What to Wear to Yellowstone in Autumn
What to Wear to Yellowstone in Fall
It’s still summer-y weather we observed. We don’t need gloves because we’re going south we thought. DAMN IT’S KIND OF COLD we said when we finally arrived in the mountainous Yellowstone National Park. Let my mistakes be your guide as to what to wear to Yellowstone in Fall! I did pack a few smart pieces, but overall there were many overlooked items.
In addition to that, here’s my tips on what 10 Things to Bring on Your Next Road Trip. I even discuss “weather appropriate clothing” in it. I can’t always listen to my best advice I suppose.
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Rain Gear for Yellowstone
Depending on where in the park you are, the elevation differs greatly. It could be raining in one spot and then snowing giant fluffy flakes at the Artist Point (see below). What I cannot stress enough is BRING A RAIN JACKET! I was so thrilled to have packed my handy dandy Burton jacket. (As seen previously in my Rainy Days with Burton post.) Not only did it serve to break the wind, I also stayed a lot dryer had I just worn my puffer.
The thing about Yellowstone is that it’s home to one of the largest population of thermal features. That’s A LOT of moisture in the air regardless of the time of year. Umbrellas are pretty dope too but can be a nuisance when navigating the narrow paths with other tourist traffic. From what I can gather, there is no time of year when Yellowstone isn’t busy.
What I Wore for Rain in Yellowstone
HAT – Lululemon running hat – c/o Lululemon
JACKET – Burton rain jacket – c/o Burton
LEGGINGS – Lululemon align leggings – my fave!!!! c/o Lululemon
SOCKS – Lululemon Power Stride socks (I bought these a year ago and I love that they don’t slip down into my shoes! Edit: they were discontinued but the updated version is just as good)
SHOES – Allbirds tree runners – c/o All Birds
What Jesse Wore for Rain in Yellowstone
JACKET – K-way rain jacket – thrifted
PANTS – Lululemon abc joggers – c/o Lululemon
SHOES – La Sportiva trail running shoes
Winter Layers for Yellowstone
Fortunately, we did bring puffer jackets a la Lululemon. However, we didn’t even consider bringing winter accessories. Big Mistake. HUGE. If I could do it over again I would have also included the following items on my packing list:
Toque / Beanie / Warm Hat
I am still in awe of how silly it was to not bring a toque. My ears were kept mildly warm by wearing my baselayer headband underneath my baseball style cap. Thank goodness I even brought that! In the future, I would bring a proper lightweight merino toque and a waterproof wide brim hat that could go over top it. While I like to look fashionable, some scenarios call for practicality and this is one of them.
Winter boots & Warm Socks
For the boots, I would have brought something waterproof but not so big that I couldn’t walk comfortably in. Either my Olang boots (see my Canmore outfit post). Or a Sorel shoulder season waterproof boot like their Caribou, Kinetic, and Explorer III Joan.
In addition to warm waterproof boots would be cashmere or wool socks. This may sound bougie but I found decent pairs at Costco. Yes, the print on a few pairs resembles office carpeting but I could care less. My feet were thrilled this past winter and I will never go back. For non Costco members, Simons usually has great sock sales right after Christmas, one year the Simons brand cashmere socks were $7 a pair!
Neck Warmer or Scarf
At least I had the built in insulation of my long hair helping to act like a scarf, poor Jesse’s neck was fully exposed to the elements! If I could go back in time I would have brought my black Burberry cashmere scarf. I’ve had it since the early 2000s and it continues to deliver unparalleled warmth without making my neck itchy every year.
I just looked it up and my same scarf is more than double the price that it was in 2006! However, it appears Costco Canada is selling the classic Burberry archive beige check cashmere scarf for a little under double.
A classic neck warmer would be my second choice. I have a soft wool one my friend knit me years ago that I love. My biggest recommendation when it comes to choosing neckwear is to ensure that the fabric doesn’t bother you. For whatever reason, the skin on my neck is hyper sensitive and if it comes into contact with scratchy or irritating fabric, it’s over.
Gloves & Mittens
Because I didn’t consider mittens, my hands were cold and chapped the entire time we were in the park. I could have used some intense hand cream too. My tried and true mitts are from Lululemon. They no longer make the exact same style but they have a few lightweight glove options that are great for the mild cold of a shoulder season.
What Layers Jesse Wore in Yellowstone
JACKET – Lululemon Navigation Down Jacket – c/o Lululemon
HAT – BAILEY OF HOLLYWOOD thrifted hat
PANTS – Lululemon abc joggers – c/o Lululemon
SHOES – La Sportiva trail running shoes
What Layers I Wore in Yellowstone
HAT – Lululemon running hat – c/o Lululemon
SUNGLASSES – Quay High Key aviators – c/o
TOP – Lululemon crop long sleeve – c/o Lululemon
LEGGINGS – Lululemon align leggings – c/o Lululemon
SHOES – Allbirds tree runners – c/o All Bird
SOCKS – Lululemon Power Stride socks
BACKPACK – Lululemon small backpack – c/o Lululemon
JACKET – Lululemon Another Mile jacket – c/o Lululemon
Dressing for Sunny Days in Yellowstone
Though the fall tends to have colder weather, it’s still possible that the sun may make an appearance. Because of that, I have a few suggestions on things to bring just in case.
Sunglasses
It’s a rare occasion when Ileve the house without a pair of sunglasses. As a blue eyed gal, my eyes are extremely sensitive to sunlight so sunglasses are a must for me – even on overcast days. The issue I often run into when pairing sunglasses and hats is sore ears. Hats usually push down on the arms of my sunglasses and make my ears sore fairly quickly but I’ve found if the sunglasses have thin arms, it solves the problem. Aviators and clubmaster type sunglasses are the ones I gravitate towards.
Summer Hat
Much like my sunglasses, a hat is always an essential. Baseball style hats, bucket hats, and wide brim straw hats are my trio for when I’m on active outdoor adventures.
Sunscreen
Sunscreen is a year round item for me however, it’s even more important if I’m going to be out in midday broad sunlight. I’ve written two posts specifically on SPF so you can check out either of them for more details. Best Lightweight Sunscreen and Sunscreen for Sensitive Skin.
Bathing Suit & Towel
You may be saying “but Sandy, it’s autumn…. who needs a bathing suit!?” And the answer is me. One of my biggest regrets from the trip was not factoring in enough time to visit the Boiling River. By the North Entrance of the park in between Gardiner and Mammoth is a natural hot spring on the river. It has a parking lot and a path to it, but aside from that it appeared mostly undeveloped.
A quick drying towel is also a great item to have. I use my Lululemon yoga towel for road trips as it dries fast. UPDATE: they’ve been discontinued!!! I am devastated.
Other Things to Pack for Yellowstone
Lastly, there are a few practical non clothing related items that I pack on road trips some of which are specific to winter weather.
Day backpack
I cannot recommend a small day backpack enough! My little Lululemon everywhere backpack has travelled with me to Arizona, California, and even Japan. It’s the perfect size! They have changed the design slightly since I got mine in 2019ish, but the new one looks as though there’s better pocket placement than the one I have.
Inside the backpack I always keep tissues, hand sanitizer, and a plastic bag for any garbage I make on the go. Often I can’t find a trash can when I need one so it’s convenient to have one on hand.
Snacks & Extra Water
Bringing a reusable water bottle is a non-negotiable for me. Ever since I got my first Nalgene bottle in High School (it was hot pink) I’ve always carried one around. I’m not one to follow water bottle trends so pack whatever you’ve got. And keep a stash of water handy in your vehicle in case you’re stranded.
As for snacks, I love a Hornby Island granola bar and making my own trail mix of nuts for a trip. You never know when you’ll be peckish during the day. Yellowstone is a big and busy park so its wise to bring your own food to keep you going between the more substantial meals.
Wool Blanket & a Small Shovel
These two are cold weather specific. Should your car randomly get stuck, a shovel could come in handy digging you out – living in a cold climate I’ve had to deal with this a time or two. And a wool blanket to keep you warm in case of car trouble. Items like this seem silly to pack until you end up needing them in a dire situation.
Car Jump Starter
The last thing I want to implore anyone to take on a road trip is a PowerStation Xtreme Boost Lithium battery. It’s a tiny phone sized battery that has attachments to jump a car. So if you’re on a lonely road, you need not wait for some stranger to possibly help you.
We accidentally killed our battery one day and this came in handy! It’s good for at least 2 jumps before it needs another charging. Additionally, it can also charge your phone in a pinch and has a built in flashlight! I bought mine at Costco. I wrote more about it in my 10 Things to Bring on your Next Road Trip.
The Art of Planning Ahead
While it can be frustrating having to pack many items to prepare for fickle weather, I much rather be able to fully enjoy a trip. Then again, I cannot stand being cold! The beauty of packing layers is that they can become multi functional. A lighter puffer jacket can be layered beneath a jean jacket etc.
Planning ahead can also save you from being at the mercy of tourist pricing on items. Sure you could buy a toque at a gift shop but it will be overpriced and perhaps not your first choice in style.
What to Wear to Yellowstone in Fall
And those are all my tips on what to wear to Yellowstone in fall! There will be more Yellowstone posts are forthcoming but in the meantime, you can check out my other posts from Montana.
For more travel related posts, check out my Travel section or my YouTube Channel.
photographs – jesse sand + sandy joe karpetz
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