NEW TRIP
Lamar Valley Wildlife, Old Faithful Snow Lodge, and Snowshoeing
Winter Adventures in Yellowstone
Overview
Enjoy the majesty of Yellowstone National Park as few other travelers do—in winter, when peace and solitude permeate the land. We journey into the glacier-sculpted Lamar Valley, a veritable Serengeti in the snow, in search of bison, elk, and pronghorn as well as their attendant predators—Yellowstone’s iconic gray wolves. The sight of steaming geysers and snowy mountains under crisp blue skies will create perfect photo opportunities, and we’ll enjoy snowshoe outings, plus a special overnight at Old Faithful Snow Lodge, right next to the famous geyser (crowd-free in winter)! Our highly knowledgeable biologist Trip Leader will maximize our chances of spotting wildlife every day. Join us for winter fun and an “insider” opportunity to learn about Yellowstone's ecology, scientific studies, and conservation efforts.
Arrive: Bozeman, Montana
Depart: Bozeman, Montana
Highlights
- Get to the ideal wildlife viewing sites in Yellowstone with our expert naturalist guide
- Go wolf-tracking at sunrise in the epic Lamar Valley, a Serengeti in the snow
- Explore on snowshoe outings
- Travel by Snowcoach to Old Faithful and experience the famed geyser when it is free of summer crowds
Itinerary
In Northern Yellowstone’s magnificent Lamar Valley, look for wolf packs at sunrise. Besides wolves, the Lamar Valley is renowned for bison, elk, grizzly and black bears, antelope, and more. Enjoy snowshoeing, visit a local wildlife photographer at his homesteader cabin.
Board a private “snowcoach” for a unique ride over the snowy Yellowstone landscape to Old Faithful Snow Lodge. See the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone River and other fantastic sights along the way. Our lodge is just a five-minute walk from the famous Old Faithful geyser—and free of summer crowds!
Continue by snowcoach to Mammoth Hot Springs, wildlife viewing along the way. See the bubbling hot springs and travertine terraces, enjoy optional snowshoeing in Yellowstone’s frosty landscape. Continue to Bozeman for overnight on Day 6 and depart 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 3, Moderate, according to our trip grading system. It features wildlife viewing by private vehicle, easy to moderate walks, optional snowshoeing and cross-country skiing, all in cold winter weather. Elevations range from 5,200 to 7,300 feet.
Average Day
- 2-3 miles
- 2-3 hours (snowshoeing), 2 hours (driving)
- Days 4 and 5: 4-8 hours by snowcoach
Yellowstone has miles of trails for skiers and snowshoers, with a wide range from easy to challenging. Many trails are groomed throughout the winter season.
To get the most out of this trip, we recommend you make a special effort to be in good physical condition. Daily brisk walking and/or regular hiking (or using a stair-climbing machine at your gym) are excellent preparatory exercises.
The winter landscape of Yellowstone is a big draw for photographers, with the lack of dense foliage making wildlife easier to see. Nevertheless, it is very cold in January. Temperatures typically range from zero to 20°F during the day and often drop to sub-zero at night.
Accommodations are in comfortable hotels and lodges ideally located to get you as close as possible to the best wildlife viewing.
We travel by 4WD vehicle most days, plus a wildlife-viewing trip to and from Old Faithful Snow Lodge by snowcoach.
You will need insulating fleece and wool (not cotton) layers, including a mid-weight and a heavyweight layer, an insulated hat that covers the ears, gloves, a neck gaiter, and heavyweight synthetic or wool socks. Choose insulated and water-repellant boots that fit over thick socks, and remember that your regular hiking boots probably won’t be warm enough to keep you comfortable in winter. Pack your long underwear (tops and bottoms), a warm, insulated down or synthetic winter jacket or parka, waterproof or water-resistant winter shell and pants (such as snow/ski pants), plus slippers or other comfy shoes for coming down to dinner at Old Faithful Snow Lodge. Remember to bring sunscreen and lip protector. We will provide hand and foot warmers plus insulated mugs for hot drinks.
Client Testimonials
"I have long wanted to see Yellowstone with minimal people and this trip met all my expectations and more! The wolf sitings were amazing and with our guide's knowledge of their behavior, I think we saw far more of them than others around who were also looking for the wolves. In addition to the wolves, we saw so many other animals that I wasn't even expecting to see."
Margaret H.
Tucson, AZ
"The best! We saw three different packs of wolves, coyotes, otters, foxes, bison, antelope, elk, moose, mountain goats, big horn sheep, loads of birds including eagles, falcons, swans, and a lot of birds I don’t know but our guide and birders did! It was a perfect trip!"
Nancy M.
Sacramento, CA
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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
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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.