This week in Yellowstone National Park, we will get some real winter weather in and around Yellowstone. I will also tell you about how some tour guides got in trouble, how many people visited Yellowstone in 2024, where to see hoarfrost, and where you should hike if you are hoping to brave the cold and want to potentially see wolf prints in the snow. Stick around and you may just be inspired to spend some time in Yellowstone National Park this week.

This week in This Week in Yellowstone, I tell you what you need to know when visiting the park this coming week. Is that enough uses of the word "week" in a single sentence?

In this episode, I give you news of a wolf anniversary and a lawsuit against the park, then give you an update on the weather, animal sightings, road conditions, snowpack information, and a lot more. I also share a cool trail you need to do in the winter and even tell you a great spot to see moose right now.

If you like this, tell a friend, subscribe to the podcast, and generally stay tuned, as I hope to do this every week.

This week in Yellowstone National Park, I take a look at the rumors of an imminent eruption, tell you about a new species that some want to introduce to Yellowstone, discuss the coyote mating season, and, as always, share the weather forecast, the road conditions, and wildlife spotting locations. This is a good one, so give it a listen.

If you enjoy this, please subscribe to it, share it, and/or even review it.

Also, check out outdoor-society.com for more Yellowstone information, including my tours and books.

Nobody asked for it, but I did it anyway. In this special episode of This Week in Yellowstone, I take a look at the visitation statistics for the park in 2024. I take a deep dive into some fun stats, predict what 2025 may look like, share about an aspect of park visitation that is seeing a decline, and also have a small rant about the inaccuracy of social media's representation of the rise of poor behavior in the park. The one thing I didn't mention is that 99.9% of all who visit the park do so without breaking the rules.

If this episode wasn't your cup of tea, don't worry. I won't do another visitation statistics episode for at least a month, maybe a year.

This week in Yellowstone National Park, from April 17th to April 23rd, I will share with you the opening of some of the park roads, give you an update on what to expect in the interior of the park, let you know what to do when you see bad behavior in the park, and even give you a unique and special to me trail idea. Of course, I also give you all the weather, wildlife watching updates, tips, and information I can to give you the best possible trip to America’s first National Park, This Week in Yellowstone.

This week in Yellowstone National Park, from April 10th to April 16th, I talk about the oldest structure still standing in Yellowstone, give tips on bear spray, share a great trail for this time of the year, and let you know where you may be able to see bears during the coming week. Of course, I also give you all the tips and information so you can enjoy yourself to the fullest This Week in Yellowstone.

This week in Yellowstone National Park, I give an update on the wolf hunting bills, tell you about a lesser-known road in Yellowstone to drive, share a cool snowshoe and cross-country ski route, and also let you know how the wildlife sightings have been. Hopefully, this will help inspire you to take a trip to the park.

On this episode of “This Week in Yellowstone” I take a look at the incoming snowstorm the park may experience this weekend, as well as share a few indoor locations to warm up and relax in Mammoth Hot Springs. I also touch on the wolf mating season, and bring up an issue for wolf hunting that the state of Montana is going to be voting on.

Link for the wolf hunt information: https://greateryellowstone.org/blog/2025/take-action-stop-the-montana-legislature-from-halving-states-wolf-population

and yes, I misspoke. The link is to the Greater Yellowstone Coalition and not the Park County Environmental Council. Sorry about that.

This week's bonus episode is all about January's visitation statistics. If you want to know how many people entered the park in January, where they entered from, and where they stayed, this episode is for you.

A regular episode will be posted on Thursday, as always.

This week in Yellowstone National Park, from April 3rd to April 9th, I talk about a short, scenic drive just north of Gardiner, give an update on the road biking status of the park, share one of my favorite trails, and quickly discuss the history of feeding bears. Plus, I will give you all the other updates you need to be prepared for This Week in Yellowstone.

Apologies for a few word stumbles in this episode. It will happen again.

This week in Yellowstone National Park, from March 27th to April 2nd, I talk about a new hydrothermal feature in the park, share some random facts about bison, share a fun, yet challenging trail to snowshoe when visiting Mammoth, and give you all the other updates you need to be prepared for This Week in Yellowstone.

Caldera Chronicles: https://www.usgs.gov/volcanoes/yellowstone/caldera-chronicles

Oh, I skipped the camping section by accident this week. Mammoth is still the only campground in the park that is open.

This week in Yellowstone National Park, give an update on what's closed in the park, share a quick blurb about the bison hunt, and then jump into the meat of this week’s episode. I talk about the first wolves to roam the park in 60 years, share some tips on how to acclimatize yourself to Yellowstone and share a cool place to hike outside of the park. Of course, I also share the weather forecast, road conditions, and pretty much everything else you need to be ready for This Week in Yellowstone.

This week in Yellowstone National Park, March 13th to March 19th, 2025, I give some grizzly bears updates, talk about park visitation, and rejoice over the return of the bluebirds. I also share a cool lunar experience you can have this week, as well as give you all of the wildlife, weather, and trail tips you’ll need to have an amazing time in Yellowstone this week.

This week in Yellowstone National Park, March 6th to March 12th, 2025, I share a cool walk on a washed out road, try to help you navigate bison jams, share reasons why you should visit the park this week, and give you all of the weather, wildlife and road updates you’ll need to enjoy your time visiting Yellowstone National Park this coming week.

Heading to the park? Consider booking a hiking tour with me! https://outdoor-society.com

Article about the rally: https://www.bozemandailychronicle.com/news/yellowstone-national-park-layoffs-national-park-service-job-cuts-public-lands-rally-yellowstone-protect-national-parks-movement-us-forest-service-layoffs-protest/article_d5e8035a-f6f1-11ef-a2d1-efa8eddb3824.html

This week in Yellowstone National Park, February 27th to March 5th, 2025, I share the location of a roadside bear den, recommend a scientific news letter about the Yellowstone Supervolcano, share yet another awesome hike to take when there is still snow on the ground, and give you all of the weather, wildlife and road updates you’ll need to enjoy your time visiting Yellowstone National Park this coming week.

Caldera Chronicles: https://www.usgs.gov/volcanoes/yellowstone/caldera-chronicles

This week in Yellowstone National Park, February 20th to February 26th, 2025, I share one of my favorite winter treks, give some tips on snowshoeing and cross-country skiing etiquette, briefly mention some visitation statistics, and of course, give you all the updates and more that you need to have a fantastic trip when you are visiting Yellowstone this week.

Was that a run-on sentence? Yes, it was, but that's just because I am too excited to pause to give you this week’s episode.

Consider booking a hiking tour with me when you visit Yellowstone. More information can be found at outdoor-society.com

This week in Yellowstone National Park, I share a fun, short trek to a frozen waterfall, try to convince you to drive to Cooke City, let you know some great coffee shops just outside the park, and give you all of the weather, wildlife and road updates you’ll need to have a great experience when you visit Yellowstone this week.

This week in Yellowstone National Park, from May 1st to May 7th, I continue to share the news about roads opening up in the park, give an update on “The Plug” and the Beartooth Highway, give you the information you need to have when bringing a dog to Yellowstone, share a trail I love, and give you some cool facts about he Roosevelt Arch in Gardiner, Montana. I also talk about harlequin ducks, which you’ll either be fascinated by or not care at all. Of course, I also give you all the weather, wildlife watching updates, tips, and information I can to give you the best possible trip to America’s first National Park, This Week in Yellowstone.

The link to the information on the Roosevelt Arch: https://www.nps.gov/yell/learn/upload/YS_11_3_sm.pdf

This week in Yellowstone National Park, from April 24th to April 30th, I will give an update on Yellowstone’s staffing for the summer, let you know how the opening of some of the park’s interior went, share some history of Artist Point, and tell you why you need to get to the Grand Prismatic Boardwalk as soon as possible. Of course, I also give you all the weather, wildlife watching updates, tips, and information I can to give you the best possible trip to America’s first National Park, This Week in Yellowstone.

News article link: https://wyofile.com/despite-doge-at-interior-yellowstone-staffing-higher-than-last-year/

This week in Yellowstone National Park, from May 8th to May 14th, I will update even more road, campground, store, and lodging openings. I will also give hikers and backcountry campers a truly awesome resource, let everyone know how and where they can see bears, tell you where to hike for some awesome views, and update you on a few road openings in the park. Of course, I also give you all the weather, wildlife watching updates, tips, and information I can to give you the best possible trip to America’s first National Park, This Week in Yellowstone.

Backcountry Conditions Link: https://www.nps.gov/yell/planyourvisit/situationreport.htm

This week in Yellowstone National Park, from May 15th to May 21st, I will talk about a lake on the Continental Divide, share some openings in the park, let you know of a newly opened waterfall trail, tell you to drive the East Entrance Road, and inform you about the wild weather you should expect during the springtime in Yellowstone. I will also give you the weather forecast, wildlife report, and everything else you need to have an incredible time, “This Week in Yellowstone.”

This week in Yellowstone National Park, from May 22nd to May 28th, I will talk about the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, tell you about a cool trek to take when you are there, share some tips about staying safe in bear country from Yellowstone National Park, and let you know of a few scenic roads scheduled to open this Friday. I will also give you the weather forecast, wildlife report, and everything else you need to have an incredible time, “This Week in Yellowstone.”

This week in Yellowstone National Park, from May 29th to June 4th, I will talk about how to avoid getting stuck in the lines at West Yellowstone, tell you about Dunraven Pass and why you should drive it, and share a great hike for a rainy day, as it is looking to be a week week. I will also give you the complete weather forecast, wildlife report, and everything else you need to have an incredible time, “This Week in Yellowstone.”

Diamond Pool Webcam: https://www.usgs.gov/media/webcams/biscuit-basin-webcam

This week in Yellowstone National Park, from June 5th to June 11th, I chat about a new thermal explosion at Biscuit Basin, talk about the Beartooth Highway, and give you tips on how to beat the summer crowds. I also share some information about picnic areas in the park and tell you why you should hike Bunsen Peak. I will also give you the complete weather forecast, wildlife report, and everything else you need to have an incredible time, “This Week in Yellowstone.”

Recent Biscuit Basin explosion: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AZbyvEWsx64

This week in Yellowstone National Park, from June 19th through June 25th, I will give you an update on Yellowstone’s record visitation in May, tell you about a dog that chased a wolf in Hayden Valley, give you insights onto a lesser-known road in the park, and tell you about an awesome hike to take near Old Faithful. I will also give you the complete weather forecast, wildlife report, and everything else you need to have an incredible time, “This Week in Yellowstone.”

This week in Yellowstone National Park, from June 12th to June 18th, I share a secret corner of the park that most visitors to Yellowstone have never even heard of, rant about a few bear incidents the park experienced last week, help you prepare for the heat at elevation for your summer trip, and share a perfect trail for this coming week. I will also give you the complete weather forecast, wildlife report, and everything else you need to have an incredible time, “This Week in Yellowstone.”

This week in Yellowstone National Park, from July 10th through July 16th, I share the June visitation statistics, let you know of a mountain to summit for all those hikers out there, give you a quick history of a side road between West Yellowstone and Old Faithful, and let you know of a lesser-known stunning view at the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone. I will also give you the complete weather forecast, wildlife report, and everything else you need to have an incredible time, “This Week in Yellowstone.”

This week in Yellowstone National Park, from July 3rd through July 9th, I will give you a preview of the upcoming bison rut, discuss both the trail and old road up to Mount Washburn, and let you know what it is like to drive at night in the park. I will also give you the complete weather forecast, wildlife report, and everything else you need to have an incredible time, “This Week in Yellowstone.”

This week in Yellowstone National Park, from June 26th through July 2nd, I will give you six spots to watch Old Faithful erupt, give some tips on how to deal with the inevitable bison jam, talk about wolves and bears, and share a hike to a hidden waterfall near a well-known area. I will also give you the complete weather forecast, wildlife report, and everything else you need to have an incredible time, “This Week in Yellowstone.”

Driving Through Bison Jams: https://www.maxwaugh.com/2017/05/25/yellowstone-bison-jam-how-to-deal-with-buffalo-on-the-road/

This week in Yellowstone National Park, from July 31st through August 6th, I talk about a thermal area incident, tell you to go for a scenic drive, try to convince you to go stargazing, and take you back in time to the days of lawlessness in Yellowstone. I will also give you the complete weather forecast, wildlife report, a trail to hike, and everything else you need to have an incredible time, “This Week in Yellowstone.”

This week in Yellowstone National Park, from July 24th through July 30th, I talk about the bison rut once again, share some statistics about how likely it is to be killed by a wild animal in Yellowstone, and tell you where to hike for stunning mountain, canyon, and river views with a potential for wildlife sightings. I will also give you the complete weather forecast, wildlife report, and everything else you need to have an incredible time, “This Week in Yellowstone.”

This week in Yellowstone National Park, from July 17th through July 23rd, I share the news about a new thermal feature, tell you why you should visit Hayden Valley, teach you about Mission 66, and let you know of a great hike for this week. I will also give you the complete weather forecast, wildlife report, and everything else you need to have an incredible time, “This Week in Yellowstone.”

This week in Yellowstone National Park, from August 14th through August 20th, I share with you the visitation numbers in July, try to convince you to wake up extremely early for a good reason, highlight the museums and visitor centers in the park, and give you a quick history lesson on Sheepeater Cliffs. I will also give you the complete weather forecast, wildlife report, a trail to hike, and everything else you need to have an incredible time, “This Week in Yellowstone.”

This week in Yellowstone National Park, from August 7th through August 13th, give an update on the fire danger in the park, let you know of a cool event taking place in Gardiner to end this week, let you know about wildlife watching etiquette, and even give you some insight into a cool geologic event you can see in the park. I will also give you the complete weather forecast, wildlife report, a trail to hike, and everything else you need to have an incredible time, “This Week in Yellowstone.”

This week in Yellowstone National Park, from August 21st through August 27th, I will let you know how and where to see an overlooked geyser erupt, talk about bear bells, discuss the history of Quake Lake, and share a mountain summit that few ever hike to. I will also give you the complete weather forecast, wildlife report, the news, and everything else you need to have an incredible time, “This Week in Yellowstone.”

Earthquake Link: https://www.yellowstone.co/nightofthebear.htm

This week in Yellowstone National Park, from November 6th, 2025, through November 12th, 2025, I will talk about the bighorn sheep rut, let you know about the ground under Mammoth, share a trail to get to a remote beach on the Gardner River, and so much more. I will also give you the complete weather forecast, the snowpack update, the wildlife report, the news, and everything else you need to have an incredible time, “This Week in Yellowstone.”

This week in Yellowstone National Park, from October 30th, 2025, through November 5th, 2025, I try to convince you to visit a closed campground, update you on what the gateway towns will look like after the roads close, share a hike I absolutely adore out of Mammoth, and tell you about Yellowstone’s least-visited month. I will also give you the complete weather forecast, the snowpack update, the wildlife report, the news, and everything else you need to have an incredible time, “This Week in Yellowstone.”

2025 Yellowstone Resources and Issues Handbook: https://www.nps.gov/yell/learn/upload/0_RI_2025_Front_web-2.pdf

2026 Calendar: https://square.link/u/TxEbf7o0

This week in Yellowstone National Park, from August 28th through September 3rd, I will share with you some cool events happening in the park this week, give you a brief history of West Yellowstone, tell you how to get to the stinkiest hot springs I know of, and have a little bit of a rant. I will also give you the complete weather forecast, wildlife report, the news, and everything else you need to have an incredible time, “This Week in Yellowstone.”

The Bird and the Tree Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FygUzMCCwgc

Yellowstone Events Calendar: https://www.nps.gov/yell/planyourvisit/calendar.htm

This week in Yellowstone National Park, from October 23rd through October 29th, 2025, I give you a very brief guide to reading the water temperature of the thermal areas, share the story of how Dunraven Pass got its name, and tell you to hike on a closed road. I will also give you the complete weather forecast, the snowpack update, the wildlife report, the news, and everything else you need to have an incredible time, “This Week in Yellowstone.”

This week in Yellowstone National Park, from October 16th through October 22nd, 2025, I will try to tell you why visiting the park right now is awesome, give an update on the new bridge, do my best to help you find animals now that the crowds are gone, and bring back the snowpack report! I will also give you the complete weather forecast, a cool trail to hike, the wildlife report, the news, and everything else you need to have an incredible time, “This Week in Yellowstone.”

This week in Yellowstone National Park, from October 9th through October 15th, 2025, I give you tips on how to manage the lack of amenities in the park this time of year, remind you that time is running out for driving in some cool areas of the park, give you the name of an app for wildlife watching, and share a perfect trail for this time of the year. I will also give you the complete weather forecast, a cool trail to hike, the wildlife report, the news, and everything else you need to have an incredible time, “This Week in Yellowstone.”

This week in Yellowstone National Park, from October 2nd through October 8th, 2025, I am really banking on the weather forecast to hold. If the snow doesn’t happen, I am sorry for being so snow-focused. I am just excited. It is still good information, though! This week, I tell you what I know about the government shutdown and what it means for Yellowstone, share about how bears are seemingly everywhere, tell you to summit a snowy peak, give you tips on how to be prepared for a fall snowstorm, and try to answer the question, “How big is Yellowstone, really?” I will also give you the complete weather forecast, a cool trail to hike, the wildlife report, the news, and everything else you need to have an incredible time, “This Week in Yellowstone.”

This week in Yellowstone National Park, from September 25th through October 1st, 2025, I will tell you about a guy who tried to take the devil out of Yellowstone, give you tips on where to see fall colors in the park, and try to convince you to head down to West Thumb and the Tetons this week. I will also give you the complete weather forecast, a cool trail to hike, the wildlife report, the news, and everything else you need to have an incredible time, “This Week in Yellowstone.”

This week in Yellowstone National Park, from September 18th through September 24th, 2025, I will tell you about the park’s trash problem, briefly talk about the bear attack, tell you that time is running out for driving on a scenic road, and share some other fun and interesting things. I will also give you the complete weather forecast, wildlife report, the news, and everything else you need to have an incredible time, “This Week in Yellowstone.”

I forgot to mention that Grant Village Campground is closed! Sorry!

2025 Closure List and Dates: https://www.nps.gov/yell/planyourvisit/operating-dates.htm

This week in Yellowstone National Park, from September 11th through September 17th, 2025, I will tell you how elk self-anoint themselves, share a trek where you may see bears, tell you a spot north of the park for wildlife watching, and also try to convince you to get out early in the cold mornings. I will also give you the complete weather forecast, wildlife report, the news, and everything else you need to have an incredible time, “This Week in Yellowstone.”

This week in Yellowstone National Park, from September 4th through September 10th, 2025, I will share with you what you need to know for the start of the elk rut, give a brief overview of bears entering hyperphasia, share a trail for those looking for serious miles and serious views, and let you know why you shouldn’t expect an empty park in September. I will also give you the complete weather forecast, wildlife report, the news, and everything else you need to have an incredible time, “This Week in Yellowstone.”

This week in Yellowstone National Park, from January 22nd to January 28th, 2026, I talk about coyote mating season (btw, coyotee not coyote was the most common pronunciation), tell you about a trail that will have you standing above a stunning section of the Yellowstone River, give an update on the wolf that was poached out of Gardiner, and even tell you about the wolf reintroduction that happened 30 years ago. I will also give you the complete weather forecast, the snowpack update, the wildlife report, and everything else you need to have an incredible time, “This Week in Yellowstone.”

This week in Yellowstone National Park, from January 15th to January 21st, 2026, I update you on the Norris Geyser Basin, suggest you trek along a canyon rim, tell you about the first documented winter expedition in Yellowstone, and give some tips on how not to plan your upcoming trip. I will also give you the complete weather forecast, the snowpack update, the wildlife report, and everything else you need to have an incredible time, “This Week in Yellowstone.”

Youtube Video of New Road: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SYCjgRZhCTc

This week in Yellowstone National Park, from January 8th to January 14th, 2026, I will share news about grizzly bear deaths and what is going on with the North Entrance Road. I will also try to convince you to wake up early, look for ravens and magpies, and even share some cool data about how the wolf reintroduction impacted the elk population of Yellowstone. I will also give you the complete weather forecast, the snowpack update, the wildlife report, and everything else you need to have an incredible time, “This Week in Yellowstone.”

Oh, and book a tour with me!

NORTHERN YELLOWSTONE ELK RESILIENCE & ADAPTATION to Changes in Management Policies and the Ecosystem link: https://www.nps.gov/yell/learn/nature/upload/ELK-BOOK-FOR-WEB_accessible.pdf

This week in Yellowstone National Park, from January 1st to January 7th, 2026, I will share one of my favorite winter snowshoe destinations, tell you to go off the beaten path, and let you know how many wolves are in the park. I will also describe what the park is like in January so you can be ready for your trip. I will also give you the complete weather forecast, the snowpack update, the wildlife report, and everything else you need to have an incredible time, “This Week in Yellowstone.”