Latest / This Week in Yellowstone National Park / This Week in Yellowstone: January 16th through January 22nd, 2025

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This Week in Yellowstone: January 16th through January 22nd, 2025 · This Week in Yellowstone National Park

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  From the banks of the Yellowstone River, next to the border of the AB Wilderness, and
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  under the looming ridgelines of the Absaroka Mountains, this is This Week in Yellowstone
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  for the week of January 16th to January 22nd, 2025.
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  Alright, how about that for an abrupt ending?
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  This week in Yellowstone National Park, we will get some real winter weather in and around
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  the park.
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  I'll also tell you about how some tour guides got in trouble, where to see hoarfrost, and
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  where you should hike if you're hoping to brave the cold and want to potentially see
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  wolf prints in the snow.
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  Stick around and you may just be inspired to spend some time in Yellowstone National
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  Park this week.
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  Alright, here's the standard disclaimer.
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  This week, like every week, I will do my best to give you relevant information for your
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  upcoming visit.
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  I may miss a few things and not cover some topics you'd like, but if there's anything
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  you wish to know, please feel free to contact me.
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  I also refer to locations in the park pretty casually, so if you're unfamiliar with the
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  park, you may want to search for some of these things on your favorite search engine.
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  Maybe Bing, maybe Google, maybe Ask.
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  I don't know.
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  DuckDuckGo?
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  Please note that this weekly report is for the current drivable regions of the park only,
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  and does not cover the experiences one may have to take a snow coach or snowmobile tour
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  into the interior.
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  If you have questions about those adventures and regions, please contact your tour operator.
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  They should help, and if they don't help, tell them they need to.
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  This week's Yellowstone News!
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  It's been another slow news week in Yellowstone, which is great.
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  Because of this morning, which is Wednesday the 15th, the park just released the final
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  visitation numbers for 2024.
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  So in 2024, Yellowstone saw 4,744,352 visitors, which was up 5.4% from 2023.
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  If these numbers are accurate, that puts 2024 as the second most visited visitation.
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  2021 is the record holder, with 4,860,242 visitors.
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  And for the month of December of 2024 had 30,410 visitors, down 12.52% from December
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  of 2023.
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  Later this week, probably over the weekend, I'm going to be releasing an episode breaking
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  down visitation for Yellowstone in 2024.
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  This will cover everything you want to know about park visitation, including the busiest
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  months, the months showing largest growth and popularity, and areas of the park that
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  kind of saw a busier time than others.
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  And I'm also going to talk about an area of recreation that is seen a decline in Yellowstone.
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  The only other real news from last week was when President Joe Biden and the United States
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  Fish and Wildlife Services rejected years old petitions from multiple western states
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  to remove the grizzly bear from the list of endangered and threatened species.
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  So how long is this going to last?
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  No idea.
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  I mean, we're going to have a new president by the time I record the next episode.
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  Other than that, the park had to issue a warning to all tour operators, reminding them that
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  stopping on the road is illegal, as is loading and unloading their passengers when stopped
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  on the road.
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  They weren't in a pullout, but on the main road.
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  I may or may not have reported four different companies, well-known ones too, doing exactly
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  that a few weeks back.
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  It sucks to be them, but they shouldn't have been doing that in the first place, as rules
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  are rules.
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  Experience of the week.
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  So this week, the experience I'm recommending going to see hoarfrost, since it's going to be ridiculously cold,
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  is to take a drive by the rivers in the early morning.
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  They should be steaming quite a lot, and if they are steaming, and you feel like a small
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  adventure outside, you can go toward the river on a trail and look at the taller grasses
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  and plants.
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  They should be covered with hoar frost.
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  And hoar frost is the type of frost that forms when water vapor in the air freezes on
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  surfaces that are already below freezing.
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  It's made up of these tiny ice crystals that look like white hair or feathers.
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  Sometimes they look like really intricate designs and it's incredibly gorgeous.
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  You may also see hoar frost on the sage throughout the park as you're driving around.
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  Definitely stop and get out, especially if you can at a pullout.
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  And if you're bundled up, you can see amazing designs that are so delicate that even if
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  you breathe on them, they'll then melt.
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  So be very careful of not ruining that experience for other visitors.
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  Talking about the cold brings me to the tip of the week.
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  Bundle up and be prepared.
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  This week's Sub Zero Lows will be a challenge for visitors and locals alike.
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  The wind should be minimal, but even a slight breeze will drop the wind chill down to dangerously
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  low levels.
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  During stretches of super cold weather like this, we usually get a frostbite warning telling
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  people they may get frostbite on exposed skin if they're out longer than 15-20 minutes.
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  Do not assume you will be okay.
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  Bring extra layers, extra socks, extra gloves, and a face covering.
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  This isn't just a warning for people thinking of snowshoeing or skiing.
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  If you get out of your car at all, bundle up a lot.
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  Also have emergency supplies in your car.
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  The list of things you need includes but is not limited to extra food and water, a few
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  blankets, extra clothes, a flashlight, extra gloves and hats, and hand warmers.
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  If you do drive off the road because of wintery conditions and get stuck in the park, it will
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  take hours for a tow truck to arrive.
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  Here this week I saw a car off the road at 9am.
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  When I drove by at 3pm, the man in this car were still there waiting for a tow truck,
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  which I passed the tow truck coming into the park at Mammoth an hour later.
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  So he would be out there after dark.
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  Talking about the weather, here's the weather for the coming week.
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  This is the main story for the week and one I'm personally very excited about.
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  Not everyone else enjoys subzero temperatures, but I really do.
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  So let's start with the weather forecast for Lamar Valley.
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  Thursday we'll see highs around freezing, and that is the last time we will see temperatures
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  that high in at least 7 days.
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  Friday we'll have some snowshowers and highs in the low 20s.
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  Saturday we'll see a high of 11 and a low of negative 11.
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  And Sundays forecast will be just 8 degrees.
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  So how cold will it be on Sunday?
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  The current forecast is calling for a low temperature of negative 21.
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  Monday will be 7 degrees and then a low of negative 11.
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  Tuesday will be 17 and negative 2.
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  And then Wednesday will be a balmy 25 as a high and a low of 3.
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  These temperatures are Fahrenheit by the way.
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  Sometimes I will say this and people won't be impressed, but yeah.
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  It's Fahrenheit, not Celsius.
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  For Cook City use the same forecast, but drop the highs a few degrees.
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  Sunday will be the coldest day out in Cook City with a high of 3 and a low of negative
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  22.
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  The hotter temperatures in the area are going to be found outside the park.
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  In Gardner the weather is very similar to Lamar in Cook City.
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  It will be warmer in Gardner, but only minimally.
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  Sundays temperature in Gardner will be 9 with a low of negative 15.
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  The high on Wednesday will be 27 with a low of 5.
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  The forecast I just shared is as of Wednesday, January 15th.
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  It may and I'm guessing be substantially colder than the temperature I listed, especially
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  with the slightest of breezes.
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  So with the cold temperature, let's talk about the snowpack.
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  So here's the snowpack update.
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  The snowpack in the park continues to be decent.
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  It isn't great, but it's better than it was last year.
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  We're currently at about 84% of normal in the park based on the last 20 years of snowpack
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  data.
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  If you go back the last 50 years, we are much lower than 84%, but we can't do much about
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  that, so we will only say 20 years.
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  I don't expect the snowpack to increase at all this week.
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  If it does, I mean, it's going to do nothing to bring the numbers up.
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  If it does snow, not if it does change, obviously if it changes, it changes, but if it does snow,
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  then it's not going to be a big enough snow.
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  There's only one small round of snow coming in on Friday, and then it's going to be decently
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  clear.
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  So with snow, it brings us to roads.
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  Road conditions.
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  The roads this week will be a lot like last week.
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  Most of the park roads have snow on them.
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  There's patches of ice here and there, and I'll be honest with you, the roads a few days
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  ago I thought were perfectly fine.
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  However, I saw numerous cars lose control and get stuck in deep snow.
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  I also saw cars stopped in the roadway around blind corners, on ice and snow, nearly causing
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  serious accidents as they took pictures of elk, bison, and moose.
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  I'm going to sound like a broken record here, but do not stop in the road.
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  Always use a pullout to take a picture.
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  If you can't get a picture of an animal because there's nowhere to stop, enjoy seeing it without
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  a picture.
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  Also, remember that when driving in the park, speeding is not only illegal, but dangerous
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  to you and wildlife.
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  Animals can and will jump out in the road anywhere at any time.
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  Once again, please use the pullouts, especially if you're the slow car and causing a backup.
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  If you're not comfortable driving in the road, let the cars behind you pass, otherwise it's
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  going to create an unsafe passing condition.
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  If you're hoping for an up-to-date text from the park, you can text 82190 to 888777.
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  That will give you announcements of road closures, alerts, all of those things.
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  You can also call area code 307-344-2117 for recorded information.
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  When you're injured in the park, always anticipate possible road closures due to inclement weather
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  and dangerous driving conditions, especially this time of year.
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  Camping information.
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  Basically same thing as last week.
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  If you're camping this week, or thinking of camping this week, good luck.
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  The cold temperatures are going to be so brutal, unless you are experienced in winter camping
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  in the Rocky Mountains and have all the needed gear, don't try to camp this week.
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  There's enough amenities and mammoth and gardener that you should be able to find some place
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  much warmer.
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  If not, you can come up to Livingston and there's plenty of hotels.
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  The wildlife watching update.
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  It was a pretty slow start to the week, but the action picked up mid-week.
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  It might continue through the weekend, especially with the cold.
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  There might be a little more desperation by some of the more active hunters.
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  By that I don't mean people with guns, I mean wolves.
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  Wolves have been active from Hellroaring to Slough Creek.
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  Coyotes have been all over the place.
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  The moose have still been hanging out around Pebble Creek.
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  Obviously this may and will change at any time, but it's good to know that wolves haven't
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  spotted and there's a decent chance for moose sightings.
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  In fact the wolf sightings yesterday were very good right from the Tower Junction area.
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  There were 5 wolves visible and it got to be so popular of a wolf watching spot, even
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  being in the winter, that rangers came and had a clear space for the wolves to cross
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  the road.
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  Again, if you're watching wildlife, don't follow the wildlife down.
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  To each pull out, you're going to see tour guides doing this with their groups.
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  It is a frowned upon behavior by a lot of people and it creates more stress on the animals.
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  So watch the animal from where you can and then let it go away.
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  As far as elk and bison sightings go, as of Tuesday most of the bison have been spotted
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  between Slough Creek and Mammoth.
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  A few were out in Lamar, but most of the bison in the northern range are moving toward the
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  lower elevations where grass is a little easier to find.
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  Elk have been doing the same thing and I spotted a few small herds of elk between Tower and
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  Mammoth earlier in the week.
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  But the most amount of elk I saw were up toward Paradise Valley as you leave Gardner
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  heading to Livingston.
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  There were a few large herds of elk, a decent smattering of pronghorn, and about a dozen
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  golden and bald eagles and trees.
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  So if you're wanting to see eagles, that's definitely your place to go to is just outside
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  the park.
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  Back in the park, I did see a few big horn sheep near the Yellowstone River picnic area,
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  but they've been pretty hit and miss.
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  Hiking news and updates.
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  This is the time of the year where there's not a lot to report on trails in the park.
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  Being winter and all, you'll need snowshoes or cross country skis to do pretty much any
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  outside activity.
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  If you are walking the boardwalks at Mammoth, use traction devices.
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  Earlier this week I watched a Xantera tour bus unload near Liberty Cap at the lower Mammoth
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  area and half the clients fell in the snow and ice within 10 feet of the bus.
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  Luckily nobody was hurt, but know that going into the area and that the upper boardwalk
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  area is usually even a little more dicey.
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  So speaking of hiking, that brings us to the trek of the week.
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  This week I am recommending the Slough Creek Road.
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  So you can go up to 5 miles round trip with about 250 feet elevation gain.
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  You will need trekking poles, snowshoes, cross country skis, all of those things to feel comfortable
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  and safe.
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  I'm going to read a description of the hike to you.
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  If you aren't interested, just hit skip a couple of times and you'll get to the next
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  section.
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  So the Slough Creek Road in winter is easily a top 3 easy winter adventure.
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  It offers sweeping views of the region's landscape, you'll have potential for incredible wildlife
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  watching and an opportunity to experience the elements of Yellowstone's outdoors first
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  hand.
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  If you are looking for a fun adventure, you should not skip this.
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  So located just before passing through the narrow canyon along the Lamar River, Slough
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  Creek is currently one of the best spots in Yellowstone to spot wolves.
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  Over the last few years, one of the wolf packs in Yellowstone has been denning in the region
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  during the spring months and dazzling wildlife watchers.
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  In the winter, wolves, bison, coyotes, foxes, elk, and even occasional moose can be spotted
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  in this region.
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  No matter what the month, Slough Creek is worth a stop and the adventure.
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  But we're talking about winter, so this is what it's like during the winter.
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  The dirt road leading the Slough Creek is closed to vehicles during this time, and it
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  turns the wide path into an ideal place to wander the cold temperatures and wind swept
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  snow.
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  Please park in the appropriate spots around the pit toilets.
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  Do not park in the spots in front of the toilets or block the gate if you plan to hike.
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  There are pullouts nearby along the road that should be used.
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  They may or may not be plowed.
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  Once parked, make your way to the gate and walk around it.
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  The path is very easy to follow.
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  You meander down towards Slough Creek, alongside the flank of Bison Peak.
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  You more than likely see some other human tracks, be it from snowshoes or cross country
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  skiers.
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  If you do see other tracks, never walk on the cross country ski path.
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  That makes everything really hard.
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  There is an argument that Bison don't follow that, but Bison don't recognize that we can
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  and do so.
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  Stay in the right or left side of the trail to limit your impact on other people's good
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  day.
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  There's plenty of room.
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  The trail will roll an elevation a bit, but for all intents and purposes, there's only
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  one hill that you descend on the trek right away.
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  It's about a half mile from the parking area.
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  You drop down that.
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  You'll have to walk back up at the end, but it's the only hill.
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  Once the hill has been descended, the path will head towards Slough Creek, along the
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  way stop and scan for animals, directly where you are looking as you're heading down the
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  hill.
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  Nearly every winter trek along the Slough Creek road, I've seen Bison and Coyotes.
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  Sometimes I do see the wolves out there too.
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  Just under one mile from the gate and pit toilets where you've parked, you'll have a
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  chance to leave the road and walk out to a fantastic view of Slough Creek.
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  If you can do that, this area is great because you can see eagles.
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  I've also watched wolves on the hills to the north.
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  It's also a good place to stop and scan for a while or a decent spot to turn back if you're
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  just wanting a short day.
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  If you choose to turn around, don't worry about it.
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  You've completed a two mile trek in Yellowstone looking at Slough Creek.
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  Not a lot of people do that.
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  If you want to keep going, keep going.
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  From here, animal tracks in the snow start to increase, allowing you to see where Coyotes
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  have been hunting, where wolves have been roving, and where Bison roam.
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  I know, that's a lot of weird descriptions.
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  You also have a high chance of encountering Bison along this path between here and the
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  campground.
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  If you do encounter a Bison, do not approach them.
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  You'll have to get off the trail and walk around them.
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  It's going to be less than ideal.
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  It will not be fun.
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  But do not walk toward them.
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  If they walk toward you, don't stay where you are.
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  A lot of people think, oh, the animal is moving toward me.
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  It's okay.
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  No, no.
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  If an animal approaches you, any animal, maintain safe distances that is 25 yards with Bison.
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  Move away, go off the trail.
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  If it's a struggle, it's a struggle.
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  That's just what happens when you get out in the wild to Yellowstone.
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  On the pullout, where you'll have an option to turn around, the next mile of the trail
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  is really pretty.
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  I like scanning the rocks on the right side as you're hiking in.
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  Occasional creek views will emerge on your left.
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  But like I said, that Bison Peak side on your right is where I've seen all sorts of animals.
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  So keep an eye out and stop and scan and listen.
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  So just under two miles, the path takes a left at the Slough Creek Trailhead.
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  There's some super serious adventures that may want to go if they have proper gear up
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  into that trail.
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  It is awesome if you can, but again, it is a way more serious day than just walking the
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  road.
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  So if you want to do that, reach out to me.
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  I will help you out and tell you what you need to know.
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  So everyone else should just stay on the road to the outbuildings and the second gate.
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  At the gate, walk around it and continue to the campground.
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  This section of the path will narrow and animal prints and the snow should increase even more.
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  Once at the campground, walk up the creek a little bit.
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  You'll get to the campground and there will be a pit toilet that will be closed at the
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  end of the road in Picnic area.
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  But if you go up that a little bit, you're going to have some pretty cool isolation and
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  a really nice frozen creek view.
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  You'll also probably see some coyote tracks walking across, maybe in some bison tracks
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  on the frozen creek.
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  After you've had your fill of the view, any of the campground, turn around and go back
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  the way you came.
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  It's definitely cool and you'll enjoy it.
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  And once you're back on the main road past the other Slough Creek trail, just walk back
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  to the parking area, stop and scan, look for tracks and definitely just enjoy the sights
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  and sounds and being out.
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  Because while it is only a five mile round trip track, it is a really cool moment and
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  I've had some of my deeper thoughts and just fun times out on this very simple path.
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  Alright, so if you don't want to do that on your own, book a hiking tour.
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  And if you'd rather hike the trails of Yellowstone with a knowledgeable expert, I offer private
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  hiking guide services and would be more than happy to have you come out on a great adventure
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  into some wild spots that you may not see.
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  I also provide snowshoes, so if you are wanting to learn how to snowshoe and get started in
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  your winter activities, do it.
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  Contact me directly.
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  You can also check out my current hiking guide options, current guided hiking options
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  at outdoor-society.com.
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  If you're on that website, you'll also see a tab at the top that says guidebooks.
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  You could pick up a guidebook if you like this information and want even more.
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  I have a wildlife watching guidebook and a hiking guidebook to the region available at
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  that store.
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  Both ebook and paperback copies are available and once again that is outdoor-society.com.
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  And with that, that basically concludes the This Week in Yellowstone for this week.
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  I will be back next week with brand new information.
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  Also keep an eye out, there will be a new episode dropping in a few days, going into
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  the Weeds of Visitation Statistics for Yellowstone in 2024.
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  So if you enjoy hearing numbers, give that one a listen.
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  Alright, we'll see.
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  We'll see.
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  No?
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  You'll hear me next week.
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  Bye!