Itinerary

Discover the phenomenal photographic opportunities of Yellowstone’s quiet season, during the heart of winter when wolves and wildlife are more plentiful than people. Yellowstone and Grand Teton national parks contain the largest concentration of free-roaming wildlife in the Lower 48, a nature photographer’s grail. Shaggy bison forage for food, their coats rimmed in frost, nostrils creating steam clouds in the frozen air. Elk congregate in vast herds. In the remote reaches of the Lamar Valley we watch for wolves, silently snapping the stealthy predators as they move through the powder. This all-encompassing nature adventure promises exquisite rewards for photographers.

Day 1: Bozeman, Montana


Arrive in the New West town of Bozeman and transfer to our hotel for a welcome dinner.



Day 2: Paradise Valley / Northern Yellowstone


We depart after breakfast, following the Lewis & Clark Trail over Bozeman Pass to the banks of the Yellowstone River, where we’ll spend the morning in the Paradise Valley watching for rough-legged hawks, eagles, mule deer and pronghorn antelope. The ragged heights of the Absaroka Range provide a dramatic backdrop. Continuing to Mammoth Hot Springs for lunch, we often see wintering big-horn sheep in Gardiner River Canyon. Toward evening we enter Yellowstone’s Northern Range, where we find the highest densities of wolves, coyotes, elk and bison, often vividly spotted against the snow-mantled landscape. Our day concludes with a presentation at the Hartman Gallery, famed for its stunning photographs of Yellowstone’s wildlife. We spend the night just outside the park in Cooke City, Montana.



Day 3: Lamar Valley / Mammoth Hot Springs


As the sun breaks over the Lamar Valley, we’re up early to seize the opportunity to observe wolves in their most pristine natural environment. This broad glacial valley offers wide-open vistas of a sublime landscape and abundant wildlife. A local professional wildlife photographer joins us today to share tips on capturing the best shots of the often-elusive wolves – bring your telephoto lenses! This afternoon we explore the multicolored terraces of Mammoth Hot Springs, home to a large wintering elk herd.



Day 4: Snowcoach Tour / Old Faithful


This morning we board private snowcoaches to traverse Yellowstone’s wild interior, accessible in winter only by over-snow vehicles. Its plethora of geothermal features are striking, as geysers spray hot steam into the air and fumaroles bubble up from the snow. On the Central Plateau we look for large bison herds and wolves. We’ll also visit the Upper and Lower Falls of the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone River. If it’s cold enough, the falls may freeze into a cascade of ice plunging to the canyon floor. 



Day 5: Geyser Basin Exploration


Board our chartered snowcoach again to explore the geyser basins surrounding the Firehole River. This region of Yellowstone boasts the highest density of geothermal features in the world. Opportunities abound to photograph all four types: geysers, hot springs, mud pots and fumaroles. Because of the warmth provided by the steam vents and hot mud, wildlife congregate in the area during the winter, and we’ll have a chance to see trumpeter swans, bald eagles, elk and bison.



Day 6: Grand Teton National Park


Today we head south by snowcoach to Wyoming’s other scenic treasure, Grand Teton National Park, stopping at West Thumb Geyser Basin on the edge of Yellowstone Lake to search for moose, river otters and trumpeter swans. Crossing the Continental Divide, we drop into the Snake River basin. The first views of the Teton spires provoke a flurry of snapping shutters. More great shots await, with the jagged range providing an awesome backdrop for wildlife photos.



Day 7: Jackson Hole / National Elk Refuge


Our winter safari continues in the National Elk Refuge, home to thousands of elk, bighorn sheep and bison that winter on the floor of Jackson Hole. A horse-drawn sleigh ride provides a festive finale to our wildlife odyssey, offering close-up opportunities to photograph the park’s enormous herd of elk.



Day 8: Jackson / Flights Home


After breakfast, transfer to the airport for flights home.



Please note: Every other trip runs in the opposite direction, from Jackson to Bozeman.