Take off for a thrilling winter adventure in Yellowstone, home to mesmerizing wildlife, spectacular geysers, and boundless snowscapes. Hop into a snow coach to witness Old Faithful and magnificent bison, then make your way to the 200-foot Fairy Falls. While snowshoeing in Lamar Valley, look out for wolves, golden eagles, coyote, moose, bighorn sheep, and pronghorn antelope. Meet up with local photographer Dan Hartman, see his work, and learn all about regional wildlife. En route to Bozeman, strap on snowshoes one last time to trek across the Northern Range. MT Sobek's Yellowstone adventures are conducted under the authorized concessionaire permit of Wildlife Expeditions of Teton Science Schools.
Tour the National Elk Refuge, home to one of the world's largest elk herds
Enjoy snowshoeing and snow coach drives through spectacularly white, boundless landscapes
Witness steaming geyser basins and spot Yellowstone's bison and elusive gray wolves
Fly into Jackson, Wyoming and head to the hotel, located in the middle of town. In the early evening, meet at the famous Wort Hotel for dinner with the knowledgeable biologist. This is an opportunity to ask questions, go over the map to trace the traveling route, and learn what to expect on the trip.
The expedition kicks off this morning, with the guides picking you up at the hotel to head first to the National Elk Refuge, where you take a private sleigh ride amongst the wild elk. Enjoy lunch and a quick exploration of the National Museum of Wildlife Art, before heading to the Murie Center in Grand Teton National Park. Spend the afternoon snowshoeing around this former home and property of famous naturalists and conservationists Mardy and Olaus Murie.
This morning, continue the wildlife viewing en route north through Grand Teton Park and into Yellowstone, America's first national park. Change vehicles during lunch at Flagg Ranch and head into snow coaches to marvel at the majestic sight of the Old Faithful geyser blowing off some steam as you walk around the geyser basin. In addition to taking in the park's spectacular geothermal features, witness its impressive wildlife, like the famous herds of bison.
After breakfast, take a walk around the Old Faithful geyser basin once again, keeping an eye out for wildlife. From here, board the private snow coach to the Fairy Falls trailhead, then enjoy a 5-mile round-trip snowshoe along a flat surface to the falls, almost 200 feet in height. Then travel via snow coach to West Yellowstone for the night.
Depart West Yellowstone this morning and travel on to Mammoth Hot Springs, stopping for wildlife along the way. Upon reaching Mammoth, a legendary geothermal site on a hill of travertine, transfer to vehicles for the drive to the Northern Range of Yellowstone. On the way to Cooke City in Montana, enjoy a snowshoe trek in the Lamar Valley area, known as the Serengeti of North America for its wildlife herds and striking views.
Spend today searching northern Yellowstone for elusive gray wolves by snowshoe. While wolves are the star species in the Lamar Valley, make sure to also look out for golden eagles, coyote, bighorn sheep, moose, pronghorn antelope, and bison. In the afternoon, visit with local photographer Dan Hartman for a presentation on the wildlife of the region and a tour of his gallery, followed by an afternoon of wildlife spotting.
This morning, take another drive through the Lamar Valley looking for wolves. In the afternoon, enjoy one final opportunity to snowshoe in the Northern Range before departing Mammoth Hot Springs by vehicle and north out of Yellowstone National Park. Head back into Montana through Paradise Valley to Bozeman, for the final dinner together.
Enjoy breakfast before taking the hotel shuttle to Bozeman airport for your homebound flight.
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Download ItineraryMT Sobek has been exploring America's National Parks for 50 years!
Expert guides will lead you through a winter wonderland on this custom crafted adventure - designed to skip the crowds.
Our adventure gives you the incredibly unique opportunity to explore wolf habitats by snowshoe and enjoy a private sleigh ride amongst wild elk.
Our expert guides and trip leaders are truly the key to our trips' success. Many are locals who live in-country year-round; others have made it their second home—all are passionate, enthusiastic and endlessly knowledgeable. Meet a few of the guides that might be on your trip.
Snowshoeing and snow coach drives, wildlife watching, witnessing geysers in action, and meeting a local wildlife photographer.
Accommodations were chosen for proximity to wildlife and prime scenic areas, with emphasis on comfort. They vary from simple to luxurious, offering classic western hospitality.
Temperatures in the winter will vary due to elevation. However, most visitor areas tend to stay in the 0-25 degree range.
Snowshoeing is the simplest way to access snowy terrain during the winter. Snowshoes simply help you to walk more easily on the snow. They give you the opportunity to explore rolling mountain terrain away from the busy resort areas.
Wolves, golden eagles, coyote, moose, bighorn sheep, and pronghorn antelope, to name a few.
Yes! Plan for a true winter experience and review our packing list carefully. You will want to bring waterproofed snow pants and a jacket (we recommend Gore-Tex), as well as thermal underwear, gloves, and a hat that covers your ears.
Northern lights are not commonly seen at Yellowstone. Sightings are extremely rare, and more commonly seen further north in Alaska.
No, the travertine features are too fragile. You are permitted to soak in bodies of water fed by runoff from hydrothermal features, such as the Boiling River north of Mammoth.
No. Modern snowshoes are light and made of plastic and metal. They strap to walking boots giving more surface area making it easier to walk on snow. Spikes on the underside help with grip and walking poles help with balance.
We offer this trip on a private basis with seasonal departure dates that offer great flexibility (pending availability). Click below to request dates and an MT Sobek Regional Specialist will be in touch to help organize your private adventure.
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