Yellowstone National Park announces winter packages line-up

Yellowstone National Park Lodges, operated by Xanterra Parks & Resorts, the manager of lodging, restaurants and activities in Yellowstone National Park, announced its line-up of Winter Getaway and Adventure packages for the upcoming season.

The park’s winter season begins Dec. 18 with the opening of the Old Faithful Snow Lodge. The Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel opens Dec. 20. The lodges provide the only wintertime accommodations within the park. Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel will close for the season March 5 and Old Faithful Snow Lodge will close March 4.

Each package includes Xanterra’s “Snow Card” good for 10 percent off meals, in-park transportation, tours, ski shop services and select retail items. Rates quoted here are per person, double occupancy, plus tax and utility fee.

Adventure Package

“Trail of the Wolf” provides travelers with an opportunity to explore the park’s interior with a guide and learn about its abundant natural features in places such as the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone as well as to observe wildlife in the Northern Range of the park. The package includes guided snowmobiling in the interior of the park and wildlife watching by van in the park’s Northern Range. Also included are three nights of lodging split between the two lodges, round-trip guided snowmobile tour between Old Faithful and Mammoth, “Wake up to Wildlife” tour of the Lamar Valley, two breakfasts per person, welcome gift, one-hour hot tub rental, unlimited ice skating and skates and Snow Card. Rates start at $439 per person for double occupancy for two nights at the Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel and one night at the Old Faithful Snow Lodge. Rates start at $549 per person for double occupancy for two nights at the Old Faithful Snow Lodge and one night at the Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel.

Trail of the Wolf is offered beginning Mondays and Thursdays, Jan. 2 to March 8.

Getaway Packages

“Frosty Fun at Mammoth.” This package includes a minimum of two nights at the Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel, two breakfasts per person, welcome gift, a one-hour hot tub rental, unlimited ice skating and skates and Snow Card. Rates start at $139 per person for double occupancy and $219 for single occupancy. It is available Jan. 1 to March 5.

“Frosty Fun at Old Faithful.” This package includes a minimum of two nights of lodging at the Old Faithful Snow Lodge, two breakfasts per person, welcome gift, unlimited ice skating and skates, round-trip snowcoach transportation and Snow Card. Rates start at $295 per person for double occupancy and $439 for single occupancy. It is available Jan. 1 to March 4.

“Nordic Heaven at Mammoth.” This package includes a minimum of two nights of lodging at the Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel, two breakfasts per person, welcome gift, full-day ski rental and one ski shuttle per person, a one-hour hot tub rental, unlimited ice skating and skates and Snow Card. Rates start at $189 per person for double occupancy and $269 for single occupancy. It is available Jan. 1 to March 5.

“Nordic Heaven at Old Faithful.” This package includes a minimum of two nights of lodging at the Old Faithful Snow Lodge, two breakfasts per person, welcome gift, full-day ski rental, one ski shuttle per person and a round-trip snowcoach tour per person, unlimited ice skating and skates and Snow Card. Rates start at $345 per person for double occupancy and $489 for single occupancy. It is available Jan. 1 to March 4.

Winter rates for single or double occupancy, plus tax, for individual room nights at Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel start at $87 for a room with a shared bathroom or $120 for a standard hotel room with a private bathroom. Rates at the Snow Lodge are $206 for a lodge room, $149 for a Western Cabin or $96 for a Frontier Cabin, all with private bathrooms.

Except for the road from Gardiner, Mont. to Cooke City, Mont. via Mammoth Hot Springs, transportation within the park is limited to snowmobiles and enclosed heated snowcoaches during the winter. Snowcoach transportation is available daily to a variety of park locations. Xanterra also offers a wide range of half- and full-day snowcoach, ski and snowshoe tours and ski and snowshoe rentals as well as expert instruction and other services.

Yellowstone National Park Lodges and the Yellowstone Association Institute also offer six Lodging & Learning programs combining expert guides, accommodations, transportation and meals.

Winter Getaway packages may be booked by phone by calling (307) 344-7311 or toll-free at (866) GEYSERLAND (866-439-7375). Complete tour details also are available at the web site www.YellowstoneNationalParkLodges.com.