Way off in the distance, I could see a wolf.
That’s pretty much the best animal sighting you can get at Yellowstone National Park. Even the guides were excited, saying it was the first time a wolf had been spotted in the park in about a month.
And although the wolf was more than a mile away (the best I could do in terms of capturing the moment was extremely grainy cell phone video), it really underscored for me how special Yellowstone and the entire National Park System is. There I was in the middle of the great American wilderness, watching a wolf trot across the snow as steam rose around me from natural vents below the ground.
My grainy photo of a wolf. He’s the second dark lump from the front, just right of center in front of some trees in the distance.
Yellowstone is so much more than its wildlife. The first national park in the United States was actually established to protect the natural landscape.
Yellowstone National Park was established in 1872 to preserve access to its unique geologic and hydrothermal features, like the geyser Old Faithful. Animal conservation efforts only came later.
While visitors flock to the park during the summer – nearly a million people passed through its gates in July 2025 – winter is a time when the park is much emptier. According to my guide, only about 2,000 people a day enter the park in the winter months, meaning you don’t have to elbow your way through the throngs to take in the best vistas or see the wildlife.
Bison grazing in front of steam vents at Yellowstone National Park in early February 2026.
As national parks like Yellowstone continue to grapple with funding uncertainty in Washington, it’s just as important, valuable and fulfilling for visitors to go as ever.
If you’re thinking about a trip to Yellowstone, don’t dismiss the idea of going when there’s snow on the ground. Here’s what you need to know to make the most out of your Yellowstone experience any time of year.
What there is to see and do in Yellowstone
Whatever season you decide to visit Yellowstone, the landscape will be the star.
In the summer, hot springs around areas like the Fountain Paint Pot Trail will show their full vibrant colors with mats of thermophile bacteria that thrive in the extreme environments.
In the winter, you’ll still have the chance to see animals like bison and wolves if you’re lucky, but you’ll really get a sense for how much thermal activity there is just below your feet in the park. Random patches of melted snow point to areas where the magma just below the park’s surface keeps things warm in unexpected patterns.
Be sure to stop by Old Faithful, arguably one of Yellowstone’s most well-known attractions, for a natural show. One benefit to going in winter is that you won’t have to compete for a front-row seat at the geyser.
Steam rises out of Old Faithful between eruptions.
Despite being one of America’s most visited national parks, Yellowstone does not require timed-entry reservations or permits for access to its popular sites, unlike some other parks, which have such restrictions.
But even outside those well-known attractions, there’s plenty to see, so long as you stay on the marked paths. Geysers, mudpots, hot springs and fumaroles will mesmerize you across the landscape.
Yellowstone’s unique geology means you can find yourself on dangerous ground if you stray from the designated areas. It’s not worth getting a steam or acid burn just to snap your Instagram post from a more unique angle.
Signs warn visitors to stay on marked paths throughout Yellowstone National Park.
“This is a place that’s meant to be sensed,” my guide, Missy, said – but maybe not by covering your body in third-degree burns.
How parks are handling record visitor numbers
National parks continue to be extremely popular places to visit, and many of the flagship parks are working to upgrade their infrastructure to accommodate high numbers of visitors safely.
Yellowstone, for example, has robust road infrastructure and facilities like restrooms dotted throughout the park. Still, according to my guide, the park recognizes that more can be done to improve its facilities and it’s delayed on some of its ongoing capital projects.
While Yellowstone’s roads are mostly closed to the public during winter, during the rest of the year vehicles can travel over a massive figure-eight roadway through much of the park. Wildlife sightings can add to traffic as bison cross roads or cars pull over to see other animals in the distance.
A close-up bison sighting at Yellowstone National Park.
“Parks use a combination of seasonal staffing increases, traffic control measures, real-time visitor messaging, expanded transit operations and interagency coordination to manage crowds safely and responsibly,” an Interior Department spokesperson previously told USA TODAY, stressing the National Park Service’s commitment to safe, responsible access and resource management.
How has Yellowstone fared with National Park Service changes?
National parks remain open despite staffing cuts and funding uncertainty.
“Throughout the lapse in appropriations, the Administration kept America’s national parks safe, clean, and open wherever possible,” a National Park Service spokesperson said in a statement. “Thanks to strong leadership and a well-executed contingency plan, the National Park Service maintained essential services, minimized disruptions, and prevented resource damage.”
Steam rises from deep-blue Silex Spring.
Still, when the staffing cuts were announced last year, advocates like the independent National Parks Conservation Association and Coalition to Protect National Parks warn that lower staffing will lead to a reduction in the level of service and ability to protect and share park resources.
How to get to Yellowstone
There are multiple entrances to Yellowstone National Park, which straddles Montana, Wyoming and Idaho, so getting there depends on exactly which area you intend to visit.
During the winter, public access is limited and most visitors will need to go as part of a guided tour.
On my trip, I flew into Bozeman, Montana. I was mostly staying in Big Sky and I got a transfer from my hotel to meet my snowcoach tour in West Yellowstone, about an hour away.
How much it costs to enter Yellowstone
A standard entrance pass to Yellowstone costs $20-35 for a single visit for U.S. residents, while an annual pass costs $70. National parks now charge extra fees to foreign tourists.
During the winter, when most of the park’s roads are closed to the public, visitors will need to enter as part of a tour.
Most wintertime visitors to Yellowstone National Park need to join a guided tour. Snowcoaches and snowmobiles are the primary vehicles in the park during the winter.
The tour I took, an 8-hour snowcoach tour operated by Yellowstone Vacations from West Yellowstone, cost $240 per person, not including the park pass, lunch or gratuities.
Snowmobile tours, snowshoeing and cross-country skiing are also available in Yellowstone during the winter.
This story was updated to adjust headlines.
Contributing: Eve Chen, USA TODAY
The reporter on this story received access from Expedia and Visit Big Sky. USA TODAY maintains editorial control of content.
Zach Wichter is a travel reporter and writes the Cruising Altitude column for USA TODAY. He is based in New York and you can reach him at zwichter@usatoday.com.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Fewer crowds, epic wildlife: What to know before visiting Yellowstone