Yellowstone Winter Photo Tours and Workshops

Join us on a photo tour or photo workshop to explore Wild Yellowstone National Park in the Winter. With the combination of multiple days in the private snowcoach and multiple days in the private van. We will cover the best areas in the park for wildlife and landscape photography.

The landscapes will be blanketed by snow. World-famous geysers, bubbling mudpots, steam vents, and hot springs. The contrast of the grayish-white steam of the geysers against the snow and the deep blue skies. It is a photographer’s paradise.

The wildlife is incredible. We typically see multiple bison covered in frost and snow, elk, wolves, bighorn sheep, trumpeter swans. We will visit a secret location where bobcats are frequently seen.

Yellowstone’s canyons, waterfalls, forests, wildlife and hydrothermal forces is an intimate experience in the winter.

We will put you in the best locations for wildlife and landscape photography and make sure you get incredible photos.

phYellowstone Winter Photo Tours and Workshops

Our Winter Yellowstone photo workshops and tours are professionally run. We will get you some imcredible photos..  Experience the park without the crowds. We will have a private comfortable snow coach and van taking us deep into the best winter areas of the park.

From December through the end of February, most park roads close and slowcoaches provide most of the transportation. The road from Gardiner to Cook City is open. So we cover it by private van taking us to the best places to see wolves, winter landscapes, and bighorn sheep. Lamar Valley is one of the top locations which can not be reached by snow coach.

Along with the days in the snow coach we got you covered. So you will photograph the top areas of the park.


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We have two different Yellowstone Winter Photography Tours

A.) Stay in the park

B.) Stay out of the park


Here are the differences

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Option A: Staying in the Park

Pros:

24 hours in the park.

5 minute walk to Sunrise Location (When staying at Old Faithful Area)

This trip is one extra day (Snowcoach)

Stay 3 nights at the famous Yellowstone Snow Lodge which is walking distance from Geysers like Old Faithful.

Optional night photography when we are at the snow lodge (walking distance).

Cons:

More Expensive due to the extra cost of staying in the park and 4 days in snowcoach vs 3 Days.

No TV but internet connection

Breakfast is not included


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Option B: Staying outside the Park

Pros:

Cheaper

Better restaurant selection for dinner.

TV and Internet

Laundry

Same Hotel for the whole tour except the first night

Free Buffet Breakfast


Cons:

5 minute ride to park entrance

No night photography


Common Questions

Which of your Yellowstone Winter Photo Tours are better for photography?

Both Tours are equal. We cover the same areas.

Do you provide info on what to pack?

Yes we provide a suggested pack list for both clothing and photo gear.

We also have articles on our website for winter photography, clothing, and travel tips.

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What areas do you cover?

We cover all the winter hotspots both by private van and snowcoach. Some locations only snow coaches are allowed and some areas do not allow snowcoaches.



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Do you cover Lamar Valley?

Yes that area is critical it is incredibly beautiful and one of the top wildlife areas in the park.

We are there for 3 full days.

Wolves can be anywhere but Lamar Valley has the highest probability of seeing them.

We also have a great chance outside of Lamar?


Paradise Valley Big Horn Sheep Herd

Paradise Valley Big Horn Sheep Herd

Do you cover Paradise Valley?

Yes I love this area. It is beautiful and allows us to photograph different wildlife we do not always see in the park during the winter.

It also fits in the schedule nicely since It allows us to take some great pictures on Day 2 instead of just going from hotel to hotel.

We will traveling from Bozeman to Gardiner/ Mammoth and photograph several locations along the way.

There are some hidden gems.


Do you stay in West Yellowstone ?

No. I love West Yellowstone there are some great restaurants and it is a fun town. I can see why most tour companies stay there.

The reason we don’t stay there is the distance from Gardiner. We need to access Lamar Valley from the Gardiner / Mammoth Area. This takes several hours since in the winter we have to drive around the park. This wastes a lot of time and if the road conditions are bad it can be not only time consuming but may be dangerous or impassible. I didn’t want you to lose a day.


How long have you been photographing Yellowstone?

I have been photographing Yellowstone for 30+ years. I have been leading multiple photo workshops and tours in Yellowstone for 10+ years. I am lucky that i get to spend 6 weeks a year photographing in Greater Yellowstone (including Grand Tetons and the nearby national forests). It is one of my favorite places in the world.

I am working on a book on Yellowstone and the surrounding areas.


Can it get really cold?

If you dress properly it is usually very comfortable We provide a list of suggested clothing. It is very important to dress properly and respect the weather. Even if the temperature looks great it can be windy or if we get to a higher elevation the temperature will drop. Rapid Temperature changes are common and it can get well below zero.

Every year i see travelers (not my group) in the park with sweat pants, sneakers, and a light coat. They will end up sitting in the snow coach most of the trip.

Click here to read my article on dressing in the winter.


Why do you use a private van and snowcoach?

The goal is to take incredible images, have fun, and learn. I will make sure you go to the best places at the best times. We all have the same goals and interests. The biggest plus is we can allocate the amount of time in each area. This allows us to prioritize time to get great photos.

How crowded is the snowcoach?

This is very important. If you have never done this before it may seem like a minor issue. Winter great is cumbersome and can take up a lot of space. You don’t want to crowd the snowcoach. We are now having smaller group sizes. We will be using a large Snowcoach. It fits 13 people but the group size will be much smaller.


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John Slonina a professional full time nature photographers and tour guide will lead this trip. He will teach how to improve your photography. How to expose for winter images, wildlife behavior, and show you the best places. He has photographed and lead photo tours and workshops in Yellowstone for decades. He leads tours to Yellowstone in January, May, and September. He is an authorized permittee of the national park.

We also send out a suggested equipment list and information on how to dress property for the winter. It will be cold but if you dress with the right clothing it will be no problem..

Get award winning photos. A photo tour, workshop or safari in Yellowstone is an adventure you will never forgot.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION FOR YELLOWSTONE WINTER PHOTO TOURS AND WORKSHOPS