Yellowstone: Ultimate Wolf & Wildlife Safari
Escape to a snowy wonderland to track fierce and mysterious wolves at this iconic national park.
SPECIAL OFFER
9.2*
ECO SCORE
13
PASSENGERS
7
DAYS
3/5
ACTIVITY LEVEL
Yellowstone: Drink It In
In the pale light of sunrise, we survey the open expanse of Yellowstone’s Lamar Valley, searching for wolves. Alongside expert naturalist guides with spotting scopes and cameras poised, we hope to see a pack emerge from the forest, energized by the awakening day. There they are! The landscape holds magic, too, with steaming geysers, bubbling mud pots and trees covered in glittering ice crystals beneath an immaculate blue sky. Discover Yellowstone and the Tetons on a rare winter wildlife safari—your spirit will never be the same.
Travel Curator’s Insights:
- • Witness the drama of gray wolf and elk as they track each other across this stunning landscape.
• Moose, bison, fox, bighorn sheep, mountain goats--they're all here!
• Think you've seen it? Open your eyes to a whole new world of wild Yellowstone.
Trip Sustainability Awards
CARBON
Fantastic advances in minimizing carbon footprints at locations.
ENERGY
On the East African Energy Renewal Board
EDUCATION
Runs local educational facilities for children.
Itinerary
Please note: Alternating trips run in the opposite direction, starting in Bozeman and ending in Jackson.
Day 1: Jackson, Wyoming
Our Yellowstone wildlife tour begins in the Old West town of Jackson, which sits at the edge of Grand Teton National Park in the shadow of the mountain range’s jagged spires. This evening, meet your Expedition Leader and fellow travelers at an informal welcome dinner and orientation.
Accommodation: The Lexington at Jackson Hole
Day 2: Jackson Hole—National Elk Refuge
Our winter safari begins in the broad valley of Jackson Hole aboard our specialty North American Safari Trucks. Taking advantage of double-wide pop-top roof hatches, look for bald and golden eagles, bighorn sheep, coyote, bison, mule deer, moose and elk. After lunch at the National Museum of Wildlife Art in Jackson, travel by horse-drawn sleigh through the National Elk Refuge. Gliding over the snow that blankets the valley floor, we capture close-up photos of the massive herd that winters here, with thousands of animals roaming the range.
Accommodation: The Lexington at Jackson Hole
Day 3: Grand Teton National Park / Yellowstone National Park—Old Faithful
A traverse of Buffalo Valley and the northern sector of Grand Teton National Park offers a panorama of the iconic peaks rising above the Snake River.
Reaching the boundary of Yellowstone, we board heated snowcoaches that convey us into the silent winter splendor of America's first national park.
We stop at West Thumb Geyser Basin on the edge of Yellowstone Lake, looking along the way for moose, river otters and trumpeter swans before arriving at Old Faithful Snow Lodge. Because winter access to the park's interior is limited to snow vehicles, an overnight stay here is a coveted experience. In silent seclusion, witness the park's most famous geothermal feature, Old Faithful geyser, shoot forth in a crystalline veil of spray. And on a clear night, we may even get to watch it erupt by the light of the moon.
Accommodation: Old Faithful Snow Lodge
Day 4: Mammoth Hot Springs / Lamar Valley / Cooke City
Back aboard the snowcoach, head northward through Yellowstone’s famous geyser basins to the white limestone terraces of Mammoth Hot Springs, where we often see many elk. As dusk descends, an early-evening drive through the Lamar Valley in Yellowstone’s far northeast corner offers our first chance to search for wolves. The park is the best place in the world to view these charismatic predators, and we dedicate the next two days to finding them.
Although pack movements are unpredictable, and the impact of past human interactions tends to make wolves shy in the presence of humans, our Expedition Leader is an experienced tracker, teaching us about wolf behavior and how to look for them through spotting scopes. We are also in close contact with scientists who conduct research on wolves in the region, and they will help us locate them based on recent sightings. Continuing east, we reach our destination of Cooke City, Montana, which lies just outside the park's northern boundary.
Accommodation: Super 8 Cooke City
Day 5: Lamar Valley Wolf Safari
A full day is ours to scout for Yellowstone's legendary wolves. Reintroduced to the park in 1995 amid much controversy, the gray wolf was returned to this native ecosystem after a 70-year absence following a policy of government-sanctioned eradication. Since then, they have flourished, supported by bountiful prey including a multitude of elk. Yet controversy continues to surround their presence, and we learn in detail from our guides about the current conditions in which wolves exist within the greater Yellowstone area.
As the wolves have restored more balance to the natural ecosystem, elk numbers have dropped, and we may not be as likely to see as many wolves as visitors did several years ago. If we are especially lucky, though, we might see a pack test an elk herd for a weak or sick animal, or spot lone individuals foraging on their own. But even if the wolves remain elusive, the winter landscape is magical, and we're sure to see plenty of other wildlife native to the park.
After an exhilarating morning, return to Cooke City for lunch and a visit to the Hartman Gallery, with a slide presentation by Dan Hartman. Dan is a local naturalist and renowned Yellowstone wildlife photographer whose wolf images are widely acclaimed. He'll share insightful observations about wolf behavior gleaned from countless hours in their presence, as well as tips for pursuing photos of wolves and other wildlife. In the waning light of mid-afternoon, we head back to the Lamar Valley for more wolf tracking, knowing our chances to see them are best at dawn and dusk.
Accommodation: Explorer Cabins at Yellowstone
Day 6: Lamar Valley / Bozeman
As dawn illumines the snowy meadows of the Lamar Valley, we return once more in search of wolves. If we are fortunate to sight them, our onboard spotting scope enhances our observation of their activities from a distance without disturbing their natural behavior. Many of our Expedition Leaders have worked for years with the on-site researchers who track these wolves daily, and together they provide us every opportunity to find these intriguing animals in their natural surroundings. Returning to Mammoth Hot Springs, we leave Yellowstone’s frozen silence and continue up the Paradise Valley along the Yellowstone River to reach Bozeman for our final night.
Accommodation:
Day 7: Bozeman / Depart
If your flight schedule permits, you may enjoy exploring Bozeman on your own today. This historic Old West/New West town, with a rich mining and trapping heritage, boasts 40 individual properties on the National Register of Historic Places. It is home to Montana State University and offers a wide range of cultural and outdoor activities.
Important Information About This Trip:
While the Lamar Valley and Yellowstone National Park offer some of the best opportunities to see wolves in the wild, these animals are still very elusive, and they usually do not come in close range of humans. This trip offers a totally natural, uncontrived experience, and as a result, most wolf viewing is done at a distance through spotting scopes. This allows us to watch the packs go about their normal behavior uninfluenced by the presence of humans. It is important to understand that it is incredibly difficult to see the wolves without the use of a spotting scope (This operator provides spotting scopes on your trip).
Often, the best way to get photos of the wolves is with a cell phone camera through a spotting scope. Your Expedition Leader will help you with this technique, called “digiscoping.” While a long lens is a must for photographers, even then, we can't guarantee excellent shots of the wolves.
However, the sheer beauty and grandeur of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem provides magnificent nature imagery, and we are likely to see plenty of the region’s other iconic species.
Please note that winter temperatures in the region are often very cold, and we do spend a lot of time standing in the outdoors. At times, temperatures may fall below 0° F.
Rates
Questions?
I love this opportunity to avoid the touristy Yellowstone and get deep into the winter wilderness with wolves. What a fantastic family adventure this would be!
Joy Martinello, Founder
Questions?
What’s Included & Cancellation Policy:
WHAT'S INCLUDED
Accommodations, services of this operator's professional Expedition
Leader(s) and local staff, transportation in North American Safari Trucks and local snowcoaches, all meals from dinner on Day 1 through breakfast on final day, most gratuities, airport transfers on Day 1 and final day, gear including warm parkas and winter boots, use of scopes and binoculars, all activities and entrance fees, all taxes, permits and service fees.
