Yellowstone in Winter: Seven Days of Wildlife, Ice, and Unexpected Kindness
A snowcoach journey, close wildlife encounters, and an icy roadside rescue revealed the beauty and challenges of Yellowstone’s coldest season.
Over the years, I have visited Yellowstone in all seasons but I've never been there in the dead of Winter, until this trip.
To travel into the snowbound park you need to sign up for a snowcoach. A group of 5 of us rented a snow-coach and driver for 4 days. For the final three days, we drove our own vehicles back and forth from Gardiner into the park, through Mammoth Hot Springs and toward Lamar Valley. We rented hotels in Gardiner.
The other option for traveling in Yellowstone is by snowmobile. I was grateful for the snowmobilers because I slid off the road in my l
Land Cruiser and couldn't get out. I saw a ranger coming down the road and was excited to ask her to pull me out. She quickly informed me she was only there for traffic control and wouldn't use my tow strap. She mentioned she could contact a local tow company but it would be a few hours away and a pile of money. Luckily, a big burly man pulling a large snowmobile trailer approached and pulled me out. What a blessing, I tried to hand him a couple hundred dollars and he stated he needed the blessings and therefore wouldn't accept any money. He smiled and just asked that I "pay it forward."
The snow-coach was amazing and was able to travel in the deep fresh snow. It was a sight to see Old Faithful with 2 feet of snow at its base. However, in our personal vehicles the road back and forth to Gardiner was downright treacherous. The road was solid ice with no cell service. Closer to Gardiner the roads are snow packed and much more drivable.
As far as the wildlife, it was amazing. We photographed the 8-mile wolf pack but they were quite a ways away, I was excited when we came upon snow crusted bison with steamy breath walking toward us, bull moose sparring, perched bald eagles in a blizzard. Each day brought new wildlife opportunities and the last day we came upon a red fox in perfect light and I was able to spend 1/2 hour photographing it. I was primarily shooting with an 800mm lens but also had a 180-600mm for the closer stuff. If it's a clear blue sky the lighting can be quite blue especially in the shadows unless you shoot early and late in the day as usual, but when there is cloud cover, the sky acts like a giant softbox and you can shoot all day long.
The hardships:
Communication in case you get in trouble and the temperature. It was 7°F every day and you have to keep the heat off in the vehicles or your lenses will adjust to the interior temperature and fog up immediately when you step outside. So, I spent 7 days cold to the core.
To rectify these issues I purchased a 50 watt GMRS radio, an expedition parka and boots. I believe I am covered for this year's trips.
A few tips:
Get a hotel early, they sell out.
Make dinner reservations. It's too crowded to just show up for dinner.
Pack a hearty lunch.
The cold temperature eats up batteries, be prepared.
Seven days of bitter cold, an icy road that sent my Land Cruiser sliding off course, and no reliable way to call for help—why would I go back? Because winter reveals a Yellowstone I can’t experience in any other season. The snow, silence, and unpredictable weather create extraordinary moments with wildlife and light. I’ll return better prepared, but every bit as eager to see what winter brings.
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About David Williams Photography | PPA Master Photographer specializing in African wildlife, indigenous culture, American Southwest landscapes, and LDS Temple fine art prints, using photography to celebrate beauty, storytelling, and conservation.