Trails:Cross-country ski trails are located at five main areas in Yellowstone National Park,:
Mammoth - three groomed trails, three ungroomed, 40 km (25 miles), rated Easiest to Most Difficult, 6,000 to 7,500-foot elevation
Canyon - three ungroomed trails, Easiest to More Difficult, 16 km (10 miles), 7,500 to 8,000-foot elevation, one Advanced trail has avalanche danger
Old Faithful - a dozen trails, groomed and ungroomed, 100+ km (60+ miles), Easiest to Most Difficult, at the 7,000 to 8,000-foot elevation
Northeast - two ungroomed linear trails, 10 km (6 miles), Easiest, at the 7,000 to 7,400-foot elevation
Tower - five ungroomed trails, 34 km (20 miles), Easiest to More Difficult, 6,200 to 7,600-foot elevationt
There are also hundreds of miles of trails and unplowed park roads available for nordic skiing. A few of the unplowed roads are open to snowcoaches and guided snowmobiles from mid-December to mid-March. Guided ski and snowshoe tours in the park are offered by operators such as Yellowstone Expeditions and Yellowstone Alpen Guides.
Caution: Check avalanche conditions before venturing into mountainous backcountry terrain and follow wilderness safety precautions. Trail fees: Park entry pass $12 per person for 7 days (winter 2009-10) or National Parks Pass Tel: Park office 307-344-7381
Snow report: Trail descriptions and conditions are posted on Xanterra's website, the park's concessionaire responsible for trail grooming. Nearest town: West entrance: West Yellowstone, MT; North entrance: Gardiner, MT; Northeast entrance: Siver Gate, MT; East entrance: Cody, WY; South entrance: Moran, WY Web site:Yellowstone National Park | Xanterra Trail map: Pick up maps of each area at Mammoth or Old Faithful, or download a PDF version from the park's website. Equipment rentals: XC ski equipment and snowshoes are available at West Yellowstone, Old Faithful and Mammoth and from guide companies. Ski lessons: At Old Faithful and Mammoth. Other winter activities: Skating, snowmobiling, snowshoeing Facilities: Lodging and some services are located at Mammoth Hot Springs and Old Faithful. Lodging on site: The park's concessionaire, Xanterra, operates Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel, Old Faithful hotel and cabins, and a snowcoach shuttle service. Yellowstone Expeditions offers guided multi-day trips out of a tent village near the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone. Lodging nearby: West Yellowstone and Gardiner, MT, have several motels, inns and other accommodations. Related links:Old Faithful Web Camera | GORP article on xc skiing in Yellowstone NP | Yellowstone Alpen Guides | Yellowstone Expeditions Tourism info:West Yellowstone Chamber | East Yellowstone-Wapiti Valley | Gardiner Chamber Weather forecast:Old Faithful Location of trails: Yellowstone National Park is located in the northwest corner of Wyoming. From December to early March the roads through the park are not plowed, except from Mammoth to the northeast entrance. During that period, the interior of the park is accessible only by snowcoach or guided snowmobile. The Old Faithful area is generally reached by an over-snow journey of 30 miles from West Yellowstone, MT. Snowcoach tours can be arranged through several companies in the bordering towns (see the park's website for a list of operators). Mammoth Hot Springs is accessible by car south of Gardiner, MT. The Tower trails are located 20 miles east of Mammoth at Tower Junction. Check the WY DOT Road Conditions before driving. Map of local region:Gardiner area | Old Faithful, Yellowstone NP
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