Island Park and West Yellowstone have something going on most of the winter. The big ones for 2026-27 are the Yellowstone Ski Festival over Thanksgiving week, Wild West Winterfest in mid-January, the American Dog Derby in Ashton in February and the Yellowstone Rendezvous Race in early March.1,2,3 Snow decides a lot up here, so check each event's page before you go.
The calendar
These are the dates posted so far. Organizers change plans when the snow is thin, so treat this as a starting point and check the links below.
Yellowstone Ski Festival (Nov 21-28, 2026)
Thanksgiving week, the Nordic ski crowd comes to the Rendezvous Ski Trails in West Yellowstone. There's skiing every day, clinics for every level, biathlon and a race at the end. The organizers say it draws serious racers, first-timers and whole families.1
You'll need a trail pass for the Rendezvous trails in November. If there's no snow, the races and clinics are cancelled, and with low snow the courses can change.1
Wild West Winterfest (Jan 15-16, 2027)
The Island Park Chamber puts this one on, and it happens all over Island Park.2 Last year's Winterfest had food tastings and competitions, a sled parade, fireworks, music, sleigh rides, games with prizes and snowcoach tours.4 Check the Chamber's page closer to the date for this year's schedule.
American Dog Derby (Feb 19-20, 2027)
The American Dog Derby in Ashton started in 1917. It's known as the oldest sled dog race in the lower 48, and in the early days mushers carried the mail to West Yellowstone when the train couldn't get through.5 In some low-snow years the race has been moved or called off, so check before you make the drive down.5,6
Yellowstone Rendezvous Race (Mar 6, 2027)
This is a long-distance cross-country ski race on the Rendezvous Ski Trails in West Yellowstone. It's part of the American Ski Marathon Series, and it brings in more than 600 skiers.3 Registration opens in November.3 If you're racing or coming to watch, that weekend fills up fast in West Yellowstone.
Planning a winter trip around an event
- Book early for Thanksgiving week and the Rendezvous Race weekend. Those are the busy ones.
- Snow can change or cancel an event, so check the organizer's page the week before.
- You can drive to the cabin in winter. We recommend 4WD, but you don't need sleds to get here.
- The cabin sleeps 10 in winter.
- Thinking about going into the park too? Read Yellowstone in Winter: Snowcoach or Snowmobile?
Quick answers
What's the best winter weekend to visit Island Park?
If you want something going on, Wild West Winterfest in mid-January is the one that happens right in Island Park.2
How far is West Yellowstone from Island Park?
From our cabin it's about 20 minutes to West Yellowstone.
Do these events happen if there's no snow?
Not always. The ski festival cancels races and clinics with no snow, and the Dog Derby has moved or been called off in low-snow years.1,6 Check before you go.
- Yellowstone Ski Festival, Ski Run Bike Montana: 2026 dates, events, trail passes, snow policy
- Island Park Chamber of Commerce events: Christmas Dinner, Winterfest and Dog Derby dates
- Yellowstone Rendezvous Race: 2027 date, 600+ skiers, registration
- Winterfest 2025 recap, Island Park Chamber: activities
- BYU-Idaho Radio, American Dog Derby: 1917 start, mail history, low-snow cancellations
- East Idaho News: race moved for lack of snow
