Journey to Yellowstone National Park in winter and explore a wonderland where geysers and waterfalls glaze the landscape in sparkling ice, wildlife roams across a white landscape, and mineral pools dazzle against the snows.  

Starting at: $5,995 Make a Reservation Ask Us A Question or Call 855-330-1542
 Steamy terraces of Mammoth Hot Springs
Steamy terraces of Mammoth Hot Springs
 A coyote in the winter
A coyote in the winter
 Hot springs in winter in Yellowstone National Park
Hot springs in winter in Yellowstone National Park
 Emerald Spring at Norris Geyser Basin
Emerald Spring at Norris Geyser Basin
 Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone
Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone
 Old Faithful Geyser
Old Faithful Geyser
 Bison breathing clouds of steam in a cold Yellowstone winter
Bison breathing clouds of steam in a cold Yellowstone winter
 Bull elk in Yellowstone
Bull elk in Yellowstone
 Bison in Yellowstone National Park
Bison in Yellowstone National Park
 Gray Wolf
Gray Wolf
 Yellowstone River in Winter
Yellowstone River in Winter
 Snowshoe excursion in the mountains
Snowshoe excursion in the mountains

Yellowstone in Winter

6 days from $5,995

Journey to Yellowstone National Park in winter and explore a wonderland where geysers and waterfalls glaze the landscape in sparkling ice, wildlife roams across a white landscape, and mineral pools dazzle against the snows.  

or Call 855-330-1542

Accommodations

* Click on hotel name to visit hotel web-site.

Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel

Yellowstone National Park, United States

Built in 1937, Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel was the park’s original base for tourists, who would visit Yellowstone by stagecoach. Guest accommodations include a combination of cabins and recently renovated hotel rooms, all simple, comfortable, and clean. All accommoations are equipped with a telephone, coffee maker, minifridge, hair dryer, and writing desk. 

Common areas include a lobby with a fireplace and lounge; a gift shop; and the Map Room, where guests can do puzzles, read books, have a cup of coffee or a glass of wine, and study the impressive wall-sized map of the United States made with wood gathered from nine countries. WiFi is available at the hotel for a fee. The Mammoth Hotel Dining Room is just a few steps from the hotel. 

Old Faithful Snow Lodge

Yellowstone National Park, United States

Old Faithful Snow Lodge was fully renovated and transformed into a hotel in the 1990s, following the architectural guidelines of the Old Faithful Historic District. It received the Cody Award for Western Design and features recycled timber, hand-crafted furnishings, and rustic décor. Snow Lodge is the only lodge inside the park that is open in winter, and it offers a warm and relaxing atmosphere, with space to read and play board games by the fireplace. Rooms feature a telephone, coffee maker, refrigerator, and hair dryer. The lodge has a dining room, lounge, snack bar, gift shop, and laundry facilities, and WiFi is available in the main lobby for a fee.  

Chico Hot Springs Resort

Paradise Valley, Montana, United States

Chico Hot Springs Resort is a beloved Montana hideaway nestled on the slopes of Paradise Valley. Built around therapeutic hot springs that were discovered in the 19th century, the resort has been a popular spot for over a hundred years. Accommodations range from quaint, turn-of-the-century rooms in the historic Main Lodge to more deluxe rooms in the adjoining lodges, to a variety of cabins, chalets, and houses. Complimentary Wi-Fi is available throughout the property, though cell service is not reliable. There are two hot springs pools on the grounds, as well as the renowned Chico Dining Room and the Chico Saloon. 

Activity Level

​Expectations: Long touring days with full-day excursions via snow coach or van. Standing and walking for long periods of time during outdoor activities, sometimes over difficult terrain (e.g. rocky paths, stairs without handrails, an absence of elevators). High temperatures are routinely at or below freezing, and travelers should be prepared for snowy and icy conditions. Elevations within Yellowstone range from 6,000 to as high as 10,000 feet.  Details on what to pack and expect on this trip will be included in your Pre-Tour documents.

Appropriate for: Travelers who are physically fit and comfortable with longer days of touring (both walking tours and coach time).

Reading List

Learn more about the lost history of Yellowstone in Smithsonian Magazine.

Highly Recommended

A Weird and Wild Beauty: The Story of Yellowstone, the World's First National Park
By: Peabody, Erin
The Geysers of Yellowstone, Fifth Edition
By: Bryan, T. Scott
Compass American Guides: Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks (Full-color Travel Guide)
By: Fodor’s Travel Guides
Yellowstone Wildlife: Ecology and Natural History of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem
By: Johnsgard, Paul A.

Also Recommended

Travels in the Greater Yellowstone
By: Turner, Jack
Winter Wonderland in Yellowstone
By: I-Ting Chiang
Empire of Shadows: The Epic Story of Yellowstone
By: Black, George
Yellowstone Has Teeth: A Memoir of Living in Yellowstone
By: Ambler, Marjane
Letters from Yellowstone
By: Smith, Diane
Women in Wonderland: Lives, Legends, and Legacies of Yellowstone
By: Watry, Elizabeth A
Ken Burns: The National Parks: America's Best Idea DVD
The National Parks: America's Best Idea
By: Duncan, Dayton, Burns, Ken
History of the World Map by Map (DK History Map by Map)
By: DK

*As an Amazon Associate, Smithsonian Journeys earns from qualifying purchases.

Travel Insurance

For the convenience of our travelers, Smithsonian Journeys includes a basic medical expense and evacuation plan through Trip Mate, a Generali Global Assistance & Insurance Services brand, at no additional charge. This plan provides post-departure Medical and Dental coverage of $250,000 per person and Emergency Assistance and Transportation coverage of $1,000,000 per person (U.S. Residents Only). Note: For full details regarding these coverages please review the following Plan Documents here.

In addition, we recommend that travelers purchase a travel protection plan to help protect their travel investment from unforeseen events such as cancellation due to illness, flight delays due to adverse weather, baggage loss, and more. For your convenience, Smithsonian Journeys offers an optional Travel Protection Plan administered by Trip Mate, a Generali Global Assistance & Insurance Services brand. For those interested, optional "Cancel for Any Reason" coverage is available for an additional charge. Note: Certain eligibility requirements apply and Cancel for Any Reason coverage is not available to New York residents. For full details regarding this coverage please review the following Plan Documents here.

To learn more about the Travel Protection Plan, you may visit https://www.generalipartner.com/smithsonianjourneys or call the administrator, Trip Mate, a Generali Global Assistance & Insurance Services brand at (866) 501-3252.

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