Overview
**Operated by Greater Yellowstone Tours
While winter brings deep snow, crisp mountain air, and a remarkable sense of tranquility to the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, it also unlocks one of the most exclusive ways to experience the park’s iconic geothermal wonders. Between November and April, over 300 miles of park roads close to regular vehicle traffic, transforming the interior into a snow-covered wilderness.
Through our sister company, Greater Yellowstone Tours, we provide unparalleled, guided access to Yellowstone’s winter interior from Jackson Hole and the South Entrance at Flagg Ranch. Whether you seek the cozy refinement of a luxury snowcoach or the exhilarating freedom of a snowmobile, your bucket-list journey to a frozen Old Faithful awaits.
Highlights
- Exclusive Winter Access to Yellowstone National Park
- Choose Snowcoach or Snowmobile Adventures
- Witness an Old Faithful Winter Eruption
Tour Highlights: What You’ll Experience
Witness a Winter Old Faithful Eruption: Witnessing towering plumes of scalding water and steam blast into sub-zero mountain air is a stark, breathtaking contrast unique to the snowy season.
Explore Otherworldly Geyser Basins: Follow your expert naturalist guide along the boardwalks of the Upper Geyser Basin, Black Sand Basin, or Grand Prismatic Spring to witness bubbling mud pots, active geysers, and vibrant hot springs framed by frost-covered lodgepole pines.
Abundant Winter Wildlife: While the primary focus is the park’s volcanic geology, winter pushes iconic wildlife into the thermal valleys. Sightings of bison covered in frost, elk, moose, eagles, deer, and coyotes are common.
All-Inclusive Comfort: Regardless of the tour you choose, Greater Yellowstone Tours provides a catered picnic lunch customized to your dietary needs, hot beverages, snacks, and top-of-the-line winter gear.
What's Included
-
Hotel or Central Meeting Point pickup
-
Professional naturalist guide
-
Small group tour
-
Assorted snack basket
-
Gourmet picnic lunch
-
Hot and cold beverages (non-alcoholic)
-
Use of UHD binoculars and spotting scopes
-
Guide gratuities
-
National Park entrance fees
-
Child safety seat (for children under 8)
Choose Your Adventure
Snowcoach & Snowmobile
To help you plan the perfect winter excursion into Yellowstone’s volcanic caldera, Greater Yellowstone Tours offers two distinct, full-day oversnow experiences:
Luxury Yellowstone Snowcoach Tours to Old Faithful
Specialized snowcoach tours offer an immersive, all-inclusive, and relaxing experience within the comfort of a climate-controlled environment.
The Fleet: Travel aboard brand-new, bespoke, state-of-the-art luxury snowcoaches engineered specifically for deep snow.
The Experience: Enjoy panoramic viewing windows, spacious seating, advanced climate control, and an incredibly smooth ride. It is the perfect option for families, photographers, and those looking for a refined, educational interpretation of the park.
The Itinerary: Includes a tailored route with guided walks across snow-covered boardwalks, steaming geyser basins, and a front-row seat to Old Faithful’s dramatic winter eruptions.
Guided Yellowstone Snowmobile Tours to Old Faithful
For travelers seeking an exhilarating, active, and hands-on adventure, our snowmobile tours put you in first-hand contact with the winter elements.
The Sleds: Ride top-tier, double-rider snowmobiles that are safe, reliable, and easy to maneuver—no prior snowmobiling experience required.
The Experience: Feel the crisp mountain air as you ride alongside frozen rivers, through snow-draped forests, and across wide-open alpine meadows.
The Itinerary: A full-day, fast-paced journey from the South Gate to Old Faithful, with plenty of stops for geothermal exploration, photography, and wildlife viewing.
Tour Information
What time is my pickup?
All guests are picked up and returned to their place of lodging or central meeting point. Greater Yellowstone Tours picks up at hotels and condos in Jackson and Teton Village. Most tours depart at 6:00AM. Please check your confirmation email for exact pickup times and instructions.
What is the itinerary?
Your exact route and itinerary will be determined by your interests, current wildlife sightings, and current weather and trail conditions.
On the Menu
Greater Yellowstone Tours is proud to offer locally sourced zero waste lunch options for all guests on this tour. The menu includes assorted sandwiches with meats, veggies, and bread, served with chips, and a small dessert. Water is provided on every tour, and your guide will have additional hot or cold beverages on hand. Assorted snacks will be available throughout the day.
Vegan or vegetarian meals may be available. Meals may be sourced from multiple partners in order to satisfy dietary requests or seasonal demand. Please indicate if you have a food sensitivity or allergy at the time of booking so we can discuss your meal options prior to your tour. Allergen-free meals cannot be guaranteed.
Safari Tour Gallery
All photography has been shot by our talented tour guides.
FAQs
What is the difference between a snowcoach and a snowmobile tour?
Snowmobile tours are designed for guests seeking an active, thrilling outdoor adventure where they are in full control of their own machine. Snowcoach tours offer a climate-controlled, relaxing, and highly educational experience inside a luxury oversnow vehicle, making it ideal for most ages and physical abilities.
Can anyone drive a snowmobile in Yellowstone?
The National Park Service requires all snowmobile drivers to possess a valid driver’s license. Because snowmobiles accommodate double riders, children can safely ride on the back behind a qualified adult. No previous snowmobiling experience is required; the professional naturalist guides provide a thorough safety briefing and operational overview before departure.
How long is the winter tour from Jackson Hole to Old Faithful?
This is a full day experience, with transfers to the south entrance of the park before boarding snowcoaches or getting on snowmobiles, so you should plan to set aside 10-12 hours for this adventure.
Do Yellowstone winter tours ever get canceled due to bad weather?
Safety is our absolute priority. Following National Park Service recommendations, we do not operate oversnow tours if temperatures drop below -30°F. We constantly monitor mountain winter storms and road conditions between Jackson and Flagg Ranch. Because our fleet is highly specialized for severe winter driving, cancellations are rare; however, if conditions are deemed unsafe, tours will be promptly canceled and fully refunded.
Can we stay overnight inside Yellowstone National Park?
These specific excursions are full-day tours that return to Jackson Hole by evening. However, Greater Yellowstone Tours does offer multi-day winter packages for both snowmobile and snowcoach itineraries. Please contact their booking office directly to customize a multi-day winter safari. They can be reached by phone at 307-284-3995 or by email at info@gytjh.com.
Do snowcoach and snowmobile tours often sell out?
Yes, they can. Spaces for Yellowstone oversnow winter tours are strictly limited by the National Park Service to protect the ecosystem. We highly recommend booking your snowcoach or snowmobile tour well in advance to secure your preferred dates.
Do I need a National Park pass for this tour?
Yes, park entry fees are not included in the tour price. Guests will need to purchase a National Park Pass or pay the entrance fees upon arrival at the park gates. If you already have an annual pass or an applicable interagency pass, be sure to bring it with you. Guides will assist with the entry process to make it as smooth as possible.
