"An easy hour from Big Sky, the park’s geothermal pools look even more brilliant set against a backdrop of snow." - Matt Ortile
"Although summer is jam-packed, a winter visit delivers the same striking scenery and abundant wildlife with far smaller crowds. The famed geysers, steam vents, and hot springs are especially dramatic when scalding geothermal waters meet frigid air; stay at the Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel and take a guided day tour to Old Faithful to spot steam-frosted bison, glimpse the Fountain Paint Pots, and watch the famous geyser erupt with barely a soul in sight." - Sarah L. Stewart Sarah L. Stewart Sarah L. Stewart is a Florida-based freelance magazine writer and editor specializing in travel, recreation, science, and health topics. Her work appears in Travel + Leisure, Outside, Backpacker, The Huffington Post, and other national publications. Travel + Leisure Editorial Guidelines
"As a local and regular parkgoer, I love that the world’s first national park puts Mother Nature at center stage, but it demands respect: more injuries and fatalities here come from traffic than wildlife, so I drive the 45 mph speed limit, stay vigilant for animals that can suddenly dart between cars during wildlife jams, and never park in the roadway—if there’s no shoulder I pull fully past the white line or make a legal U-turn to find a safe spot. I keep a safe distance from wildlife—at least 25 yards from moose, elk, deer, and bison, and 100 yards from bears and wolves—and if an animal stops feeding, locks onto me, or stands to get a better look, I back up. When stepping out for a sighting, I listen to rangers or neon-vested volunteers and return to my vehicle if wildlife approaches. With pets, I stick to the rules: they’re allowed only within 100 feet of roads, parking areas, and campgrounds, must be restrained, and can be put down if they bother wildlife, so I use local kennels or doggy day cares when I plan to hike. On trails, bear spray is essential and accessible (not buried in a pack); TSA won’t let you fly with it, but park shops sell or rent it, and you spray it at the bear, not on your skin. I never share food—sloppy picnics attract rodents that draw in coyotes and bears—and yes, feeding wildlife can land you in Yellowstone’s jail. Between scalding hot springs and powerful animals, people have been gored, stranded in winter, and even “dissolved,” so being smarter than the average bear keeps both visitors and wildlife safe." - Katie Jackson Katie Jackson Katie Jackson is a New York City-based writer who covers travel, food, and more. Her work has appeared in USA Today, The Sunday Times, Esquire, Outside, New York Post, and Travel + Leisure, among others. Travel + Leisure Editorial Guidelines
"In winter, the park transforms into a vast, icy wonderland—steam rising from Old Faithful and other geothermal features paints a surreal scene, and watching bison, elk, and wolves cross snow-covered plains feels singular. Visibility for wolves is easier now, and they’re more active throughout the day, with packs at their peak from late January through February; bison roam the geyser basins and hot spring areas, using geothermal warmth to brave the cold. After day-trippers leave Old Faithful, an almost indescribable quiet settles in; I love just sitting with miles of snow and steam around me, occasionally halted by bison that nonchalantly block the road. From mid-December to mid-March, the interior roads close to regular traffic, so getting in by snowcoach or snowmobile feels like insider access—intimate guided tours travel over snow deep into the heart of the park—and winter is when these landscapes truly reveal themselves." - Stacey Leasca Stacey Leasca Stacey Leasca is an award-winning journalist and co-founder of Be a Travel Writer, an online course for the next generation of travel journalists. Her photos, videos, and words have appeared in print or online for Travel + Leisure, Time, Los Angeles Times, Glamour, and many more. You'll usually find her in an airport. If you do see her there, please say hello. Travel + Leisure Editorial Guidelines
"In winter, this iconic park turns into a quiet, uncrowded wonderland between December and March, with snow-covered roads, dramatic river-cut canyons, towering mountains, spewing geysers, steaming pools, and regular sightings of megafauna like bears, wolves, bison, and elk. Instead of driving (only the road between the north and northeast entrances stays open to cars), you explore by skis or snowshoes, or on guided snowmobile and snowcoach trips that let you get close to the landscape and wildlife; over-snow travel typically continues until March or April. More than half of the world’s geysers are here—including punctual Old Faithful—and the supervolcano of the Yellowstone Caldera adds to the sense of wonder. Limited winter lodging inside the park means you need to book well in advance, but the payoff is a memorable trip with minimal crowds and wide-open space, even if the frigid temperatures demand extra preparation." - Evie Carrick Evie Carrick Evie Carrick is a writer and editor who’s lived in five countries and visited well over 50. She now splits her time between Colorado and Paris, ensuring she doesn't have to live without skiing or L'As du Fallafel. Travel + Leisure Editorial Guidelines
