Spring can be a wonderful time to visit Yellowstone National Park. By Spring, we really mean May since many of the roads in the park don’t being to open from their winter closures until late April or May. As the temperatures warm and the winter snow melts, it can be a beautiful time to enjoy the park without the crowds that visit during summer.
Weather
We were in Yellowstone in May 2016 and we came to expect cool, beautiful days, an afternoon shower, and the threat of a little snow overnight. Low temperatures in May are generally in the 30s and high temperatures are typically in the 50s. When the sun is out, it is beautiful. When the skies are overcast, an additional layer of clothing is warranted.
Baby Animals
From April through June, the baby bears, bison, bighorns and elk can be seen in the park. When we were in Yellowstone in May, we saw two different sets of mother bears and cubs. They were one of the highlights of our trip. Be sure to keep an appropriate distance from them, though, as their parents will be protective.
Fly Fishing
The season opens in late May and the Firehole River is a popular place to fish on the opener. The Gibbon River and the Madison River are other options depending on the water level.
Hiking Trails
If you are looking to hike Yellowstone in May, consider the trails at lower elevations in the northern section of the park. In other places, snow makes some of the trails difficult to navigate and trailheads inaccessible in the spring. Bear management areas are also established which close some of the hiking trails around the park to minimize dangerous encounters between bears and humans. Routes that require fording river should also be avoided during the late spring runoff as they can be wider, deeper and swifter than would otherwise be expected.