Part IV of the Yellowstone Series
In this article:
The four seasons of Yellowstone National Park
Now that I have detailed out all the different outdoor activities and attractions of Yellowstone National Park I want to highlight the distinct characteristics of each of the four seasons in the area. Depending on the kind of Yellowstone experience you are after it is important to consider the differences that come with each season throughout the year - each with their own unique benefits!
Come in Spring (May thru June) and you will have the best chances to see most of the park’s wildlife in action as they come out to look for food - especially after a tough and long winter season chances will be significantly higher for you. By far most of my bear encounters and sights happened on one of my visits in the early days of June when I got to see black and grizzly bears on more than a dozen instances. However, be warned that due to the high altitude and location of Yellowstone National Park cold winter weather may last well into June with snow falling at Yellowstone Lake as late as mid June - so be prepared to wake up in freezing conditions if you decide to go camping during spring season. Also, since this is still a shoulder season do not expect all services of the park to be available with some smaller campgrounds, information stations, and shops remaining closed until mid June.
Summer (July thru August) brings with it the peak season of the park which means that all services will be available and all campsites are open for business. Also you can be sure that the weather will certainly be warmer and the summer days will be longer than during the shoulder seasons offering perfect conditions for all types of outdoor activities such as camping and hiking. On the flipside this also means that it will be the busiest season of the year so expect large crowds, lots of traffic, full campsites, and expensive hotel rooms. In fact, if you are planning to visit the park anytime between late June and early September be sure to make your reservations as early and far ahead as possible because spots will fill up very quickly! This applies especially to those large campgrounds (Madison, Bridge Bay, Canyon, Fishing Bridge), popular lodges (Old Faithful Inn, Roosevelt Lodge Cabins), and the campsites around the park’s hotspots (Slough Creek, Pebble Creek). Also, you should plan for more than enough time to get to where you want to go - this is generally a good idea, not just for the summer season due to the long distances in the park and the many stops and attractions along the way. But due to the increased traffic and also potential construction activities during the summer months you should allow for some extra buffer to avoid having to speed and rush down the Grand Loop Rd. Just do not use the usual time you need to cover - for instance - 30 miles (50 km) for orientation. The speed limits all over the place are strictly enforced - for a good reason! So take your time and enjoy the scenery!
Fall season (September thru October) will most likely be warmer and more comfortable than spring with some of the warmer summer days still lingering in the area until mid / late September. However, as the days will be getting shorter those Yellowstone nights can become fairly cold. So to all those late September campers out there, don’t be surprised if you wake up with frost all around you one day. While the summer crowds will most likely be gone it can still get busy at times especially around the park’s main attractions throughout September. And while most services will still be available some smaller campgrounds may already close for the season around mid September. Another thing to keep in mind - after a particularly dry summer season the park’s forests and grasslands may be extremely dry with the danger of wildfires in the area and poor air quality from distant wildfires being highest from summer throughout the entire fall season. That being said, fall season offers just the same exceptional chances for viewing wildlife as they will once again be more active during this time of the year. It will be rutting season for the elk and bison population of the park, and the bears will prepare for hibernation and will therefore be very busy looking for food. On the other hand this means that while you should always be careful around the park’s wildlife you should be extra cautious during this time of the year and avoid getting too close.
Yellowstone’s long Winter season (November thru April) means that most of the park’s services will be closed and all access roads except for the road between the North and Northeast Entrances will be closed to individual traffic. The North Entrance will then remain the only one being connected to the outside world since Beartooth Highway connecting Cooke City, MT with Red Lodge, MT will also be closed for the winter season. The only way for most of you to visit the interior of the park during this time will be by booking a guided full-day or multi-day bus or snowmobile tour with one of the countless tour operators out of Gardiner, MT or West Yellowstone, MT. If you decide to visit Yellowstone during the winter season as an individual traveler you will only have the option to explore the area around Lamar Valley. And this means “high season” for some undisturbed wildlife viewing during the quieter months. Even though bears will be hibernating you will get plenty of chances to see the park’s bison, elk, and if you are lucky even the elusive gray wolves as they will be most active around Lamar Valley at this time of the year! And if you head up into the alpine parts of the park beyond Lamar Valley you will also get the chance to see some moose! So, all in all a pretty amazing time to visit this part of Yellowstone National Park if you can brave the freezing temperatures & snow! Another big plus is that there will be far less crowds and cheaper hotel rooms. There will also be plenty of other outdoor activities waiting for you if you are in the area and don’t feel like booking one of the guided full or multi-day tours into the park. One example: head up to Cooke City, MT just outside the park’s boundaries in the middle of the Beartooth Mountains Wilderness - self-proclaimed snowmobile capital of the world - and explore this remote area on a snowmobile all by yourself!
Key takeaway & recommendation
All in all it is hard to say how much time you’ll need for this park. It all depends on how much you would like to do and see. All I can say from my personal experience is this: I have visited several times, spent several weeks altogether in this park by now, and still haven’t seen it all. If you like to see all of the major hotspots I would recommend taking a full week out of your schedule so you won’t have to rush. If that is not an option then focus just on some of the highlights - it is definitely worth it not to rush through this vast and beautiful park and you can always come back!
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