A Photography Trip to Yellowstone in Winter(What to Expect)

The coolest way to see and photograph Yellowstone in the winter is on a snowmobile. Yes, that pun about being the coolest way was intended. I flew into Bozeman, Montana where I rented a car for my 90 mile drive to West Yellowstone. Other park entrances can be starting points for your venture. Check the link below for providers listed by entrance.

My trip was near the end of December when the park opens for the winter season. The dates vary from year to year so check the park site for opening dates at Yellowstone Park Opening Dates. The road conditions to the park were fine at that time of year when I went.

Gone are the days of renting a snowmobile and going solo, now you must be accompanied by a guide. Snowmobile regulations are a controversial and ongoing subject so check current restrictions and plan well ahead for your trip. The number of riders permitted in the park each winter is now limited. Snowcoaches are also available as an option for group travel. See the following link for information on snowmobile and snowcoach providers: Snowmobile Providers. The providers also have clothing you can rent including boots and gloves that are suitable for the weather.

I was able to ride my snowmobile rental from my motel room through the streets of West Yellowstone to the park entrance when going solo was permitted. The roads within the park actually double as trails during the winter and you are restricted to staying on the roads and vehicle turnouts. Since a guide is required now they should advise you of those restrictions and any other park rules like not “buzzing”(approaching them with your snowmobile and beeping your horn at them) the bison. In other words if bison are blocking the road you will have to wait as they take their sweet time. For one, park officials don’t want the animals stressed by your presence and secondly, if disturbed bison have a nasty tendency to gore you leaving a bloody gaping wound in your body.

Incidentally the staying on the roads restriction is designed at least partly for your safety. You will also encounter warming huts along the roads where you can stop and rest in comfort. Some huts are equipped with vending machines where you can buy snacks and cold drinks and most are not staffed. Check the park Visitor Center information for details on each warming hut and the availability of services. Some may include hot drinks. Personally for convenience I would take along a few snacks and possibly candy bars for quick energy, not to mention an insulated bottle of water. That way you aren’t at the mercy of mother nature or if in a group you won’t have to wait till some pre-selected tour time group lunch. Be especially mindful of this if you are diabetic.

When I took my trip I had the convenience of choosing where to go as long as I stayed on the roads and barring gas consumption. I advise that you inquire of the available outfits as to where they tour within the park if that is important to you. The entrance they are located at may have some bearing on where they wander.

You will have the opportunity to photograph some very stunning scenes with all the snow cover. I took the two pictures below while on my trip.

The scene with the heavy shadow was taken near the Old Faithful area. It is always best to bracket exposures for the best scene. Even today with instant feedback using digital cameras I still bracket a lot because I find the screen viewer hard to see especially on sunny days. Depending on the lighting conditions(spelled sun, shade, overcast skies here) and exposure settings snow will appear as various shades of white, blue, or gray in pictures. Expose the scene according to the effect you desire. Bluish looking snow can make the scene appear cooler.

Generally you will find that in order to achieve white looking snow that you will have to open up about two stops from your exposure reading. Experiment and bracket though for your lighting conditions to be sure. You don’t want a washed out looking scene due to bright reflections off snow under sunny conditions.

The thermals in the park generate steam and the condensation in the cooler temperatures can add some mood to your pictures.

I was traveling with an electronic film camera when I visited the park, so keeping batteries warm is paramount. I kept my spare batteries in my photo vest pocket under a down jacket. Batteries will belly up on you if they get cold. I kept my camera inside my jacket as much as possible especially when not in use to keep those batteries warm. It was December when I was there and temperatures in the morning were in the sub-teens with it warming to around 20 degrees F in the afternoon with the sun out. I found my down jacket method sufficient for those temperatures. I personally haven’t had experience with sub freezing temperatures and today’s digital camera batteries, but I advise that you keep them warm as well, both the one in the camera and your spares. You do carry spares???

Animals I encountered in the park on my trip were: geese, trumpeter swans, elk, bison, and coyote. Wolves had not been reintroduced to the park at that time, but they exist now and may be found throughout the park. The total wolf count for Yellowstone National Park was 171 for the year 2007. Lamar Valley at the northeast section of the park between Tower-Roosevelt and the northeast entrance is a common place to spot wolves.

Winter is a great time to visit Yellowstone not just for the scenery, but the crowds are down considerably. I hope this advice proves helpful should you ever venture out for a winter excursion in Yellowstone.

authored by Lon Britton