Road Closing Dates, Activities and more for Late Fall / Early Winter in Jackson Hole
With the Tetons blanketed with snow from our first major winter storm of the year our thoughts are turning towards the upcoming winter season. In just a few weeks the interior roads of Grand Teton and Yellowstone will close in preparation for the winter season. Thousands of elk, mule deer, bighorn sheep and other ungulates will begin epic migrations to lower elevation winter ranges, while black and grizzly bears will head towards dens for winter’s slumber.
The “off season,” from mid October through the end of December is a great time of year to take in the wildlife and stunning scenery of the National Elk Refuge, Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks free of crowds but requires a little more planning. Here are some important dates to take into consideration for a late fall visit to Jackson Hole and the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem.
Yellowstone National Park Winter Road Closures
In winter, the high elevation interior of Yellowstone becomes a frozen wonderland, accessible only by oversnow vehicles. In preparation for the winter season, all interior park roads close on November 8th, reopening to oversnow travel on December 15th. (Join us on a Yellowstone Tour before the roads close!)
Visitors who wish to experience the wildlife-rich Northern Range of Yellowstone can still access the park road from the North to Northeast entrance, which remains open year round.
Grand Teton National Park Winter Road Closures
Here in Jackson Hole, the Teton Park Road from Bradley-Taggart to Signal Mountain and the Moose-Wilson Road both close to vehicles on November 1st, reopening in May. Locals and visitors alike enjoy riding bikes or walking along these closed sections of roads which remain open to non-motorized travel until becoming snow covered. Leashed dogs are allowed.
Other park roads including Mormon Row, Antelope Flats, Pilgrim Creek, Schwabacher, and Two Ocean will close for the winter over the next few months according to snow conditions. Learn more here.
Winter Tours and Other Fun Dates!
As we look forward to the winter season we’re enjoying growing concentrations of wildlife migrating into the valley. It’s a fantastic time of year for wildlife watching and we’re out in the parks daily. Our wildlife tours expand onto the National Elk Refuge beginning November 1st and our combination wildlife, museum, and sleigh ride tours start on December 18th!
Snow will soon blanket Jackson Hole, and we plan to start offering guided snowshoeing and cross country ski tours of Grand Teton as early as November 15th.
In mid December grooming starts on the Teton Park Road which will be open for cross country skiing and snowshoeing. There are many other options in Jackson Hole for nordic skiing, visit our friends at Jhnordic.org for an interactive map of locations!
Join us at the JHNordic 5th Annual Free Ski, Fat Bike, & Snowshoe Day @ Turpin Meadow Ranch Sun Jan 09, 2022
For those wanting a full service multi day winter wildlife adventure experience we’re offering two different adventure options for the 2021-2022 season in addition to fully customizable private tours.
Our 6 day Winter Wolves and Wildlife of Yellowstone Adventure focuses on the Northern Range of Yellowstone, also known as the American Serengeti. It also includes a private SnowCoach tour of Yellowstone’s stunning thermal features and snowy interior.
Join our 8 day Winter in Wonderland Adventure to experience the concentrated winter wildlife of the National Elk Refuge, Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks. This adventure includes two full days in the Interior of Yellowstone where we'll stay at the Old Faithful Snowlodge before finishing the trip in the wildlife-rich Northern Range.
Experience the Winter Wonderland of Grand Teton and Yellowstone!
Visiting Grand Teton and Yellowstone during the late fall and early winter requires some flexibility with road closures, variable weather, and some limited services, but it’s well worth the effort. Escape the crowds of summer and enjoy this quiet but incredible time of year.
