Yellowstone Expeditions

Yellowstone Expeditions Reading Recommendations


Reading a good book at the 'Yurt Camp'

We have put together a short listing of some of our favorite Yellowstone books. The menu on the left can be used to select a subject category. The list includes books about Yellowstone or the winter environment which we hope will give you a feeling for how special winter in Yellowstone National Park is.

These books can also be purchased from our bookstore in West Yellowstone:

The Book Peddler
(406) 646-9358

Your local bookstore or online bookstores such as https://www.amazon.com have many of these books available. I have had good luck with https://www.bibliofind.com when I have been looking for used or "out of print books". We have many of these books in our bookshelf and available for reading at the "Yellowstone Yurt Camp"


Yellowstone Guide Books



National Geographic Yellowstone/Grand Teton Road Guide National Geographic Yellowstone/Grand Teton Road Guide

By Schmidt and Fuller. This road guide with easy to use strip maps and side by side commentary tells you where to see elk, deer, bear and other wildlife. Also provides information on scenic overlooks, side trips, geology and a special section on the 1988 fires. 96 pages.

Winter, An Ecological Handbook Winter, An Ecological Handbook

By Dr. James Halfpenny. Starting with snow physics, this book focuses on ecology during the cold months. Selections include advice on avalanche danger, snow shelters, and winter equipment. 272 pages.

Field Guide to Mammal Tracking Field Guide to Mammal Tracking

By Dr. James Halfpenny. Given an outstanding review by the "New York Times," this is more than just a field guide. You can learn to understand tracks, interpret clues and read the trails that animals leave behind. 163 pages.

Yellowstone Winter Guide Yellowstone Winter Guide

By Jeff Henry. A mile-by-mile guide for winter travelers with maps that depict all the principal trails in the park. The maps help inform visitors of likely places to find and photograph the park's animals and thermal features. 95 pages

Birds of Yellowstone Birds of Yellowstone

By Terry McEneaney. Written by Yellowstone's leading bird biologist, this practical guide will aid in your enjoyment of Yellowstone's varied birdlife. As an extra bonus, the author reveals the locations of the best roadside birding locations. 171 pages.

Wildlife@Yellowstone: The Story Behind the Scenery Wildlife@Yellowstone: The Story Behind the Scenery

By Sue Consolo-Murphy and Kerry Murphy. An introduction to the web of life at Yellowstone, with excellent color photographs and interpretive text. 1999.


Yellowstone History Books


Yellowstone's Ski Pioneers Yellowstone's Ski Pioneers, Peril and Heroism on the Winter Trail

By Paul Schullery. A history of cross country skiing in Yellowstone during the early days of the Park.

Yellowstone's Ski Pioneers Rough Trip Through Yellowstone (The Epic Winter Expedition of Emerson Hough, F. Jay Haynes, and Billy Hofer)

By Scott Herring. In the winter of 1894, the magazine Forest and Stream sent one of its most talented writers, Emerson Hough, to Yellowstone National Park to document the decline in bison. Under the tutelage of legendary guide Billy Hofer (We named our snowcoach 'Uncle Billy" in honor of Mr. Hofer), Hough learned to ski on 12-foot-long wooden slats. He witnessed the arrest of notorious poacher Ed Howell - caught red-handed skinning a bison, and met pioneering photographer F. Jay Haynes. In the winter of 1894, the magazine Forest and Stream sent one of its most talented writers, Emerson Hough, to Yellowstone National Park to document the decline in bison. Under the tutelage of legendary guide Billy Hofer, Hough learned to ski on 12-foot-long wooden slats. He witnessed the arrest of notorious poacher Ed Howell who was caught red-handed skinning a bison and also met pioneering photographer F. Jay Haynes.

The Yellowstone Story, Volume 1 The Yellowstone Story, Volume 1

By Aubrey Haines. Comprehensive in its scope and entertaining in its detail, these two volumes are vital reading for all visitors and historians interested in Yellowstone National Park. 408 pages.

The Yellowstone Story, Volume II The Yellowstone Story, Volume II

By Aubrey Haines. Comprehensive in its scope and entertaining in its detail, these two volumes are vital reading for all visitors and historians interested in Yellowstone National Park. 568 pages.


Yellowstone Geology Books



Windows into the Earth Windows into the Earth, the Geologic Story of Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks

By Robert B. Smith and Lee J. Siegel. Learn about the Yellowstone hotspot, a 125-mile deep plume of hot rock directly beneath Yellowstone National Park that powers its thermal features and shapes its scenic wonders. Discover how the magnificent landscape of Yellowstone and the Tetons has been shaped over time by various geologic processes, then explore these two national parks as you follow the detailed three-day driving tour guide included in this book. 242 pages. 8 x 10".

Roadside Geology of the Yellowstone Country Roadside Geology of the Yellowstone Country (Second Edition)

By William J. Fritz and Robert Thomas. Covers geologic formations along all roads in Yellowstone and all major roads leading to the North, East and West entrances to the park. 268 pages.

Roadside Geology of the Yellowstone Country The Geysers of Yellowstone

By T. Scott Bryan. This completely revised guide describes in detail each of the more than three hundred geysers in Yellowstone National Park. 463 pages.




Yellowstone Maps


National Geographic Map Series

National Geographic Topographical Maps of Yellowstone National Geographic Topographical Maps of Yellowstone

Topographical Maps of Yellowstone National Park. Each map covers one quarter of the Park. Most of our ski trails are covered on the Tower/Canyon and the Yellowstone Lake maps.

Maps from the United States Geological Survey

These 7 1/2 minute quadrangle maps provide plenty of detail for safe navigation through the Yellowstone Backcountry. The maps can be ordered for $6 each from the United States Geological Survey. We spend most of our days skiing in the areas covered by the Canyon, Mount Washburn, Crystal Falls, and Cook Peak quadrangles. A limited number of our trails are located in the Yellowstone Lake and Lake Butte quadrangles. The maps may be purchased online from https://www.usgs.gov.

USGS Canyon Village, WY 1:24,000 Map USGS Canyon Village, WY

By USGS. USGS Canyon Village, WY 1:24,000. This map covers the area around the "Yurt Camp". The map area covers the Canyon Rim Trails, the Roller Coaster, Forest Hot Springs, Wrangler Lake, and the Gorge of Sour Creek.

USGS Canyon Village Map in pdf format

USGS Mount Washburn, WY 1:24,000 Map USGS Mount Washburn, WY

By USGS. USGS Mount Washburn, WY 1:24,000. This map covers the area to the north of the "Yurt Camp". The map covers the trails such as Dunraven Pass, Seven Mile Hole, Washburn Hot Springs, and Hedges and Dunraven Peaks.

USGS Mount Washburn Map in pdf format

USGS Cook Peak, WY 1:24,000 Map USGS Cook Peak, WY

By USGS. USGS Cook Peak, WY 1:24,000. This map covers the area to the northwest of the "Yurt Camp". The map covers the trails such as Cascade Lake, Observation Peak, and the Cascade/Washburn Ridge.

USGS Cook Peak Map in pdf format

USGS Crystal Falls, WY 1:24,000 Map USGS Crystal Falls, WY

By USGS. USGS Crystal Falls, WY 1:24,000. This map covers the area to the southwest of the "Yurt Camp". The map covers the trails such as Alum Creek, Violet Hot Springs, Otter Creek, the Chain of Lakes, Cygnet Lakes, the Brink of the Upper Falls, and the trail to Glen Africa Basin.

USGS Crystal Falls Map in pdf format

USGS Yellowstone Lake, WY 1:24,000 Map USGS Yellowstone Lake, WY

By USGS. USGS Lake, WY 1:24,000. This map covers the area south of the "Yurt Camp" and to the northwest of Yellowstone Lake. The map area covers the Mud Volcano, Natural Bridge, and Gull Point trails.

USGS Yellowstone Lake Map in pdf format

USGS Lake butte, WY 1:24,000 Map USGS Lake Butte, WY

By USGS. USGS Lake Butte, WY 1:24,000. This map covers the area south of the "Yurt Camp" and to the northeast of Yellowstone Lake. The map area covers the Pelican Creek, Valley of Death, and Turbid Lake trails.

USGS Lake Butte Map in pdf format

USGS Beach Lake, WY 1:24,000 Map USGS Beach Lake, WY

By USGS. USGS Beach Lake, WY 1:24,000. This map covers the area toward the southwest corner of Hayden Valley. The map area covers the Glenn Africa trail and the last portion of the Driad Lake trail.

USGS Beach Lake Map in pdf format