Bozeman · Yellowstone · Winter
Yes, you can see Yellowstone in winter on a day trip from Bozeman. Here’s what a winter day can realistically cover, and the guided tours you can book online.
Photo: Jacob W. Frank · Public domain
What a winter day from Bozeman can cover
Guided Yellowstone winter tours with Bozeman pickup
November in Yellowstone: only the north road (Gardiner – Mammoth – Lamar – Cooke City) is open to cars. North-road tours such as the VIP North Yellowstone Winter Excursion run then.
A private 4WD day through the North Entrance: wildlife, Mammoth Hot Springs and the northern range. Runs November to April, Tuesday to Thursday.
Good for: Wildlife
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Check availabilityA small-group winter wildlife day in Yellowstone with a guide, including Mammoth Hot Springs.
Good for: Wildlife
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Check availabilityLook for wolves, bison and elk in the snow with a naturalist guide and spotting scopes.
Good for: Wildlife
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Check availabilityA 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 availabilityA 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 availabilityA guided day in Lamar Valley searching for wolves, bison and elk with a naturalist guide and spotting scopes.
Good for: Wildlife
See prices & availability
Check availabilityA private winter wildlife safari into Lamar Valley with a guide, optics and lunch.
Good for: Wildlife
See prices & availability
Check availabilityAffiliate links: if you book through Viator or GetYourGuide we may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you. Affiliate disclosure.
Winter pushes elk, bison and the wolves that follow them into the lower valleys of the northern range. Guided safaris start before dawn, bring spotting scopes, and spend the day between Mammoth Hot Springs and Lamar Valley. Wildlife is never guaranteed, but local guides know where animals have been seen recently.
The geyser basins are closed to cars from early November until spring. From mid-December you need a guided snowcoach or snowmobile tour. The usual plan from Bozeman: drive US-191 to West Yellowstone, stay the night, and take a full-day tour the next morning. See snowmobile tours, snowcoach tours and Old Faithful in winter.
Some local companies also sell multi-day winter packages with pickup at Bozeman hotels that include over-snow days from West Yellowstone. One example is Yellowstone Tours’ 48-hour winter tour (not an affiliate link).
Belgrade to the North Entrance at Gardiner is about 88–95 minutes via I-90 and US-89 through Paradise Valley. Bozeman Pass and the canyon roads can be icy, so rent an AWD/4WD car with good tires. Our Bozeman to Yellowstone guide has the routes and road dates.
Traveling with kids? See our family-friendly tours in Bozeman. Need a base for the trip? Stay in our homes in Belgrade, near Bozeman airport.
Affiliate link: if you rent through GetRentacar we may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you. Affiliate disclosure.
Yes. The northern road from Gardiner through Mammoth Hot Springs to Lamar Valley is open to cars all year, and several guided wildlife tours pick up in Bozeman. Old Faithful takes much longer, because it’s reached only by an over-snow tour.
Maybe. Lamar Valley is one of the best places in the world to watch wild wolves, but no tour can guarantee a sighting.
The North Entrance at Gardiner, about 1.5 hours from Belgrade via Livingston and Paradise Valley, is the only one open to regular vehicles. The West Entrance at West Yellowstone opens to guided snowmobiles and snowcoaches from December 15.
Yes. Winter tours run with small groups and limited dates, especially over the holidays.
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