Our favourite time to go to Yellowstone is within the winter. It may 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 combating over carcasses, and wolves searching.
After visiting the park a couple of occasions throughout winter, we’ve got discovered one of the best locations to see wildlife in Yellowstone in winter.
We made a video displaying a few of the wildlife we noticed throughout certainly one of our winter journeys to Yellowstone and what you’ll be able to 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 be open however you’ll be able to’t enter the park from right here. You possibly can solely exit the park so far as Cooke Metropolis.
The place to see wolves within the winter in Yellowstone
We’ve got lined this gorgeous extensively in our publish Wolf watching information 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’ll be able to park your automobile there, however within the winter you’ll be able to solely drive till the trailhead. So take your binoculars and occasional, and sit above the creek. From right here you’ll be able to 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 view of the valley. Additionally, lookup in entrance of you. There’s a bald spot on the prime of that mountain throughout the river. We’ve seen wolves pursue bison up there whereas watching from the parking space (you’ll be able to see what occurred within the video firstly 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 difficult to see mountain goats in Yellowstone within the winter. They’re white they usually mix in with the snow. However right here is the place you’ll be able to spot them (you most likely 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 other 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 can be seen on Baronette Peak, additional east of the Pebble Creek pullout.
The place to see bison within the winter
Bison are virtually in every single place, grazing on the plains by plowing snow with their huge heads, sheltering underneath timber, and even strolling down the center of the highway. It’s arduous to overlook their enormous darkish varieties in opposition to the intense 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 means of the North entrance at Gardiner. A scorching 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 simple to see as they like to hang around close to the confluence of the Soda Butte Creek and the Lamar River. You possibly can 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 wish to play within the snow and slide down the snowy river banks.
The place to see moose within the winter
We’ve all the time 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 most likely going to drive by that spot, you may as effectively test 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. Examine on that facet of the hill and in addition test if there’s an eagle flying in entrance of it.
Bald eagles in Yellowstone
Bald eagles are fairly simple to identify as they’re usually hanging round at carcasses.
Different wildlife to seek out within the winter
Foxes and coyotes will be seen wherever within the park and we see them at nearly any time of day. They cling round carcasses and could also be noticed trying to find rodents in open flat areas. The realm 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 underneath 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’ve got seen the sample that owls make within the snow after they hunt small rodents although, and I have to say I’m all the time fairly excited to seek out these!
The American dipper is a tiny chook that survives on little invertebrates present in rivers. Even in freezing waters that will 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’ll be able to, however how?
The mountain lion inhabitants in Yellowstone is barely about 35 people and they’re seldom seen. Throughout certainly one of 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 may get fortunate. A better method is to cease and ask whenever you see a crowd of oldsters 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 may achieve this earlier at decrease elevations.
Wildlife in West Yellowstone
In case you are round West Yellowstone and aren’t planning to go to the north of the park, you’ll be able to nonetheless go to the park on a snow coach. Do not forget that the highway is closed, so no personal automobiles are allowed. A snow coach tour will take you to see Previous Trustworthy and tour Yellowstone Canyon throughout winter. In the event you inform the information you’re into nature pictures, they could 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. Be aware this snow coach tour begins in West Yellowstone.
In case you are involved in visiting each the North and West Yellowstone on a tour, this 6-day Yellowstone tour contains wolf monitoring with an area information, a snow coach journey, and a snowshoes / cross-country ski journey.
Costume appropriately within the Winter
Unsure what to put on when visiting Yellowstone throughout the winter months? Check out our journey gear information for Yellowstone within the winter, the place we have a look at clothes, footwear, gloves, and a few recommendation on digital camera gear for chilly temperatures.
Yellowstone winter is extraordinarily chilly. Throughout certainly one of our visits, the temperature dropped to -14F (-24C). We had been informed that the earlier yr the temperature dropped to -40F (-40C). Be sure you have the suitable clothes and have a plan and provides in case your automobile breaks down.
Closing ideas
Watching wildlife in Yellowstone within the winter is our favourite. Few crowds, loads of wildlife, and beautiful 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 Journey For Wildlife and see extra of her work at Actually Wild, & Our Wild Yard.
