Winter in Yellowstone 2026
Absaroka Lodge, Gardiner, Montana
Trip A: January 6th through January 11, 2026
Come join your fellow Nordies this January to see Yellowstone by ski! The price for this trip includes five (5) nights lodging, a snow coach ride to ski along the famous Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, and guided ski tours where wildlife will be the focus. We are fortunate to have CONC member George Wuerthner, a Montana native and former Yellowstone guide, returning to lead our ski tours of this magnificent area.
Weather and group interest will dictate the daily ski outings, with hiking and soaking in the hot springs also an option. Daily 4–6-mile ski tours will be on rolling terrain in forests and meadows in and out of Yellowstone National Park. We will stay at the Absaroka Lodge where each of the rooms has two Queen beds and views of Electric Peak. You will be responsible for all meals including breakfasts, lunches, and dinners. All rooms have a small refrigerator and a microwave. Queen Kitchen rooms have full kitchens. There are five Queen Kitchen rooms available and one Standard Queen room on this trip date.
The trip will require a minimum of 6 and be limited to a maximum of 9 intermediate or higher skiers. You must be comfortable skiing off groomed trails with equipment and clothing that can handle terrain and the potentially cold and windy winter weather. Backcountry skis will be needed. While much of the terrain is gentle, some hills occasionally require the ability to slow down and/or climb. If you are comfortable with your ability to ski the loop to Swampy Shelter or the trail to Todd Lake under all conditions, then this trip is for you!
On Saturday, January 10, we will meet at Mammoth Hotel in Yellowstone National Park to take a full-day, guided ski tour to see the Upper and Lower Falls of the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone River. The tour begins with a two-hour snow coach ride to the Canyon area, with opportunities for viewing wildlife along the way. The ski tour is approximately 6 miles total. The tour is rated as advanced beginner level of cross-country skiing. Lunch will be provided.
Getting to Gardiner by car will take approximately two days so expect to spend a night in Kellogg, ID or Missoula, MT. You can also fly to Bozeman, MT and take a rental car to Gardiner. You may wish to add some additional days to your trip for other activities, such as skiing at Harriman State Park or Big Sky.
Registration instructions: Registration will open on August 1 at precisely 8am (not earlier!) by emailing your request directly to Char Newman. Since there are two Yellowstone trips offered this season, be sure to indicate which trip you are requesting. (Trip B is Jan 13 to 18.) Be sure to include your roommate’s name if you want to signup for two people. Once your spot is confirmed, a week later each participant will be invoiced for a $400 deposit ($100 non-refundable) and you will need to complete the required CONC Overnight Trip Waiver Application. Final invoices will be emailed to you on November 1, 2025. Final payment will be due by November 15.
Standard Double Occupancy $1,000
Standard Single Occupancy $1,355
Kitchen Double Occupancy $1,068
Kitchen Single Occupancy $1,485
Like all CONC trips, this is powered by volunteers. We will ski as a group, and the role of ski sweep will be shared amongst the group over the week. If your strength is more in logistics, you can help by doing things such as calling for group dinner reservations. If you are willing to help in these ways, please let me know!
