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This Week In Yellowstone: February 19th to February 25th, 2026 · This Week in Yellowstone National Park

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From Yellowstone National Park, where it's currently
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snowing and cold, which it should be because
0:05
it's February, this is that Scott guy you know
0:07
and love with a brand new episode of This Week
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in Yellowstone. What's up everybody this week
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in Yellowstone National Park from February 19th
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to February 25th 2026 I talk about the upper
0:29
terraces and mammoth I also tell you where the
0:33
bathrooms are in the northern range of the park
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I discuss hell roaring and I share a trail that
0:39
and I share a trail that you can cross country
0:42
ski snowshoe and see wildlife on All that, and
0:47
the regular stuff that I talk about, which is
0:49
the weather forecast, the snowpack update, the
0:51
wildlife report, and everything else you need
0:54
to have an incredible time this week in Yellowstone.
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My standard disclaimer, I'm gonna miss a few
0:59
details here and there. I also refer to park
1:02
locations very casually, so if you're unfamiliar
1:05
with anything I say or want more information
1:07
on stuff that I'm talking about, Reach out to
1:09
me or do a quick search on your favorite search
1:11
engine. Also know that this podcast is only for
1:14
the drivable areas of the park, so right now
1:17
that's just the northern range. Finally, this
1:19
podcast is a passion project of mine. If you
1:22
enjoy it, I'd love a review or a quick email.
1:25
If you want to support my work, you can check
1:27
out my hiking and wildlife watching guidebooks,
1:29
or join me for a guided hiking tour in Yellowstone's
1:32
backcountry. For more information on all of that,
1:35
visit outdoor -society .com or contact me directly.
1:40
Seriously, I am typing up new tours for this
1:42
year and I'm very excited. You should reach out
1:44
to me and book one as soon as possible because
1:47
things are filling up. This week's Yellowstone
1:49
news. Honestly, there's not really a lot of news
1:52
going on. There is some volcanic activity. I
1:56
use that loosely. There is some activity in one
1:59
of the geyser basins. There always is. Some news
2:03
articles are being shared by larger publications
2:05
about whether or not this is a serious sign for
2:09
Yellowstone's impending eruption. It's not. This
2:12
happens all the time. Any time you see those
2:14
articles, unless it's by the USGS, which, by
2:18
the way, check out USGS Caldera Chronicles for
2:21
like all of the best news of the geyser basins
2:24
in the park. Unless the USGS is like, hey, there
2:27
is an imminent eruption. Don't believe anything
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else you see online. Other than that, it's been
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a Very slow news week this morning as I was getting
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ready to start recording. The park closed the
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north entrance from Gardiner to Mammoth for a
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little bit of snow removal. Don't think that's
2:44
going to be much of a problem except for this
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morning. So by the time you hear this, don't
2:48
worry about it. You should be good to go. Otherwise,
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I'm going to dive right into this episode. So
2:53
here we go. My experience of the week. So most
2:56
people think of Yellowstone's winter experiences
2:59
as seeing Old Faithful by Snowcoach or watching
3:02
wolves out in Lamar Valley. And while those are
3:04
two truly amazing experiences and are highlights
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of winter for sure, there's a quieter, more geological
3:11
winter experience right in the park's northern
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edge. Now before I say what this is, I do want
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to say that it's a slower paced adventure, but
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it's actually one that's great for all ages and
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most abilities. So it's one that you're still
3:25
going to have to get out of the car, but it's
3:26
a unique thing to do and this is kind of the
3:30
time to do it. This week... especially with the
3:32
return of the cold weather and some new snow,
3:35
it will finally feel like winter in Mammoth Hot
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Springs making this the perfect week to walk
3:40
the upper terrace of Mammoth. So Mammoth Hot
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Springs is one of Yellowstone's oldest known
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thermal areas with terraces of travertine built
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by hot water dissolving limestone deep underground
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and depositing in delicate stair -step formations
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at the surface. these terraces constantly change
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and They are just one of these things that like
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the more you see I think the more you appreciate
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them if you see them different times of the year
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You're gonna see things that are differently
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active depending on the water flow and the minerals
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that are currently deposited in each little area
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In the summer, most visitors drive the Upper
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Terrace Drive, a scenic mile -and -a -half or
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so one -way road that winds among thermal features
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like Prospect, New Highland, Angel, and Orange
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Spring Mound. The road loops above the lower
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terraces and offers views of unusual formations
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shaped by those travertine deposits that I was
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talking about. There's fumaroles and steaming
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vents at nearly every turn. In the winter, this
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road becomes something entirely different. feel
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that this is a much more rewarding experience.
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Once the seasonal plowing ends and the interior
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park roads close to vehicles, the upper terrace
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drive still remains accessible on snowshoes or
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on skis. By the way, real quick note, do not
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walk in regular boots on this as it's not allowed.
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Well, double check, but... 99 .9999 % of the
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time it's not allowed however with the lack of
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snow the rules may be a bit looser this winter
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so check at the visitor center I doubt that they're
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gonna say go ahead and walk in shoes you're gonna
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need cross -country skis or snow shoes if you
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need to know where to rent those reach out to
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me happy to tell you where to go so even getting
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to the parking area for this is something that
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not everyone who visits Yellowstone the winter
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knows that they can do The road from Lower Mammoth
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to Upper Mammoth is open to the upper terraces
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parking area, but it's closed beyond that as
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you head to the interior unless you're in a snow
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coach. Most people just assume that they can
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only park down by the lower boardwalks, but you
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can actually drive up toward that upper side.
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So that means you can park at the upper terrace
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lot and walk right onto the loop itself without
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having to go from the lower to the upper terraces.
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While driving this loop in the summer is nice,
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Seeing it on foot allows you to slow down substantially,
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truly appreciating the sights, sounds, and smells
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of the thermal area. Walking in the upper terraces
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in the snow is like stepping into a different
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Yellowstone. Steam rises uninterrupted into the
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cold air, creating a surreal mix of fog and frost.
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The terraces feature, like the previously mentioned
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Orange Spring Mound and Canary Spring, feel more
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wild and wonderful. Long gone are car noises
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from down below or right around you. When you're
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driving it, instead it's quiet and you're going
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to hear birds. You're going to hear the wind
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through the trees and you're going to hear the
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hiss of fumaroles, which is really cool to hear.
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One thing that I love that should be pretty prevalent
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this week is that ice is going to be covering
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everything. When the steam rises, it freezes
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in the cold air, frosting over everything nearby
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with moisture. When snowshoeing or cross -country
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skiing here, note the route isn't a flat stroll.
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If you follow the groomed upper terrace loop
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ski trail, which parallels the road, you're gonna
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gain some elevation, sometimes more steeply than
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people realize. It's not insane, but like, there
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are some sizable hills. I recommend doing the
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loop clockwise. That way you get the majority
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of elevation gain done earlier. And then besides
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the thermal features and relative solitude here,
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this route also gives panoramic views of the
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historic Mammoth District and surrounding mountains
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as you are winding toward the end. You're not
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quite at the end, but you'll understand when
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you do it. The loop, like I said, is about a
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mile and a half long. It's usually groomed for
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skiers, but also, you know, you can snowshoe
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on it. Just remember that if you are on snowshoes,
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don't walk in the ski path, as doing so ruins
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the path for everyone. There's plenty of room.
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This is a road, so there's going to be a ski
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path on one side and then a place to walk in
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snowshoes on the other. Plenty of room for everyone,
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so don't worry. Just don't walk in it. Please
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know that safety in the winter is still very
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important. While you can walk on the road as
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much as you want, stay off the upper terraces
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themselves. Staying on the designated paths and
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roads keeps you above the fragile hydrothermal
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ground that can be thin and unpredictable when
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covered in snow. You're going to be fine if you
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stick to the road and boardwalks. Just stick
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to the road and boardwalks. Now, Upper Mammoth
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isn't just a pretty winter walk. It's an experience
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where geology and wonder converge and where you
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can feel the contrast of frozen land and flowing
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heat and where Yellowstone's most unusual landscapes
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just speak in silence. It's a very quiet experience.
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It might not be for everybody, but if you're
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looking for just like a slice of silence and
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solitude, you're gonna get it here. Few visitors
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make this trek in the winter, but those who do
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often call it one of the park's most memorable
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surprises my tip of the week Toilets their styles
8:51
and their locations in Yellowstone's northern
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range. How exciting right? When you picture Yellowstone
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in the winter snow -covered terraces bison drifting
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through Lamar Valley wolves howling in the distance
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and steam rising in the cold air That's what
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you expect and around every corner and nearly
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every second of your trip you're going to be
9:11
thinking about the wildlife and the scenery.
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But if you're spending a whole day exploring
9:16
the northern range with your car, one practical
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question will become surprisingly important,
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and that is, where are the bathrooms? Yellowstone
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is open 24 -7 year -round this northern range,
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but services are limited from mid -December through
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mid -March. Roads are plowed, and you know most
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visitor facilities are closed or have reduced
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hours during the winter. Toilets like other infrastructure
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follow that schedule meaning you won't find the
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same level of comfort around every corner that
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you do in the summer. If you're driving on your
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own or even if you're on a tour through the magical
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snow draped northern range your best bathroom
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opportunities are a mix of vault toilets pit
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toilets and we're open year -round facilities
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and buildings. Your bathroom options in the Northern
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Range are as follows. Your comfort stops are
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going to be the visitor center and the Mammoth
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Hotel. There's also going to be the bathrooms
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located near Liberty Cap. That's going to be
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your best bet. Use these if you're really not
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wanting to use some of the more primitive ones,
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but know that this is pretty much the best bathrooms
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that you will use in the park. There are also
10:29
pit toilets that are occasionally open near the
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base of Canary Spring, just past the lower boardwalk
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parking areas. Also at the upper terrace parking
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area, there are pit toilets that are unheated
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without running water. All pit toilets are going
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to be that way. But if you're snowshoeing the
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mammoth terraces that I just talked about, this
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is a good stop. As you leave Mammoth and head
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toward Lamar or toward Tower or anything, the
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first two you're going to come across are the
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Lava Creek picnic area and the Blacktail Deer
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Creek parking area. These are along the road
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between Mammoth and Tower and are typically stocked
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with toilet paper and hand sanitizer. Once you
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get to the Tower Junction area, there's more
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pit toilets. This is one of the larger pit toilet
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facilities between Mammoth and Cook City and
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it's a common stop for winter visitors and tour
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groups. It's often busier, so know that, but
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it's one of the most dependable stops along that
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stretch. Past that, there is the Slough Creek
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parking area, and then the Hitching Post area
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on the eastern end of Lamar Valley, and then
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Pebble Creek. The farther east toward Lamar Valley
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you go, you're going to find those vault toilets
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tucked off the road. They're not glamorous, but
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they're functional and open when other services
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are closed. Once you get out of the park, there
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is a visitor center in Cook City that has a public
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restroom. There's also a couple gas stations,
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but those are not for public use. You have to
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buy things to use the bathrooms in the restaurants
12:01
in Cook City or the gas stations. Now, please
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know that when you're in the park, the vault
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toilets are simple. There's no heat, there's
12:09
no running water, and the seasonal cleanliness
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can vary, sometimes dramatically. The park does
12:15
an amazing job cleaning them. It's just The parks
12:19
aren't well funded guys So it's a little harder
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to have someone constantly there making sure
12:26
that they're constantly clean. They're clean
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Everyone's doing their best. This is a thankless
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job. So when you see somebody cleaning toilets,
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thank them Winter travelers often will bring
12:37
their own toilet paper and hand sanitizer with
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them More than likely the toilets are going to
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be stocked, but you don't want to be left empty
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handed. So just bring a roll of toilet paper
12:46
with you and bring some hand sanitizer. And then
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you're always ready for whatever happens. Planning
12:51
your bathroom stops is a surprisingly important
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part of Yellowstone winter logistics because
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distances are long, temperatures are cold. And
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once you're past Tower Lamar Valley, your options
13:01
get sparse fast. Now, if there is an emergency,
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please have a Ziploc bag for your waste. Do not
13:09
leave teepee or solid waste in the snow on the
13:12
side of the road or at a pullout. Also, if you
13:15
don't feel comfortable picking things up, bring
13:18
some disposable gloves with you. Trust me, this
13:20
is the best way to do it. You're limiting your
13:22
impact and you're making the park clean and nice
13:26
for everyone. Not doing things like this and
13:28
just leaving waste around is awful. One reason
13:34
why I wanted to talk about this this week is
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A few years ago, we had a guide meeting and some
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of the guides were complaining that there weren't
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enough bathrooms for their clients spread apart,
13:44
you know, in the park. And then it was pointed
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out that there's like a bathroom in the park
13:49
every three to five miles, pretty much the entire
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park. Sometimes a couple of them are closed,
13:55
right? But there is always a bathroom nearby.
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If you think about the ones I just said. That's
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a lot of bathrooms for just this northern range.
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Yes, once you get past Pebble Creek, there's
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nothing there until Cook City. But in the summer,
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there are two places that are open seasonally
14:10
to use the bathroom between Pebble Creek and
14:13
Cook City. So there's areas to go. It's easy
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to do, but just be prepared that, you know, if
14:21
you see a bathroom, use it because you don't
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know when the next one is going to be. Now with
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that awkwardness behind us, I'm gonna start my
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random Yellowstone fact of the week the history
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of hell roaring Now if you've ever driven the
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road between Mammoth and tower and Yellowstone,
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you've probably passed the sign for hell roaring
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It's usually a little side road that goes down
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to a trailhead or you've stopped at the big hell
14:45
roaring Overlook where wolf watchers typically
14:47
will look out and scan for things huge overlook.
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It's great Hell roaring is one of those names
14:52
that makes you do a double take Hell Roaring.
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It sounds dramatic, intense, maybe even a little
14:57
exaggerated. But once you understand the history
15:00
and landscape out there, the name makes perfect
15:03
sense. Hell Roaring Creek earned its name the
15:06
old -fashioned way through sound and survival.
15:08
In the spring, when snow melts off the high country's
15:11
northern side of Yellowstone, the creek transforms.
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What's a modest stream in late summer becomes
15:17
a violent churning torrent. Early trappers, surveyors,
15:21
and explorers had a habit of naming places exactly
15:23
as they experienced them. And when that runoff
15:26
came crashing down on the plateau into the Yellowstone
15:29
River, it didn't whisper, it roared. So they
15:32
called it Hell Roaring. As I talked about weeks
15:34
and weeks ago, the name Hell appears often in
15:37
place names in the park. And there's even like
15:39
a person who tried to get rid of all of them
15:41
because he said, hey, park's full of beauty.
15:43
Why are we having like so much negativity? But
15:46
go back and listen to that one. The name Hell
15:49
roaring appears in the late 19th century surveyed
15:51
maps, not long after Yellowstone became a national
15:54
park in 1872. But of course, people were moving
15:57
through this country long before it had English
15:59
names. The Elstone River corridor was used seasonally
16:02
for thousands of years by the indigenous peoples.
16:05
They hunted the grasslands here, followed the
16:07
migrating herds, and knew these plateaus and
16:10
river crossings intimately. The written name
16:13
Hell Roaring reflects frontier era mapping traditions,
16:17
but just know that there is a long human history
16:20
here. Geographically, Hell Roaring sits in the
16:23
heart of Yellowstone's northern range. That stretch
16:26
of sagebrush, grassland, and rolling benches
16:28
between Mammoth and Lamar Valley. It's not geothermal
16:31
Yellowstone. There are no boardwalks erupting
16:33
geysers here. This is just wild. Hell Roaring
16:37
Creek drains off the high plateau north of the
16:39
river and then cuts its way south into the Yellowstone
16:42
River. Over time, that water carves steep terrain
16:45
and rugged canyon walls. As you hike down to
16:48
where the creek meets the river, you're going
16:50
to come across one of the park's most underrated
16:52
structures, the Hell Roaring Suspension Bridge.
16:55
Now, the Hell Roaring Suspension Bridge does
16:56
not cross the Hell Roaring Creek. It crosses
16:59
the Yellowstone River. But... Since it's on the
17:03
way to Hell Roaring, it's called the Hell Roaring
17:05
Suspension Bridge. This bridge was built in 1937
17:08
by the Civilian Conservation Corps, and back
17:11
then, anglers wanted better access to cross the
17:13
Yellowstone River and the CCC delivered, stringing
17:16
a 240 -foot suspension bridge across the canyon.
17:20
It still sways gently in the wind today, or if
17:23
people are walking on it, it'll bounce a little
17:25
bit. so that's fun um but when you're walking
17:28
across it take some time look upstream and downstream
17:31
and you'll see one of the wildest sections of
17:33
river now if you are here in the late spring
17:38
i don't know why i hesitated there the late spring
17:41
early summer when the runoff is the highest this
17:44
place is loud standing on top of this bridge
17:46
over the yellowstone river is absolutely deafening
17:49
it's awesome Once you cross the bridge, you get
17:52
into the broader Hell Roaring region, and this
17:55
area has always been about movement. Elk drift
17:58
across the benches here, pronghorn cut through
18:00
the sage, wolves travel between the Blacktail
18:03
Plateau and Lamar Valley, and in the winter,
18:05
especially, this is wolf country. The open terrain
18:09
makes it ideal for watching packs move across
18:11
the landscape, just as they have for decades
18:13
since introduction. The geology here tells its
18:17
own story. Volcanic deposits from Yellowstone's
18:19
ancient eruptions form the base of the plateau.
18:22
River erosion shaped the canyon. Just east of
18:25
here, Specimen Ridge holds fossilized forests,
18:28
trees buried by volcanic activity tens of millions
18:30
of years ago, all sorts of cool things all over,
18:34
and Hell Roaring is kind of one of those places
18:36
that you don't quite know what you're gonna see.
18:39
Hell Roaring is a meeting point of deep time
18:41
and raw present -day wilderness. and maybe that's
18:44
why it feels different. It's quieter than Lamar,
18:47
wilder than Mammoth, less polished than the geyser
18:50
basins, there's no grand hotel here, there's
18:53
no thermal steam rising from the earth, there's
18:55
just the wind, the grass, the river, the sky,
18:58
and the canyon. Hell Roaring isn't famous, it
19:01
doesn't make the top 10 list of the park, but
19:04
it holds the kind of history that when you start
19:08
really getting to know Yellowstone is around
19:10
every corner. Hell roaring is one of my favorite
19:13
places in the park. I love talking about it.
19:16
I could talk about hell roaring For weeks on
19:19
end. I I talked about a lot on this podcast already,
19:23
but I love how roaring I want people to get there
19:25
and experience it There are some really cool
19:28
things there that I would love to show you and
19:30
I'm not gonna talk about it because I do believe
19:32
limiting impact on some cool areas So if you
19:36
want to see that area, you can book a tour with
19:38
me reach out to me. I may tell you but at the
19:41
very least when you drive by the hell roaring
19:43
sign know that down there below the road there's
19:48
a place that races to meet with the Yellowstone
19:51
River that's simple beautiful wild and sometimes
19:57
this landscape I don't need to say anything because
19:59
it speaks for itself and sometimes it roars the
20:04
weather for the coming week Lamar Valley On Thursday,
20:09
the 19th, a high of 22, a low of negative 3.
20:13
On Friday, a high of 23, a low of 6. Saturday,
20:17
29 and 5. Sunday, 38 and 12. Monday, 42 and 26.
20:24
Tuesday, 38 and 23 with a chance of snow, maybe
20:28
2 inches or more. Wednesday, a high of 35 and
20:31
19 and a chance of about 1 inch of snow. Gardner,
20:35
Montana. On Thursday, a high of 26, a low of
20:38
zero. On Friday, 27 and 7. Saturday, 32 and 9.
20:44
Sunday finally gets above freezing, 40 and 16.
20:48
Monday is 45 and 28. Tuesday, there's a chance
20:53
for an inch of snow, high of 41, low of 25. And
20:57
then Wednesday, 38 and 21 with a 24 % chance
21:00
of some precipitation. and then that brings us
21:03
to Cook City and I haven't checked Cook City
21:05
so as I'm talking I'm literally pulling this
21:07
up Cook City on Thursday 18 and negative 5 on
21:13
Friday 19 and 6 Saturday 26 and 7 Sunday 34 and
21:20
14 Monday 40 and 26 with some snow maybe that
21:24
evening Tuesday 35 and 22 with a 72 percent chance
21:29
of four inches of snow and Wednesday 32 and 18
21:33
with a 51 percent chance of two inches of snow.
21:36
So if the forecast holds, which is a big if because
21:39
as anybody that's listened to this knows, forecasts
21:42
are very hard to predict this far out. But if
21:45
it holds, it looks like it's going to be snowy
21:47
later in the week. It looks like it's going to
21:49
be absolutely gorgeous and chilly this weekend.
21:52
Sunday is going to be the warmer day. So if you're
21:54
not wanting to be truly cold, Sunday's the way
21:57
to go, but also you're gonna You know have some
22:01
more slushy snow and things like that, but should
22:03
be a good week weather wise the snowpack update
22:07
as of the evening of the 17th the snowpack in
22:13
the park is doing pretty well It's right about
22:16
a hundred and one percent of normal for this
22:18
time of year the eastern and northern ranges
22:20
of the park are 112 % of normal, and the west
22:25
side of the park is right around 90 and 91%,
22:28
which really isn't that bad. Last year at this
22:31
time, the interior, the northern range, the eastern
22:34
range, was about 95 % of normal, and that western
22:37
side was about 110 % of normal, so things have
22:41
just kind of flipped. With some snow in the forecast,
22:44
I want to talk about road conditions right now.
22:46
The only road that's open is between Gardiner
22:48
and Cook City, as always this time of year. Please
22:50
be aware that this road can close at any time
22:53
due to inclement weather and does. As I mentioned
22:55
off the top, we've had a closure today. That
22:58
was the only closure. I don't expect much to
23:01
happen until late next week. Actually, well,
23:04
early next week, late in this week of podcasts,
23:07
right? So like Monday and Tuesday, Wednesday,
23:09
you might get some closures if it dumps snow.
23:12
Now the best way to know up -to -date road conditions
23:15
is you can call 307 -344 -2117 for recorded information,
23:21
or you can sign up to receive Yellowstone Road
23:23
Alerts on your mobile phone by texting the number
23:25
82190 to the number 888777. If you're camping
23:32
in the park, this is for you camping information.
23:35
As always for the winter, there is only one campground
23:38
open in the park right now, and that's the Mammoth
23:40
Campground which is open year round. If you want
23:43
to stay there, they have plenty of sites, don't
23:44
worry. Alright, that leads us to the wildlife
23:47
watching update. Right now the talk of the park
23:51
has been wolves and moose So I will talk a lot
23:53
about wolves and moose as well The wolves this
23:56
last week have really been hanging out around
23:58
Slough Creek quite a bit I had a friend there
24:01
a couple of days ago who had a decent sighting
24:05
And then yesterday it really popped off pretty
24:08
well. So Slough Creek is kind of where to start
24:11
also by the Blacktail Plateau area They've been
24:16
a pack that's been hanging out way in the distance
24:18
there. So if you see cars stopped at the Nature
24:22
Trail, you know, stop and see what they're looking
24:24
at. Moose have been out as soon as you get more
24:28
towards like Soda Butte, the confluence area
24:31
of Soda Butte and Lamar all the way out to Pebble
24:33
Creek. Moose have been hanging out there. Had
24:36
a friend that messaged yesterday, I think, and
24:39
said that they saw Multiple moose and one still
24:43
had one paddle on, so it hasn't lost its giant
24:46
rack yet. So, you know, if you want to see a
24:49
moose potentially with just one paddle sticking
24:51
off on one side of its head, could be good. If
24:54
it has freshly fallen off, take some binoculars
24:57
and look at that place where it will grow back.
25:01
It is a wild thing. Elsewhere in the park, coyotes
25:04
have been all over the place. I've heard of a
25:07
lot of sightings of some golden eagles recently,
25:11
a couple of foxes hanging out around Pebble Creek
25:14
and then out toward Cook City, then pronghorn,
25:17
bison, elk are all more of in the Mammoth Gardener
25:21
area. Bison are going to be Pretty much all over
25:24
at this point. If you don't see a bison, I would
25:26
be shocked. It's a good year for bison sightings.
25:30
Not a lot of actual bison jams on the road, though.
25:33
They haven't been moving as much. Maybe with
25:35
this new snow, they're going to be moving more.
25:38
I would also make sure you head up out of the
25:41
park and drive along Old Yellowstone Trail South.
25:44
to the hot springs area you might see some bighorn
25:48
sheep out that way also you will see some elk
25:50
and pronghorn like i said lots of eagles there's
25:53
some hawks coming in and then the thing that
25:55
i kind of buried here is that i have heard reports
25:59
north of the park of the first rocky mountain
26:02
bluebird sightings i haven't seen one yet i don't
26:06
know anybody personally that's seen one but i've
26:08
heard reports Now, this is a little early, but
26:12
this year has been crazy, so who knows? Otherwise,
26:16
if you're in the park, like as always, drive
26:18
back and forth. I apologize for not having a
26:21
lot more details this week. My dog had surgery
26:23
and I haven't been able to spend as much time
26:25
in the park as I would like, but I appreciate
26:28
everyone who knows this and has been telling
26:29
me what they've been seeing. I do want to also
26:32
say that people in the interior have been having
26:35
a crazy good wolf year. So if you are you know
26:39
visiting the park and then also taking a trip
26:40
into the interior you might have some really
26:43
cool wolf sightings it's been off and on obviously
26:46
based on where their kills are but still really
26:49
cool it should be a great week in the park i
26:51
think if you are in the park you're going to
26:53
have a good time i think saturday is probably
26:55
going to be a good day same with friday you know
26:59
obviously If you hear this early enough and can
27:02
head in Thursday, I think Thursday's gonna be
27:04
pretty special based on the fact that there's
27:06
gonna be some fresh snow that everything's gonna
27:08
be traipsing through and like I talked about
27:10
last week or the week before, looking at the
27:12
animal tracks and animal movement and fresh snow.
27:15
Love it. I hope you get to experience that. If
27:17
you see anything cool, let me know. Love to talk
27:19
about it and share. The trail alert and updates.
27:22
There are no official alerts this week from the
27:24
park. Not surprising. Just carry bear spray.
27:27
Have it ready. know how to use it. There are
27:30
bears out. I've seen a lot of things of people
27:33
asking questions about visiting the park. We
27:34
were like, there's no bears out. There are bears
27:36
out. There will be more and more bears out as
27:39
every week passes. While it is cold, as soon
27:42
as it gets warm again, bears could come out.
27:44
If there's a kill by them, bears are going to
27:46
come out. So just know always have your bear
27:49
spray. Also, snow while it is snowing. It's going
27:54
to still be kind of not ideal for cross -country
27:57
skiing and snowshoeing the closer to Mammoth
27:59
you get unless you're on those groomed areas.
28:01
If you're doing a trail, it might not be great.
28:03
You might not even need them. The farther to
28:05
Cook City you get, the better the snow is going
28:07
to be, especially since it's been dumpy in the
28:09
last couple of days. That brings me to the trail
28:12
of the week, which is one of those that you can
28:15
snowshoe and cross -country ski right now. That
28:18
trail is the Blacktail Plateau Snowshoe and Cross
28:22
-Country Ski Route. Winter in Yellowstone can
28:24
transform the landscape into a quiet, otherworldly
28:27
realm. Among the best places to experience this
28:30
stark beauty, away from the steam and geysers
28:33
and all the crowds of the cleared roads, is to
28:36
visit the Blacktail Plateau. Now, obviously when
28:39
I say crowds, that's relative for winter. There's
28:42
no real crowds right now. This broad, rolling
28:46
expanse of meadow and forest sits between Mammoth
28:48
Hot Springs and Tower Junction, along the park's
28:50
northern range. and is one of Yellowstone's most
28:53
rewarding snowshoe and cross -country ski routes.
28:56
In the summer, the Blacktail Plateau Drive is
28:58
a scenic dirt road that winds through the broad
29:00
grasslands, giving stunning views of the mountains
29:03
all around, and some just pretty rustic -feeling
29:07
experiences all throughout that drive. But when
29:10
winter arrives, the road becomes a trail, and
29:13
is one of the simplest and most satisfying ways
29:15
to explore Yellowstone's quieter side. The official
29:19
blacktail ski trail uses a section of road that's
29:22
closed as its backbone. It stretches about eight
29:25
miles one way between trailheads east of Mammoth
29:28
and near that petrified tree area. Now you will
29:32
follow an unplowed corridor across open meadows
29:35
and into forested sections that feel incredibly
29:37
remote in hopefully deep snow. This is kind of
29:41
that next level adventure. If you've done the
29:45
boardwalks at Mammoth, if you've done the Upper
29:47
Terrace at Mammoth, if you've gone up to Tower,
29:50
this is that next level, this is the next thing
29:53
to do. Now the most common access point for this
29:56
winter route is a parking area about eight miles
29:58
east of Mammoth Hot Springs. This lot sits just
30:01
across from a self -guided trail and it makes
30:04
it easy to transition from car to trail, like
30:07
you're right there. You can also drive up a little
30:10
more and park near the closed gate at the start
30:11
of the summer road, but I personally like starting
30:14
near the self -guided trail as the elevation
30:16
gain to start is more gradual and wildlife is
30:19
often hanging out in the area. But just know,
30:22
you're adding about a mile each way. From that
30:25
first trailhead, the route begins with a gradual
30:27
climb through open windswept meadows. There is
30:30
about 900 feet of elevation gain over approximately
30:33
6 miles, up toward a feature locally known as
30:37
the cut. This is the long day turnaround spot
30:40
for most, unless you're going to go point to
30:42
point or you have two cars, right? You can turn
30:45
around anywhere you desire, though. There is
30:47
one point about three miles up that there's a
30:50
rock off on the field on the left that if you
30:52
hike out to off the road, it offers a great view
30:55
out toward hell roaring. That's one of my favorite
30:57
places to turn around. And then you have a six
30:59
mile round trip day instead of 12 miles. But,
31:02
you know, whatever feels good. Just know however
31:05
far you go, you have to go back. The train here
31:08
feels more like a backcountry adventure than
31:10
a groomed trail. It could be groomed usually
31:13
not I have been out there while it's groomed
31:15
and it's I I use a word groomed loosely because
31:20
there were ski tracks there and I was cross -country
31:22
skiing and the ski tracks were Not what I had
31:25
considered to be straight or well done and it
31:27
was wild and a ton of fun and still one of my
31:30
best days so there's wide views here stretches
31:33
forever in the north like you're gonna love looking
31:37
out here there's long expansive prairie that
31:39
feel almost alpine in the winter and what many
31:42
visitors remember most about this route is not
31:45
just the physical experience but it's that visual
31:47
one that i'm talking about in the wildlife that
31:49
you may encounter there may be some snow drifts
31:52
here and there As you pass through a large open
31:54
field, you're going to go through clusters of
31:56
trees. You're going to see a rock that looks
31:57
just like a bear. There's rolling hills with
32:01
different terrain. And because it's not a summer
32:04
hiking trail and instead a road, it's wide open
32:07
and it's really cool. You may be breaking trail
32:11
or following ski tracks left by early visitors.
32:13
And that adds to the sense of adventure. Like
32:15
I said, this is that next level adventure, right?
32:18
Wildlife is a huge part of the blocktail experience.
32:21
In winter, elk, deer, coyotes, foxes, owls, hawks,
32:26
bison, everything kind of hangs out here. I mentioned
32:30
bison. It's not uncommon to spot a ton of bison
32:33
here. If you do encounter bison, please do not
32:38
approach them and move far, far around them.
32:42
They will not be happy to see you out there.
32:45
They're probably not going to do anything but
32:47
just be disgusted that they have to move but
32:49
don't approach them they're wild animals. One
32:53
thing that I do like seeing out here that is
32:55
underrated and I often see and I don't hear a
32:58
lot of people talking about it are wolf tracks.
33:01
I have seen wolf tracks here all the time and
33:04
it's evidence that this region is like the full
33:07
predator prey dynamic spot in the park. It's
33:10
not the most well -known hunting area but there's
33:13
definitely movement here. Now for those who move
33:15
quietly and stop often, Blacktail feels like
33:18
a real Yellowstone winter wilderness with long
33:21
sight lines that make animal watching really
33:23
rewarding. There's a spot near that rock I was
33:26
talking about that you can go and scan some hillsides
33:29
and there might be bighorn sheep out there. Now
33:32
again, the further you go on this trail, the
33:35
further you're going to have to go back unless
33:36
you have a car parked at both sides. If you make
33:39
it all the way to the cut, The route descends
33:41
for about two more miles through forest and then
33:44
down to the road kind of by the petrified tree
33:47
area. The descent is moderate and can feel somewhat
33:50
satisfying after a steady climb especially if
33:52
you're on skis. You're going to get some speed
33:55
there. It's also a chance to enjoy a change in
33:57
vegetation and just have more time in nature.
34:02
Obviously if you're heading out dressed for winter
34:05
You're not going to have any warming huts or
34:07
anything out here. If you encounter wildlife,
34:10
stay at least 100 yards from bears and wolves
34:12
and at least 25 yards from bison to help protect
34:14
you and the animals. Bring plenty of food, layers,
34:18
everything you need. This is not the easy, easy
34:22
trip, but I love it. And for those who do serious...
34:26
Very serious outdoor winter things. This is an
34:29
easy trip But if you're looking to kind of up
34:31
your game put on a pair of snowshoes Cross -country
34:34
skis if you're comfortable with them and go as
34:36
far as you want Now in a park famous for geothermal
34:40
wonders blacktail offers a very different kind
34:43
of winter adventure There's no steam vents. There's
34:46
no geysers here There's just broad open landscapes
34:50
abundant wildlife and a true sense of Yellowstone's
34:53
lesser traveled regions Whether you're gliding
34:56
across wide meadows on skis or crunching along
34:59
in snowshoes, this route captures the quiet,
35:02
wonderful, that bliss, that everything that you're
35:06
probably searching for if you're listening to
35:07
the trail section buried at the end of this podcast.
35:10
Go out there, bring a lunch, sit on a log or
35:13
a rock, and just scan and enjoy the silence.
35:16
You might hear owls, you might hear birds, you
35:18
might hear bison roaming, you never know. Alright,
35:22
that is it for this week. In next week's episode,
35:25
I'm going to return with all the information
35:26
you need to have a good week in the park. As
35:28
always, I appreciate you listening. Pick up a
35:31
book. Book a tour with me. I know I said book
35:34
twice. And enjoy the park. February is awesome.
35:39
If you're in the park this week, it's going to
35:40
be awesome. Have a great time. Abrupt ending!
35:54
This week in Yellowstone is brought to you by
35:55
the Outdoor Society. That's my company. It's
35:58
just me. I do this. It's a labor of love. If
36:00
you like it, tell your friends, rate and review
36:03
it. Shoot me a message. Otherwise, keep listening,
36:06
and I hope to see you in Yellowstone. Copyright
36:09
2026, baby!