![]() ![]() While this area is well worth a visit due to its abundant wildlife and sheer beauty, many of the famous sites such as Old Faithful, Grand Prismatic Spring, and the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone are inaccessible during this time. Visitors during the second half of the month leave Lamar Valley and the surrounding area as the only places in the park to explore without a long and dangerous cross-country ski trip in the backcountry. This leaves much of the park entirely inaccessible to visitors. The road between Canyon Village to Fishing Bridge closes on March 12 and the remaining groomed roads close on March 15. ![]() Mammoth Hot Springs to Norris closes to over the snow traffic on March 5 and Norris to Madison and Norris to Canyon Village close two days later on March 7. In addition, even if you can get rentals for snowshoes, cross-country skis, or over-snow vehicles like snowmobiles, many of the roads are close to winter traffic in preparation for the summer opening. The same is true for snowshoe and ski rentals-the operations in the park stop renting at the beginning of the month, but companies in West Yellowstone and Gardiner continue to rent gear through March. However, lodging in Gardiner, West Yellowstone, and Cody is open year-round. The two accommodations within the park that are open during the winter close at the beginning of March. The only road that is open for visitors to drive themselves is the road from the north entrance at Gardiner, to the northeast entrance at Cooke City.Īnother drawback is that March is the park’s transition from winter to spring. One of the biggest drawbacks to visiting the park in March is that most of the roads are closed to private vehicles. Many of the trails are groomed and marked while there are also options for venturing further into the backcountry, though not without additional risks. These unique experiences give you a chance to see the park in the winter landscape that few are brave enough to venture into. You will also get the chance in March to participate in some of the winter sports that the park has to offer such as cross-country skiing and snowshoeing as alternatives to traditional hiking and backpacking. Yellowstone in the winter makes for some excellent pictures, especially if you can get some shots of the geothermal features in the park still spewing out boiling water in the middle of snowy terrain. Usually clothed in green and brown, Yellowstone takes on an ethereal and hushed atmosphere in winter as there are a few crowds and everything is pristine with the new snow. Places to stay in and around Yellowstone often book up more than a year in advance during peak season, but in winter you can usually find something within a few weeks of your travel date.Īnother obvious benefit of visiting Yellowstone in March is the sheer beauty of the snow-covered landscape. ![]() The lack of crowds also means that accommodations are more readily available and more affordable than in the summer. This means you are far less likely to encounter traffic jams because of wildlife or be forced to circle around parking lots to find a spot. Because there are so few people, you may be able to experience a sense of quiet in the park. Even though it is transitioning into spring, it is still quite chilly, so Yellowstone is not a big spring break destination. The snow preserves these tracks better than dirt and mud would allowing visitors to see the evidence of these animals.Īnother benefit to visiting in March is the lack of crowds. The snow also gives those looking for wildlife the opportunity to see tracks of some of the more elusive creatures like cougars, bobcats, lynx, and badgers that also inhabit the park but are rarely seen. The snow on the ground is often an aid to those wanting to view wildlife as many of these creatures retain their dark-colored coats in the winter and stand out starkly against the snow, making them easier to spot from farther away. The high concentration of animals at lower elevations makes it much easier to view them-bison, bighorn sheep, pronghorn, wolves, and elk are plentiful in Yellowstone’s valleys. Most animals make their way to the meadows and valleys because the high country is too cold in the winter. The biggest benefit of visiting in March is the wildlife viewing.
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