Winter snowshoeing in Yellowstone

Yellowstone National Park

Snowy bison in yellowstone park in the winter

Bison save energy in the winter and hang out in thermal areas where some grass is exposed. Wolves are more elusive, the morning tours from Mammoth to the Lamar Valley offer the best chance.

Coyote testing the water temperature in Yellowstone

Bison walking single file through the deep snow

Fairy Falls

The northern trails that break off the Firehole River are the best for snowshoeing: Black Sand Basin (4 miles), Biscuit Basin/Mystic Falls (7 miles), Fairy Falls (10 miles one way with morning shuttle). Fairy Falls is long and I had to break the trail, but it was the highlight of the winter experience.

Colored Pools

Morning Glory Pool

Grand Canyon of Yellowstone

Lower Falls

With lodging closed for the winter, a group tour is needed to reach the canyon section of the park. We snowshoed along the North Rim Trail, ending at Lower Falls

Steam rising from the ground in Yellowstone