sludick

We have the opportunity to visit Yellowstone next year, staying in a timeshare in West Yellowstone in early October (10/4-9). I know a lot will be closed down, including the Beartooth Highway, and that we can expect at least some snow.

My question is -- would you go at thie time of year? If so, why? I'm a bit concerned that staying outside the park in West Yellowstone at that time of year might put us a bit too far from things via icy roads. Or might we have a chance at some brisk fall weather?

PaulRabe

There is NEVER a bad time to visit Yellowstone, it's just a matter of bringing proper clothing and adjusting what you're able to do.

For the former, just be prepared to layer what you wear, as conditions can change VERY dramatically in a day, or even within a day -- you can be a comfortable 20C on a sunny afternoon, and wake up the next morning in a blizzard. You MOST LIKELY won't have bad wintry weather at this time, but you MIGHT (but, hey, you could have snow in August in Yellowstone).

This URL tells you what facilities will (most likely) be open at that time:

http://tinyurl.com/285tqa

cmcfong

My brother just returned from a week there and he said it was fabulous. He was a bit chilly at night, particularly, but had great hikes and some splendid opportunities to see some of the wolves. Enjoy your visit.

Melnq8

I wouldn't hesitate to go in October - in fact, I've been there several times in the off season and I much prefer it to visiting in the summer.

starrsville

I went in mid-October a few years ago and it was WONDERFUL! We got a dusting of snow. I'd go back in a heartbeat!

iceeu2

We went the 3rd week in October 3 years ago and it was wonderful. It started snowing about 20 minutes after we left Bozeman and it snowed all week long. Beautiful, just beautiful. Some days the park entrances were late opening, but I just called every morning to check the status.

starrsville

http://www.nps.gov/yell/planyourvisi...closedates.htm

This may be helpful.

I spent my birthday weekend (upcoming weekend) at Old Faithful in a room overlooking OF. It was the last weekend of the season for the store/ restaurant next door. It was fun talking to the retired workers who had spent 6 months living in the campgrounds and were headed to warmer climates for the winter.

Early Oct. you should be just fine, but check the website to know for sure. Have fun!

LauraStenicky

Definalty go in October! I have lived on and off in Jackson Hole, and October was my favorite month to be there...

The "masses" will be gone and you will have the beauty of the park to yourselves!

Go go go!

sludick

Thank you, one and all. I am SO looking forward to this. Waiting until the crowds are gone was one of the goals. Seeing some snow is another, although I am really looking forward to seeing the critters and doing some day hiking (weather premitting). I will take the wise advice about layering and preparing for changeable weather (good instructions for Banff as well, where we have been several times).

starrsville

One of my favorite memories was a ranger led hike to standing petrified trees. Check out the ranger schedule when you are there.

susanogle

My family just got back from our first (but not last!) trip to Yellowstone. We were there Oct. 4-8 and it was fabulous! The second day there we had about 6 inches of snow and it was beautiful. There were no crowds and the only road that was closed was the Tower Falls to Canyon road. We stayed at the Mamouth Hot Springs Lodge for 3 nights and the moved to the amazing Old Faithful Lodge. The Old Faithful Lodge was one of the main hi-lights of the trip. I wish we had had all 4 nights there even though Mamouth was nice, there's no comparison. We saw tons of wildlife and were frequently stuck in traffic jams caused by the bison in the road! I'm usually a beach girl, but this was the best vacation we've ever been on.

RedRock

Another YS site you will want to check.

http://www.nps.gov/yell/planyourvisit/hours.htm

Retired_teacher

One thing that you need to know is that this NP does not have snow removal equipment, so in the event of a heavy snowstorm park officials close down the area and route vehicles out of the park at the nearest exit. This happened to us on 10/1/02 when a storm came up quite suddenly while we were at Old Faithful. Although we were staying in Gardiner, we were force to exit the park in West Yellowstone and drive over 200 miles in blizzard conditions through Big Sky Country taking Route 191 north to I90, then east to Route 89 and back south to Gardiner. My point would be to watch the weather carefully and choose your daytrips accordingly if snow is in the forecast

sludick

Ouch! Thanks for the warning about rerouting due to snow, we'll keep that in mind.

Susanogle, thanks as well; that's exactly when we'll be there.