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This week in Yellowstone National Park, I share a fun, short trek to a frozen waterfall, try to convince you to drive to Cooke City, let you know some great coffee shops just outside the park, and give you all of the weather, wildlife and road updates you’ll need to have a great experience when you visit Yellowstone this week.
Listen to this as a podcast!
Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/this-week-in-yellowstone-national-park/id1789397931
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/41E5WWldz4s7n6NXh2Lahr
RSS: https://rss.com/podcasts/this-week-in-yellowstone-national-park/
The standard disclaimer: I might miss a few things, so if there’s anything else you’d like to know, just reach out! I also mention park locations pretty casually, so if you’re unfamiliar, a quick search might help. Also, this report only covers driveable areas of the park.
THIS WEEK’S YELLOWSTONE NEWS
There are no real news stories out of the park right now. I could chat about how the state of Wyoming failed to pass a law banning running down wolves and coyotes with snowmobiles, but there isn’t much to say about it. Instead, I will briefly mention the upcoming Yellowstone Summit. While I will not be a part of it, as my invite must have been lost in the mail, you may want to check it out if you enjoy Yellowstone.
The following is directly from yellowstonesummit.com: The Yellowstone Summit will run from February 20-23, 2025, with a variety of presentations and activities to choose from each day. The summit is happening online; you can tune into the summit from anywhere with internet access. If you purchase the VIP Pass, you’ll also be able to listen to presentations in podcast format. Presentations will be 20-45 minutes in length. New pre-recorded presentations are released each day and will be available for 48 hours to encourage you to take advantage of the incredible information shared by presenters.
I don’t know much about this, but there are a few guest speakers that I know, and they are pretty rad. You can check out more at YellowstoneSummit.com.
As far as costs and all that go, I didn’t feel like doing a deep dive, so you’ll have to do your own research.
Other than that, I have nothing more to add than the visitation statistics for January of 2025 should be coming out soon. When they do, I will have a standalone episode diving into these numbers.
EXPERIENCE OF THE WEEK
Drive out to Cooke City.
While many will head to Lamar Valley from Gardiner or Mammoth when visiting Yellowstone this winter, few make the trek all the way out to Cooke City. I am guilty of this, as well. More often than not, I drive as far as Round Prairie and Pebble Creek, then turn around and head west, back to Lamar Valley.
While this is a solid option and a time-tested way to have a good day, there are some cool things you are missing out on by not driving all the way to Cooke City. Once you get beyond Pebble Creek, the road will get snowier, and the trees will be thicker along the side of the road. There is still some potential for wildlife sightings, but compared with the drive through Lamar, visibility is largely limited. So why drive this way?
Mountains, moose, foxes, majestic views, and an idyllic mountain town.
Once you drive beyond Pebble Creek, the road narrows a bit and the trees start to close in. You’ll drive above Ice Box Canyon, alongside Soda Butte Creek, and then start paralleling the southeastern flank of Barronette Peak as the road climbs. You’ll want to stop at the Barronette Peak Overlook on the northeast side of the road. If you scan with a good pair of binoculars or a spotting scope, you may see mountain goats between the dozens of frozen waterfalls coming down the mountain.
After scanning the mountain for a bit, continue heading toward Cooke City. Scenic views and vistas will start to increase as you get closer to the NE entrance. Once you leave the park, you’ll get fantastic mountain views to the south. While you’ll be tempted to keep looking up at the ridgelines draped in snow, don’t forget to look down in the meadows, as the region is teeming with moose.
You’ll quickly pass through Silver Gate, which will mostly be closed up in the winter. A few things here and there will be open, but generally, this is a summer town. Stop if you desire.
After blinking and passing through Silver Gate, you’ll once again leave signs of civilization. A good view is found a little out of town, at the parking lot of the Mt. Republic Chapel. Here, you’ll see the majestic Repubic Mountain at 10,162-feet tall. Topographic relief is significant as the north aspect rises over 2,600 feet above Cooke City in one mile. The mountain’s name was officially adopted as Republic Peak in 1930 by the United States Board on Geographic Names, and officially changed to Republic Mountain by the board in 1959.
After enjoying the view, continue on to Cooke City. Keep an eye out at Montana street, as a family of foxes frequently is spotted here. If they are out, do not stop on the main road or on Montana Street. Park in town and walk back to where you can see them from a safe distance. In Cooke City, stop in any shop you desire, swing by the visitor center, and enjoy the literal end of the road.
TIP OF THE WEEK
Visit a coffee shop outside of the park.
A few weeks ago, I mentioned where you could get some coffee or warm drinks in the park. This week, I am sharing four favorite spots outside the park to pick up a warm drink.
North of Gardiner, Cowboy Up coffee is one of my favorites. Located in the Sinclair parking lot, this is a fantastic place to get a good drink and a snack. You can also fill your tank here, so it is a double win. This is the place I stop at the most.
In Gardiner, I tend to go to Bear’s Brew or Wonderland Cafe, as both offer good drinks and good food options. Wonderland has a lot more food options than Cowboy Up or Bear’s Brew, but it also tends to be a bit busier and takes longer. They do have a restroom, though.
In Cooke City, stop at Cooke City Coffee. This is a place I had yet to visit, as I tend to get my coffee before I enter the park, but after stopping at Cooke City Coffee a few weeks ago, I am sold on it. They have a nice shop, quality options, and some cool little gifts available. The only downside is that there is no public restroom in the building, but there is one nearby.
These are not the only places to get a cup of coffee or tea, but these are the ones I stop at. As always, I am not getting anything for mentioning these locations. If you have a local spot you want me to try, let me know, and I will check it out.
WEATHER FOR THE COMING WEEK
While last weekend saw ridiculously cold temperatures, the coming week will warm up a bit and be snowy. Don’t expect to be above freezing for very long, though. It is still very much winter. I also wouldn’t expect a lot of sun, so wildlife watching visibility could be challenging some days this week.
Lamar Valley: This week will see more snow in Lamar, with over a foot in the forecast between Thursday the 13th and Wednesday. The snowiest days are said to be Friday and Sunday. The highs will be in the 20s most of the week, and the lows will be in the teens.
Cooke City: Snowfall amounts will be similar to Lamar, with total accumulation being slightly higher and temperatures slightly lower. Highs will be in the 20s, and lows will be in the single digits and teens.
Gardiner: The current forecast is saying that Gardiner will get about 7 inches of snow in the next week. Friday, Sunday, and Monday will be the snowiest, each said to get two inches of snow. Highs will hover around freezing, while lows will be in the high teens and 20s.
As always, temperature may be higher or lower than I say, and snowfall amounts may also be higher or lower. The area is hard to predict, especially more than a day or two out.
SNOWPACK UPDATE
Last week’s snowstorms really helped the snowpack around the park and the region, pushing it up into the 90% of normal range for the first time this winter on the eastern side of the park. Snow through the weekend and into early next week should keep it around this same number, but I wouldn’t expect a big jump either direction unless the forecast is extremely wrong. This is the snowy time of the year.
ROADS CONDITIONS
With snow and cold temperatures expected to last through the week, expect roads to be snow-packed and icy in spots. You may have some spots of visible pavement here and there, but generally, expect winter driving conditions. Lower your speed and know that the park roads do not have shoulders.
For up-to-date information call (307) 344-2117 for recorded information, or sign up to receive Yellowstone road alerts on your mobile phone by texting “82190” to 888-777. Anticipate possible road closures due to inclement weather and dangerous driving conditions.
CAMPING INFO
Just like every other week so far in 2025, Mammoth is the only campground in the park that is open. If you are camping, expect very cold temperatures at night. Do not camp unless you have good winter gear and are experienced in winter camping.
WILDLIFE WATCHING UPDATE
I didn’t write anything this week, but I did share locations in this week’s podcast episode, so give it a listen1
HIKING NEWS AND UPDATES
I know I sound like a broken record, or whatever the modern version of this saying is, but if you are hiking in Yellowstone this week, you’ll need cross-country skis or snowshoes. If you try to hike without them, you’ll be post-holing up to your knees or waist pretty much every step. If you want to walk the boardwalks around Mammoth, have traction devices, as there are some very slick spots.
TREK OF THE WEEK
I have been debating this as a trek of the week since I started this podcast at the beginning of the year, but now is as good of a time as any to recommend it. This week, if you are hoping for a short hike to a lesser-seen view, look no further than the Lava Creek Trail.
The Lava Creek Trail is much longer than I am going to recommend hiking right now, and I am sure I will cover it again in the summer. Right now, I am recommending a very short, rewarding winter trail experience.
At just one mile round trip, serious hikers would hardly consider this a trek, but we can ignore them, like we always do. Treks are not just about distance and elevation gain; they are about the experience, the views, and how your soul feels after you have completed them. Chances are, if you enjoy my books, my website, or this podcast, you’ll enjoy this short adventure. Why? This adventure will get you out in the snow, standing atop a frozen waterfall and then overlooking Mammoth Hot Springs in the distance.
To get here, park at the Lava Creek Picnic Area a few miles east of Mammoth Hot Springs. Once parked and ready for an outdoor adventure, walk across both the road and the small bridge that spans over Lava Creek. On the north side of the road, which is the opposite side of the road from the parking area, you’ll find a small trail heading up over a tiny hill. Once over the hill, you’ll see a larger trail sign and maybe even a boot path in the snow. The boot path will lead back toward Mammoth, meandering through the snow-covered prairie. While on the move, keep an eye out for signs of wildlife, as bison, elk, coyotes, and even wolves use this same route. Chances are, those with keen eyes will be able to spot fresh wildlife tracks in the snow.
BOOK A HIKING TOUR
Love being on foot in the great outdoors, but want to make the most of your time in Yellowstone? Picture yourself hiking the trails with a knowledgeable expert who knows the best spots, hidden gems, and all the incredible wildlife stories the park has to offer. My guided hiking tours will forever change how you view Yellowstone.
Designed to give you an unforgettable adventure beyond the boardwalks, my tours will give you breathtaking views, memorable wildlife encounters, and a stress-free day in nature.
If you are ready to hit the trails, reach out to me directly or check out my current guided hiking options at outdoor-society.com. Let’s make your Yellowstone adventure one to remember!
