Does everybody ski together as part of one group or is there more than one ski option offered each day?
We usually have a guide to guest ratio of about 1 guide for every 4 guests. This allows us to offer several different ski or snowshoe destination tours each day. These individual trips will vary in difficulty so that guests may choose a destination and difficulty level that is appropriate for their specific desires and abilities.
When is the best time to come to Yellowstone?
The ski camp operates from just before Christmas until the second Sunday of March. I have plotted the average temperature and snow depth measurements on our climate of Yellowstone web page. January has slightly lower temperatures and shorter days- but that means dryer snow and more ice formations on the waterfalls and trees. February is a little warmer and the days are longer. However, there is a little more potential for the snow to get wet by late February and early March.
What airport should I fly into?
It is probably easiest to fly into the Bozeman, MT airport (BZN). There is public transportation (Karst Bus Lines) available every day from Bozeman to West Yellowstone. Sometimes it is cheaper and more convenient to rent a car and drive to west Yellowstone- this is especially true if there are 4 or more in your group. We can also arrange to pick you up at the airport if you have a group. It is also possible to fly into the Idaho Falls, Id airport (IDA) although there is limited public transportation from Idaho Falls to West Yellowstone.
Where should I stay the night before the trip starts?
Here is a listing of hotels that are available in the winter in West Yellowstone. You can also find hotels in and near West Yellowstone on TripAdviser or Expedia. If you are looking for locally owned businesses we often use the Stage Coach Inn or the Lazy G Hotels.
Are all the ski trails groomed?
We specialize in taking visitors deep into the backcountry of Yellowstone. Most of our trails are backcountry trails which are not groomed. Your guide, (and perhaps others in your group) will be breaking trail in most cases. This, in our opinion, is part of the wildness of Yellowstone. There is a 4 km groomed ski trail that travels along the north rim of the Yellowstone Canyon, this trail starts right from the Yurt Camp.
What about snowmobiles in Yellowstone?
The current regulations require all snowmobiles in the park to stay on the summer paved roadways (covered with snow in the winter). They are not allowed (nor are our snowcoaches) to leave these roads. All snowmobiles must be part of a guided group with a licensed and authorized guide and all snowmobiles must be the newer quiet and cleaner four stroke machines. Additionally, most snowmobile guided trips go to Old Faithful, a small minority come to the Canyon Area.
