Yellowstone National Park

Yellowstone National Park is one of the most beautiful places in the world. It’s also huge: around 3,500 square miles, which makes it bigger than Rhode Island and Delaware combined. Yellowstone has been open since 1872, but it’s constantly changing due to volcanic activity, erosion, earthquakes and other natural processes that are constantly happening inside this amazing park. The area around Yellowstone has been inhabited for thousands of years by Native Americans who lived off of hunting bison and elk that roamed freely through this area until Europeans arrived at their doorstep with guns blazing (and disease). Today you can still visit a herd of wild buffalo just outside the town of Cody Wyoming where they were moved from Montana during World War II so soldiers could train without worrying about hitting any animals while driving down the highway (which they did frequently).
Yellowstone is open all year, but each season offers a different experience.
- Summer is the busiest time of year, but there are plenty of great reasons to visit during this season. It’s when most visitors come and you’ll have access to many facilities, including visitor centers and ranger programs.
- Spring and fall are also great times to visit Yellowstone National Park, especially if you love wildlife or want to avoid crowds. Many animals migrate into the park during spring and fall in preparation for winter, so it’s possible to see grizzly bears, bison and elk throughout the park at this time of year. On top of that, fewer people visit during these seasons so it’ll be easier for you to enjoy your trip without feeling too crowded!
- In winter (December through April), visitors can experience all that Yellowstone has to offer without any crowds at all — which makes it an ideal time for those who prefer solitude above all else! Winter weather conditions can vary dramatically from year-to-year; however, temperatures below 20 degrees Fahrenheit (-6 degrees Celsius) are typical once snow begins falling in early November through late March with occasional cold fronts bringing temperatures lower than -30 degrees F (-34 C).
Yellowstone National Park is closed in winter and most roads are closed, aside from the road between the north and the west entrances.

- Winter travel options:
- Visitors can still reach Yellowstone on snowmobile or cross-country skis. The roads are plowed, but the park is closed during the winter months.
- Summer activities include horse riding and hiking, as well as viewing wildlife at close quarters in the Grand Prismatic Spring area (the third largest hot spring in North America).
Although roads are mostly closed in winter, there are still lots of activities available.
Although roads are mostly closed in winter, there are still lots of activities available.
- Snowshoeing
- Cross-country skiing
- Sledding (toboggans and tubes)
- Skiing (downhill)
- Dog sledding
- Ice skating (ice rinks at the Old Faithful Snow Lodge and Mammoth Hot Springs)
- Ice fishing
- Ice climbing – Use an ice axe and crampons to climb frozen waterfalls, or break through thin crusts of ice to fish for trout under them. There is nothing more beautiful than a waterfall spray frozen solid by subzero temperatures! If you want to avoid the cold weather, but still enjoy this activity, do it indoors on artificial ice sheets built inside heated buildings such as the Old Faithful Snow Lodge or Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel . . . . . If you’re feeling adventurous and brave enough to go outside into Mother Nature’s elements then grab your skates because we’ve just added everything needed for successful outdoor skating sessions onto this new page about winter activities for families including maps so parents don’t get lost either!
You can still camp in Yellowstone National Park in the winter, but only at Mammoth Hot Springs and Fishing Bridge RV Park.

Although you can drive through the park year-round, there are some limitations on what you can do in Yellowstone’s winter months. The majority of the park is closed to camping for visitors and only two campgrounds are open: Mammoth Hot Springs near Gardiner and Fishing Bridge RV Park in West Yellowstone.
You cannot tent camp anywhere else in Yellowstone during this time; you also may not backcountry or hike into any area that’s closed, even if it looks like no one will notice or care. You also can’t set up camp at a road crossing or trailhead; if you want to pitch your tent somewhere other than one of these two sites, we recommend asking rangers where it’s appropriate to stay overnight so they can give their blessing first before setting up shop anywhere else
In the spring, roads inside the park start to open as temperatures rise above freezing.
In the spring, roads inside the park start to open as temperatures rise above freezing. The road system is closed during winter because snow and ice can make travel hazardous for visitors and employees alike. Roads are also closed when there is an avalanche risk or mudslides. As a result, many of Yellowstone’s roads are not accessible to cars from October or November through May or June (depending on weather conditions).
Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone is a great spot for spring hiking.

Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone is a great spot for spring hiking. For those new to hiking, we recommend starting at the bottom of the canyon and working your way up. The canyon is a steep drop-off of the Yellowstone River, so it’s not recommended to hike in this area during winter months.
If you’re visiting Yellowstone in late May or June, keep a look out for bears as they come out of hibernation!
The best time of year to see bears in Yellowstone is during spring and early summer, when they are coming out of hibernation. The following tips will help you avoid a bear encounter:
- Bears are most active at night, so try to avoid walking in the dark if you can help it. If you do have to go outside after dark, make sure that you’re listening for any sounds that might indicate a bear is around—sometimes they will come right up next to people without making any noise!
- Bears tend to be more active along roads and campgrounds than other places within the park, so stay away from these areas if possible (especially at night). If you must enter them, keep an eye out for signs of recent bear activity—such as tracks or scat—and don’t get too close if there are any animals around!
- Do not approach a bear; if one approaches you then stand upright with your arms raised above your head so that they know not to attack. Move slowly away from them while keeping eye contact until the animal leaves or shows signs such as growling or huffing loudly before turning tail and running off into nearby trees (if there aren’t any nearby trees then just keep moving backwards slowly until they lose interest).
Summer is the best time to visit Yellowstone National Park for many travelers because almost all of the roads are open.
The best time to visit Yellowstone National Park depends on your needs. Summer and early fall are the busiest times of year, as well as when most roads are open. However, weather conditions can change quickly and there can be road closures due to snow or other hazards, so it’s important to check road conditions before you head out on a drive. The park has plenty of services available throughout the year; however, some facilities may be closed in winter months (December through March).
Summertime is an excellent opportunity for travelers who want to enjoy themselves without battling crowds or traffic jams—and summertime visitors will find that many animals are active then too! While spring offers up fresh green grasses after winter thawing and autumn brings brilliant color changes in the trees surrounding Yellowstone Lake and Mammoth Hot Springs Terrace Hotel’s terraces, summer offers more opportunities for outdoor recreation such as hiking trails with waterfalls at Cora Street Bridge Trailhead just outside West Thumb Geyser Basin near Fishing Bridge Visitor Center off Highway 212/191 southbound towards Canyon Village Visitor Center off I-90 exit 48A -1 mile down hill from Tower Junction Visitor Center where Bearpaw River flows into Yellowstone River just north of North Entrance Road & East Entrance Road intersection
Hiking trails can get very busy in the summertime but if you go early in the day or late at night it’s easier to avoid crowds of people.
When going to Yellowstone to hike in the summertime, it’s important to know that there are many more people than any other season. If you want to avoid crowds of people and have a more peaceful hiking experience, try going early in the morning or late at night. You’ll see fewer people then and you won’t have a hard time finding parking spaces because most visitors are sleeping at this time of day.
Hiking trails can get very busy in the summertime but if you go early in the day or late at night it’s easier to avoid crowds of people. Going on a weekday can be helpful too because there will be fewer cars parked near your destination and less foot traffic along your trail route.
Fall can be a great time to visit Yellowstone National Park if you plan ahead; snowstorms sometimes hit as early as September and make driving through some areas difficult or impossible (but they can also offer really pretty views).
Fall can be a great time to visit Yellowstone if you plan ahead; snowstorms sometimes hit as early as September and make driving through some areas difficult or impossible (but they can also offer really pretty views).
You’ll enjoy the quieter parks, like Old Faithful, during this time of year. You’ll get far fewer visitors than in summer and can enjoy more peaceful conversations with park rangers and volunteers. In addition to less people, fall also offers lots of opportunities for wildlife viewing. Moose are often seen along roadsides, as are deer and elk herds looking for food before winter sets in. If you’re lucky, you might spot bears fishing for salmon at one of the rivers or streams running through the park; these creatures will only be around until late October or early November before hibernating for winter!
Fall is also a great time to see leaves changing colors across parts of Yellowstone National Park—especially when combined with an iconic view from Artist Point overlooking Lower Geyser Basin where most tourists don’t go!
There’s no such thing as a bad time to visit Yellowstone National Park.
No matter when you visit, Yellowstone National Park offers a variety of experiences. In the winter, you can see snow-covered mountains and geysers in action. Come spring, the park comes alive with wildflowers that grow out of hibernation. And during summer months, you’ll be surrounded by wildlife as they move through their daily lives on land or in water. No matter what time of year you choose to visit, an adventure awaits!
Conclusion
The best time to visit Yellowstone National Park is whenever you can! There’s no such thing as a bad time. The park is open all year, but each season offers a different experience. In winter, most roads are closed and there aren’t many activities available aside from skiing at Mammoth Hot Springs Ski Area or cross-country skiing along the road between the north entrance and West Yellowstone. In springtime, roads start opening up as temperatures rise above freezing point so that visitors can explore more of the park by car or bike while still enjoying some snowfall on trails like Grand Canyon of Yellowstone or Dunraven Pass Trailhead. Summer is also a busier season because most roads are open then (but it also means we could get some rain showers too). Fall is a great time for hiking when there’s still plenty of daylight hours left after work before sunset comes around which makes it easier to see wildlife too!