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What’s Better: Yellowstone National Park or Wind River?

Yellowstone National Park might seem like the obvious pick, but overlooking Wyoming’s Wind River region would be a mistake.

Wyoming’s Yellowstone and Wind River regions have a lot more in common than you might think. They’re both stunning, offering dramatic western landscapes where wild elk, bighorn sheep, and bison wander the open prairies. Both are home to gorgeous scenery that draws visitors by the millions each year, yet both have distinct differences.

One offers iconic scenes and frequent crowds, while another is teeming with Indigenous culture and wide open spaces. While both are worth a visit on a trip to Wyoming, where you spend your time depends on the type of traveler you are.

Here’s a look at the best–and not-so-great—aspects of both Yellowstone and Wind River country, from the animals you’ll see to the food you’ll eat.

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Yellowstone vs. Wind River: Scenery

Yellowstone’s geothermal features like Old Faithful and the Grand Prismatic spring are American icons and always worth visiting. But the park has so much more, and you could spend an entire day driving on a scavenger hunt of spectacular waterfalls. The upper and lower falls of the Yellowstone River are the most popular, but Tower, Gibbon, and Firehole falls can all be viewed without a hike. The park also boasts hundreds of day-hikes through gorgeous meadows, ridgelines, and river valleys. But of course, the geysers, fumaroles, mud pits, and hot springs are the main attractions. And because of all the seismic activity, the park is always evolving, so you can return every year and expect it to be a little different than you remember.

The Wind River region is, after all, named after a mountain range. Rolling up Highway 26, you’ll be treated to endless views of the snow-capped peaks in the distance including a couple of the state’s highest in Gannet and Fremont. But the scenery in this part of the state is far from a one-trick pony, as you’ll encounter astounding red rock formations reminiscent of the American southwest as you approach Dubois. You’ll pass through bluffs sticking up from the prairie at several points along the way. While it’s not as dramatic a drive as you’ll find in Yellowstone, it still is a wonder for anyone not accustomed to seeing mountain peaks outside their window.

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Yellowstone vs. Wind River: Wildlife

A drive through Yellowstone is about as close to one gets to an American safari. Every adventure into Yellowstone is sure to inspire awe, where wolves, elk, grizzly bears, moose, bighorn sheep, and mountain goats appear throughout the landscape. And while these big animals get the most attention, Yellowstone has an entire guiding industry built on spotting rare animals like otters, bobcats, badgers, and wolverines. The park is also a birding extravaganza, where bald eagles, osprey, and gray owls abound.

While Yellowstone’s wildlife is indeed magical, sitting in a 100-car traffic jam because someone spotted a moose is not. In Wind River, you’ll find many of the same exotic animals in a far more accessible space. You’ll still need to keep your distance, but in Riverton you can visit with a Buffalo herd cultivated by the Shoshone and rarely seen by visitors. You can take an eco-tour at the National Bighorn Sheep Center in Dubois, where it’s not uncommon to spot a moose or herd of elk during your drive. While the region isn’t known for grizzly bears, some do still road the southern stretches of the Wind River range. Just use extreme caution should you spot any and keep at least 1,000 yards away.

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Yellowstone vs. Wind River: Outdoor Recreation

During high season, Yellowstone offers unlimited amounts of hiking & fishing, as well as horseback riding in Canyon & Tower Junction. Winter allows for guided snowcoach and snowmobiling tours, with some of the most pristine cross-country skiing and snowshoeing on earth near Mammoth Hot Springs and the Old Faithful Snow Lodge. Cycling the park can make you feel completely in tune with the park’s stunning scenery, but busy roads in high season can be treacherous. Head here during the few weeks every April known as “Spring Cycling,” where roads are not yet open to vehicles and you can enjoy the fresh air and open roads without any motorized distractions.

Wind River is far from lacking in recreation, and like with everything else, you won’t find the massive crowds you might see in Yellowstone National Park. During winter, you can rent a snowmobile and explore the wilderness at Togwotee Mountain Lodge. Cross Country skiing is also beautiful during winter, best experienced along the groomed trails at Deception Creek and Falls Loop near Lander. During summer, rock climbers flock to Sinks Canyon State Park, home to some of the most challenging faces in the region. Though the less adrenaline-inclined can still enjoy hikes that meander throughout the canyon.

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Yellowstone vs. Wind River: Weather & Seasonality

Yellowstone is nothing if not a place of extremes, and that can apply to the weather. While summers are pleasant and rarely so hot they’d impede a visit, and the blossoms of spring are a thing to behold, winter is one of the harshest winters in the Western Hemisphere. The extreme cold and heavy snowfall leave the majority of Yellowstone inaccessible from November through April, with only the northern route from Gardiner to Cooke City open to vehicles. While a bit pricier, this can be an excellent time to visit with sparse crowds and beautiful winter scenery.

The Wind River region sits considerably lower in elevation than Yellowstone, and while nobody’s confusing it with a “temperate” climate it can be a little more hospitable than the nearby national park. Summers are warm and sunny, typically hitting the mid-80s to low-90s with minimal humidity. Winters are cold, but if you don’t hit a windy spell or a snowstorm the days can be quite pleasant. The entire region, aside from the more remote areas, is accessible all year, making it a better winter destination.

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Yellowstone vs. Wind River: Crowds

Over 4.8 million visitors entered Yellowstone in 2022, making it America’s third most popular national park. And it continues to get busier every year. With the increasing crowds, driving across the park in busier warmer months can be frustrating, especially when stuck in a bison-jam or a backup when one car thinks it has spotted a grizzly bear. Of course, the crowds are avoidable by doing things like going early in the morning, prioritizing hiking, or visiting in the winter months.

The Wind River Region is certainly more popular in the summer than winter. But you’ll never see the kind of crowds packing its parks and highways that you will find in Yellowstone. Climbing the rock faces in Sink Canyon State Park is rarely an experience you’ll have to share with many people, and traffic won’t be much of a concern until you reach the stretches of Highway 26 closer to Grand Teton. Essentially, Wind River is a fantastic less-crowded alternative, and though you won’t see the fabled sites of Yellowstone you won’t have to crane your neck over selfie-snapping masses to take in the sites you do see.

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Yellowstone vs. Wind River: Accessibility

Yellowstone is far from any major urban area, so any drive will be a serious road trip.  Conveniently, Bozeman, Montana’s airport was expanded and rebranded as “Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport” in 2011 and has a good selection of direct flights from cities across the west and Midwest. The drive from Bozeman to Yellowstone is incredibly scenic and takes about 1.5 to 2 hours. Jackson Hole Airport sits near Grand Teton National Park, offering nonstops to most major hubs. It’s about two hours away, though keep in mind if you’re visiting during winter, you’ll have to head further north to get to the only part of the park open to vehicles.

Like a lot of less-crowded alternatives, the Wind River region isn’t exactly easy to reach either. The nearest interstate is I-80, about two hours south, so road tripping from far away will be an odyssey. The two easiest airports are Riverton, with daily flights from Denver via United Airlines, and Jackson Hole, which has full jet service to most major hubs. The region runs more or less between the two cities, so the route you take through Wind River will likely depend on which airport you fly into.

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Yellowstone vs. Wind River:  Accommodations

Yellowstone’s iconic in-park lodges book out a year in advance, so if you want to stay at any of the lodges in Canyon Village next year, book your stay now. You’ll also find campsites, some of which are booked in advance, but others are first-come, first-serve and if you show up early enough and wait for an hour or so, you can typically secure a spot as people are always heading out. If you want to splurge on an extended trip, Paradise Valley and Big Sky offer luxury hotels less than an hour outside the park.

While Wind River doesn’t boast big luxury properties or famous lodges, its places to stay are a fraction of the cost you’d find in Yellowstone and offer easy access to nature. Riverton has a collection of national chain hotels that do the job just fine. Sinks Canyon State Park offers rentable yurts right in the shadow of the rock faces, that make for an immersive nature experience that isn’t quite as rustic as campsites. Further north, the Crooked Creek Guest Ranch allows you to stay in a full-service cabin just outside the Shoshone National Forest. And you’ll find similar accommodations at the Togwotee Mountain Lodge near Moran.

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Yellowstone vs. Wind River: Dining Options

Dining inside Yellowstone is notoriously challenging. Large crowds, limited staff, and the logistical challenges of transporting high-quality food into the park make eating here a dicey proposition at best. Most options are basic cafeteria-style mass feeds, so your best bet is probably visiting a supermarket, packing your own lunches for the day, and stocking up on snacks. You’ll also find an abundance of delicious restaurants in the towns just outside of the park, most notably Wonderland Cafe in Gardiner and the funky Buffalo Bar in West Yellowstone.

The vast, open spaces of mountainous Wyoming aren’t inherently where one would expect to find fantastic dining, but the Wind River Region is a pleasant surprise when it comes to food. Spots like The Middle Fork in Lander offer hearty bison burgers, hand-cut fries, fresh salads, and berry-rich desserts. Nearby, Cowfish combines an onsite brewery with an eclectic menu of bison ravioli sugo and ancho chile glazed meatloaf. In Dubois, you’ll find prime steaks at the Lone Buffalo Steakhouse in a rustic setting. And the log cabin bar across the street at the Rustic Pine comes complete with moose heads on the wall.

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Yellowstone vs. Wind River: Culture

Yellowstone was the first place ever designated a national park in 1872, making it one of the most historic sites in the world. A few of the century-old buildings are still in operation, such as the Lake Yellowstone Hotel, Old Faithful Inn, and the Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel and Post Office. While you won’t find much Native American activity, Yellowstone was utilized by numerous tribes, and you can learn about it at museums and interpretive sites throughout the park.

The Wind River Region doesn’t quite claim the same place in world history as Yellowstone, but its culture runs deeper. Much of the region sits in the Wind River Reservation, home to Eastern Shoshone and Northern Arapaho tribes. You can learn much of the latter tribe’s history at the Northern Arapaho Experience Room inside the Wind River Hotel. You can also take a self-guided driving tour of the reservation that takes you to Sacajawea’s gravesite, the Eastern Shoshone Cultural Center, and other tribal landmarks.

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Yellowstone vs. Wind River: Cost

National Parks can be one of the great American budget destinations, even in a park as popular as Yellowstone. A five-night back-country camping and hiking trip will cost less than $100 for permit fees, and the park’s 2,000+ car campsites range from $20-$40/day. Those who aren’t up for camping can find mid-level hotels in Gardiner, Cooke City, Cody, or West Yellowstone for $150-250 per night. Staying at a hotel inside the park will run $300 or more per night and can get into the thousands if you go to the Old Faithful Snow Lodge over Christmas. While most recreational activities are free, professionally guided wildlife-viewing or hiking tours range from $50-300 per person per day.

The Wind River Region isn’t going to break anyone’s budget either, as campsites in Sinks Canyon State Park are only $18 a night for non-residents. Even the yurts are only about $60, and rooms at the guest ranches in Dubois and Lander are about $100 a night in summer. Food is pretty affordable, too, as dinner for two in and of the restaurants mentioned above will rarely top $80. Drinks are cheaper in local bars, and most tours and activities range from $100 to $200.