Well we have finally decided..thank goodness to go to YNP in Feb. Should be mid feb.

I can fly into Bozeman and out of Jackson hole or vice versa, so I am thiking of being able to see both parks.

I was curious if anyone has ever done this kind of a trip in the winter.

Here is what I am thinking and have some questions.


I was thinking of having maybe 2 nights in Jackson, 3 or 4 nights at Mammoth and then 2 nights at the Snow Lodge.

I would like rental car at Mammoth as we can drive ourselves to Lamar valley.

Can you drive all around Jackson Hole and Grand Teton National Park in Feb? If so it would be good to have a car there too.

It is like we need the car south and north, but not in the middle. we would have to drive around YNP to get to Mammoth or vice versa if we start in Mammoth. One person said it was a lot of extra time, but when I talked to someone at the park..they said it wouldn't be a big deal to get to Mammoth from Jackson.

I guess I am looking for suggestions on how to route the trip.

Jackon
then Drive to Mammoth
Then Snow Coach to Snow Lodge
Snow Coach back to Mammoth to go to Bozeman

Or I could do Jackon
Snow coach to Snow Lodge
Snow Lodge back to Jackon
Drive to Mammoth


THings I want to do:

1. see WILDLIFE of course
2. sleigh ride on the elk refuge
3. Trumpeter Swans...need to figure out how to do this - is there only one tour to the lake side?
4. Snowmobile tour

Long message sorry...I am doing research...but would love input!

I will post on yellowstone.net too.

Unless you are going to ski at Jackson Hole ski area, I would recommend staying in Grand Teton National Park, perhaps at Signal Mountain Lodge or Jackson Lake Lodge. The views are so stunning you may not make it to Yellowstone...

Thanks..actually I was just looking on line to decide on where to stay in Jackson Hole.

We may just one to do one day of skiing..I am trying to find a map that shows the ski area, vs the town, vs the national park.

is Signal mt lodge open in the winter...

It is a very long drive around the park from Jackson to Mammoth. You cannot go around the east side, you will have to go from Jackson, over a pass that you pray will be open, up through Idaho and over Targhee Pass to West Yellowstone and then up to Bozeman, over to Livingston and down to Gardiner and Mammoth. Hopefully all those roads will be in good shape

This sounds like a summer trip to me. You are going to miss seeing a lot of things in the winter.

I have snowmobiled Yellowstone in the winter out of West Yellowstone and loved it but when I want to really see Yellowstone I go in the summer.

thanks COnnie...we have been in Sept...and I agree that this does seem long.

I am just trying to see how we could have a car in Mammoth when we get there so we can to to Lamar on our own..

doesn't look like we should drive.

Whatever you decide, have a great time... By the way, there are no "Grand Tetons", just the Grand Teton, the highest mountain in the range, which is referred to as the Teton range or Tetons. It will help you blend in with the locals...
;-)

I loved being there in the winter but I had been there several times so I didn't have to try to see everything. It sounds like you have done that too.

I've driven through the Lamar Valley several times, including during our winter trip in a local friend's car. It was a nice drive but not worth a lot of trouble.

Even if you don't do both parks, you'll have to have a car to get from Bozeman to Mammoth, won't you? I'm sure everyone has to park their car somewhere to ride the van equipped with snow equipment into the park.

The park is just magical in the winter and snowmobiling was a LOT of fun. We also really enjoyed all the trails outside of West Yellowstone, which is where we stayed. They ride their snowmobiles all over town--even to the grocery store!!

well we decided to fly in and out of Jacskon because the flights were so much better...using air miles.

we are staying a total 9 nights...

we are arriving at 7:10 pm so we will stay in Jackson maybe 2 nights...then Mammoth 4 nights then snow lodge 2 nights then back to Jacksion for 1 night before we fly out.

The key is going from jackson to mammoth I figure we will take 2 snow coaches...to get to Mammoth. Then work our way back down.