Yellowstone in January
January is a month of real tradeoffs in Yellowstone. Interior access is by guided snowcoach or snowmobile only. The northern road stays open to cars, and Lamar Valley wolf watching is at its winter best.
Weather
Frigid and snowy, highs near 25F (-4C), well below 0F overnight possible
Crowds
Prices
What's on in January
December through March in the northern valleys
Winter wolf-watching season. Snow concentrates prey and makes wolves visible; the Lamar Valley draws spotters from around the world all winter.
Things to do in Yellowstone
- 1
Old Faithful and the Upper Geyser Basin. See the famous eruption, then walk the basin's boardwalks, where Grand, Riverside, and Castle geysers reward those who check predicted times at the visitor center. official site ↗
- 2
Grand Prismatic Spring. The boardwalk gets you close; the overlook trail from the Fairy Falls parking area gets you the postcard view. Midday color is best, midday parking is worst.
- 3
Lamar Valley at dawn. The park's wildlife theater: wolves, bison, bears, and pronghorn. Bring binoculars, arrive before sunrise, and pull fully off the road to watch.
- 4
Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone. Artist Point at sunrise is the classic. The Uncle Tom's area and North Rim viewpoints each frame the Lower Falls differently; give the canyon a half day.
- 5
Hayden Valley. The central bison superhighway, best at dawn and dusk. Traffic jams here are caused by the residents; budget slack time in every drive.
- 6
Mammoth Hot Springs. Travertine terraces near the year-round North Entrance. In September and October, rutting elk take over the lawns; give them serious distance.
- 7
Yellowstone Lake and West Thumb. Geysers on a lakeshore at 7,700 feet. The West Thumb basin is one of the park's most photogenic and least mobbed boardwalks.
- 8
Norris Geyser Basin. The park's hottest, strangest basin and home of Steamboat, the world's tallest active geyser, whose major eruptions are unpredictable.
Beat the crowds
- →Work dawn to 10am and 5pm to dusk, and hide out midday: wildlife and parking both vanish in the middle of the day in summer, and both return in the evening.
- →Sleep inside the park or in Gardiner or Cooke City on the quieter north side; day-trippers from West Yellowstone and Jackson all surge in on the same schedule.
- →Drive the Grand Loop counterclockwise to the day-tripper flow and hit the marquee basins at breakfast or dinner time rather than at noon.
Know before you go
- !Most park roads close to regular vehicles from about early November to late April, with openings staged through spring: west-side roads typically first in late April, higher passes like Dunraven last, into late May. Snow can delay any of it.
- !The one year-round road runs across the park's north side, from the North Entrance at Gardiner through Mammoth to the Northeast Entrance and Cooke City. In winter that is the only park road for regular cars, and the highway beyond Cooke City closes seasonally.
- !Winter interior access runs roughly mid December to mid March, by commercially guided snowcoach and snowmobile only, to destinations like Old Faithful. It is unforgettable, capacity-limited, and priced accordingly; book well ahead.
Yellowstone in January: quick answers
Is January a good time to visit Yellowstone?
January is a month of real tradeoffs in Yellowstone. Interior access is by guided snowcoach or snowmobile only. The northern road stays open to cars, and Lamar Valley wolf watching is at its winter best.
What is the weather like in Yellowstone in January?
Frigid and snowy, highs near 25F (-4C), well below 0F overnight possible.
Is Yellowstone crowded in January?
January is one of the quieter months in Yellowstone; most sights can be done without long waits.
What is happening in Yellowstone in January?
Winter wolf-watching season (december through march in the northern valleys).