Wyoming
Heart of the Winter in Yellowstone
Program No. 21771RJ
Witness Yellowstone National Park in winter as veils of snow create a stunning backdrop for bubbling hot springs, thermal pools, pristine landscapes and the region’s unique wildlife.
Participant Reviews
Based on 20 Reviews
SHOWING
Winter in the Heart of Yellowstone is a life-changing and spectacular experience
— Review left February 15, 2026
Exploring Yellowstone in the Winter far exceeded my expectations! It was magical,
— Review left January 20, 2026
This was my first Roads Scholar trip and it definitely exceeded my expectations thru the location, great weather, great leaders and enjoyable participants.
— Review left January 19, 2026
Fantastic! Unbelievably, I saw Old Faithful erupt twice with no one else there. Great opportunities to explore more on my own (I must be more physically fit than most 73 year olds).
— Review left April 16, 2025
The week in Yellowstone was truly fantastic with amazing scenery and wildlife sitings. We saw bison, elk and wolves among others. I will cherish walking out to see Old Faithful and feeling like I was alone in the park. It was truly a fabulous trip and I would highly recommend this trip. I would be remiss if I did not give a shout out to the leaders- Leslie and Patty were both fantastic and their passion and enthusiasm for the park was infectious. It reaffirmed my love of winter.
— Review left March 13, 2025
I absolutely recommend the program Heart of Winter in Yellowstone". It was magnificently beautiful. The instructor, Leslie and the group leader Patty were over the top. You won't be disappointed. I found that "Keep the Pace" is more difficult at 7 or 8,000 ft elevation when one lives at 150' elevation and one has had over 80 birthdays. We skied at Big Sky at age 75 with no problem.
— Review left March 7, 2025
What a wonderful way to experience Yellowstone without the crowds! We had plenty of time to observe the diverse wildlife (including wolves!!) at a leisurely pace.
— Review left February 27, 2025
This was a great trip and a chance to see Yellowstone in the winter. Loved every minute of the trip. Be aware that this is walking is snow, sometimes deep, and on ice. If you are not sure footed and agile this program is not for you.
— Review left February 26, 2025
I greatly enjoyed this program, and would highly recommend it to anyone interested in Yellowstone. We had previously been on a RS program to Yellowstone in the spring, so I looked forward to comparing Yellowstone in the winter. What an amazing difference. The group leaders, bus driver, and snow coach drivers were all friendly, knowledgeable, and welcoming. By staying in the Snow Lodge we were able to experience Old Faithful several times without the summer crowds. It also meant we could take an interesting hike to the upper geyser basin. We saw a wide variety of wildlife, and visited many of the thermal features. As described in the program guide, the trails can be icy and slippery. It should also be mentioned that the trails were narrow at times (single file). Make sure you bring your “yak tracks”. A single hiking pole was also useful on the Mammoth Terraces. Proper winter clothing kept us warm while on the trails, and the snow coaches were warm inside. Yellowstone in Winter will make you fall in love with the park.
— Review left February 24, 2025
One of our favorites out of 15 Road Scholar trips. Leader Andrea was a wealth of information which she shared constantly. The logistics were handled to perfection by Jenny. The small group of 18 resulted in the group bonding together quickly. We were blessed with 4 gorgeous days of sunshine and blue skies and moderate temperatures. The animals were prolific including frolicking coyotes, herds of bison, pronghorns, playful river otters and elk. Scenery was spectacular. The snow coach drivers added additional valuable commentary. Staying at the Old Faithful Snow Lodge is special. It's currently undergoing renovation, but that was very unobtrusive. Food was exceptional almost everywhere. Read the trip description and packing list carefully. Walking in snow and ice with heavy clothing is not the same as a walk at home. Good balance is important. Be sure you bring yak traks for your boots. This trip has been on our wish list for awhile and it completely exceeded our expectations! Five stars!
— Review left February 6, 2025
I have taken many RS trips and this is one of my absolute favorites. Virginia and Shauna were amazing leaders and instructors and they contributed to this trip being truly memorable. The group I was with was so nice and welcoming, and they also made the trip enjoyable. If you've been to Yellowstone in the summer, you will appreciate that the winter experience (without all the tourists) is serene and magical. We traveled by tour bus from Bozeman to Gardiner to Mammoth Hot Springs. We boarded 12-passenger Snow Coaches at Mammoth to further explore and learn about the many sites in Yellowstone. And staying at the Old Faithful Snow Lodge was so enjoyable! The food at the restaurants we ate at was excellent, and we had a couple of box lunches that were also good. The weather was cold and snowy (I love the snow) and beautiful. If you follow their instructions on dressing warm, you will not notice the weather, only the beauty around you. It was the first time I ever used YakTrax on my boots, and wow what a great help in walking on snow and ice. I saw so much, learned so much, and yes! I highly recommend this trip!
— Review left January 22, 2025
We heard and saw a whole pack of wolves howling!
— Review left March 2, 2024
Quintessential Yellowstone in the Heart of Winter experience — every day.
— Review left March 2, 2024
Winter in Yellowstone was an amazing experience. The program leaders were incredibly accommodating and knowledgeable. Glynis and Virginia made every attempt to meet all of our requests in order to make this an outstanding experience for everyone. Seeing the wildlife and natural beauty of the park was refreshing and exciting. We highly recommend this program!!
— Review left February 26, 2023
Wonderful tour. Snow Coaches are very comfortable for the experienced traveler. There were drop down steps to board and assistance by driver and fellow passengers when needed on our tour. Yellowstone weather itself provides the amount of snow and animals. Road Scholar does the rest. Enjoy!!
— Review left February 18, 2023
There are insufficient words to express the wonders of Yellowstone in the winter. Go, experience it, and find out for yourself.
— Review left February 8, 2023
Yellowstone is absolutely fantastic. The leaders Bill and Cathy were fantastic. The drivers were fantastic. The other participants were fantastic. I highly recommend the program.
— Review left January 27, 2020
We loved this trip. The scenery and wildlife were amazing, the tour guides were knowledgeable and entertaining. We learned a lot, and relaxed a lot. Very well planned and facilitated.
— Review left April 15, 2019
Winter in Yellowstone should go on your bucket list if it is not already there! The beauty of the park in the snow is magical. Road Scholar, with the help of Mother Nature, does a great job making sure that every minute of the trip meets or exceeds expectations!
— Review left February 28, 2019
Besides the abundant wildlife and thermal features, this turned out to be something of a spiritual experience. It was among the best of the 6 RS programs I've attended, even though some of the others were in more "exotic" locations. Both Leslie and Charlie (and our snow coach driver, Kristi) were incredibly knowledgeable and enjoyable instructors, and we participants really bonded as a group. This was truly a week of learning and renewal!
— Review left February 13, 2019