Winter Ventures in Yellowstone Country

At a Glance

Venture into Yellowstone Country for winter's sparkling whiteness, steaming thermals and ice-rimmed rivers. Ride a snowcoach to the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone and encounter eons of geologic processes. Learn to ride a snowmobile on park roads, view diverse habitats and observe bison, waterfowl, bald eagles and coyotes. Experience churning geothermal activity at Old Faithful and Fountain Paint Pots, discover animal tracks and analyze sign and learn winter sports and skills on informative, naturalist-led adventures.

Best of all, you’ll…

Take a snowmobile excursion into sulfur-scented geyser basins showcasing Old Faithful's steaming glory, plopping mudpots, fumaroles and sizzling hot springs.
Ride a snowcoach to the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, where you’re met with sheer, painted walls and the ice-columned majesty of Lower Falls.
Try over-the-snow ventures on cross-country skis and snowshoes, revealing a landscape locked in winter's frozen embrace.

Fred Haas View biography

Born in southern Idaho, but raised in Texas, Fred Haas has always enjoyed the outdoors. With a degree in forestry from Texas A&M, Fred headed out west to work with the U.S. Forest Service. Fred's 33 years of public land management included roles in reforestation, timber sale administration, grazing management, road and trail maintenance, special use permit administration, landownership adjustments, recreation and wilderness management. In retirement Fred enjoys hiking, camping, volunteering, and woodworking.

Kari Haas View biography

Born and raised in rural North Dakota, Kari took a summer job with the U.S. Forest Service in Idaho following college graduation and worked 34 years for the agency. She worked summers as a civil engineering road inspector and hydrologic technician before taking a permanent year-round job in administrative services. Her last eight years were as a budget analyst, and she retired from the Gallatin National Forest in May 2013. She lives in Bozeman, MT and enjoys hiking, camping, biking, canoeing and cross-country skiing.

Patty Bates View biography

With a background in recreation, wildlife and fire management, Patty has enjoyed a 35-year career with the U.S. Forest Service. She's served as resource specialist, program manager, staff officer and District Ranger, with details as Deputy Forest Supervisor. She's been a District Ranger in four different states, including four years managing the Teton Basin Ranger District. Patty enjoys travel, camping, exploring, pets, genealogy, cooking, reading, crafting and getting used to retirement with her husband, Rick.

Zack Baker View biography

Zack Baker attended high school in Livingston, Montana, 52 miles north of Yellowstone. His love for the park started while snowshoeing and observing wildlife. At Montana State University in Bozeman, he earned a B.S. in plant science, but it was Yellowstone’s mammals that grabbed his interest. He led private wildlife watching, hiking, and photography trips, and drove snowcoaches in the winter. He joined up with Road Scholar in 2017 and is now the Program Director for Road Scholar at the University of Montana Western.

Zack Baker View biography

Shauna Baron View biography

Shauna Baron holds a B.S. in Biology and a M.S. in Science Education. She has more than 25 years of experience as an outdoor educator, studying large and small carnivores throughout the U.S., including wolves, bears, fishers, and bobcats. Shauna saw her first wild wolf while volunteering for the Yellowstone Wolf Project in 1996 and has since worked as a naturalist in Yellowstone National Park, developing outdoor educational classes for the Yellowstone Institute. She specializes in programs for disabled veterans, inner-city youth, and autistic groups.

Virginia Shoup View biography

Virginia Shoup comes to Yellowstone with a long history in outdoor education and the Girl Scouts. She first worked in the park in 2012, thinking it would be a fun summer job. After falling in love with the animals, thermals, and even the lodgepole pines, she never left. Over her years as a Yellowstone naturalist, Virginia has worked with families, teachers, school groups, and everyone in between. She uses her degree in theater to make the natural world come alive for students of all ages.

Heidi Schwandt View biography

Heidi Schwandt's upbringing on cattle ranches in Southwestern Montana gave her the freedom to explore the woods and mountains. A short stint with the Forest Service on a trail maintenance crew solidified her love of hiking. Heidi has been instructing Alpine skiing for more than a decade, including a women-only skiing program she piloted at her local mountain. Two decades as a 4-H volunteer have showcased her passion for connecting with people and inspiring them to learn by doing.

Virginia Kelly View biography

Virginia Kelly, a native Montanan, worked in Yellowstone, Yosemite, Sequoia, Lassen Volcanic, the Great Smoky Mountains, the Delaware Water Gap, and even the Washington Monument on a National Park Service travelling survey crew. With the Forest Service, Virginia was a land management planner in California, Oregon, Washington, and Montana. She served as executive coordinator for the federal Greater Yellowstone Coordinating Committee, and finalized her career with the Custer Gallatin National Forest in Bozeman, Montana. Virginia enjoys travel, hiking, camping, rafting, and cross-country skiing.

If you transfer or cancel:	Transfer Fee:	Cancel Fee:
fee will be applied if you do not call road scholar participant services at least one business day prior to the program start date.	100% of trip total	100% of trip total
less than 30 days prior to the program start date	50% of trip total	50% of trip total
up to 30 days prior to program start date	$0.00
up to 30 days prior to the program start date		$100.00

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Protecting the Environment

At a Glance

Best of all, you’ll…

General Notes