Best and worst times to visit Yellowstone

There is no right or wrong time to visit Yellowstone National Park. Instead, you need to know what you want to do while there as the park offers different activities depending on the weather.

Spring

Since Yellowstone sits about 8,000 feet above sea level, and it is located in the Northwest United States, spring arrives later here than in many locations. You need to come prepared for snow as late as May, and use AccuWeather to keep track of the local forecast. Once spring arrives, baby animals are often born, making it a great time to go on a hike or a scenic drive. Grizzly and black bears emerge from their dens, so they are easier to spot. This is the perfect time to take a guided hike as the national park begins to wake up. Keep track of which roads are open or closed. Come prepared for rain.

Summer

Everything is open in the summer. Summer also sees the most massive crowds. To escape the crowds, you may want to plan your trip midweek and avoid holidays, like Memorial Day and Labor Day. If you want to skip the crowds, try the 0.5-mile Trout Lake hike where you can see the bison grazing along the lake’s shores. Try viewing the park’s most prominent features early in the morning. Sunrise over Old Faithful can be particularly stunning as the mist rises off the water even if you miss seeing her erupt, which she does about every three hours. Summer is also a great time to head to the geysers in the moonlight, go mountain biking or take a hot air balloon ride. Since the wind, available moonlight, and rain can significantly affect what you get to do at Yellowstone, make sure to keep an eye on the local forecast.

Fall

Fall is a great time to visit Yellowstone as long as you stay weather aware. Most facilities remain open until October 1, and some campgrounds and lodges remain open throughout the year. Approximately 95% of the people visiting Yellowstone see only 3% of the park. Fall is the perfect time to get away from the dwindling crowds on a hike. Brown trout are especially hungry in the autumn, so anglers often catch their limit. You will also hear elk bugling as they try to attract the attention of females. Many bison have spent the warmer months in the higher elevations. Still, now they are headed to lower elevations, like Lamar Valley, Mammoth Hot Springs, and the Old Faithful area, where winter will be easier to survive.

Winter

The first snowflakes can fly in late September in Yellowstone National Park, so be prepared by knowing what the local forecast calls for if you are going to visit Yellowstone in the winter. Most roads are only open to snowmobiles during the winter, but the North Entrance is accessible most of the year. You will need to win the snowmobile lottery to bring your snowmobile or join a commercial tour when visiting in the winter. You can also go snowshoeing or cross-country skiing in the winter. You may also want to join a naturalist on a winter tour to see how the animals survive when temperatures seldom get above 20 degrees, and an average of 150 inches of snow falls in the lower elevations and up to 400 inches in higher elevations annually.

Yellowstone is beautiful regardless of the weather. You must, however, prepare for the worst. Keep alert to the local forecast, and prepare for what weather comes your way.

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