Yellowstone: when to go?

Was thinking of visiting Yellowstone thus summer. what would a good time to go be? I wouldn%26#39;t mind early so long as the trails aren%26#39;t still snowed in or slushy. And I hate mosquitoes. Fewer people is nice but not critical.

How bad are the skeeters by the way? As in, is it just in marshy areas, or everywhere? Is it just the occasional bite, or is it 10 on your arm the moment you stop to rest on a hike? etc.

Yellowstone: when to go?

Skeeters? This is high country, not Minnesota lakes. I%26#39;ve been to YNP many times and never had a problem with them. Others have; read this:

yellowstone-bearman.com/travelguide.html#bugs

Yellowstone: when to go?

We were there the third week of May last year and had no problems with bugs. If you want bugs then come to the south during the summer!!!

Thanks voyaging. I had forgotten how much good stuff was on Bearman%26#39;s website.

Yggdrasil4, Yellowstone has had a whole lot of snow this year. I%26#39;m guessing there%26#39;ll be mud and snow on trails well into June.

The main trails and boardwalks should be just fine by mid-June depending on spring. And, yes, we have had a lot of snow this year and it is still snowing (we had another 12'; over the past few days in West Yellowstone.)

Mosquitoes will depend upon when spring comes, how quickly it heats up, and how much it rains in June. Standing water (from a slow melt) creates more mosquitoes. Last year, very few bugs. Three years ago, we never left without mosquito replellant until fall freezes. Just like in the Midwest, the marshier areas are worse (like Bechler).