Yellowstone Winter Wildlife Walks

Yellowstone Winter Wildlife Walks

Yellowstone is the world’s oldest national park, founded in 1872. This massive park protects half of the world’s geysers as well as some of the largest herds of mega fauna in the northern hemisphere. Here we find a wilderness teaming with wildlife, such as bison, wolf, elk, deer, antelope, and of course bear. While it is one of the busiest parks in summer, winter is a season of quiet solitude within this land. All but one of the park’s roads are closed due to snow and hence the park is inaccessible to road- based tourists, while at the same time many of the animals descend from the mountains to spend the harsh winters in the valleys. Really the best way to enjoy Yellowstone’s wilderness is to visit during the winter months. On this unique journey we will explore all the wonders of Yellowstone and Grand Teton far away from the crowds. Come with us to witness the amazing phenomenon of “fire and ice” – exploding geysers in a winter wonderland of snow. Many of the park’s animals can be found close to the roads and trails, making winter an incredible time to observe wildlife up close. Our journey visits the park from all accessible angles. Along the northern entrance we go on safari looking for wolves and on snowshoes we walk over the calcite terraces of Mammoth Hot Springs. From the West Entrance we head out on a snow coach to explore the Upper Geyser Basin, the world’s largest geothermal area. We will witness the explosion of Old Faithful, as it shoots up to 32,000 liters of boiling water up to 56 meters into the ice-cold air. Winter makes this experience especially spectacular, as the hot water reacts with the winter air. Near the famed cowboy town of Jackson, we explore the National Elk Refuge by sleigh, gliding through a herd of 7,000 wintering elk. Last but not least we snowshoe through the silent winter wilderness below the stunning peaks of Grand Teton National Park. Full and Half board (breakfasts, picnic lunches and dinners) 7 nights in tourist class hotels (3-star) of which 2 nights are spent in cabins 6 picnic lunches (self-made) 4 dinners (group prepared) 7 breakfasts 5 days of guided snowshoe walks of 2-4 hours. Shorter or longer walks can be offered for those wanting to increase or decrease the time spent on trails Full day snow coach tour to Old Faithful Wolf watching with a naturalist Elk refuge sleigh ride Ample time to explore each national park in depth Amazing photography opportunities Centrally located hotels at the entrance to the parks and in downtown Jackson Cozy cabins and hotel suites for evening meals Small group tours with a maximum of 14 participants Expertly trained, dedicated, local tour directors Please note: Due to COVID-19, Active Tours West USA offers flexible departure dates on all multi-day tours. Please feel free to contact us to discuss your specific travel wants, dates and needs.