Winter Wildlife Tours
Nov. 1-April 15
Winter is the best time to experience wildlife in Yellowstone, except for hibernating bears. With bears in their dens, bison, elk and moose stay lower and are more easily visible from the road.
This also means wolves stay lower in the valleys, for a better chance of viewing. Wolves have an easier time moving on top of snow, which allows them to hunt, explore and protect their territory from rival packs. Snow brings out foxes, coyotes, otters, and other possible predators, too.
Generally, each tour covers the northern range of Yellowstone, from Gardiner to Cooke City and back again. Of course, Yellowstone sometimes has other plans based on wildlife and road conditions. Each tour is customized based on your interest. I follow each wolf pack in the park and know their territory. This means, for example, we might be able to start the tour viewing a specific wolf pack I have intel on and know it might be the only chance to see wolves that day. I visit the park frequently and stay up-to-date on other wildlife sightings.
Tour Details:
Tour duration: 6-8 hours based on daylight
Ages: 5+
Transportation: Jeep Grand Cherokee (with snow tires) fits three comfortably.
​Pick-up times:
Livingston, 6:30 a.m. / Paradise Valley, 7 a.m. / Gardiner, 7:30 a.m.
Rates:
Single Day: $750 for one or two people; $150 per additional person.
Two Days: $1,600 for up to three people
Three Days: $2,100 for up to three people.
​
What is Provided?
-
A friendly and knowledgeable guide
-
Excellent equipment for seeing wildlife, including scopes and binoculars for client use
-
Blankets
-
Hand and toe warmers
-
Water, soda, coffee, hot cocoa, juice
-
Snacks & Fruit
-
Lunch
-
Breakfast can be provided if requested prior to tour
Recommended Clothing:
-
Warm jacket
-
Warm inner jacket
-
Warm snow pants
-
Thermal base layer (long johns and long sleeve)
-
Warm gloves
-
Warm hat
-
Warm boots
-
Wool socks
-
The more warm clothes you have the better
-
Temperatures in the winter can fluctuate
Winter Photography Tours
Nov. 1-April 15
Winter is the best time for wildlife photography in Yellowstone because wildlife sticks closer to the road. This is the best time to photograph the wolves of Yellowstone.
It is also the best time to photograph ungulates like moose, bison and elk, as well as foxes, coyotes, otters and the occasional owl. Finding owls might require trekking in the backcountry which can be discussed prior to tour if interested.
Generally, each tour covers the northern range of Yellowstone, from Gardiner to Cooke City and back again. Of course, Yellowstone sometimes has other plans based on wildlife and road conditions.
Each tour is customized based on your interest. I follow each wolf pack in the park and know their territory. This means, for example, we might be able to start the tour viewing a specific wolf pack I have intel on and know it might be the only chance to see wolves that day. I visit the park frequently and stay up-to-date on other wildlife sightings. With photography, patience is often needed to capture the moment
Tour Details:
Tour duration: 6-8 hours based on daylight
Ages: 5+
Transportation: Jeep Grand Cherokee (with snow tires) fits three comfortably.
Pick-up times:
Livingston, 6 a.m. / Paradise Valley, 6:30 a.m. / Gardiner, 7:00 a.m.
Rates:
Single Day: $800 for one or two people; $150 per additional person.
Two Days: $1,800 for up to three people
Three Days: $2,400 for up to three people.
What is Provided?
-
A friendly and knowledgeable guide
-
Excellent equipment for seeing wildlife, including scopes and binoculars for client use
-
Blankets
-
Hand and toe warmers
-
Water, soda, coffee, hot cocoa, juice
-
Snacks & Fruit
-
Lunch
-
Breakfast can be provided if requested prior to tour
Not Provided:
-
Cameras or lens, however I can give rental recommendations in Bozeman prior to tour
Recommended Clothing:
-
Warm jacket
-
Warm inner jacket
-
Warm snow pants
-
Thermal base layer (long johns and long sleeve)
-
Warm gloves
-
Warm hat
-
Warm boots
-
Wool socks
-
The more warm clothes you have the better
-
Temperatures in the winter can fluctuate
Spring Wildlife Tours
April 21-May 31
Spring in Yellowstone is a great time to see new life in the park. The baby animals of Yellowstone, including bison calves, wolf pups, elk calves and moose calves, are being born.
Female black bears with older cubs tend to leave their dens mid-April, while those with new cubs usually venture out in early May. Female grizzlies with older cubs usually leave dens in late April, while those with young cubs typically wait for mid-May. Spring allows for reasonably close viewing throughout the day with milder temperatures than winter.
The tour is mostly on the northern range of Yellowstone as roads open up in spring. When the roads open up to the south and based on wildlife presence, we may go south. Of course, Yellowstone sometimes has other plans based on wildlife and road conditions.
Each tour is customized based on your interest. I follow each wolf pack in the park and know their territory. This means, for example, we might be able to start the tour viewing a specific wolf pack I have intel on and know it might be the only chance to see wolves that day. I visit the park frequently and stay up-to-date on other wildlife sightings.
Tour Details:
Tour duration: 8-10 hours based on daylight
Ages: 5+
Transportation: Jeep Grand Cherokee fits three comfortably.
​Pick-up times:
Livingston, 6:00 a.m. / Paradise Valley, 6:30 a.m. / Gardiner, 7:00 a.m.
Rates:
Single Day: $900 for one or two people; $150 per additional person.
​
What is Provided?
-
A friendly and knowledgeable guide
-
Excellent equipment for seeing wildlife, including scopes and binoculars for client use
-
Blankets
-
Hand and toe warmers
-
Water, soda, coffee, hot cocoa, juice
-
Snacks & Fruit
-
Lunch
-
Breakfast can be provided if requested prior to tour
Spring Photography Tours
April 21-May 31
Spring in Yellowstone is a great time to see new life in the park. The baby animals of Yellowstone, including bison calves, wolf pups, elk calves and moose calves, are being born.
Female black bears with older cubs tend to leave their dens mid-April, while those with new cubs usually venture out in early May. Female grizzlies with older cubs usually leave dens in late April, while those with young cubs typically wait for mid-May. Spring allows for reasonably close viewing throughout the day with milder temperatures than winter.
The tour is mostly on the northern range of Yellowstone as roads open up in spring. When the roads open up to the south and based on wildlife presence, we may go south. Of course, Yellowstone sometimes has other plans based on wildlife and road conditions.
Each tour is customized based on your interest. I follow each wolf pack in the park and know their territory. This means, for example, we might be able to start the tour viewing a specific wolf pack I have intel on and know it might be the only chance to see wolves that day. I visit the park frequently and stay up-to-date on other wildlife sightings.
Tour Details:
Tour duration: 8-10 hours based on daylight
Ages: 5+
Transportation: Jeep Grand Cherokee fits three comfortably.
​Pick-up times:
Livingston, 5:30 a.m. / Paradise Valley, 6:00 a.m. / Gardiner, 6:30 a.m.
Rates:
Single Day: $1,000 for one or two people; $50 per additional person.
​
What is Provided?
-
A friendly and knowledgeable guide
-
Excellent equipment for seeing wildlife, including scopes and binoculars for client use
-
Blankets
-
Hand and toe warmers
-
Water, soda, coffee, hot cocoa, juice
-
Snacks & Fruit
-
Lunch
-
Breakfast can be provided if requested prior to tour
Not Provided:
-
Cameras or lens, however I can give rental recommendations in Bozeman prior to tour
Summer & Fall Wildlife Tours
May 31 - October 31
Summer and fall are wonderful times to see wildlife in the park. The temperatures are cool in the morning and hot in the afternoon. Wolves, moose and bears are often out early before the heat of the day, hence the early pick-up. Once the day heats up, bison, elk and other wildlife are more apt to be on view.
Fall brings many other wildlife viewing benefits: Fall colors are on full display, and wolves move more freely with pups that are able to travel. Bears ramp up their food consumption before hibernation and moose and elk go into rut.
Each tour is customized based on your interest. I follow each wolf pack in the park and know their territory. This means, for example, we might be able to start the tour viewing a specific wolf pack I have intel on and know it might be the only chance to see wolves that day. I visit the park frequently and stay up-to-date on other wildlife sightings. With photography, patience is key to capturing the moment. Park roads are wide open during the summer and into fall, which means it’s easier to maneuver around the park to find wildlife.
Tour Details:
Tour duration: 8-10 hours based on daylight
Ages: 5+
Transportation: Jeep Grand Cherokee fits three comfortably.
​Pick-up times:
Livingston, 5:00 a.m. / Paradise Valley, 5:30 a.m. / Gardiner, 6:30 a.m.
Rates:
Single Day: $1,000 for one or two people; $100 per additional person.
What is Provided?
-
A friendly and knowledgeable guide
-
Excellent equipment for seeing wildlife, including scopes and binoculars for client use
-
Blankets
-
Hand and toe warmers
-
Water, soda, coffee, hot cocoa, juice
-
Snacks & Fruit
-
Lunch
-
Breakfast can be provided if requested prior to tour
Summer & Fall Photography Tours
May 31 - October 31
Summer and fall are wonderful times to see wildlife in the park. The temperatures are cool in the morning and hot in the afternoon. Wolves, moose and bears are often out early before the heat of the day, hence the early pick-up. Once the day heats up, bison, elk and other wildlife are more apt to be on view.
Fall brings many other wildlife viewing benefits: Fall colors are on full display, and wolves move more freely with pups that are able to travel. Bears ramp up their food consumption before hibernation and moose and elk go into rut.
Each tour is customized based on your interest. I follow each wolf pack in the park and know their territory. This means, for example, we might be able to start the tour viewing a specific wolf pack I have intel on and know it might be the only chance to see wolves that day. I visit the park frequently and stay up-to-date on other wildlife sightings. With photography, patience is key to capturing the moment. Park roads are wide open during the summer and into fall, which means it’s easier to maneuver around the park to find wildlife. With photography, patience is key to capturing the moment.
Tour Details:
Tour duration: 8-10 hours based on daylight
Ages: 5+
Transportation: Jeep Grand Cherokee fits three comfortably.
​Pick-up times:
Livingston, 5:00 a.m. / Paradise Valley, 5:30 a.m. / Gardiner, 6:30 a.m.
Rates:
Single Day: $1,000 for one or two people; $150 per additional person.
What is Provided?
-
A friendly and knowledgeable guide
-
Excellent equipment for seeing wildlife, including scopes and binoculars for client use
-
Blankets
-
Hand and toe warmers
-
Water, soda, coffee, hot cocoa, juice
-
Snacks & Fruit
-
Lunch
-
Breakfast can be provided if requested prior to tour
Not Provided:
-
Cameras or lens, however I can give rental recommendations in Bozeman prior to tour
Yellowstone Code of Ethics
For your safety and that of the wildlife, you must keep a distance of 100 yards from bears, wolves, mountain lions and 25 yards from all other wildlife.
​
You cannot approach, disturb, harass, or impede wildlife.
Booking Fees, Deposit and Cancellation Policy
A $200 deposit is required at booking. The rest of the trip’s cost will be charged 14 days before the tour date.
If you cancel 15 or more days before the scheduled tour date, you will get a full refund minus a $100 trip cancellation fee.
Cancel between 8 and 14 days before the scheduled tour date, I will refund 65% of the cost of the trip.
Cancel within 7 days of the scheduled tour, there are no refunds. The exception is in the case of an “act of God,” such as flooding or a storm that closes the road, or for a park shutdown, such as one caused by a government shutdown.
If you call 48 hours in advance, I can reschedule the trip for a later date.