The Best Winter Yellowstone Tour From Big Sky picks up and drops off at all hotels in the lower part of Big Sky.  On day one you will travel from Big Sky through Bozeman and Livingston, before heading south towards the Roosevelt Arch and Yellowstone’s north entrance. You can expect to see wildlife even outside the park, with herds of elk and pronghorn in the area. We’ll stop for pictures at the historic Roosevelt Arch, before continuing past the 45^th Parallel (halfway between the equator and the North Pole) and the Boiling River, to Mammoth Hot Springs.

Mammoth Hot Springs is Yellowstone’s headquarters, and one of the reasons that the north entrance is open to cars all year round.  The other reason is that access needs to be provided to the northeast entrance, and the tiny towns of Cooke City-Silver Gate. The road on the east side of Cooke City is closed from late fall through mid-Spring, and the only way for residents to get supplies and services is to travel out of Yellowstone’s north entrance.

We’ll pause at Mammoth Hot Springs to enable you to check out the ever changing terraces, as well as a herd of elk that is always in the area, before continuing more or less east towards the Lamar Valley, which is known for its wildlife. Although you won’t see bears in the winter, this is where the keen wolf watchers are to be found, as they know their chances of spotting a wolf here are higher than anywhere else. There is also a wide variety of other animals to be found in the Lamar Valley.

Depending on how much time and daylight we have, we may continue on to Cooke City, or we may turn around before we get there. The scenery in this part of Yellowstone is really spectacular, with towering mountains and sprawling valleys.  We will now head for West Yellowstone, where you will spend the next two nights.

On the second day of your tour, you will enjoy the Old Faithful trip, either by snowcoach or snowmobile. This will take you through Yellowstone’s main geyser basins to the Upper Geyser Basin.  Please check out the Old Faithful And Upper Geyser Basin portion of your tour in more detail.

Day three sees you heading out to Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, an unexpected treat in this winter wonderland of thermal features! You’ll once again travel by snowcoach or snowmobile, making your way north on the lower loop, past Gibbon Falls and Norris Geyser Basin, to Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone.  Please take a look at the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone part of your tour in a lot more detail.

When you return from your day in Yellowstone, you will start your trip back to Big Sky, where you will be dropped off at your hotel.

Take a virtual Yellowstone tour!