to Yellowstone for the sea-son. Males’ wingspans can reach seven feet, and they can weigh up to 30 pounds (heavier than eagles). Trumpeter swans have been known to live almost 30 years in the wild, although typical lifespan is 15 to 25 years.

Bison In 1916 America’s wild bi-son, which once numbered 60 million, had dwindled to 23 animals. Today, about 4,000-5,000 live in Yel-lowstone alone. Bison can weigh up to 2,000 pounds. Bison are made to handle Wyoming’s winters, as their huge hump houses vertebrae attached to strong neck muscles, allow-ing them to use their head like a plow. They also can dig three feet below snow to access food. You’ll find them near Yellowstone’s thermal areas warming up. While they may seem doc-ile, they are unpredictable and have injured visitors who approach them.

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WolfFrom the 1930s to 1998, wolves were absent from Grand Teton after decades of hunting had wiped the predator out. In 1998, a pair of wolves from Yellowstone moved to Grand Teton and gave birth to pups. The duo were part of a Yellowstone reintro-duction program that brought 14 Canadian wolves to Yellowstone in 1995, followed by subsequent reintro-ductions. Today, about

50 wolves roam in the Grand Teton area, with about 450 in the Greater Yellowstone area. Winter is an excellent time to spot wolves.

ElkAbout 11,000 elk live in the Jackson Hole area and an estimated 7,300 winter in the National Elk Refuge near Grand Teton National Park. Adult bull elk weigh up to 700 pounds while adult females weigh up to 500 pounds. Their rear ends are white. Elk congregate at lower elevations during mating season, known as “the rut,” in the fall, making it the

best time to spot them outside of the refuge. In winter, they have been seen following bison to avoid having to break trail themselves.

MooseYou can spot a male moose easily by its huge antlers that stretch up to six feet. Females don’t have antlers. As the largest member of the deer family, moose have long snouts, bulbous noses and extra skin under their throats, which set them apart from other animals. They are enormous, weighing up to 1,800 pounds. On land they can reach speeds of up to 35 miles per hour and have special joints that enable them to swing their legs over snowdrifts.

Mountain LionThese solitary and elusive cats are not fre-quently spotted. Males can weigh up to 200 pounds and stretch 8 feet long, including their tails. Females are gener-ally smaller. Mountain lion fur is unspotted and golden in color with a whitish throat, belly and inner legs. The back of the ears and the tip of the tail are black.

They stalk their favorite prey, mule deer,

but prefer to slink through the forest unseen. In addition to deer, they hunt coyotes and raccoons. Encounters with mountain lions can be dangerous.

Black BearWhen black bears hibernate, they usually find a den like a hollow tree, cave or dig one under fallen trees on north-facing slopes. This is in contrast to grizzlies that excavate dens at the base of large trees on heavily vegetated slopes. Black bears can weigh up to 400 pounds and stretch from two to four feet tall. They can be black, blond or brown, leading visitors to misidentify them as

grizzlies. In spring, they eat shrubs and shoots. In summer and fall, they retreat to higher elevations, chasing berries and trout.

MYYELLOWSTONEPARK.COM 11

Grizzly BearSpotting a grizzly in the park 25 years ago was an unusual experience. Today, the Greater Yellowstone region is home to about 700 grizzlies. During win-ter, area bears hibernate from late October/early November through March/ mid-April. They do not eat, urinate or defecate while hibernating. Grizzlies, also known as “brown bears,” have a hump between their shoulders, a long snout and shorter ears than black bears. While their front claws measure between 2-4 inches, black bears’ claws are 1-2 inches. They typically have blonde-tipped fur on their backs and flanks.

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WHAT TO PACKHere’s what to put in your suitcase for winter travel to Yellowstone and Grand Teton national parks. Staying warm and dry are key to a fantastic Wyoming vacation. Avoid packing cotton base layers as cotton gets damp from sweat and does not dry quickly, which can lead to hypothermia if you are out for a prolonged period. Wool and quick-dry synthetic materials are best for winter outdoor experiences.

Ski jacket A breathable jacket with GORE-TEX will keep you warm and dry and protect against wind and wet snow.

Snow or ski pants Whether you cross-country ski or snowshoe, pack breathable water-resistant pants to keep you dry and warm.

Non-Cotton Base Layers and SocksPack wool or synthetic long underwear and socks to avoid wet, cold soggy clothes and feet.

Fleece LayerPack this top layer to stay toasty.

Down JacketNo one regrets buying one of these to ward off winter.

Winter Hat Protect your head and ears from piercing cold.

Sunglasses and Ski GogglesShield your eyes from fierce sun and blowing snow. Wear goggles while it’s snowing because sunglasses fog up and

don’t stop snowflakes from dive-bombing your eyes.

Waterproof Gloves or MittensYour old wool mittens won’t be able to stand up to Wyoming’s frigid temperatures.

Snow BootsWalking outside is much more enjoyable when you don’t have snow tumbling into your sneakers and socks.

Neck Warmer, Balaclava or Scarf

When the wind is howling, you’ll want added protec-tion on your face and neck.

DaypackCarry extra layers, snacks, a flashlight or headlamp and water with you.

Binoculars Spot wildlife up-close.

Disposable Hand WarmersAvailable at sporting good stores and online, these little heat pockets keep hands toasty when the mercury drops.

What to ExpectFrom what to pack to entrance fees and weather, here’s the scoop.

WINTER BY THE NUMBERS

$10 ONE-DAY FEE FOR CARS AND SKIERS MID-DECEMBER TO APRIL 30

$15SEVEN-DAY ENTRANCE FEE FOR YELLOWSTONE SKIERS

$25SEVEN-DAY FEE FOR YELLOWSTONE SNOWMOBILES

$30 SEVEN-DAY FEE FOR PRIVATE VEHICLES IN YELLOWSTONE OR GRAND TETON

$50 SEVEN-DAY ENTRANCE PASS FOR YELLOWSTONE/ GRAND TETON PASS

$60YELLOWSTONE OR GRAND TETON ANNUAL PASS

$80 AMERICA THE BEAUTIFUL ANNUAL ALL-PARK PASS

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SNOWMOBILE PERMITSIf you are going on a guided snowmobile tour, you don’t need to worry about permits. But if you are 18 and over and are planning on bringing your own snowmobile, you will need to apply for a permit Sept. 1-30 through a park lottery system at www.

recreation.gov or 877-444-6777. Only four non-commercially guided groups are allowed in the park per day, which equates to one per park entrance. Permits cost $40/day plus a $6 application fee and are awarded in early October. Any cancellations or unclaimed permits are given out on a first-come, first-served basis starting Nov. 3.