One of the most fantastic attractions of the US is its oldest and biggest National Park, Yellowstone National Park. The American National Park is located in the western United States, mainly in the northwest corner of Wyoming and extending to Montana & Idaho.
The great national park of the USA was established on 1st March 1872 by the 42nd US Congress in collaboration with the Yellowstone National Park Protection Act and signed into law by President Ulysses S. Grant.
Is February a Good time to Visit Yellowstone? Let’s Find out.
The park is the oldest and most significant and is primarily famous for its variety of wildlife and many mesmerizing geothermal features. One of the most prominent among them is the Old Faithful Geyser. The national park also represents many biomes, among which the Subalpine forest is the most abundant. It is a part of the South Central Rockies Forest ecoregion.
The US National Park spans an area of 3468.4sq mi that comprises lakes, canyons, rivers, and mountain ranges. The Great Yellowstone Lake in the US National Park is one of the largest high-elevation lakes in North America. It is centered over the Yellowstone Caldera, also known as the largest super volcano on the continent.
The caldera is considered a dormant volcano. The Yellowstone Volcano has erupted with tremendous force several times in the last two million years. However, more than half of the world’s geysers and hydrothermal features are located in the great national park of America.
The lava and rocks erupting from the volcano cover most of the entire area of Yellowstone National Park. The park remains the centerpiece of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, the largest remaining nearly-intact ecosystem in the Earth’s Northern temperate zone.
The great national park of the USA was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1978.
Despite all these features, the US National Park has the largest and most famous megafauna location in the contiguous United States. Grizzly bears, wolves, elks, and herds of Bison are the park’s main attractions. The US National Park’s bison herd is the oldest and largest Bison herd in the United States.
Forest fires are a significant concern in the park that occurs every year. The most excellent forest fire in Yellowstone National Park occurred in 1988 when almost one-third of the park’s area was burnt.
Keeping aside all the above facts, The US National Park has a lot of recreational opportunities to enjoy in and around the park. They include hiking, camping, boating, fishing, sightseeing, etc.,
Estimated visitors:
The Paved roads inside the park help get closer access to the major geothermal areas and some lakes, waterfalls, museums, and other places to visit. In Winter, tourists often travel around the park through guided tours using snow coaches or snowmobiles.
The US National Park ranks among the most popular national parks in the United States and the world. From the mid-1960s, approximately 2 million people visited the national park annually.
The average annual visitation has increased by 3.5 million during the decade from 2007 to 2016.With a record number of 4,257,177 recreational visitors to the park in 2016.
Summer is the most fantastic time of attraction for tourists to the US National Park. But July is the busiest in Summer. More than 3,700 employees work for the Yellowstone National Park Concessionaires during this peak season. They together manage nine hotels and lodges in the park, with a total number of 2,238 hotel rooms and cabins available.
The employees even have to care for the gas station, stores, and most campgrounds. Eight hundred employees work either permanently or seasonally for the National Park requirements. If you are curious to if January also a good time to visit here please check this out.
How much time should one spend in Yellowstone National Park for a proper visit?
Yellowstone National Park in the US is one of the greatest amusements in the country and worldwide. It is always merry to be there for as long as possible as the park provides a lot to see, learn, experience, and enjoy.
But one must stay for at least 2-3 days over here to view all the most favorite things in the park.
- The first day for the northern loop is 70 miles long.
- The next day is entirely for the Southern loop and the day after, as it is 96 miles long.
Things you can do in February:
In February, The US National Park is mainly covered with snow. Nearly 30% of the snowfall occurs in the park during this time. Yellowstone National Park is about more than just the geysers & mountains during February.
There are several activities that one can have and embrace the weather in. Tourists can rent snowshoes, snowmobiles, or cross-country skis through Yellowstone National Park, or even vendors are outside for all these props.
The weather of Yellowstone in February:
February in Yellowstone is not the coldest month of the year. Tourists still need to carry some coats and a few layers of clothes. During this time, the landscape of Yellowstone is almost covered with snow. The hot pools and geysers are all steam covered in the cold air. The wildlife of the US National Park can be viewed against the snow-covered landscape.
Yellowstone’s Wildlife in February:
Though the weather conditions are still chilly over the area of Yellowstone National Park, there are still many wildlife attractions in the park. There are specific areas where wildlife watching can be a treat to the eyes during this time. The Northern Ridge has been marked to be one of the most beautiful places to watch wolves.
Though the grizzly bears are still hibernating during that time. There are also many other animals that people will cherish watching on the trip. Some of them are:-
- Bison
- Deer
- Elk
- Bighorn sheep
- Rabbits
- Foxes
- Weasels
- Wolves
Keeping all the excitement in mind, the park authorities have guidelines that prevent tourists from staying at least 100 yards away from the large animals, especially the Bison & Elks. We must always be aware of animals, even though they are accustomed to human beings.
Wild animals are, after all, wild animals and hence unpredictable. Keeping a safe distance from them is always better to avoid any unavoidable circumstances.
Yellowstone in February:
One of the essential things to remember during the winter season is that most of the roads and trails remain closed due to the amount of snowfall in the park. The only two entrances that remain open during this time are the Northern and Northeastern entrances.
Despite all these, it is still possible for tourists to enjoy everything that the winter national park has to provide. The ways of transportation are different compared to the ones in the pick summer season. Snow coaches, snowmobiles, etc., are critical transport systems in the US National Park during Winter. People must also check the road availabilities before visiting different places in and around the park.
Ways of Lodging in Yellowstone National Park in February:
February has always been coated as the month of love worldwide. It is likely very predictable that special arrangements for Valentine’s Day are made for the tourists visiting the national park during this time.
In February, one can find many places for a staycation for a trip to Yellowstone National Park.
The Old Faithful Snow Lodge and the Mammoth Hot Spring Hotel are the primary and well-known attractions. They offer a wide variety of exclusive activities as well as these are the most ideal for people wanting to spend a romantic Valentine’s stay.
Several other staycation options exist for people who want to stay around the park premises. Some well-known staycations are Livingston, Cody, Gardiner, Alpine Motel, Blue Cloud Cabins, and many more.
Major Attraction: Yellowstone Waterfalls in February.
Waterfalls are always mesmerizing to see and capture. We love to see them. They are very soothing to our eyes. Some of the waterfalls that we can enjoy during this time in the US National Park are:-
- Undine Falls
- Wraith Falls[after a short hike]
- Lost Falls[after a short hike]
There are also a few other waterfalls that we can see while taking a ride in the snow coach:
- Firehole Falls
- Gibbon Falls
- Lower Falls
Among all these factors, mid-December to the end of February is the best time to visit Yellowstone National Park for those who would love to experience the park in Winter. This is also the best time for people who wants to avoid the crowd and enjoy a calm nature. The low seasons like fall and Winter, are for them.
Winter is the time for adventure-loving people; there might be some obstacles while enjoying the trip, but the whole trip is worth everything. I guarantee people that the trip to the US National Park in February can be one of the most or even the most memorable ever.