Winter in Yellowstone National Park is altogether surreal. Picture steaming geyser basins and thermal pools juxtaposed with pure white snow. Most of the roads in Yellowstone are closed to vehicular traffic this time of year, which makes it a good time for Nordic skiing , snowshoeing, guided snowmobile tours and snowcoach touring.
Snowcoaches are basically tour buses equipped with oversized tires or tracks ideal for oversnow travel. And with interior upgrades that make them more comfortable than ever before, they're perfect for a wintry—and unforgettable—ride through the park.
Regardless of who you book with, you'll have several amazing winter adventures to choose from. Head to Canyon Village and try Nordic skiing around the rim of the jaw-dropping Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone—featuring a completely frozen 308-foot waterfall. Or, take a tour to Old Faithful Village, where you can explore the diverse thermal features that make up the Upper Geyser Basin before heading back to Mammoth Hot Springs. Make it a long weekend by booking a couple nights at cozy Old Faithful Snow Lodge, which offers two crackling fires for guests to enjoy plus options for additional tours and ski drops that leave directly from the lodge.
As the gateway community with the closest access to Old Faithful Village, West Yellowstone offers the most snowcoach tour booking options. Whether you're headed for Old Faithful or Canyon Village, tours often include lunch and plenty of stops for checking out wildlife—which are often more abundant in the winter months, and certainly easier to spot against the snow! Book a tour at the West Yellowstone office of Yellowstone Vacations, Backcountry Adventures, See Yellowstone Tours, Yellowstone Alpen Guides or Yellowstone Expeditions.
If you're staying at the park's North Entrance, book a private or group tour with Yellowstone Vacations in Gardiner. Your tour will include lunch and commentary from naturalist guides. Snowcoach tours are also available through Yellowstone National Park Lodges in Mammoth Hot Springs, five miles south of Gardiner inside park boundaries.