From Grey Wolves to Geothermal Wonders
Yellowstone & Grand Teton Wildlife Adventure
Overview
Track the iconic wolf packs of Yellowstone, hike in the majestic landscapes of the Grand Tetons, drift down the Snake River by private dory, and witness the geological wonder of Yellowstone. As we explore with our expert biologist Trip Leader, each day brings something different, whether we're hiking, discovering fumaroles and mud pots, or spotting an amazing variety of wildlife—from herds of bison to elusive wolf packs on the prowl (our Trip Leader is involved with the local wolf-monitoring community). We offer this journey in September, when Yellowstone edges into its autumn glory and the bugling call of the bull elk echoes across the valleys.
Arrive: Jackson Hole, Wyoming
Depart: Jackson Hole, Wyoming
Highlights
- Track the iconic grey wolves of Yellowstone's Lamar Valley, the “American Serengeti”
- Learn about the natural history of Yellowstone and the Grand Tetons with our biologist Trip Leader
- Search for bison, elk, moose, pronghorn, black and grizzly bear
- Witness the spectacular colors of the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone River
Itinerary
Wildlife viewing in majestic Grand Teton National Park is a photographer's dream! We enjoy a nature walk and a game drive en route to Yellowstone. Our Trip Leader knows the best spots to look for wildlife, which should include moose and bison.
We'll get early morning starts to take advantage of wildlife activity and the soft dawn light in Yellowstone's Lamar Valley, home to the valley's iconic packs of grey wolf. Their reintroduction into Yellowstone in 1995 is considered one of America's greatest conservation success stories. This famous valley teems with other wildlife as well, from buffalo to elk, grizzly bear, black bear, pronghorn, otters, and bald eagles, and the birdlife is phenomenal. We've timed our adventure for September when the bull elks are making their famous mating season bugling calls and bears return to lower elevations to fatten up by gorging on berries before hibernation. The fall hues of orange and gold make this month absolutely spectacular for photography.
We head to the spectacular Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone River, a thousand feet deep with multicolored walls and thundering waterfalls, and hike in the wilds of Bridger Teton National Forest, with its breathtaking views of the jagged Tetons. For our Farewell Dinner, we board a private wooden dory to drift down a calm stretch of the Snake River, keeping an eye out for bald eagles. Depart via Jackson on Day 7.
Accommodations
Scroll through our signature accommodations for this trip below. Although it is highly unlikely, we may make substitutions when necessary.
What the Trip is Like
This trip is rated Level 2+, Easy to Moderate, according to our trip grading system. Wildlife viewing takes place during drives and on nature walks on mountain roads. The hikes cover a variety of terrain and are usually on well-marked trails. There is no extensive hiking on the trip, but you should be in good physical shape to enjoy it to the fullest. Jackson, Wyoming, is at an altitude of 6,200 feet and Gardiner, Montana, is at 5,200 feet. The hikes and drives within the national park are at altitudes upwards of 8,800 feet, and can be higher on some hikes. If we drive on the Beartooth Highway, the altitude reaches 11,000 feet.
The months between Memorial Day through Labor Day weekend are exceptionally beautiful in Yellowstone, although they draw the highest volumes of visitors. From June through August, average temperatures are in the 60s and 70s, making for great hiking conditions. Excellent months to visit are from mid-May through early June and between September and October, when there are fewer crowds. Spring in Yellowstone can be unpredictable, with the park emerging from winter hibernation. It can be quite cold (20F to 50F, so plan to pack layers). Visiting Yellowstone in September and early October can be especially exciting because the elk are in rut. The weather is cooler, with average daytime temperatures ranging from 35F to low 60F. Park facilities such as visitors' centers can close as early as mid-October.
Accommodations are in comfortable hotels and lodges ideally located to avoid crowds and get you as close as possible to the best wildlife viewing.
Client Testimonials
"This was our 1st Wilderness Travel experience and it was great!! Everything was handled for us efficiently, the food was fabulous, and the accommodations were great."
Ludi W.
Midlothian, VA
Book your trip today
Our Area Specialists know every detail about our tours. They will be happy to answer any questions and help you choose the journey that’s right for you. Contact us to learn more or book your trip today!
Itinerary
Submit the form below to download itinerary
Trip Levels
With more than 200 different adventures to choose from, we want to help you find the trip that’s right for you. Our Trip Level system ranks each trip in two ways: a number rating from 1 to 6 according to the activity, and general travel rigors. 1 is the easiest and 6+ the most difficult—see descriptions below for explanations of each number. A plus (+) sign means the trip is a bit more strenuous than other trips of that level. The detailed explanation of each trip—below the bar with the number rating—is perhaps more important, specifying activities, altitudes, hiking, and travel conditions. The Detailed Itinerary, available by download or mail, gives further information. Our Area Managers can also answer questions and guide you to the trip that best suits your interests.
Level 1 – Easiest
Non-camping journeys, optional walks, little elevation gain or loss.
Level 2 – Easy to Moderate
Hotel nights and/or safari-style camping, hikes of two to four hours on some days. Other physical activities are sometimes included, such as optional sea kayaking.
Level 3 – Moderate
Half- to full-day hikes (3-6 hours) over rolling countryside on most days, occasional steep trails. Many of our hotel-based walking tours are in this category, as are our snorkeling adventures.
- Tuscany & the Cinque Terre
- Argentina: Hikes and Estancias of Patagonia
- Palau Snorkeling & Sea Kayaking
- Some trips with minimal hiking but rugged travel conditions or long drives, such as Tribal Ghana, Togo & Benin, are Trip Level 3.
Level 4 – Moderate to Strenuous
Full-day hikes (4-6 hours), mountainous terrain, significant elevation gains and losses (hiking up or down as much as 3,000 feet) on many days. Altitudes no greater than about 10,000 feet.
Level 5 – Strenuous
Full-day hikes (4-8 hours), mountainous, steep terrain (hiking up or down as much as 3,500 feet) on many days. Trips with hiking at average altitudes of 10,000 to 12,000 feet are in this category.
Level 6 – Very Strenuous
Full-day hikes (5-8 hours), mountainous, steep terrain (hiking up or down as much as 3,500 feet) on many days. Most hikes take place at altitudes above 10,000 feet, with some days ascending as high as 18,000 feet.