Things to Do in Yellowstone National Park in December
December weather, activities, events & insider tips
December Weather in Yellowstone National Park
Is December Right for You?
Advantages
- Winter wildlife viewing is genuinely spectacular - wolves and bison against snow create photography opportunities you won't find any other time of year. The thermal features become even more dramatic when it's -15°C (5°F), with massive steam plumes visible for kilometers
- Crowds drop to about 5% of summer levels. You'll have Old Faithful practically to yourself, and lodges feel intimate rather than overwhelming. The park averages just 30,000 visitors for the entire month versus 900,000 in July
- Snowcoach and snowmobile access opens up a completely different park experience. The 48 km (30 mile) route from West Yellowstone to Old Faithful through the Geyser Basin is only possible December through March, and it's honestly magical
- Accommodation prices drop 40-60% compared to peak summer, and you can actually book quality rooms at Old Faithful Snow Lodge or Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel without the usual 11-month advance planning
Considerations
- Most of the park is completely inaccessible by regular vehicle. Only the North Entrance through Mammoth to Cooke City stays open to cars - that's roughly 85% of park roads closed. If you're expecting to drive the Grand Loop, December isn't your month
- The cold is no joke and catches people off guard. Wind chill regularly hits -30°C (-22°F), and you'll need serious winter gear, not just a puffy jacket from the mall. Frostbite can occur in under 10 minutes in these conditions
- Limited services mean you need to plan everything carefully. Only two lodges operate in winter, just a handful of warming huts stay open, and if weather turns bad, you might be stuck inside for days. The park doesn't mess around with winter storm closures
Best Activities in December
Old Faithful Snowcoach Tours
December transforms the Upper Geyser Basin into something otherworldly. When air temperature drops to -15°C (5°F) and geysers are shooting 93°C (200°F) water, the steam creates these massive frozen sculptures on surrounding trees. Snowcoaches run daily from West Yellowstone and Mammoth, taking you through areas completely closed to cars. You'll see bison congregating around thermal features for warmth, and if you're lucky, wolves hunting in the Hayden Valley. The contrast between frozen landscape and boiling geothermal features is genuinely stunning. Tours typically run 8-10 hours including stops at Old Faithful, Grand Prismatic overlook, and several smaller thermal basins.
Lamar Valley Winter Wildlife Watching
December is actually peak season for wolf watching in Lamar Valley. The Northern Range stays accessible by car year-round via the North Entrance, and wolves are most active during winter months when they're hunting elk. You'll need to be out at dawn - we're talking 6:30am starts when it's still -18°C (0°F) - but that's when the action happens. Bring serious binoculars or a spotting scope. The valley also hosts the park's largest bison herds, and watching them navigate deep snow while steam rises from their backs in the frigid air is pretty remarkable. Plan 4-6 hours minimum, and dress in serious layers.
Cross-Country Skiing Thermal Areas
The trails around Mammoth Hot Springs and the Upper Terrace Loop become groomed ski routes in December, and skiing past steaming travertine terraces while it's -10°C (14°F) outside is wonderfully surreal. The 5 km (3.1 mile) Upper Terrace Loop gains about 100 m (328 ft) elevation but rewards you with views across the Mammoth complex with minimal crowds. More advanced skiers can tackle the 8 km (5 mile) route from Old Faithful to Morning Glory Pool - though you'll need snowcoach transport to the trailhead first. The combination of cardiovascular exercise keeping you warm while surrounded by frozen wilderness and boiling springs creates this interesting physical contrast.
Mammoth Hot Springs Winter Exploration
Mammoth is the most accessible winter destination since it stays open to car traffic year-round and offers both dramatic thermal features and reliable elk herds. December brings 600-800 elk down from higher elevations to winter around the hot springs and historic Fort Yellowstone buildings. You can literally walk within 20 m (65 ft) of bull elk on the parade grounds. The terraces themselves become even more photogenic in winter - the contrast between white travertine, orange thermophiles, rising steam, and snow-covered mountains creates these layered compositions. The boardwalks stay open and mostly clear of ice, making this one of the few thermal areas genuinely accessible without special equipment.
Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone Winter Views
The canyon rim trails from Artist Point and Uncle Tom's Trail become snowshoe routes in December, and honestly, the frozen Lower Falls surrounded by snow-covered canyon walls might be more impressive than the summer version. The 94 m (308 ft) waterfall partially freezes, creating these massive ice formations while the center keeps flowing. You'll need snowshoes for the 2.4 km (1.5 mile) trek from the snowcoach drop-off point to the viewpoints, and the trail involves about 150 m (492 ft) elevation change through snow that can be thigh-deep off the packed route. The yellow and orange canyon walls against white snow and blue ice create striking color contrasts.
Photography Workshops Thermal Features
December offers the most dramatic conditions for thermal photography, period. When ambient temperature drops below -15°C (5°F), geysers and hot springs produce massive steam clouds that catch sunrise light in ways you simply can't replicate in summer. The challenge is working with camera equipment in extreme cold - batteries die quickly, LCD screens freeze, and condensation becomes a real problem when moving between cold and warm environments. Specialized winter photography tours focus on techniques for these conditions while accessing locations like Grand Prismatic, Norris Geyser Basin, and lesser-known thermal features where ice crystals form on surrounding vegetation.
December Events & Festivals
Old Faithful Snow Lodge Christmas Week
The Snow Lodge does a proper Christmas setup with decorated common areas and special holiday meals December 23-26. It's low-key rather than elaborate, but there's something appealing about Christmas dinner while bison wander past the windows and Old Faithful erupts in the snow outside. The lodge hosts ranger programs most evenings focusing on winter ecology and wolf behavior. Reservations for Christmas week need to happen by late September typically.
West Yellowstone Christmas Stroll
The gateway town of West Yellowstone, Montana hosts a small-town Christmas event the first weekend of December with ice sculptures, caroling, and local craft vendors. It's worth timing your arrival to catch this if you're entering through the West Entrance for snowcoach tours. The town also maintains an ice skating rink and hosts snowmobile demo days where you can test equipment before committing to rentals.