Wintertime in Yellowstone is a season of extremes. Temperatures can vary wildly but remain consistently below freezing from mid-November until late March and even into April. Cold snaps can send temperatures down to twenty or even 40 degrees below zero Fahrenheit for short periods.

That said, if you're prepared a journey into Yellowstone's backcountry the rewards are well worth the effort. While in recent years winter visitation has increased dramatically, most of those visitors are limited to roads open to motorized transportation such as snowmobiles and snowcoaches. There are some cross country skiiers that stay at Old Faithful and take day trips into the backcountry. However, once you go a few miles you'll leave everybody behind and be out on your own.

If you know where you want to go you can make arrangements with a snowcoach to drop you off and pick you up at the end of your trip. If you want to experience the solitude of the Yellowstone backcountry but want a little more comfort or the help of someone who's done it before, check with the folks at Yellowstone Expeditions who run tours out of their Yurt camp on the west side of Yellowstone.

Business Listings

Montana Backcountry Adventures

Phone: (406) 995-3880

P.O. Box 160815 Big Sky, MT

Website

Come ride the North Side of Lone Mountain on a private snowcat. MBA provided snowcat skiing/board, naturalist guided snow-shoe tour, customized special events (weddings, parties, etc.).

Rendezvous Back Country Tours

Phone: (307) 353-2900 TF: (877) 754-4887

1110 Alta North Road Alta, WY 83414

Email Website

Leave the crowds and the lift lines behind and enjoy a day of backcountry powder skiing and snowboarding with our friendly, expert guides. Since 1986, Rendezvous has been operating three backcountry yurts high on the western slope of the Tetons. We offer daily tours, overnight yurt trips and winter camping expeditions for Randonee (alpine touring), telemark, cross-country skiing and snowboarding. Private tours are designed around your interests and all abilities are welcome. Allow our guides to help improve your deep powder technique and speed your learning with individualized attention. From ski descents in Grand Teton National Park to powder bowls on Teton Pass, we take care of all the details so you can focus on having fun in the snowy mountains. Come experience a unique ski vacation with Rendezvous Back Country Tours.

Exum Mountain Guides

Phone: 307-733-2297

P. O. Box 56 Grand Teton National Park and Lupine Meadows Moose, Wy 83012

High Mountain Helicopter Skiing Phone: 307-733-3274;

Jackson Hole Mountain Guides

Phone: (307)733-4979 TF: (800)239-7642

165 N. Glenwood P.O. Box 7477 Jackson, Wy 83002

The Hole Hiking Experience

Phone: (307)690-4453 Fax: (208)787-2057 TF: (866)733-4453

P.O. Box 7779 Jackson, WY 83002

Wild Horizons Expeditions

Phone: 208-787-2059 TF: 888-734-4453

P.O. Box 7627 Jackson, WY 83002

Yostmark Backcountry Tours Phone: (208)354-2828;