Wild Wyoming For The Winter Traveller
If you want to enjoy a spectacular, natural winter landscape, consider taking a trip to Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, USA.
You can find a cheap flight and fly direct from London to USA and then catch an internal flight with either American Airlines or United Airlines to Jackson Hole Airport, which is about 50 miles from the boundary of Yellowstone.
Yellowstone was established in 1872, as a place of protected wilderness and it remains just that – ethereal, stunningly beautiful and during winter, an extremely challenging environment. People and animals alike are resourceful and resolute when it comes to surviving the winter months. The snow fall is not as heavy as in previous decades, but during November, December and January, it’s still one of the coldest places in USA.
What’s On In Winter
A few of the Hotels and Park Lodges remain open in the cold season, but it’s best to book ahead before arriving. The tourist crowd doesn’t really get going until mid to late April, which means you’ll have plenty of opportunity to don your ski’s and try out some of the cleared snow trails in the Park. Off the main trails, the soft silence, the natural beauty of the landscape, and the sound of running water under ice is ever present.
You can snowmobile, try out the downhill and land ski-ing, ice fish, trek and hike. The winter fee for accessing the park is just $5.00 per day. You’ll pay extra for vehicles and bikes and of course, extra for the activities, but there are lots of tours available so you pick something that really suits you. The low number of tourists means you’ll be able to experience the wilderness without ever feeling cramped by other visitors.
Wildlife and Geology
One benefit of the snowfall is that it allows visitors to clearly follow animal tracks, such as bison, elk, grey wolf and moose. Alternatively, seeing animal tracks may encourage you to trek in the opposite direction! There are lightening-fast red foxes, chasing mice who thread their way under the snow and liquid-looking otters slipping into open water to fish. Â Bison make their way to the geysers and seem to enjoy thawing out in the hot steamy air after digging their way through snow to access grass. They tend to know when the geysers are going to blow and will move back a little from the direct line of fire. Keep an eye on them; they might save you a soaking!
The hot springs are active any time of year, so regardless of the weather front, you can watch the geysers simmering and boiling up, in a spectacular display of geological force. The park has huge thermal resources, and its hot springs are fascinating. One of the world’s largest volcanoes grumbles beneath the surface of Yellowstone, and this directly affects the biological diversity of this incredible place. Get to see Yellowstone in all it’s natural glory – it’s well worth going the extra mile!
