I'm considering a trip (5-ish days), flying into Bozeman in Nov/December. Yellowstone in the winter has always been on my bucket list as is Banff (but never considered Banff in the winter).

I'll probably be traveling alone.

What I am looking for on this trip:
1) a good hotel with a spa as my home base--primary goal for the trip is to unwind
2) day excursions that I can join (I probably can't backpack any more b/c I hurt my back severely a while ago)
3) getting out and being in nature ("the mountains are calling").


I'm open to the entire area between Banff and Yellowstone, so I don't have to fly into Bozeman (just found a good deal on SWA)


Is the weather miserable? Am I crazy? Anyone have any recommendations?

You're not crazy, Yellowstone in the winter is amazing.

I have no recommendations for anything you're asking for as we stayed in Mammoth Hot Springs.

Their snowmobile trip from mammoth to old faithful is very cool, but can be a beat down the last hour or so. There are other options.

https://www.flickr.com/gp/89151977@N00/29bJau05A8

Only been to Bozeman once in the winter.

Didn't do any excursions into the park, but Mammoth is open from Gardiner. Went swimming in the boiling river. Not sure how badly the flood affected that.

Went hiking in the Gallatin to Mystic Lake via Bozeman Creek. There is an old forest service cabin you can rent.

Went skiing in Bridger Bowl. Skiing is not my thing. It was bad.

Funny I didn't see this thread at all when I made mine.

Based what you are looking for I would suggest BANFF over Bozeman/Yellowstone for Nov/Dec.

Winter in YNP is amazing, but you can only experience that via snowmobile or other transport, you cannot take your own vehicle. It's work, and take some logistics. Most of Nov is shoulder season and limited services. May want to check the season calendar, things wind down and close starting in sept and don't re-open usually until Dec.

If you stay in Bozeman (great town) you can see some terrain, but you aren't "in the mountains"

If you are looking to just relax and unplug BANFF will be more accessible and have better services (spa/dining/lodging), true mt views every direction, and in my opinion easier for a solo traveler on Nov/Dec.

I've been to Bozeman/Yellowstone several times over the last Nov/Dec time frames. It can be really nice, by Montana standards, or it can be -25 like it was for me last December. I've also fly fished Yellowstone River in late November too.

Really only way in park is via snowmobile once there is good enough snowfall.

Not to sure about the spa/resort aspect. I've always just stayed with family.