NATURE presents Christmas in Yellowstone, a breathtaking look at wintertime deep within America’s first national park.
Stretching across more than 2.2 million acres of Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho is one of the greatest expanses of unspoiled nature and wildlife anywhere on Earth — Yellowstone National Park. Designated America’s first national park in 1872, Yellowstone now receives almost three million visitors each year. Yet only a small fraction of those who glimpse the park’s stunning vistas, geological wonders, and animal residents do so during the winter months, a time when nature’s inhospitality is matched only by its serenity.
NATURE follows in the snowy footprints of Yellowstone’s red foxes, spies on the predatory warfare of wolves and elk, and climbs into the den of a grizzly bear that gives birth to two cubs while deep in hibernation. In addition to mesmerizing footage of landscapes and wildlife, trail alongside author and photographer Tom Murphy, who has been coming to Yellowstone for the past 26 winters, camping and photographing amid the silence and solitude of the park. And go behind the scenes with filmmaker Shane Moore to find out how he kept up with Murphy during an at times harrowing trek, reminiscent of the legendary John Colter’s first journey into the park nearly two hundred years ago.
To order a copy of Christmas in Yellowstone, please visit the NATURE Shop.
Online content for Christmas in Yellowstone was originally posted November 2006.
Photo © Tom Murphy
(52 votes)
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What is the name of the woman who did the narration for this production?
Thank you.
This is spectacular in High Def. Why did KERA broadcast this show on 11/23/08 in what appeared to be reduced resolution? The TV screen was not filled and the picture did not look as sharp as before.
Hopefully this gets shown on KTCS HD sometime close to Christmas. The last two years this beautiful program has become as much of a tradition at my place as a certain movie with Chevy Chase…
To MW – the narrator is Linda Hunt.
The Nature series is the best programming on television. My wife and I look forward to each Sunday evening at 8 PM. Of all the great shows in this series, Christmas in Yellowstone is our favorite. I am so pleased that you broadcast this show each year. It really is a spendid way to start the Christmas season. I want to thank PBS and the producers of “Nature” for such a wonderful contribution of enlightening and wholesome entertainment. It is my retirement dream to one day spend a Christmas in Yellowstone and experience its beauty and splendor.
It’s a nice documentary for sure, but… I had the great privilege of working three winters at Old Faithful, and nothing compares to being there. The best years of my life, for sure.
Just saw the documentary. In one word: beautiful. I was in awe. Absolutely stunning cinematography.
Just wondering how cold it was and how did you and Tom keep your equipment performing properly? What camera and lenses did Tom use?
Thanks
Saw it this evening. Very sweet Christmas message. As an artist, I was especially impressed with the visuals (they were stunning). And the lesson in basic camping equipment was appreciated as well.
Great show!
Will the entire episode be shown online? I hope so because it did not air in San Juan last night. I’m dying to watch it!!
The only channel I get through Cox cable in Oceanside California is KPBS. Will it be aired on this channel?
To find out if a program is airing in your local area, please check your local listings by clicking “schedule” at the top of the site. http://www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/schedule/
What was the name of the lodge where the visitors were staying?
Last night @ Midnight the dawn of Christmas Eve morning~ I watched this show in awe. Spectacular photograpy and footage, it made me want to buy it to share with family and friends!The beauty of the trees and scenery around the hot springs in the cold glistening with Christmas magic was extrordinary and the animals beautiful! The red fox was a funny little creature iI though6. **Happy Holidays**
I also would like to know the name of the lodge the visitors were staying at. Thanks.
The narrator, Linda Hunt, was the principal in the movie “Kindergarten Cop” with Arnold Schwarzenneger.
I watched this documentary in amazement. It was AWESOME!
We stayed at the Old Faithful Winter Lodge. We made our reservations at least 6 months in advance, including our dinner reservations! The highlight was an all-day snow mobile tour of the Park. We saw bison, wolves, eagles, otter, foxes and coyotes. An unbelievable experience that I will never forget. Fortunately the temp was in the 30s unlike the week week before when the temp was 30 below.
What a spectacular show. Stunningly photographed and superbly written; beautifully narrated by Linda Hunt. Thank you PBS/Nature for inspiring us so much during this season.
I too would like to know the name of the lodge where the visitors were staying.
The Old FAithful Lodge was our honeymoon destination in December 1981. We skied within a few feet of bull elk, buffalo and steaming rainbow pools. We saw (and heard)trumpeter swans, and even a few eagles (their numberw were low then). We enjoyed every second of our 1-week stay. The wolves had not yet been re-introduced and I’d love to go back to see/hear them. It was a glorious trip and this documentary provided a spectacular memory jog. Thank you!
Absolutely breathtaking. I felt as if i was in the yellowstone. I have made a dream to do what that photographer did, being an amateur photographer myself. It gave me shivers of elation up my spine and a smile from ear to ear.
I saw this and then had my family watch with me the next time. We all loved it. Is the music available by itself?
After seeing this several times I will always watch it again. I have been to Yellowstone seven times but will probably never get to see it like this in winter.
This is Awsome work thanks to all who contributed, i hope and pray many people will strive to protect and preserve our wilderness.
Is there an educational lesson plan to go along with this video for high school students?
I LOVE IT ALL OFF THE PICTURES..
I’ve been to Yellowstone this summer with my family at Old Faithful Inn. It’s such a beautiful place with all the wildlife and geysers! I’ve always wanted to see it during the wintertime, and now I have!! But it would be even better up close in person.