Winter | Spring | Summer | Fall
Winter
In winter Yellowstone, Grand Tetons, Bridger-Teton, Togwotee Pass, and Jackson Hole each have a magic all its own. Snow-covered landscapes, frosty trees, and steamy geysers create a wondrous landscape. Yellowstone’s geyser-fed rivers remain unfrozen, creating a natural winter refuge for thousands of waterfowl, including majestic trumpeter swans. Snowmobilers and cross-country skiers explore the millions of acres of public lands, while nearby downhill ski resorts give visitors a variety of thrills and challenges.
Annual snow accumulations in Yellowstone & Grand Teton National Parks can range as high as 400 inches at 10,000 feet to over 200 inches on the valley floor. These are just a few of the reasons why people from all over the world seek out our “backyard” for their wintertime recreation.
Spring
Spring is snowmelt season. Temperatures and weather conditions waver between warm and summery to cool and wintry. Until mid-May when the highways into Yellowstone & Grand Teton National Parks open, this is a quiet time of the year. Rivers begin to fill with snow runoff from the higher peaks (great for whitewater enthusiasts). In the valley, wildflowers begin to dot the landscape. Trout are hungry, flowers poke through the snow, birds return from winter habitats. By Memorial Day, temperatures have usually improved and winter is but a distant memory.
Summer
Summer is the time of the year when people in Yellowstone & Grand Teton country spend even more time out of doors than usual. Rivers run full and fast, then later slow and clear. Trails into the mountains open. Lake temperatures rise to a level where the brave can swim or water-ski. The length of the day expands to help us all fit in more summer activities such as hiking, biking, camping, kayaking, climbing, fishing, golfing, or whatever summertime pursuit we prefer. The weather usually settles into a delightful pattern of dry, mild days and evenings just cool enough for a pleasant night's sleep.
Fall
To escape the hubbub, autumn in Yellowstone & Grand Teton is the right time to visit. Hunting season attracts sportsmen of a different sort on the periphery of Yellowstone, and locals, who have been working double shifts all summer long, now have time to unwind and chat. Fall has increasingly become a time of visitation as many people become aware of the consistent and agreeable weather usually found during September and much of October. The end of October brings the season to an end when Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks close to automobile traffic and the valley gradually slips away to winter as the snow level descends to the valley floor.
