by 
From the banks of the Yellowstone River, next to the border of the AB Wilderness, and under the looming ridgelines of the Absaroka Mountains of Montana, this is This Week in Yellowstone for the week of January 9th to the 15th of 2025.
This week in Yellowstone National Park, winter has finally arrived. Since the year started, snow has been dumping in the region, bringing both amazing experiences and some challenges.
This week, like every week, I will do my best to give you relevant information for your upcoming visit. I may miss a few things and not cover some topics you’d like, but if there is anything you wish to know, please feel free to contact me. I also refer to locations in the park pretty casually, so if you are unfamiliar with the park, you may want to search for some of these things.
Please note that this weekly report is for driveable regions of the park only and does not cover the experiences one may have to take a snowcoach or snowmobile tour into the interior.
Alright, now that I put that awkwardness behind us, let’s dive into what you need to know this week.
NEWS OF THE WEEK
This weekend, Yellowstone will mark the 30th anniversary of the reintroduction of wolves into the park. Passing through the Roosevelt Arch on Jan. 12, 1995, eight gray wolves from Jasper National Park in Alberta, Canada, got their first scent of their new home. The eight would be placed in holding pens at Crystal Bench in Lamar Valley and become the first wolves to roam Yellowstone since the 1920s when the last pack was killed. While no official events are planned to mark this historic occasion, there will be small events all year by the numerous entities operating in the park. I will be holding guided hiking tours this summer and fall to regions where wolf sightings have forever changed how wildlife watching occurs in the park. When I hear of any events ahead of time, I will do my best to let you all know.
In other news, the state of Montana, led by Governor Gianforte, made famous for body-slamming a reporter last decade, is suing the NPS over their bison management plan. While I could go into this, I won’t do that here. I may do a special, standalone podcast episode on news events like this in the future, but for now, I am trying to be brief. Here is a link to learn more.
EXPERIENCE OF THE WEEK
This week there will be many amazing experiences to be had while in Yellowstone, but the one that stands out the most to me right now will be heading to Round Prairie and checking out the moose, as well as scanning the hillsides for mountain goats. Mosse sightings are not as common in Yellowstone as many would assume, so seeing moose in the snow, still with antlers, is awesome. According to reports from friends who were there the other day, there were at least five in this area.
The drive out to Round Prairie, if coming from Mammoth, will also have you go past Slough Creek and through Lamar, where wolves have been spotted pretty consistently in the last few weeks. I’ll get more into that in the wildlife watch section in a few.
TIP OF THE WEEK
Drive slow and only use approved pullouts. I know that this may seem like standard and boring advice, but I see far too many vehicles off the road every time I drive in the park. The park roads have no shoulders to them, so once you hit the edge, you’ll more than likely slide off when it is snowy and icy. Last week in the park, I saw a few cars off the road and watched a jeep slide in ice and go a dozen feet into the snow.
WEATHER FOR THE COMING WEEK
If you are hoping for temperatures below freezing as highs and lows in the single digits and even below zero, you’ll enjoy this week’s weather. It will more than likely be cloudy this weekend, with a potential for snow on both Friday night and through Saturday in Gardiner and Lamar Valley. There is a slight chance of snow for Sunday in those areas, as well. Out near Cooke City, it will probably snow Friday through Sunday.
The coldest days look to be Sunday and Monday in the northern range of the park, with a low around zero in the forecast, but pretty much every day until Wednesday will see highs in the 20s and lows around 10.
By next Wednesday, the temperature will be rising close to freezing in Lamar and out at Cooke City, and crack the freezing mark in Gardiner, before another cold stretch looks to be returning.
As always, this is the forecast as of Wednesday afternoon for the coming weekend and things may change. Always check the forecast for the region you are going to before you head out. If you need a good link, reach out to me on social media and I’ll hook you up.
SNOWPACK UPDATE
After a slow start to the snowy season, we are finally catching up to normal snowpack levels. As of Wednesday afternoon, the 8th of January, the snowpack in Yellowstone is around 84% of normal. While still lower than average over the last 20 years, it’s a great improvement over where we were last year at this time, when snowpack numbers were in the mid-50% range of average.
While the percentage helps, knowing how deep the snow is can paint a better picture for you all. Snow depth in areas like Lamar is around a foot or less along the valley areas and over a foot in the higher elevations. The higher you go, the deeper the snow. Pretty simple.
ROADS CONDITIONS
If you are heading to the park this week, expect the roads to be mostly covered in snow, with a few patches of ice here and there. As I mentioned earlier, go slow and drive with caution. Also, know that most major pullouts are plowed, but some of the smaller ones may still be full of snow.
Please remember that when driving in the park, speeding is not only illegal but dangerous to you and wildlife. Animals can and will jump out in the road anywhere at any time. Cars may be stopped on the road around blind corners. Please, please please observe speed limit signs, use pullouts if you are the slow car and causing a backup, and do not stop on the road.
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 (an automatic text reply will confirm receipt and provide instructions). Anticipate possible road closures due to inclement weather and dangerous driving conditions.
CAMPING INFO
If you are heading to the park and hoping to camp, all I can say is “Have fun.” The only place you can camp right now is at Mammoth Hot Springs. There will be minimal amenities available at the campground and you probably won’t have anyone else around. You could also camp in the backcountry of the park if you felt so inclined, but you probably wouldn’t be reading this if you are the type of person who backcountry camps in the winter.
WILDLIFE WATCHING
I know this may be the most important part for many of you, so I apologize for having it buried so deep. I did get you to read this whole way though. I hope.
Alright. Where are the animals?
Right now, bison are making their way to the lower areas of the park, so while you will see some out in Lamar, they are becoming more frequent as you head toward Mammoth.
Wolves have been spotted, as of this week, hanging around Slough Creek. Wolves move around a lot, so you’ll more than likely have to drive back and forth and look to see where the wolf researchers and wolf-centric tours are hanging out. They can be spotted easily, as they will have spotting scopes set up at pullouts and atop hills near the road.
If you are hoping for moose, head east past Lamar Valley. You should see them between Pebble Creek and Barronette Peak if they are visible. Coyotes will be all over the place, so keep an active eye out for them at all times. Pronghorn will be out near Gardiner if they are visible, and bighorn sheep are also out that way, closer to Yellowstone Hot Springs outside of the park. Other than that, it is kind of a luck of the draw. Pigmy owls have been putting on a good showing this winter, and a few foxes have been spotted hunting through the region.
Oh, you should also keep your eyes open for eagles, of both the bald and the golden variety. They have been quite visible the last few weeks.
HIKING NEWS AND UPDATES
The main news and update for hiking you need to know right now is that nearly every outdoor trail adventure you will be taking will require snowshoes or cross-country skis. You could go without, but you’ll be post-holing, sinking into the snow with each step, the entire time. Be prepared and bring snowshoes or skis with you. It will make your day much better. Also, while it is cold out, remember to bring plenty of liquids while outside. It is very dry and if you are above 6,000 feet, you will get dehydrated if you aren’t actively pushing fluids.
TREK OF THE WEEK
I won’t lie, I may repeat a few of these adventures every so often in the winter. But for now, we are off to a fresh start. While I could recommend a long trek right now, I want to keep it simple with the always wonderful Trout Lake Trail. One reason I am recommending it now is that it is close to both Lamar and Pebble Creek, where you may see wolves, moose, otters, and more.
Trout Lake is a stunning small lake in the northern range of Yellowstone National Park that dazzles those who make the uphill trek. Shimmering in the summer and frozen in the winter, this small lake has become a spot of serenity and natural beauty no matter the month or weather. With opportunities for wildlife watching, ranging from bison, elk, coyotes, foxes, and even a potential for wolves or otters, this short trail is worth the detour from the pavement.
Trout Lake is one of the many day hikes in Yellowstone National Park that is largely overlooked for many reasons. One is because the distance is so short that many hikers will not consider it for a day hike. Another is because it is located far from the other frequently visited areas of the park. It is also because the trailhead isn’t well signed as cars zip between the Northeast Entrance and Lamar Valley. More often than not, it is overlooked because few people go beyond the boardwalks when in Yellowstone.
When you hike this trail, make sure you do not just hike to the first viewpoint and then turn around. Like any lake, the best experience one can have is to circumnavigate it. I tend to circle the lake clockwise, as that direction offers the best views. However, there is no wrong way, just personal preferences. Once you climb the hill and see the lake, follow the path down to the lake shore and begin your walk around. If you do head left, you’ll cross a small bridge, then trace the lakeshore. If you feel inclined, follow a boot path on your left at the end of the trees to a ridge, where you can gaze back down toward Soda Butte Creek and Lamar Valley. This vantage point also increases the potential to spot more wildlife, often hidden in the rises and dips of the region.
BOOK A HIKING TOUR
Would you rather snowshoe the trails with a knowledgeable expert on the park?
I offer private guided snowshoe and hiking services in Yellowstone and would be happy to help you have an amazing time out in the wilds of the park. Feel free to reach out to me directly, or check out my current guided snowshoe and hiking options at the top of the page.
PICK UP A GUIDEBOOK
Enjoying this information, but want even more?
I have a wildlife-watching guidebook and a hiking guidebook to the region available at my store. Both ebook and paperback copies are available at here.
