Want to get up close and personal with the vibrant wildlife in and around Yellowstone National Park? Late fall and early winter is an ideal time to book Yellowstone National Park tours, since crowds are low and wildlife is still active. Here’s what you can expect to see on Yellowstone guided tours this winter.
Wolves
Wintertime is the best time of year for viewing wolves in their natural Yellowstone habitat. When a deep snowpack covers the ground of the park, it’s easier to spot the wolves going about their daily activities. Their beautiful, dark coloring makes them stand out in stark contrast against the white snow.
Lamar Valley is a particularly good spot to view wolves, and with Yellowstone guided tours, you have access to a knowledgeable guide for the duration of your trip. An experienced naturalist answers all your questions about these magnificent creatures, including unique insights into their habits and habitats.
Bison
Lamar Valley is a particularly good spot to view wolves, and with Yellowstone guided tours, you have access to a knowledgeable guide for the duration of your trip. An experienced naturalist answers all your questions about these magnificent creatures, including unique insights into their habits and habitats.
Owls
Owls are birds of prey, and it’s a regular occurrence for winter visitors to the park to catch them in flight as they search for rodents on the ground. They’re usually spotted in the woods of the Northern Range, swooping into lower elevations to find their next meal.
Elk
The largest elk herds in Yellowstone spend the winter along just north of the park’s winter boundary. These icons of the West form large herds, giving winter visitors an incredible look at how these animals coexist together.
Trumpeter Swan
Named for its distinctive call, the trumpeter swan is North America’s largest wild waterfowl. They mainly nest in wetlands and form larger groups in winter. You may catch them migrating in search of a new habitat to brave the cold temperatures of the winter together.
American Bald Eagle
The symbol of the nation, the American bald eagle lives year-round in Yellowstone National Park. This unmistakably-large, dark bird with a white head is always searching for food in winter, and you’ll usually spot them near rivers or streams looking for fish. They’re commonly spotted on the northern border of the park in lower elevations where food is more available during the cold winter months, and they’re often joined by other species including rare golden eagles.
Now is the best time to book Yellowstone National Park tours that allow you to get a unique glimpse of the area’s incredible wildlife. Contact Yellowstone Tour Guides today to book a journey of a lifetime.
You’ll fly into Bozeman for two or more days, touring the Northern Range and Lamar Valley. Since now is the quietest time to visit the park, you’ll get an undisturbed look at nature’s wonders. For those arriving after December 15, we can even build a snow-coach trip to Canyon or Old Faithful
Our winter wildlife weekend getaways are available through the end of May, so reach out today to start your journey.
In the mood for a fall getaway you’ll never forget? Yellowstone National Park tours are ideal for year-round travel, but they’re especially breathtaking in the fall and early winter. The Northern Range remains open for you to enjoy.
Here’s a breakdown of what you can expect to see and do on Yellowstone guided tours to the beautiful Northern Range.
Scenic drives
Most of Yellowstone National Park is closed to vehicular traffic during winter, but routes between Cooke City and Gardiner remain open. These scenic drives are beautiful in all seasons, especially during winter when snow blankets the ground.
Starting from Gardiner, you’ll take the park’s northern entrance road to Mammoth Hot Springs. Then you’ll follow east on Grand Loop Road, taking in Yellowstone’s beautiful high country. As you continue, you’ll see the impressive canyon between the 11,000-foot Abiathar Peak and the 10,200-foot Amphitheater Mountain.
The total distance of this scenic drive is 57 miles, and guided Yellowstone National Park tours help you take in this beautiful scenery at a leisurely pace. Let professionals do all the guiding and driving, so all you have to do is relax and enjoy the natural wonders of Yellowstone.
Photography opportunities
Want to get in touch with your inner Ansel Adams? You can do just that with a tour of the Northern Range. You can take impressive shots of colorful hot springs, bubbling pools and geysers set against the dramatic backdrop of snowcapped mountains, waterfalls and active wildlife during winter.
Hot springs
Most of the hot springs in Yellowstone are too hot for you to safely interact with them, but you can at the Boiling River, also known as Gardiner River. You’ll enjoy the unique sensation of hot and cold water mixing in pools along the river’s edge. The access point to this location is located between Gardiner and Mammoth Hot Springs. After a short hike, you’ll arrive at the hot springs for a sensory experience like no other.
Wildlife
There’s never a bad time of year to experience Yellowstone’s vibrant and varied wildlife. While many animals hibernate during the winter season, you’ll still have a chance to see wolves, coyotes and mountain goats going about their day set against the dramatic winter scenery.
Yellowstone is particularly rich in avian life, with over 330 species documented in the park. It’s highly likely you’ll encounter a variety of birds during your visit, from graceful raptors to majestic bald eagles. You may even catch a glimpse of the rare peregrine falcon, osprey or great horned owl.
Although winter weather is settling in, there’s still time to get in a last-minute weekend getaway. While the park’s roads have closed, the Northern Range remains open. Enjoy it without the crowds by reaching out to the team at Yellowstone Tour Guides today. Contact us, and all you have to do is fly into Bozeman. We’ll take care of you from there, coordinating Yellowstone guided tours, transportation and lodging. Reach out to us today to take advantage of this unique opportunity.
One of the most popular attractions in the United States, Old Faithful is a majestic cone geyser situated in Yellowstone National Park. People come from all over the world for Yellowstone guided tours so they can view the wondrous eruption of Old Faithful; however, not many know the geyser’s extensive history.
Read on if you’re interested in learning about the landmark that’s become a staple of American culture.
Old Faithful’s discovery
Old Faithful was discovered on September 18, 1870 by members of the Washburn Expedition. It was the first geyser discovered in Yellowstone National Park and gets its name because of the frequency at which it erupts. One of the explorers, Nathaniel P. Langford, wrote about this during the expedition.
“It spouted at regular intervals nine times during our stay, the columns of boiling water being thrown from 90 to 125 feet at each discharge, which lasted from 15 to 20 minutes,” said Langford. “We gave it the name of ‘Old Faithful.’”
Before Old Faithful became a popular tourist attraction, people would use the geyser to wash their clothes. They would place their dirty clothes in the crater and wait for an eruption. This process thoroughly cleaned clothes made from cotton, but the eruption would completely destroy clothes made from wool.
More about the geyser
Since its discovery, Old Faithful has erupted more than one million times. While some people claim the geyser erupts once an hour, it actually erupts around every 91 minutes, though this can vary. This usually results in around 20 eruptions per day. During an eruption, water usually shoots over 100 feet in the air, sometimes reaching as high as 140 feet. These eruptions usually last a few minutes or so.
A lot of water gets shot out of Old Faithful during an eruption. In fact, scientists think that somewhere between 3,500 and 8,400 gallons get shot out during each eruption. The water that shoots out can range in temperature, though it’s always extremely hot. On average, the water comes out at 204°F, and the steam reaches temperatures of 350°F—that’s why it’s important to keep a safe distance from Old Faithful.
Other geysers in Yellowstone National Park
While Old Faithful is the most popular geyser in Yellowstone National Park, there are plenty of others to see. In fact, there are over 500 geysers located in Yellowstone National Park. The Norris Geyser Basin, for example, is home to several beautiful geysers, including the Corporal Geyser, Fearless Geyser and Echinus Geyser. The Norris Geyser Basin is the hottest in Yellowstone National Park. Other popular geyser basins include the Lower Geyser Basin, Midway Geyser Basin and many more.
See Old Faithful for yourself
If you’re visiting Yellowstone National Park, you don’t want to miss out on seeing Old Faithful! When you’re ready for a visit, make sure you sign up for one of our Yellowstone guided tours to ensure you get a great view of the majestic geyser. At Yellowstone Tour Guides, we offer a variety of excellent tour packages, all available at fair prices.
Are you an outdoors lover looking for the perfect place to vacation? Grand Teton National Park and Yellowstone National Park are two of the most beautiful natural areas in the world. You’re sure to have a great time at either; however, trying to choose the right one to visit can be daunting.
We’ve tried to make things easier on you by comparing the two national parks. Here are some of the differences between a Grand Teton vacation and a Yellowstone National Park tour.
More about Yellowstone
Yellowstone is one of the most-visited national parks in the world. It’s home to a variety of amazing animal and plant life, including moose, bison, elk, bighorn sheep and much more. The park is also home to some of the most popular attractions in the United States, including Old Faithful, the Lower Falls at Canyon, Mammoth Hot Springs and Lamar Valley.
Yellowstone National Park was officially established in 1872 and features over 2,219,791 acres of land. It was the first national park established in the United States and is home to beautiful lakes, canyons, mountain ranges and more. While the interior of Yellowstone National Park is closed between the summer and winter seasons, the northern range is open all year. You can find even more information on the park’s official website.
If you’re an avid hiker or camper, there are few places better to visit than Yellowstone National Park. The park features miles of scenic trails where you can take in views of the amazing landscape and wildlife. There are also a multitude of campsites all over the park, many of which feature all the amenities you’d need for a fun camping experience.
More about Grand Teton
Grand Teton National Park is an especially great place to enjoy all your favorite outdoor activities. The park offers excellent opportunities when it comes to horseback riding, camping, hiking and much more. Like Yellowstone, Grand Teton is a great place for sightseeing, as it’s home to a beautiful mountain range and two majestic lakes, Jackson Lake and Jenny Lake. These lakes offer excellent opportunities for fishing, canoeing and all your favorite water activities.
One of the best things about Grand Teton National Park is that it stays open all year, unless there’s inclement weather. Grand Teton National Park, which was established in 1929, is much smaller than Yellowstone, comprising around 310,000 acres of land.
So, which one should I visit?
Visit both if you can! If you have to pick one, Yellowstone National Park should probably be at the top of your list, especially if you’re more interested in sightseeing. There’s so much to see in Yellowstone National Park that you could spend days exploring without even scratching the surface—that’s why we recommend joining one of our Yellowstone National Park tours. At Yellowstone Tour Guides, we offer everything from day tours to overnight backpacking treks. All of our tours are led by qualified tour guides and are available at fair prices. Schedule your next adventure with us!
Yellowstone National Park features more than 40 peaks that soar over 10,000 feet, and the beautiful Mt. Washburn is one of them. Standing at 10,243 feet, Mt. Washburn is Yellowstone’s most visited high peak, and many visitors choose to take Mt. Washburn guided tours to learn more about this natural wonder and to take advantage of its most scenic views. Read on to get to know more about Mt. Washburn and how it formed.
Ancient origins
The Mt. Washburn we marvel at today is actually all that remains of a volcano that erupted around 640,000 years ago. On Mt. Washburn guided tours, you’ll be able to see how the eruption formed the vast Yellowstone caldera, allowing visitors to get a sense of the amazing scale of the Yellowstone super-volcano.
As you travel to the summit of Mt. Washburn, you’ll notice dark breccia consisting of angular volcanic stones that formed 50 million years ago. As watery mixtures of ash and rocks flowed downhill to tropical lowlands, the deposits settled to the matrix you can see today. Mt. Washburn, and the Washburn Range as a whole, consists of lava flow debris that was preserved on the side of a volcano.
Visiting Mt. Washburn
The time of year you visit Mt. Washburn has an amazing effect on the scenery you’ll enjoy during your visit. Snow often obstructs Dunraven Pass, one of the typical routes to the summit, until the end of June.
In July and August, visitors can marvel at the stunning wildflower displays along the mountain, but keep in mind that afternoon thunderstorms are frequent during this time of year. In August and September, you’ll have to keep a lookout for grizzlies that flock to the area looking for whitebark pine nuts and other forms of sustenance. You’ll also likely be able to see bighorn sheep and many other active fauna in their natural habitat, but be sure to stay on trails to avoid disturbing the natural vegetation of the area.
Once you’ve reached the top of Mt. Washburn, you’ll enjoy stunning views and interpretive exhibits inside the shelter at the base of the fire lookout. You’ll be able to see an endless panorama from the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone and beyond.
While experienced hikers are able to summit Mt. Washburn on their own, Mt. Washburn guided tours help visitors make the most of their time on the mountain. You’ll take advantage of your guide’s knowledge, stories and personal connection to Yellowstone National Park as a whole, providing an enriching experience that truly brings the area to life in a memorable way.
Learning about Mt. Washburn, and Yellowstone National Park in general, is a fascinating experience for nature-lovers of all ages. Whether you’re visiting solo, with your family or as part of a larger group, Mt. Washburn guided tours will give you the inside scoop on one of America’s natural treasures. Learn more about Mt. Washburn and other amazing peaks and mountains by booking your tour with Yellowstone Tour Guides today.
