Yellowstone in the off season

We live about six hours from Yellowstone and have never ventured thither until last week, I really didn't expect much for some reason.  Even with my research I was ill-prepared for what the park encompasses.  I remember the fires when I was a kid and everyone mentions Old Faithful, and then there are the bison and the springs and geysers but all that really isn't that interesting to me.  I thought it would be okay but I can name ten other parks I'd rather see first; much as I have no interest in going to Disneyland (crowded, expensive and likely over-rated), but unlike Disneyland, Yellowstone was convenient, so we went.  I started planning late (read: not a year or more in advance) and I wanted to avoid the crowds (millions of people cramming in every summer to stare at a bison, really?!) so we went in the off season.  Summer has its crowds and Winter has its attractions and enthusiasts, but what about Spring and Fall?  Does anyone venture thither in the awkward seasons?  We did and here is what we learned:

First off, the park is so much more than geysers and bison, way more!  I was very impressed and we will certainly be going back.  I wanted mountain scenery and wildlife and was not disappointed.  You can't throw a rock without hitting a bison or an elk, but there are all sorts of things to see: bighorn sheep, moose, bears, wolves, various small furry things, unique birds, there is something for everyone.  Terrain is mostly mountainous with plenty of waterfalls, rivers, geothermal features, overlooks, valleys and a huge lake.  The forest is mostly coniferous with a few aspen type trees that covers most of the park but there are vast areas of grassland/sagebrush too.  Regardless of season or what you want to see, you'll find many things to love and it is big enough that you could spend years exploring it.

As for the off season, it has its ups and downs, pros and cons, which I'll outline below.  Obviously I am not an expert, as I've literally spent only 2.1 days in the park and that in the Spring.  I can only hypothesize about Fall, but in general it should hold true.  Also note that I am a photographer and a bird watcher, if your thing is camping, fishing, etc.,  my observations aren't really going to reflect those pursuits but you can still get a general idea.  Here goes:

Pros of visiting Yellowstone in the Off Season (late April to Memorial Day, Labor Day to mid October):

• The crowds you see in all those pictures are not there, which means you can actually move around, drive/hike/gawk at a more leisurely pace, find lodging, take pictures without 876 people in them and so forth.  There are plenty of people about, but they aren't swarming everywhere and I was far more concerned about dimwitted tourists trying to pet the nice bison than being eaten by a grizzly bear.  If you are antisocial and hate crowds, it is a very nice time to go to one of our most visited national attractions.
• The changing seasons offer some unique photo/scenic opportunities: snow and new growth in the Spring and changing leaves and snow in the winter.  Some of the waterfalls/rivers/creeks are also at their peak in the Spring when the snow melts.  We had a snowstorm right in the middle of our stay (hence the 2.1 days instead of 3!), which added a unique aspect to the whole scene.
• Wildlife seem more approachable/visible.  Maybe it is only because I'm not sharing them with 10,000 other people, but it seemed like you were able to see a lot of wildlife (countless bison and elk, 7 black bears (including 3 cubs), 9 bighorn sheep, assorted pronghorn and mule deer, birds and small mammals in droves).  You are there during the bird migration offering a chance at species you might not otherwise see.  Spring yields babies (baby bison were everywhere along with those bear cubs) while Fall gives you a chance to see rutting elk, bison, and bighorn while the bears are getting fat.  The snow/winter drives the animals into places where they can find shelter and food while summer lets them spread out and the thicker foliage gives them better cover and makes them harder to see, not to mention you are competing with 20 times the people to see the bear in the ditch.

Cons of visiting Yellowstone in the Off Season:

• Weather is unpredictable.  We planned on 3 days but ended with 2.1 as 6-12 inches of snow blanketed the park.  It was nice to have a quiet day and it was fun to see the Mammoth Hot Springs in the snow, but it might also have prevented us from getting to the park or delayed us when it came time to leave, happily it all melted the next day, but the South of the park was still closed due to bad roads, thankfully we had done the Lake and Artist's Point the day before.  We missed Old Faithful and the geyser basins but as those weren't high on my list, it was okay and we'll catch them next time.  You may get snowed in or snowed out or things may unexpectedly shut down or close.  Be prepared to be flexible!
• Road Construction: this may just be a constant thing, not just an off season thing, but it was everywhere, anticipate delays.
• Closures: some things don't open until later in the season or are closed due to weather (or bears) or are being worked on.  We wanted to drive the Beartooth Pass but it was closed until Memorial Day and several roads closed due to the snow while certain trails are closed until late in the summer due to bears.  A lot of the attractions (restaurants, campsites, stores, etc.) are not open until the summer season too.  The North end of the park is open year round.

Overall, even with a snowstorm, it was a great trip and I can't wait to do it again.  Part of me is curious to see it with all the people, but another part of me would be happy to go off season from here on out.  As long as you are flexible and prepared, the off season is still a great time to visit one of America's greatest landmarks!