Winter in Yellowstone Wildlife Tour
A guided winter day in the park’s Northern Range: Lamar Valley, Mammoth Hot Springs and wildlife with spotting scopes.
Good for: Wildlife
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Check availabilityQuick facts
- Over-snow season 2026–27: Dec 15, 2026 – Mar 15, 2027 for the West, South and East entrances and most groomed roads. Some interior roads close a little earlier (Mammoth–Norris Mar 7; Norris–Madison and Norris–Canyon Mar 9; Canyon–Fishing Bridge Mar 14). All dates depend on snow and weather. NPS
- Guided only: in winter the only way to reach Old Faithful or the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone is a commercially guided snowmobile or snowcoach tour, or a permit from the park’s Non-Commercially Guided Snowmobile Access Program. NPS
- Sleds: only snowmobiles that meet the park’s New Best Available Technology (BAT) standard are allowed. Guided-tour operators supply them. Recreation.gov
- Typical route: one West Yellowstone operator describes its Old Faithful tour as about 65 miles round trip, with stops such as Madison Junction, Fountain Paint Pot and Firehole Falls and time at Old Faithful. It lists Old Faithful and Grand Canyon tours from Dec 15, 2026 to Mar 9, 2027. Yellowstone Vacation Tours
- Hours on groomed roads: 7 am – 9 pm (the South and East entrance roads open at 8 am). Recreation.gov
How a guided snowmobile day works
You meet your outfitter in West Yellowstone in the morning and get fitted with gear. Your guide then leads the group through the West Entrance on groomed park roads along the Madison and Firehole rivers. Bison, elk and trumpeter swans are common along the way. Most Old Faithful tours allow time for lunch and an eruption before riding back out by late afternoon. Itineraries change with weather and trail conditions.
Who can drive
Everyone who drives a snowmobile in the park needs a valid driver’s license. Under the park’s non-commercial program, operators must be at least 16. Guided-tour companies set their own minimum ages for drivers and passengers, so check before you book. NPS
What to wear
Expect 0–20°F during the day and colder in the wind on a moving sled. Many outfitters include a snowmobile suit, boots and helmet. Bring insulated gloves or mittens, a warm base layer, a neck gaiter or balaclava, and your driver’s license, and confirm what’s included when you book.
Snowmobiling outside the park
West Yellowstone also has groomed national forest trails outside the park. Local shops rent sleds for these (no park permit needed), but trail rules and conditions still apply.
How to book
When we checked in October 2026, Viator and GetYourGuide did not list any snowmobile or snowcoach tours that start in West Yellowstone. Book those directly with an authorized local operator. The one Old Faithful winter tour we link online is a multi-day trip from Jackson Hole, Wyoming, on GetYourGuide.
- Yellowstone Vacation Tours (Two Top Snowmobile) in West Yellowstone runs daily guided Old Faithful and Canyon snowmobile tours, plus rentals for the forest trails.
- The National Park Service keeps a list of the companies authorized to guide snowmobile and snowcoach tours: Ride a snowmobile or snowcoach in Yellowstone.
- Prefer to stay warm? The same routes run by heated snowcoach.
We don’t list prices, because they change by season, sled type (single or double) and operator. Park entrance fees and guide tips are often extra.
Getting to West Yellowstone from Bozeman
From Belgrade or Bozeman, take US-191 south through the Gallatin Canyon past Big Sky. In good conditions it’s about 1.6 hours (98–112 minutes from Belgrade by our estimate), and longer in snow. Most snowmobile tours leave early in the morning, so plan to stay the night before in West Yellowstone. A bus runs between Bozeman and West Yellowstone all year. NPS
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Rather book online? Winter Yellowstone tours with Bozeman pickup
Yellowstone Winter Wildlife Safari from Bozeman
Look for wolves, bison and elk in the snow with a naturalist guide and spotting scopes.
Good for: Wildlife
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Yellowstone Snowshoe Safari from Bozeman – Private Tour
A private winter day in Yellowstone on snowshoes with a naturalist guide, looking for wildlife in the snow.
Good for: Wildlife
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Check availabilityAffiliate links: if you book through Viator or GetYourGuide we may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you. Affiliate disclosure.
Frequently asked questions
When do West Yellowstone snowmobile tours into the park run?
Most of the West Entrance road system is open to guided over-snow travel from December 15, 2026 to March 15, 2027, weather permitting. Individual operators may stop earlier: one West Yellowstone company lists Old Faithful and Canyon tours through March 9, 2027.
How much does a snowmobile tour to Old Faithful cost?
Prices vary by operator, season and whether you ride a single or double sled, and park entrance fees and gratuities are often extra. Check current rates with the operator. We don’t publish prices because they change.
How far is Old Faithful from West Yellowstone?
One West Yellowstone operator puts its Old Faithful snowmobile tour at about 65 miles round trip. In summer, the NPS estimates about 30 minutes from the West Entrance to Madison Junction and another 35–45 minutes to Old Faithful by car.
Can I snowmobile in Yellowstone without a guide?
Only with a permit from the Non-Commercially Guided Snowmobile Access Program: one group of up to five sleds per entrance per day, chosen by a lottery in August. Leftover permits are released on Recreation.gov from October 1.
Can I book a West Yellowstone snowmobile tour on Viator?
When we checked in October 2026, Viator and GetYourGuide did not list any snowmobile or snowcoach tours that start in West Yellowstone. Book those directly with an authorized local operator. The one Old Faithful winter tour we link online is a multi-day trip from Jackson Hole, Wyoming, on GetYourGuide.