Shared tour, run by Yellowstone Hiking Guides
Winter in Yellowstone Wildlife Tour
From $292 per adult Dates and prices
Starts in West Yellowstone: Meet at 5:45 a.m. behind the West Yellowstone Visitor Center, in its parking lot at 30 Yellowstone Ave; the van also collects in Big Sky and Bozeman, drives north to the North Entrance and is back in town about 6 p.m.
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Price and dates
From $292 per adult
Checked 21 October 2026 for Tuesday 2 February 2027
Next dates on sale from 2 February 2027. Only a day with a tour on it can be chosen.
Here is the price for the day and party chosen above; pick another day or party and it is asked for again.
Check Availability- Free cancellation up to 24 hours before
- Instant confirmation
- Poor weather is a reason the operator may cancel; you would be offered another date or a full refund.
The booking itself is made with our booking partner, where you set the date and travellers again and pay. The partner pays us a commission, and you pay no extra for that.
At a glance
- Length
- 8 to 12 hours, starts 5:45 a.m.
- Runs
- Next dates on sale from 2 February 2027
- Group
- Shared, up to 6 people
- Ages
- 6 and over
- Guide
- In English
- Park entry
- Park entry not included
Before you book
This tour starts in West Yellowstone, but it does not use the West Entrance road, which cars cannot use in winter. It heads north out of town and enters by the North Entrance instead, using the North Entrance to Northeast Entrance road: the single park road that cars can use all year round. Visitors from other countries aged 16 and over pay the park’s $100 nonresident fee as well, unless they show an annual or America the Beautiful pass.
Where it starts
Meet at 5:45 a.m. behind the West Yellowstone Visitor Center, in its parking lot at 30 Yellowstone Ave; the van also collects in Big Sky and Bozeman, drives north to the North Entrance and is back in town about 6 p.m. All guests make their own way to the meeting point, as no pickup is offered.
Pickup details
In Bozeman, meet at 8 a.m. in the back lot of Cafe M, 777 East Main Street, where you can buy coffee and breakfast first. Park at the far end of the lot, away from the cafe’s doors.
In Big Sky, the meeting point is the lot at the back of the BASE Community Center, at 7 a.m.
In West Yellowstone, be at the visitor center, 30 Yellowstone Ave, by 5:45 a.m.; the group gathers in the parking lot behind it.
About this tour
Yellowstone Hiking Guides is a local company that has run tours in the park for many years. Its winter wildlife days run from February to April.
Winter is a special time to be in the park, so wear warm layers. The guide finds wolves and other animals that are hard to spot and lines them up in a spotting scope. With the binoculars you can watch foxes hunting in the snow and bison sitting out the cold.
Lunch, snacks and hot and cold drinks are packed for you. This is a group tour, so you share the van with other guests. It picks up in West Yellowstone at 6 a.m., in Big Sky at 7 and in Bozeman at 8.
Inside the park, the main sights are the Roosevelt Arch, Lamar Valley, the terraces at Mammoth Hot Springs and the Old Gardiner Road. The drive also crosses Paradise Valley, where animals spend the winter outside the park.
The company says it looks forward to showing you the park’s winter animals and its scenery.
The route
The operator gives these stops in this order, with a time for each. In winter, snow and animals on the road can stretch or shorten them.
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West Yellowstone
The van leaves the West Yellowstone visitor center at 6 a.m. and drives through a corner of the park to Big Sky.
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Big Sky
The next guests board at 7 a.m. behind the BASE Community Center in Big Sky. From there the road follows the Gallatin River down its canyon to Bozeman.
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Bozeman
Bozeman guests get on at Cafe M on East Main Street.
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Paradise Valley
The road south through Montana’s Paradise Valley runs beside the Yellowstone River, and you look out for animals as you go.
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Roosevelt Arch
In Gardiner, Montana, the van passes under the Roosevelt Arch, the park’s first entrance. You stop to hear its story and take pictures to remember it by.
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Yellowstone National Park
The tour goes into the park by the North Entrance. The company says entry costs $20 a person, and that an America the Beautiful pass covers up to four people in your group.
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Lamar Valley
Some call this valley the Serengeti of North America, because so many rare animals live here. You pull over by the road to look for wolves, bison, coyotes, bighorn sheep, elk and more through the scopes and binoculars, all against the snow.
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Petrified Tree
A short stop to see the Petrified Tree.
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Mammoth Hot Springs Terraces
Walk the boardwalks at Mammoth Hot Springs. Steam rises from the springs below snowy peaks, and elk and bison live around them in winter.
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Old Gardiner Road
This old road into the park is busy with animals. It is the lowest part of Yellowstone, so wildlife comes here to find food when winter is at its worst.
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Paradise Valley
Leaving the park, the van heads back up Paradise Valley toward Bozeman.
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Bozeman
Bozeman guests are dropped off at about 4 p.m.
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Big Sky
Big Sky guests get off at about 5 p.m.
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West Yellowstone
The van is back in West Yellowstone at about 6 p.m.
What is included
Included
- Binoculars, so you can watch animals from a safe distance
- Soft drinks
- Bottled water
- Hot drinks (coffee, tea and cocoa) at the wildlife stops
- Lunch is packed for you: a turkey, veggie, vegan or gluten-free sandwich with an apple, nuts and snacks. Let the company know about allergies or special diets.
- Transport in a comfortable vehicle
- A spotting scope for animals far away
- A small snack for breakfast
Not included
- The park entrance fee, which you may pay at the gate. The company gives it as $20 a person, or $100 for visitors from abroad, and says any pass covers up to four people in the vehicle.
- A tip for your guide, if you choose to leave one
Cancellation and good to know
Cancel while there are still 24 hours or more before the start and every cent is refunded; once inside that window, the money is kept.
Poor weather is a reason the operator may cancel; you would be offered another date or a full refund.
Good to know
- Public transport runs near the meeting points.
- The day is mostly driving and roadside stops, so the company rates it for every fitness level.
Reviews
5.0 out of 5 from 14 reviews.
Questions about this tour
Where does Yellowstone Hiking Guides' winter wildlife tour start?
Yellowstone Hiking Guides' winter wildlife tour sets off from West Yellowstone. The details: meet at 5:45 a.m. behind the West Yellowstone Visitor Center, in its parking lot at 30 Yellowstone Ave; the van also collects in Big Sky and Bozeman, drives north to the North Entrance and is back in town about 6 p.m.
Does Yellowstone Hiking Guides' winter wildlife tour include the Yellowstone entrance fee?
No: Yellowstone's entrance fee is paid separately from Yellowstone Hiking Guides' winter wildlife tour.
How long is Yellowstone Hiking Guides' winter wildlife tour?
Yellowstone Hiking Guides' winter wildlife tour sets out at 5:45 a.m. and takes 8 to 12 hours.
Can I cancel Yellowstone Hiking Guides' winter wildlife tour for a refund?
Yes. Cancel Yellowstone Hiking Guides' winter wildlife tour 24 hours or more before the start for all your money back; with less notice than that, the price is not refunded.
Can children go on Yellowstone Hiking Guides' winter wildlife tour?
Yes, once they are 6: that is the youngest age Yellowstone Hiking Guides' winter wildlife tour accepts.