Are you thinking about taking a trip to Yellowstone in the near future? As you may know, Yellowstone’s interior roads close in mid-March, then reopen in April and May—which means that if you want to see that portion of the park sooner rather than later, you need to act fast. However, you can still enjoy wolf and wildlife viewing tours throughout the late winter and early spring.

Even though the Interior of Yellowstone closes on March 15 for spring snowplowing, we will continue to offer our one- to three-day wolf and wildlife viewing tours throughout Yellowstone’s Northern Range. During this quiet shoulder season, we tend to see the first of the bears coming out of hibernation, the first bison calf (in April) and few crowds. If you love nature and wildlife—especially baby wildlife—this is a great opportunity to see the park like you never have before.

What kind of wildlife will I see?

According to the United States National Park Service, Yellowstone is home to “300 species of birds, 16 species of fish, five species of amphibians, six species of reptiles and 67 species of mammals—including seven native ungulate species and two bear species.”

If you take an early spring trip, you’re likely to see wolves and bears, along with the first bison calf. As the snow melts and the wildlife reappears, you may also see foxes, martens, weasels and deer or elk.

Birds also come back to Yellowstone during the spring, so avid bird watchers should not miss this opportunity. Raptors, owls, eagles and songbirds are all prevalent throughout the park. Bring your binoculars and your best camera lenses to capture each special moment.

What kind of tours are available?

Our wildlife tours can be booked for two or three days, starting in early November and continuing through June. This is a prime opportunity to book a tour, since the crowds are usually much lighter in the winter and early spring. Once the summer months arrive, school is out and visitors start crowding the landscape.

You can start your tour by flying into Bozeman, MT, where we will pick you up and take you through the Northern Range. You’ll enjoy lodging at Chico Hot Springs, Gardiner or Cooke City, MT, where you can also cross-country ski and soak in the hot springs.

Our trips are customizable and can be combined with some of our other tours, so feel free to call us and let us know what you’re most interested in seeing. You’ll have plenty of opportunity to relax in the evenings at your resort, including the famous hot springs.

If you’ve been dying to see what Yellowstone National Park has to offer, there’s no better time to book your vacation. Yellowstone Tour Guides has been offering exciting trips for two decades. Come explore with us. Call us today and book your wolf and wildlife viewing tour, or learn more about combining vacations.