Our favourite time to go to Yellowstone is within the winter. It is likely to be very chilly and just one highway is open to vehicles, however discovering wildlife in Yellowstone within the winter is an unbelievable expertise. Get able to see bison lined in snow and ice, coyotes preventing over carcasses, and wolves searching.
After visiting the park a couple of occasions throughout winter, we have now discovered one of the best locations to see wildlife in Yellowstone in winter.
We made a video exhibiting a few of the wildlife we noticed throughout one among our winter journeys to Yellowstone and what you possibly can realistically see.
In winter, all of the entrances to the park are closed besides one: the north entrance on the city of Gardiner. Technically, the northeast entrance at Silver Gate can also be open however you possibly can’t enter the park from right here. You’ll be able to solely exit the park so far as Cooke Metropolis.
The place to see wolves within the winter in Yellowstone
We now have lined this gorgeous extensively in our publish Wolf watching guide in winter. The principle recommendation is to seek for wolves on the Slough Creek campground path. Park the automobile on the trailhead and stroll in the direction of the campground till you attain the Slough Creek. In the summertime you possibly can park your automobile there, however within the winter you possibly can solely drive till the trailhead. So take your binoculars and occasional, and sit above the creek. From right here you possibly can scope a big space. We’ve discovered wolves from right here a number of occasions.
One other place is on the Lamar River trailhead. You get an excellent view of the valley. Additionally, search for in entrance of you. There’s a bald spot on the high of that mountain throughout the river. We’ve seen wolves pursue bison up there whereas watching from the parking space (you possibly can see what occurred within the video initially of the article).
Ask round, virtually everybody is aware of the place wolves had been final seen. Be courteous and share your findings too.
The place to see mountain goats in Yellowstone
It is vitally tough to see mountain goats in Yellowstone within the winter. They’re white and so they mix in with the snow. However right here is the place you possibly can spot them (you in all probability want a scope, though Hal noticed them with our tiny 8×21 binoculars):
1) Park your automobile on the Pebble Creek pullout or the following one heading west on the alternative facet of the highway. Get your scope and seek for mountain goats alongside Thunderer Peak, simply throughout the highway from the pullout.
2) Mountain goats may also be seen on Baronette Peak, additional east of the Pebble Creek pullout.
The place to see bison within the winter
Bison are virtually all over the place, grazing on the plains by plowing snow with their large heads, sheltering below timber, and even strolling down the center of the highway. It’s laborious to overlook their enormous darkish kinds in opposition to the brilliant white snow. My favourite place to seek out bison in Yellowstone is alongside Soda Butte Creek as there are much less folks and the surroundings is spectacular.
The place to see mule deer
In winter, mule deer are usually discovered simply after coming into the park by the North entrance at Gardiner. A sizzling spot is between right here and Mammoth.
The place to see elk in Yellowstone in winter
Whereas we’ve seen the occasional elk within the Lamar Valley throughout winter, together with a person escaping from a wolf within the river on the Lamar River Trailhead, most migrate north towards Mammoth and Gardiner and into the northern vary.
The place to see bighorn sheep in Yellowstone:
They’re fairly straightforward to see as they like to hang around close to the confluence of the Soda Butte Creek and the Lamar River. You’ll be able to pull out at “the hitching publish” (the pullout with two loos and a horse tie-up) and seek for them on the rocky outcrop throughout the highway.
Finest locations to see river otters in Yellowstone:
River otters migrate throughout winter. As their swimming pools freeze up they should discover unfrozen rivers by which to fish. Search alongside the Lamar River as they prefer to play within the snow and slide down the snowy river banks.
The place to see moose within the winter
We’ve at all times discovered moose alongside the Soda Butte Creek feeding on the willows proper in entrance of Pebble Creek campground, and we’ve even seen them strolling the residential neighborhoods in Silver Gate.
Golden eagles in Yellowstone
We discovered a golden eagle in the identical space two years in a row. I don’t know if that’s a coincidence or if that’s THE spot to see them. Since you’re in all probability going to drive by that spot, you would possibly as nicely examine it.
As you drive alongside the NE entrance highway, earlier than the Lamar Valley Trailhead 3K1, and in entrance of the Soda Butte Creek, there’s a pullout the place 3 or 4 vehicles can cease on the left facet heading east. Verify on that facet of the hill and in addition examine if there’s an eagle flying in entrance of it.
Bald eagles in Yellowstone
Bald eagles are fairly straightforward to identify as they’re usually hanging round at carcasses.
Different wildlife to seek out within the winter
Foxes and coyotes might be seen wherever within the park and we see them at nearly any time of day. They dangle round carcasses and could also be noticed looking for rodents in open flat areas. The world at Pebble Creek introduced in a very nice encounter with a crimson fox that was searching rodents and we noticed him pounce a couple of occasions. Additional up the highway towards Silver Gate, we’ve seen a kill below a tree the place a fox was feeding. Later, a coyote got here to the go to.
There are a number of owls in Yellowstone, together with Nice Grey owl, Boreal owl, Lengthy-eared owl, Nice horned owl, and Northern saw-whet owl. I’m usually a terrific owl spotter, and I nonetheless can’t imagine I haven’t seen an owl in Yellowstone. We now have seen the sample that owls make within the snow after they hunt small rodents although, and I have to say I’m at all times fairly excited to seek out these!
The American dipper is a tiny chicken that survives on little invertebrates present in rivers. Even in freezing waters that may kill us with hypothermia, these little guys are nonetheless diving to the underside looking for sustenance.
Are you able to see cougars in Yellowstone? Sure, you possibly can, however how?
The mountain lion inhabitants in Yellowstone is simply about 35 people and they’re seldom seen. Throughout one among our journeys, guests noticed a mountain lion on a kill the day after we left the park! Keep in mind that they noticed it with a scope and it was very removed from the highway.
If you wish to see a cougar in Yellowstone, deliver a scope to the park and search totally everytime you cease. You would possibly get fortunate. A better manner is to cease and ask if you see a crowd of parents with scopes out!
Are you able to see bears within the winter in Yellowstone?
Bears hibernate within the winter and they need to be tucked of their dens throughout your winter go to to Yellowstone. Male grizzlies come out of hibernation in late March, and black bears would possibly achieve this earlier at decrease elevations.
Wildlife in West Yellowstone
If you’re round West Yellowstone and should not planning to go to the north of the park, you possibly can nonetheless go to the park on a snow coach. Do not forget that the highway is closed, so no non-public automobiles are allowed. A snow coach tour will take you to see Outdated Trustworthy and tour Yellowstone Canyon throughout winter. If you happen to inform the information you’re into nature pictures, they may take you to one of the best spots. I heard that for a couple of years, there have been nice sightings of bobcats throughout these excursions. Observe this snow coach tour begins in West Yellowstone.
If you’re fascinated by visiting each the North and West Yellowstone on a tour, this 6-day Yellowstone tour contains wolf monitoring with a neighborhood information, a snow coach journey, and a snowshoes / cross-country ski journey.
Gown appropriately within the Winter
Undecided what to put on when visiting Yellowstone throughout the winter months? Check out our travel gear guide for Yellowstone in the winter, the place we take a look at clothes, footwear, gloves, and a few recommendation on digital camera gear for chilly temperatures.
Yellowstone winter is extraordinarily chilly. Throughout one among our visits, the temperature dropped to -14F (-24C). We had been informed that the earlier 12 months the temperature dropped to -40F (-40C). Be sure to have the suitable clothes and have a plan and provides in case your automobile breaks down.
Last ideas
Watching wildlife in Yellowstone within the winter is our favourite. Few crowds, loads of wildlife, and lovely surroundings make this our favourite nationwide park to go to throughout the winter months.
Cristina Garcia
Zoologist and wildlife photographer. She has labored within the discipline with jackals, wolves, cheetahs, & leopards. She serves on the Board of Administrators of SEE Turtles, a non-profit sea turtle conservation group.
Learn her posts at Travel For Wildlife and see extra of her work at Truly Wild, & Our Wild Yard.
