Montana
Winter Ventures in Yellowstone Country
Program No. 16839RJ
Learn how to snowmobile, snowshoe and ski, discover unique wildlife and visit Old Faithful, fumaroles and bubbling hot springs as you explore the wonders of Yellowstone in winter.
Enroll with Confidence
We want your Road Scholar learning adventure to be something to look forward to—not worry about. Learn more
Protecting the Environment
We offset a portion of the emissions created by your travel. Learn more
Prefer to enroll or inquire by phone?
800-454-5768
Select your type of room
Price will update based on selection
Prices displayed below are based on per person,doubleoccupancy.
DATES
& starting prices
PRICES
DATES
& starting prices
PRICES
Feb 3 - Feb 8, 2025
Starting at
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This date is available to book as a private experience for your group!
6 days
5 nights
14 meals
5B 4L 5D
1
Check-in, Registration, Orientation, Welcome Dinner
West Yellowstone, MT
2
Yellowstone Ecosystem, Volcano, & Snowshoe Walk
West Yellowstone, MT
3
Snow Coach Journey into the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone
West Yellowstone, MT
4
Wildlife of Yellowstone and Cross-Country Skiing
West Yellowstone, MT
5
Snowmobile Venture to Old Faithful in Yellowstone Park
West Yellowstone, MT
6
Program Concludes
West Yellowstone, MT
At a Glance
Venture into Yellowstone Country for winter's sparkling whiteness, steaming thermals and ice-rimmed rivers. Ride a snowcoach to the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone and encounter eons of geologic processes. Learn to ride a snowmobile on park roads, view diverse habitats and observe bison, waterfowl, bald eagles and coyotes. Experience churning geothermal activity at Old Faithful and Fountain Paint Pots, discover animal tracks and analyze sign and learn winter sports and skills on informative, naturalist-led adventures.
Activity Level
Outdoor: Spirited
Snow shoeing and X-Country Skiing up to 4 miles (3-4 hours) on primarily maintained snow packed trails. Snowmobiling on snow packed park roads. One day travel 8 hours by Snow Coach with frequent stops. Elevations of 6,666–7,800 feet.
Small Group
Love to learn and explore in a small-group setting? These adventures offer small, personal experiences with groups of 13 to 24 participants.
Best of all, you’ll…
- Take a snowmobile excursion into sulfur-scented geyser basins showcasing Old Faithful's steaming glory, plopping mudpots, fumaroles and sizzling hot springs.
- Ride a snowcoach to the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, where you’re met with sheer, painted walls and the ice-columned majesty of Lower Falls.
- Try over-the-snow ventures on cross-country skis and snowshoes, revealing a landscape locked in winter's frozen embrace.
General Notes
Small group size; max of 14 participants.
Featured Expert
All trip experts
Leslie Stoltz
Raised and educated in the Finger Lakes region of New York, Leslie Stoltz now lives in Big Sky, Montana, surrounded by the wild places that she loves. Her decade of work for the National Park Service in Yellowstone and Glacier National Parks in the areas of research and education provided a wonderful foundation for her career as a teacher and park expert. Since the early 1990s, Leslie has worked for a variety of companies and non-profit organizations, teaching classes and leading trips in national parks and wild areas throughout the American West. Farther afield, she has led educational trips to Nepal, Bhutan, Tanzania, Botswana, Ecuador, and Mexico. Leslie also runs a non-profit with a mission to keep kids connected to the outdoors though scholarship opportunities for outdoor learning experiences.
Please note: This expert may not be available for every date of this program.
Leslie Stoltz
View biography
Raised and educated in the Finger Lakes region of New York, Leslie Stoltz now lives in Big Sky, Montana, surrounded by the wild places that she loves. Her decade of work for the National Park Service in Yellowstone and Glacier National Parks in the areas of research and education provided a wonderful foundation for her career as a teacher and park expert. Since the early 1990s, Leslie has worked for a variety of companies and non-profit organizations, teaching classes and leading trips in national parks and wild areas throughout the American West. Farther afield, she has led educational trips to Nepal, Bhutan, Tanzania, Botswana, Ecuador, and Mexico. Leslie also runs a non-profit with a mission to keep kids connected to the outdoors though scholarship opportunities for outdoor learning experiences.
Fred Haas
View biography
Born in southern Idaho, but raised in Texas, Fred Haas has always enjoyed the outdoors. With a degree in forestry from Texas A&M, Fred headed out west to work with the U.S. Forest Service. Fred's 33 years of public land management included roles in reforestation, timber sale administration, grazing management, road and trail maintenance, special use permit administration, landownership adjustments, recreation and wilderness management. In retirement Fred enjoys hiking, camping, volunteering, and woodworking.
Patty Bates
View biography
With a background in recreation, wildlife and fire management, Patty has enjoyed a 35-year career with the U.S. Forest Service. She's served as resource specialist, program manager, staff officer and District Ranger, with details as Deputy Forest Supervisor. She's been a District Ranger in four different states, including four years managing the Teton Basin Ranger District. Patty enjoys travel, camping, exploring, pets, genealogy, cooking, reading, crafting and getting used to retirement with her husband, Rick.
Rick Bush
View biography
Rick was raised in Wyoming and moved to Montana after college to work for the Bozeman Chronicle. His career includes working as a newspaper reporter, magazine editor, web developer and IT Manager. He has a degree in Journalism from the University of Wyoming and a Master’s degree in photography. He lives in Helena with his wife and is an avid bicycle rider and enjoys hiking, cross-country skiing, camping, and travel. When he is not Group Leading, Rick enjoys adventuring with Road Scholar as a participant.
Zack Baker
View biography
Zack Baker attended high school in Livingston, Montana, 52 miles north of Yellowstone. His love for the park started while snowshoeing and observing wildlife. At Montana State University in Bozeman, he earned a B.S. in plant science, but it was Yellowstone’s mammals that grabbed his interest. He led private wildlife watching, hiking, and photography trips, and drove snowcoaches in the winter. He joined up with Road Scholar in 2017 and is now the Program Director for Road Scholar at the University of Montana Western.
Zack Baker
View biography
Zack Baker attended high school in Livingston, Montana, 52 miles north of Yellowstone. His love for the park started while snowshoeing and observing wildlife. At Montana State University in Bozeman, he earned a B.S. in plant science, but it was Yellowstone’s mammals that grabbed his interest. He led private wildlife watching, hiking, and photography trips, and drove snowcoaches in the winter. He joined up with Road Scholar in 2017 and is now the Program Director for Road Scholar at the University of Montana Western.
Shauna Baron
View biography
Shauna Baron holds a B.S. in Biology and a M.S. in Science Education. She has more than 25 years of experience as an outdoor educator, studying large and small carnivores throughout the U.S., including wolves, bears, fishers, and bobcats. Shauna saw her first wild wolf while volunteering for the Yellowstone Wolf Project in 1996 and has since worked as a naturalist in Yellowstone National Park, developing outdoor educational classes for the Yellowstone Institute. She specializes in programs for disabled veterans, inner-city youth, and autistic groups.
Heidi Schwandt
View biography
Heidi Schwandt's upbringing on cattle ranches in Southwestern Montana gave her the freedom to explore the woods and mountains. A short stint with the Forest Service on a trail maintenance crew solidified her love of hiking. Heidi has been instructing Alpine skiing for more than a decade, including a women-only skiing program she piloted at her local mountain. Two decades as a 4-H volunteer have showcased her passion for connecting with people and inspiring them to learn by doing.
Suggested Reading List
(8 books)
Visit the Road Scholar Bookshop
You can find many of the books we recommend at the Road Scholar store on bookshop.org, a website that supports local bookstores.
Winter Ventures in Yellowstone Country
Program Number: 16839
Restoring a Presence: American Indians and Yellowstone National Park
This first comprehensive account of Indians in and around Yellowstone corrects more than a century of ignorance. Detailed here is Yellowstone's native peoples and their story of a long engagement with a remarkable landscape.
To Save the Wild Bison: Life on the Edge in Yellowstone
The author brings clarity and revelation to one of Yellowstone's most complex struggles by tracing the history of bison and humans into the 19th century and further into the national parks era. Here's discussion of bison management and park policy - the battle over brucellosis, snowmobiles and groomed winter roads, desires of Native Americans, bison and predators.
Searching for Yellowstone: Ecology and Wonder in the Last Wilderness
Eloquent, elegant, truthful and practical - an environmental history of America's best idea, Yellowstone.
Rough Trip Through Yellowstone, The Epic Winter Expedition of Emerson Hough, F. Jay Haynes and Billy Hofer
Forest and Stream magazine sent one of its most talented writers, Emerson Hough, to Yellowstone in 1894 to document the decline in bison numbers. Hough, legendary guide Billy Hofer, pioneering photographer F. Jay Haynes and other incredibly tough individuals set out on a 200-mile expedition into Yellowstone's frigid, snow-blanketed landscape. Aboard cumbersome, 12-foot-long wooden skies, these tough men scoured Yellowstone's winter terrain to put together a thorough census of the park's bison and elk. Hough wrote up the expedition in a series of 14 articles which resulted in Congress ultimately passing the anti-poaching Lacey Act and helped turn public opinion against a proposed railroad through the park. His witty and entertaining articles are a wonderful description of winter travel in the park in 1894, immensely entertaining and historically significant. Includes nine historic Yellowstone National Park photos by F. Jay Haynes
Yellowstone Place Names, 2nd edition
Yellowstone National Park Historian's well-researched and entertaining reference source for information on many of Yellowstone's place names and their origins.
Yellowstone's Ski Pioneers: Peril and Heroism on the Winter Trail
The book chronicles historic army winter ski patrols, wildlife stories and other ski adventures as protagonists tell their own stories. The author interprets the social climate and attitudes of the times to present Yellowstone in the 1870s and 80s when the nearest town was several days travel away and summer tourists were rare. Poachers were the area's primary winter visitors during an era when wildlife destruction was occurring throughout the American West. The book places the role of present-day park management in perspective. It interprets our history and explains how and why park policies have evolved and provides insight into wildlife conservation and policy and winter travel in Yellowstone.
Roadside Geology of Yellowstone Country
Updated, classic roadside geology book for the Yellowstone Region explains current geological theories.
Decade of the Wolf, revised and updated edition: Returning the Wild to Yellowstone
Research and storytelling meld to document wolf recovery in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. Wolf biologist, Smith, and nature writer, Ferguson, provide an inside look at the Yellowstone Wolf Recovery Project ten years after the controversial decision was made by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services to reintroduce wolves into the park. Smith, wolf project leader who has worked with the Yellowstone Wolf Project since its inception, has studied wolves for 25 years. Ferguson, whose writing largely arises from intimate experiences, followed through the seasons, the first 14 wolves released into Yellowstone National Park. Their collaboration offers hard facts and 'impressionistic portraits of individual wolves that reveal their epic lives full of struggle and conquest.' Here is the history of the return of the top predator to Yellowstone.
Program
At a Glance
Duration
6 days
Program Begins
West Yellowstone, MT
Program Concludes
West Yellowstone, MT
Group Type
Small Group
Meals
14
| 5B |
4L |
5D |
Activity Level
Venture into Yellowstone Country for winter's sparkling whiteness, steaming thermals and ice-rimmed rivers. Ride a snowcoach to the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone and encounter eons of geologic processes. Learn to ride a snowmobile on park roads, view diverse habitats and observe bison, waterfowl, bald eagles and coyotes. Experience churning geothermal activity at Old Faithful and Fountain Paint Pots, discover animal tracks and analyze sign and learn winter sports and skills on informative, naturalist-led adventures.)
Best of all, you'll...
- Take a snowmobile excursion into sulfur-scented geyser basins showcasing Old Faithful's steaming glory, plopping mudpots, fumaroles and sizzling hot springs.
- Ride a snowcoach to the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, where you’re met with sheer, painted walls and the ice-columned majesty of Lower Falls.
- Try over-the-snow ventures on cross-country skis and snowshoes, revealing a landscape locked in winter's frozen embrace.
General Notes
Small group size; max of 14 participants.
Featured Expert
Leslie Stoltz
Raised and educated in the Finger Lakes region of New York, Leslie Stoltz now lives in Big Sky, Montana, surrounded by the wild places that she loves. Her decade of work for the National Park Service in Yellowstone and Glacier National Parks in the areas of research and education provided a wonderful foundation for her career as a teacher and park expert. Since the early 1990s, Leslie has worked for a variety of companies and non-profit organizations, teaching classes and leading trips in national parks and wild areas throughout the American West. Farther afield, she has led educational trips to Nepal, Bhutan, Tanzania, Botswana, Ecuador, and Mexico. Leslie also runs a non-profit with a mission to keep kids connected to the outdoors though scholarship opportunities for outdoor learning experiences.
Please Note:
This expert may not be available for every date of the program
Fred Haas
Born in southern Idaho, but raised in Texas, Fred Haas has always enjoyed the outdoors. With a degree in forestry from Texas A&M, Fred headed out west to work with the U.S. Forest Service. Fred's 33 years of public land management included roles in reforestation, timber sale administration, grazing management, road and trail maintenance, special use permit administration, landownership adjustments, recreation and wilderness management. In retirement Fred enjoys hiking, camping, volunteering, and woodworking.
Patty Bates
With a background in recreation, wildlife and fire management, Patty has enjoyed a 35-year career with the U.S. Forest Service. She's served as resource specialist, program manager, staff officer and District Ranger, with details as Deputy Forest Supervisor. She's been a District Ranger in four different states, including four years managing the Teton Basin Ranger District. Patty enjoys travel, camping, exploring, pets, genealogy, cooking, reading, crafting and getting used to retirement with her husband, Rick.
Rick Bush
Rick was raised in Wyoming and moved to Montana after college to work for the Bozeman Chronicle. His career includes working as a newspaper reporter, magazine editor, web developer and IT Manager. He has a degree in Journalism from the University of Wyoming and a Master’s degree in photography. He lives in Helena with his wife and is an avid bicycle rider and enjoys hiking, cross-country skiing, camping, and travel. When he is not Group Leading, Rick enjoys adventuring with Road Scholar as a participant.
Zack Baker
Zack Baker attended high school in Livingston, Montana, 52 miles north of Yellowstone. His love for the park started while snowshoeing and observing wildlife. At Montana State University in Bozeman, he earned a B.S. in plant science, but it was Yellowstone’s mammals that grabbed his interest. He led private wildlife watching, hiking, and photography trips, and drove snowcoaches in the winter. He joined up with Road Scholar in 2017 and is now the Program Director for Road Scholar at the University of Montana Western.
Zack Baker
Zack Baker attended high school in Livingston, Montana, 52 miles north of Yellowstone. His love for the park started while snowshoeing and observing wildlife. At Montana State University in Bozeman, he earned a B.S. in plant science, but it was Yellowstone’s mammals that grabbed his interest. He led private wildlife watching, hiking, and photography trips, and drove snowcoaches in the winter. He joined up with Road Scholar in 2017 and is now the Program Director for Road Scholar at the University of Montana Western.
Shauna Baron
Shauna Baron holds a B.S. in Biology and a M.S. in Science Education. She has more than 25 years of experience as an outdoor educator, studying large and small carnivores throughout the U.S., including wolves, bears, fishers, and bobcats. Shauna saw her first wild wolf while volunteering for the Yellowstone Wolf Project in 1996 and has since worked as a naturalist in Yellowstone National Park, developing outdoor educational classes for the Yellowstone Institute. She specializes in programs for disabled veterans, inner-city youth, and autistic groups.
Heidi Schwandt
Heidi Schwandt's upbringing on cattle ranches in Southwestern Montana gave her the freedom to explore the woods and mountains. A short stint with the Forest Service on a trail maintenance crew solidified her love of hiking. Heidi has been instructing Alpine skiing for more than a decade, including a women-only skiing program she piloted at her local mountain. Two decades as a 4-H volunteer have showcased her passion for connecting with people and inspiring them to learn by doing.
Activity Level
Outdoor: Spirited
Snow shoeing and X-Country Skiing up to 4 miles (3-4 hours) on primarily maintained snow packed trails. Snowmobiling on snow packed park roads. One day travel 8 hours by Snow Coach with frequent stops. Elevations of 6,666–7,800 feet.
Small Group
(13 to 24)
Love to learn and explore in a small-group setting? These adventures offer small, personal experiences with groups of 13 to 24 participants.
Suggested Reading List
View Full List
(8 Books)
You can also find many of the books we recommend at the Road Scholar store on bookshop.org, a website that supports local bookstores.
HAVE QUESTIONS?
Prefer to enroll or inquire by phone?
We can help. Give us a call, and we can answer all of your questions!
Call
800-454-5768
While we make every effort to ensure the accuracy of our published materials, programs are typically advertised more than a year prior to their start date. As a result, some program activities, schedules, accommodations, personnel, and other logistics occasionally change due to local conditions or circumstances. Should a major change occur, we will make every effort to alert you. For less significant changes, we will update you during orientation. Thank you for your understanding.
Duration
6 days
5 nights
What's Included
14 meals | 5B | 4L | 5D |
3 expert-led lectures
5 expert-led field trips
An experienced Group Leader
5 nights of accommodations
Taxes and customary gratuity
Road Scholar Assurance Plan
Day
1
Check-in, Registration, Orientation, Welcome Dinner
Location:
West Yellowstone, MT
Meals:
D
Stay:
West Yellowstone Holiday Inn
Activity Note
Hotel check-in from 3:00 p.m.
Afternoon:
Program Registration. After you have your room assignment, go to the Road Scholar table to register with program staff. You will get your welcome materials including an up-to-date schedule that reflects last-minute changes, important information and updates, and directions for when and where the Orientation session will take place. If you arrive late, please follow-up with program staff when you arrive after you check-in with the hotel.
Dinner:
At the hotel restaurant.
Evening:
Orientation. The Group Leader will lead greetings and introductions. We will review program schedules, discuss roles and responsibilities, safety guidelines, emergency procedures, and answer questions. This program has an Instructor and Group Leader. The Instructor is an expert naturalist who will lead lectures and field trips. The Group Leader will help with program logistics. Only snowcoaches are allowed in Yellowstone National Park during the winter months. Snowcoaches are specialized van-type vehicles that travel over snow and ice and move at very slow speed limits through the park (25 mph). We will travel in the park one day on snowcoaches and will spend extended periods of time on the snowcoaches. There will be commentary from your Instructor along the way and many stops to take in the winter landscape and wildlife. Another day traveling into the park will be on snowmobiles. We will travel on two-passenger snowmobiles as a group under the direction of trained guides. If you choose to not participate in any activities, less active options may be available in West Yellowstone. Any additional expenses for alternate activities are the responsibility of the participant. When walking in West Yellowstone and in Yellowstone, we will be walking on snow-packed and possibly icy areas. Periods in the daily schedule designated as “Free time” and “At leisure” offer opportunities to do what you like to make your experience more meaningful. These periods of time allow you to do activities according to your personal preferences. The Group Leader will be able to help offer suggestions. Program activities, schedules, and program staff, along with distances and times indicated on the daily itinerary, may change unexpectedly due to local circumstances and conditions. In the event of changes, you will be notified as quickly as possible. Some notifications may take place during the program. Thank you for your understanding.
Day
2
Yellowstone Ecosystem, Volcano, & Snowshoe Walk
Location:
West Yellowstone, MT
Meals:
B,L,D
Stay:
West Yellowstone Holiday Inn
Activity Note
Three-hour snowshoes walk on moderate terrain at 6,666'. Snowshoes are provided. No experience necessary.
Breakfast:
At a local restaurant.
Morning:
We will enjoy an overview from our Instructor introducing the Greater Yellowstone ecosystem and the history of the Yellowstone volcano.
Lunch:
At a local restaurant.
Afternoon:
We will experience winter ecology with an interpreted snowshoe walk at the edge of town on a snowshoe trail. We will discuss animal tracks, scat and signs, and habits and habitats and explore what they tell us about animals' winter behavior.
Dinner:
At a local restaurant.
Evening:
At leisure.
Day
3
Snow Coach Journey into the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone
Location:
West Yellowstone, MT
Meals:
B,L,D
Stay:
West Yellowstone Holiday Inn
Activity Note
A full-day, 80-mile round trip snowcoach journey in a heated, over-the-snow vehicle, at elevations ranging from 6,666 feet to 7,900 feet. Several moderate walks on slippery, snow-packed trails, boardwalks, and stairs.
Breakfast:
At the hotel restaurant.
Morning:
We’ll head out for a full day, naturalist-led adventure, into Yellowstone Park to the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone area in a heated snowcoach. We’ll travel through the park's breathtaking winter beauty along the Madison and Gibbon Rivers to Norris Junction, then eastward toward Canyon, with several moderate walks to scenic overlooks.
Lunch:
Sack lunches during a stop in the park.
Afternoon:
We will spend time at the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone for photo opportunities and trailside interpretation. You will find that winter's white and iron grip only adds to the magnificence. You will see the Upper Falls roaring, with a 109-foot plunge, and the Lower Falls’ classically spectacular 308-foot sweep into ice-swathed depths. Here, beautifully tinted walls result from the hot water's action on volcanic rock.
Dinner:
At the hotel restaurant.
Evening:
At leisure.
Day
4
Wildlife of Yellowstone and Cross-Country Skiing
Location:
West Yellowstone, MT
Meals:
B,L,D
Stay:
West Yellowstone Holiday Inn
Activity Note
Three-hour cross-country ski trek on moderate terrain at 6,666 feet. Cross-country skis are provided. No experience necessary. Walk to the Grizzly & Wolf Discovery Center, with an SUV available if needed.
Breakfast:
At a local restaurant.
Morning:
Following breakfast, we will walk to the Grizzly & Wolf Discovery Center where we will learn about the wildlife of Yellowstone, predator and prey relationships, habitat requirements, winter range areas, animal populations, and more. The Grizzly & Wolf Discovery Center is dedicated to providing visitors with a unique opportunity to learn about, view, and ultimately appreciate grizzly bears and gray wolves.
Lunch:
At a local restaurant.
Afternoon:
After a brief instruction from a ski outfitter, we will start our cross-country ski adventure on the nearby Rendezvous Trail System. This trail system encompasses over 18 miles (30 km) of groomed trails on gently rolling terrain in and out of a lodgepole pine forest and open meadows. We will discuss winter ecology, tracks, and animal scat.
Dinner:
At a local restaurant.
Evening:
At leisure.
Day
5
Snowmobile Venture to Old Faithful in Yellowstone Park
Location:
West Yellowstone, MT
Meals:
B,L,D
Stay:
West Yellowstone Holiday Inn
Activity Note
Full-day, 60-mile round trip snowmobile adventure on two-passenger, clean, quiet, four-stroke machines at elevations from 6,666 feet to 7,400 feet. Several moderate walks on slippery, snow-packed trails, boardwalks, and stairs.
Breakfast:
At the hotel restaurant.
Morning:
We will enjoy a full-day guided snowmobile field adventure into Yellowstone National Park, traveling to Old Faithful through the Firehole Canyon, as well as Lower and Midway Geyser Basins. We will enjoy riding or driving on a two-passenger snowmobiles. We will experience exhilarating and breathtaking wonders of the Great Caldera, a land that holds one half of the world's geothermal features. Geothermal features include geysers, hot springs, mudpots, and fumaroles! We will also go on several walks through the steamy, sulfur-scented Old Faithful and Lower Geyser Basins.
Lunch:
We will enjoy a sack lunch near Old Faithful.
Afternoon:
Our adventure continues through Yellowstone's winter whiteness, where we may see bison, elk, waterfowl, coyotes, and bald eagles. Swan sighting are possible along the Madison River. Discovery beckons us and awaits around each bend of the road!
Dinner:
Dinner at the hotel restaurant.
Evening:
The mind reels after exploring the National Forest land on the western border of Yellowstone and venturing into Yellowstone National Park. We have encountered new visions, scents, and sounds, and have been introduced to the greatest predator of all: winter. We will enjoy an evening wrap-up discussion that ties everything together, answers questions, and brings the learning adventure to a gratifying conclusion.
Day
6
Program Concludes
Location:
West Yellowstone, MT
Meals:
B
Activity Note
Hotel check-out by 11:00 a.m. Individual departures. Arrangements for shuttle services are made independently. Shuttle services are not included in the program price and advanced reservations are required.
Breakfast:
At the hotel restaurant.
Morning:
We hope you enjoy Road Scholar learning adventures and look forward to having you on rewarding programs in the future. Please join our Facebook page and share photos of your program. Visit us at www.facebook.com/rsadventures. Best wishes for all your journeys!
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MEALS
14 Meals
5 Breakfasts
4 Lunches
5 Dinners
LODGING
Lodgings may differ by date. Select a date to see the lodgings specific to that date.
Showing Lodging For:
- Jan 06, 2025 - Jan 11, 2025
- Jan 06, 2025 - Jan 11, 2025
- Jan 20, 2025 - Jan 25, 2025
- Feb 03, 2025 - Feb 08, 2025
- Feb 10, 2025 - Feb 15, 2025
- Feb 17, 2025 - Feb 22, 2025
Participant Reviews
Based on 46 Reviews
Sort By:
Fantastic Winter Adventures in Yellowstone - a wonderful way to view the park in its gorgeous winter snow blanket, and to try some outdoor activities in a supportive environment. Fantastic and knowledgeable guides and leader. Great small group experience. So glad I signed up for this trip!
— Review left March 2, 2024
Winter Ventures in Yellowstone is my recommended way to enjoy our first national park. If you love a small group and uncrowded venues, this the your best way to see bison up close, geysers, sparkling snow, crystal clear rivers and frozen waterfalls. Group leader and naturalist were a great team and the local providers of snow equipment were the best! The hotel was across the street from bears, wolves, otters in natural settings, providing close experiences of animals that are often hard to see in the national park. A 5 star program!
— Review left February 26, 2024
A very well presented program!
— Review left February 25, 2024
If you have ever had the desire to “play” and learn in a truly spectacular winter wonderland, consider Yellowstone! Road Scholar takes care of the logistics and you enjoy the FUN.
— Review left February 25, 2024
The scenery, location and overall pace of the program are both stimulating and relaxing.
— Review left February 19, 2024
A great time in Yellowstone in the winter
— Review left February 18, 2024
Yellowstone in winter is magical. At times, we felt we had the entire park to ourselves. No crowds!! The wildlife sightings (bison, coyotes, wolves, eagles and more) were incredible. I had never been cross country skiing or used snowshoes but the Group Leader and the Instructor were very helpful and made us feel at ease and it was a wonderful experience.
— Review left February 4, 2024
This was a fantastic program, with a good mix of passive and active activities. Yellowstone is spectacular in the winter with snowy landscapes, frozen waterfalls,, incredible thermal features that are even more amazing in the cold, and many wildlife sightings. Also, it is pleasantly uncrowded.
— Review left January 28, 2024
Experiencing Yellowstone in the winter is magic and should not be missed!
— Review left January 24, 2024
Go ahead, don't hesitate...take this trip! You will never regret it.
— Review left January 24, 2024
Really enjoyed Yellowstone in the winter. The activities were great and seeing the scenery and animals in Yellowstone were a treat.
— Review left January 21, 2024
I would definitely recommend the program. It made it easy for us to explore Yellowstone and hang out with some friendly, interesting people.
— Review left March 2, 2023
If you are considering Winter in Yellowstone at all, don't hesitate! It is a life experience that will fill you with awe at the majesty of this unique ecosystem. The activities give you a level of intimacy with nature that is humbling, inspiring and energizing. The education programs leave you thirsting for more knowledge, not just of Yellowstone, but of all places of natural wonder.
— Review left February 26, 2023
Yellowstone in the winter is breathtakingly beautiful without the summer crowds. Cross county skies, snowshoes, winter coaches and snowmobiles provide the ways of exploring this magnificent park. It is an amazing adventure!
— Review left February 25, 2023
I thought this program was exceptional! Fun, educational and the leaders of the program were outstanding.
If you are interested in experiencing and learning about the Yellowstone area in the winter, this is a great way to do it.
— Review left February 22, 2023
Yellowstone National Park is spectacular in Winter. Road Scholar offers a wonderful experience.
— Review left February 20, 2023
We thoroughly enjoyed our winter trip to Yellowstone. It was well organized with excellent leaders and lecturers. There was a mix of solo and couples travelers. Everyone was interesting and got along well. The activities were very fun and accommodated different levels. We saw so much wildlife and learned so much!
— Review left February 19, 2023
Experiencing Yellowstone in the winter is a truly magical experience. Doing it through Road Scholar with a small group of interesting, active and congenial people made it very special.
— Review left February 14, 2023
Fantastic experience. I enjoyed the variety of winter activities and the beautiful scenery of Yellowstone. Wonderful trip!!
— Review left February 9, 2023
This program, activities, and our team of female leaders were OUTSTANDING! The weather was cold but sunny! You could tell that our leaders had great love for this location, and their knowledge was exceptional. The other guests added a lot to my experience as well. Well organized, well executed and thoroughly enjoyable tour.
— Review left March 1, 2022
I thought Yellowstone in winter was a magical experience and exceeded my expectations in every way.
— Review left February 27, 2022
If you have not been to Yellowstone in the winter, it's a definite must see and experience. If you like the outdoors, this program is tailer made for you. John Blanks
— Review left February 23, 2022
I never thought I would enjoy snowmobiling. Who knew? It allowed me to access the National Park and get closer to bison than I never thought possible. Thank you!
— Review left February 20, 2022
You can use my comments from my review
— Review left February 19, 2022
As a beginner to these 3 winter sports, cross-country skiing, snow shoe,
and snow mobile was awesome!!!!! the small group and very understanding
instructors made it a fun experience...
— Review left February 2, 2022
This was one of the best experiences of my life! I was challenged and rewarded in so many ways! I lived in a nature snow globe surrounded by fire and ice!
— Review left January 24, 2022
This is an amazing program for physically active people who enjoy the outdoors and wildlife. Strongly recommend. See Yellowstone UNCROWDED in winter.
— Review left January 24, 2022
This winter adventure to Yellowstone exceeded every expectation I had. I saw more animals than I thought I would and closer than I hoped I would be to them. It was a trip of a lifetime and I am still smiling when I think about cruising through the park on a snowmobile with the wind in my face and the gorgeous, snow covered vistas all around me. Add several bison sauntering by only three feet away and I am in heaven!! Thank you, Road Scholar!!
— Review left March 9, 2020
Winter in Yellowstone delivered on every level: activities, leaders and fellow travelers. It makes me wonder why anyone would visit the park at any other time of the year.
— Review left March 1, 2020
Incredible trip! I would like to say that everyone should see Yellowstone in the winter, but if this were to occur, it would ruin it. Only snowmobiles and snow coaches are allowed in the park, so there are no crowds or traffic jams. Our guides were outstanding. Each went the extra mile to help in all the activities. They were knowledgeable and attentive. Lee Harry, our instructor, is a retired US Forest Service officer with a wealth of knowledge of Yellowstone which he generously shared with the group. Kari Haas, our group leader, worked for 34 years for the Forest Service and is an avid hiker and cross-country skier. She seemed to go the extra mile helping organizing and coaching. Lee and Kari were a perfect team and joy to be with.
— Review left February 24, 2020
As first timers on a Road Scholar trip, my husband and I were amazed at the organization, the education, the variety of activities, and the wonderful people that were traveling with us and running the program. We will forever remember the people we were with and our awesome experiences in Yellowstone National Park in the winter!
— Review left February 24, 2020
This was an amazing trip with a good share of physical exercise. Our guide and group leader were both exceptional.
— Review left February 18, 2020
Wonderful program, lots of fun, lots of activities, beautiful scenery
— Review left February 17, 2020
This was a fabulous trip! A chance to explore Yellowstone during the much less crowded time of winter, and also an opportunity to do a variety of winter activities: XC skiing, snowshoeing, snowmobiling and riding in a snow coach. All with fine teaching and support and jolly companions!
— Review left February 16, 2020
This was a grand adventure, particularly since the Park is far less busy in winter. Each day held a memorable experience enhanced by the expert instructors. The program delivered everything it advertised and more.
— Review left February 2, 2020
Fabulous trip. Leslie and Charlie are great leaders. RJC
— Review left January 18, 2020
Yellowstone in the winter was a lot of fun. Great group and great experiences. I really enjoyed the variety - snowshoe, cross-country ski, snowmobile, snow bus.
— Review left March 14, 2019
Winter Yellowstone is a treat! Whether snowmobiling thru the bison, touring the south quadrant via bus or snowshoeing on a trail, seeing Yellowstone in the winter is wonderful.
— Review left February 27, 2019
Our experience in Yellowstone went beyond our expectations in providing an insightful, informative, thought-provoking and at times exciting physical adventure. The leaders did an outstanding job of not-only educating us but putting us at ease with respect to learning new skills without pressure or high expectations. They immediately set the tone by letting us know that our main purpose there was to enjoy ourselves. It worked!
— Review left February 26, 2019
This adventure through Yellowstone was very well orchestrated. The guides were helpful and knowledgeable about the park. The activities were structured for all abilities.
— Review left February 24, 2019
It's cold but well worth seeing Yellowstone in the winter! Fantastic trip! Highly recommended.
— Review left February 23, 2019
Amazing leaders who were incredibly knowledgeable about Yellowstone National Park - the ecosystem as well as the history. Fun snow activities with accommodations for differing abilities. A very reasonable price for all that was included in the trip. Would highly recommend it. IF you like SNOW!
— Review left February 18, 2019
What an enjoyable adventure! I never would have gone to Yellowstone with the idea of snowshoeing and Xcountry skiing -- much less snowmobiling!!! -- if not for this program. I treasure this splendid experience.
— Review left February 4, 2019
Winter ventures in Yellowstone met all my expectations. It is a safe and educational way to learn about the greater Yellowstone ecosystem while also pushing my personal boundaries. The informational materials I received before the program were very helpful to adequately prepare for Montana winter weather.
— Review left February 1, 2019
OMGosh! I can't describe the beauty of the park in the winter and the animals that call Yellowstone "Home." I went far beyond my comfort level and did things I didn't know I could do, thoroughly enjoying myself all the while! The leaders were knowledgeable and clearly passionate about Yellowstone and teaching others, yet were not at all overbearing. We were given the time and space to experience Yellowstone as we wished, with our leaders close by for questions. I was a little reluctant about being a first time Road Scholar and solo traveler, but never felt left out or not part of the group. I have a new, bolder, stronger sense of self since participating in this trip. I'm already looking into where I will go on my next Road Scholar adventure! Thank you Lee and Rick!
— Review left January 28, 2019
This trip is an adventure, an extraordinary adventure. Every minute is filled with thrilling vistas and outstanding learning opportunities.
— Review left January 25, 2019
