Asking someone to choose a favorite season to visit Yellowstone would put most in a quandary, but not us. For us, the choice is clear: it’s autumn. Yellowstone in fall is an absolute sight to behold, with the landscape transforming into a canvas of vibrant hues. The park’s famous deciduous trees — cottonwoods, aspens, and the like — turn shades of red, orange, gold, and yellow against the verdant backdrop of lodgepole pines. On top of that, the cool and crisp air only adds a refreshing edge to every encounter, whether it’s spotting wildlife, hiking through the park, or anything else. As people who’ve explored Yellowstone National Park across all seasons, we can confidently say that autumn offers a breathtaking and unique experience that’s like no other. It’s very different from all other seasons in Yellowstone itself.
With the absence of summer crowds, you’ll have a real chance for solitude during autumn in Yellowstone. It’s no wonder it’s one of the top tourist attractions in the USA. Here’s a detailed and useful guide to planning a trip to Yellowstone during this magical season.
Here’s a more detailed guide to when is the best time to see Yellowstone National Park.
Table of contents
Weather
One of the most important things to know about the weather in Yellowstone during the autumn is that it’s highly unpredictable. While temperatures are usually between 20 and 65 degrees Fahrenheit, the climate could differ in a matter of weeks or even days. Also, once the sun goes down, temperatures begin to drop rapidly. When it comes to October, the temperatures could drop below freezing in certain places, trails and roads could have icy conditions, and there could be as many as 10 days of rain. It’s also the month when some roads begin closing for the season, so do check out the National Weather Service Forecast for the places when you’re visiting Yellowstone in fall. For instance, this is the current forecast for Old Faithful.
Since autumnal Yellowstone weather is so, we made sure that we packed accordingly. Don’t forget your winter waterproof boots if you run cold. Also, be bear-aware when out on the trails, pack camping bear spray and bear bags, hike in groups, and make noise while out and about.
Visitor centers and museums
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If you’re balking at the idea of going to Yellowstone and spending time in museums and visitor centers, think again. They were the perfect start to our Yellowstone adventures as they gave us valuable information and allowed us to get oriented with the park. There are eight main visitor centers, of which seven are inside Yellowstone and one is in West Yellowstone, Montana. When it comes to museums, six of them are inside the park, and two of them are on the way to Yellowstone.
We loved visiting the Albright Visitor Center, which is open throughout the year and even has a museum on the lower level. Since we were traveling with kids, we also visited the Grizzly and Wolf Discovery Center. Open throughout the year, the nonprofit, AZA-accredited educational facility sat right outside the park’s west entrance and allowed the kids to see the park’s animals up close.
Some of the places that remain open throughout the year, besides the above, include the Old Faithful Snow Lodge, the West Yellowstone Visitor Information Center, the Old Faithful Visitor Education Center, the Mammoth Hotel, and the Mammoth Campground.
Bus Tours
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imagine the wild backdrop of Yellowstone in autumn but with a lovely little yellow bus in the foreground! That’s the historic Yellowstone bus tour for you. One of the earliest models for exploring the park that is still around, this staple Yellowstone transport is still as big a hit now as it was when it was first introduced. Today, a fleet of 8 13-seater vintage White Motor Co. historic yellow buses offer guided tours. This distinctive antique yellow transport fleet boasts panoramic windows and retractable canvas roofs, making them perfect for sightseeing in the fall, especially when there’s a chill. Plus, they’re cool to ride around in! Our bus tour took us into the heart of the geyser region and the wildlife valleys making for the perfect day in a historic yellow bus in one of the most amazing national parks on earth.
Here’s more information on the coolest way to tour via the Yellowstone historic yellow bus.
Yellowstone Forever Institute Fall Program
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Visiting Yellowstone can be an enriching cultural experience, and the autumn programs at the Yellowstone Forever Institute make it all the better. It’s helmed by Yellowstone Forever, the park’s official nonprofit partner that strives to preserve, protect, and enhance it via philanthropy and education, along with the National Park Service. The ob objective is to offer educational programming which will help visitors understand, appreciate, and enjoy the park’s cultural history, geology, wildlife, and more. What’s more, they have options for both individual and group tours. Moreover, there are even world-class seminars held that feature experts in their fields — think artists, historians, writers, photographers, scientists, naturalists, professors, and more.
Furthermore, the length of these fall programs ranges from one to five days and highlights everything from the park’s wilderness and history to geology and wildlife. You can choose from a variety of program topics and activities, including art, wildlife-watching, hiking, photography, and more.
Fall Fishing
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Anglers of the world, unite — fall is one of the best times of year to catch a catch if you know what we mean. Autumn in Yellowstone draws a large number of avid anglers to its streams and rivers, where most of the brown trout in southwest Montana spawn from late October to mid-November. When the water temperatures drop towards the end of November, late-season anglers will also see larger fish move out of their lairs, thus becoming more vulnerable to winter fishing flies. Since they also become more aggressive and chase bigger food, the season is prime for trout fishing.
There are two go-to spots for destination fishers: the Gardner and Madison rivers. However, even Firehole River becomes a fabulous fishing hotspot as the weather turns cooler.
Don’t forget to pack your fishing gear when you head here, such as fishing jackets, fly fishing sling packs, and fishing waders. While you’re at it, why not also invest in handheld fishing GPS?
Camping
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For outdoor lovers, camping is a huge part of their Yellowstone trip. There’s nothing more memorable than sitting around a campfire, soaking in the outdoors, cooking delicious camping foods, and sleeping under the stars.
Yellowstone National Park has a total of 12 campgrounds for camping, of which only Mammoth Campground is open throughout the year. What’s more, it’s conveniently located near the park’s northern entrance, with easy access to the towns of Gardiner and Mammoth, as well as sights such as the Boiling River. We had the choice of 82 sites, all of which have a limit of six people per site. What’s more, the campground has potable water and flushing toilets throughout the year. However, there are a few campgrounds that are open until mid-September (Bridge Bay, Canyon, Grant Village, and Indian Creek) and mid-October (Fishing Ridge RV Park, Lewis Lake, and Slough Creek). Please do note that Yellowstone September temperature could also vary wildly.
However, we also wanted to ‘glamp’ a bit more comfortably, which is why we also chose to stay at the amazing Under Canvas West Yellowstone. With mountain views in all directions, staying in the comfy safari-style tents was a memorable experience. While most, including ours, had a private bathroom, all tents had wood stoves, plush beds, and patios with alfresco seating. Communal facilities included an exhaustive activity roster, an onsite restaurant, and even a nightly fire pit with complimentary s’mores. It’s no wonder it’s one of the best hotels near Yellowstone’s West Entrance.
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Historic Stays
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Staying inside Yellowstone National Park doesn’t entail just camping; the park has nine lodges (cabins/hotels) with more than 2,000 rooms! While most are open from spring to summer and two in the winter, a few are open until the first two weeks of October too.
Of them all, the most famous and historic is the 1903-04-built Old Faithful Inn, one of the world’s largest log-style structures. Not only is this National Historic Landmark just a five-minute walk to Old Faithful geyser, but also most other geothermal attractions around. What’s more, we could even see the geyser from the main dining room as we dug into delicious local food every day. Old Faithful Inn is usually open until the beginning of the third week of October.
However, we also stayed at the Old Faithful Snow Lodge & Cabins. It stayed open the longest, right until the end of October. It’s the park’s newest full-service hotel and is open in both summer and winter. The sprawling Canyon Lodge and Cabins also stay open until October end with more than 500 rooms, Yellowstone’s maximum stays. While Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel & Cabins shut in mid-October, Old Faithful Lodge Cabins, Lake Lodge Cabins, Lake Yellowstone Hotel & Cabins, and Grant Village shut in the first week of October. Finally, Roosevelt Lodge Cabins shuts quite early in the season in the first week of September.
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Hiking and Biking Adventures
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One of the best ways to see the Yellowstone fall colors is by getting out into the backcountry on foot, even if you plan to go just a mile or so from the trailhead! What’s great is that most of the park’s 1000+-mi of trails are accessible in autumn. Moreover, there were fewer mosquitoes on the trail, along with the bonus of cooler temperatures. So, what more could we ask for?
We loved the trail to Red Rock Point as well as the Seven Mile Hole Trail, the latter of which was challenging but thrilling. However, solitude levels were high on this day-long 8-10-hour hike, which took us to the bottom of the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone. Being the only established trail that led to beneath the rim of this colorful canyon, it was the highlight of our hiking adventures.
If you’re more adventurous and don’t mind sudden and unpredictable weather changes, the Lamar Valley is a great place for a fall hike. Trails can be muddy and even icy, so don’t forget your boots, as we mentioned earlier, and remember to be alert and bear-aware, no matter where you go. However, we were thrilled to watch wildlife like moose, bighorn sheep, elk, and even bears get ready for winter.
Another thrilling activity we indulged in was cycling along the many unpaved/paved roads and multi-use paths, which were still open in the fall and even through winter.
Fall Foliage Drives
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What better way to soak in Yellowstone’s scenic canvas of rustic oranges, golden yellows, and fiery reds than taking a road trip? Whether or not you’re a nature lover, a photographer, or an Instagrammer, scenic drives through Yellowstone are a must-do. One of the most scenic drives we took was the Grand Loop Road, the primary road for exploring the park and connecting all major sights. Our journey began at the Norris geothermal region, with the steamy geysers making for striking photos against the autumnal landscape. It also took us to Mammoth Hot Springs and Lamar Valley, the Serengeti of North America boasting some of the most picturesque sweeping views.
“We don’t think we’ve had a better road adventure than the one we enjoyed in Yellowstone in autumn — pure magic!”
WOW Travel
Don’t miss Hayden Valley, bisected by the Yellowstone River, and the Tower-Roosevelt National Historic District, a historic area where we drove through a forest of aspens! This drive allowed us to see views from Sage Creek Rim and Artist’s Point at Canyon Village.
Why not check out this Self-Guided Scenic Drive Tour of Yellowstone National Park?
Wildlife Watching
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With fewer people and cars crowding the trails and roads, the potential for seeing animals in Yellowstone is all the better in autumn. Most shed their summer coats for thicker, winter ones, which leads to them being quite active during the day when we didn’t have to worry about the heat. When we went in September, we saw bears making their way to the lower elevations to begin hibernating as food was more abundant here and snow started accumulating in the mountains. Since they’d be wandering the sides of the roads, we saw them from the comfort and safety of our car. This was followed by the annual elk rut in October, which we saw in Mammoth Hot Springs and Grant Village. If you’re going here in November, then you’ll even see wolves in Lamar Valley and even bighorn sheep.
Geothermal Wonders
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We’d seen Yellowstone’s famed geothermal wonders in every season, but nothing prepared us for their beauty in autumn. For instance, we’d already seen the iconic Old Faithful geyser in summer, and that too with spectacular eruptions. However, the crowds had greatly thinned by October, so we were able to hang around longer and take photos uninterrupted. The Norris Geyser Basin, the park’s hottest, oldest, and most dynamic, was a delight to explore, thanks to the mild sunlight, the cooler temperatures, the extensive boardwalks, and fewer crowds. It’s home to the world’s tallest geyser, the Steamboat Geyser, which sprays water as high as 300-400 ft into the air!
Mammoth Hot Springs is one of the park’s most unique features. These hot springs on limestone terraces have formed from decades of mineral-rich water flowing up from underneath the earth’s crust. The burnt orange and white terraces were a sight to behold in autumn. Last but in no way least, we visited the star of the geothermal basin, the Grand Prismatic Spring. Famed for its massive size and kaleidoscopic waters, the park’s most famous hot spring shone in brilliant hues of yellow, orange, green, and blue even in the fall.
Where to Stay in Yellowstone?
- The Rockwell Inn, Jackson Hole: Tucked amidst the picturesque landscape of Jackson Hole, this charming hotel boasts mountain-inspired decor, tranquility, and warmth. Our room had a plush bed, a window with wonderful views, a private bathroom, a TV, and even coffee-making amenities. Plus, we’d have a delightful breakfast buffet to look forward to every day. Did we mention the hot tub and the fact that it’s one of the best cheap accommodations in Yellowstone National Park? Yep.
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- Old Faithful Inn: Have you ever imagined staying inside Yellowstone National Park? At the Old Faithful Inn, you don’t have to guess. The 1903-1904-built hotel, a National Historic Landmark, is also the world’s largest log structure and has an unbeatable location – a mere five-minute walk to Old Faithful geyser! Everything from its stone fireplace to its dining room and delectable buffet-style meals is famous. The rooms and suites, while simple, were spacious with plush beds, private bathrooms, and all sorts of comforts. However, the standout was the spectacular views of the Geyser Basin, including Old Faithful itself. No wonder it’s one of the best hotels to stay near Yellowstone National Park. There’s only one catch: it’s open only until the first week of October, so check before you go.
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Places To Eat
- Old Faithful Lodge Dining Room: Open until the first week of October, this place is all about the views. Grab a table by the window and you’ll have a front-row view of the world-famous Old Faithful Geyser. As you soak in the views, tuck into the bison meatloaf, deli and barbecue sandwiches, entrée salads, soups, and roasted carved turkey. Don’t forget to grab ice cream cones from the Lobby Snack Shops on the way out.
- Mammoth Terrace Grill: This restaurant in the heart of Mammoth Hot Springs boasts a quick-service menu with value meals, salads, sandwiches, burgers, coffee, juices, and even hand-dipped ice cream.
