Overview
Experience an extraordinary adventure through Yellowstone’s most exclusive landscape on this, our ultimate immersion into Wonderland in wintertime.
Our 3-Day Winter Wolves and Wildlife Safari exposes you to a wintry world dominated by North America’s most resilient residents. In an ecosystem frozen over with snow and ice, the wildlife of Yellowstone National Park show off their tenacity as they compete with the elements, and each other, in an epic effort for survival. The National Park’s colossal herbivores like bison and elk gather en-masse to forage in the valleys in the Northern Range. Their presence draws Yellowstone’s most notable apex predator, the gray wolf, along in hot pursuit. The snowy season also offers some of the best opportunities for encountering some of the Park’s most elusive animals, like otters, ermine, moose and even coyotes and foxes.
Our winter tours focus heavily on finding and observing wild wolves and winter is arguably the best time to watch wolves in their daily lives as they hunt, play, feed, and howl against a vast backdrop of white. Our naturalist guides are well-versed in wolf-pack territories and their engaging pack dynamics and will share this knowledge with you. Over the course of three days you will have ample opportunity to witness an animal that has garnered attention and awe across the world of wildlife watching. We provide quality binoculars and spotting scopes to give you the opportunity to see wolves and other wildlife at a distance, so that we can unobtrusively observe authentic wild behaviors that unfold before us.
Our 3-Day Winter Wolves and Wildlife Safaris are completely customizable. The needs, desires, and comfort of our guests are our utmost priorities. We aim to include several highlights that Yellowstone National Park is famous for in our itinerary, such as visiting Mammoth Hot Springs, exploring Lamar Valley, and welcoming other impromptu experiences. Our guides are flexible and will lead the journey according to your interests, current wildlife sightings, and weather and road conditions. We will arrange accommodations on the border of Yellowstone National Park to give you complete access throughout your stay, in every condition.
A multi-day tour also allows for more time spent out of the vehicle. Our guides are trained in wilderness safety and are ready to share the incredibly special backcountry of Yellowstone National Park. For guests looking for a true wilderness experience, we offer the use of our snowshoes on our three-day tours. For first-timers or seasoned snowshoers alike, this is a wonderful way to see winter ecology and enjoy the quietude of snowy landscape. Our guides will offer 1-2 hour excursions in a range of interesting habitats. Wildlife tracks, frozen waterfalls, or thermals sending plumes of steam up from the Grand Canyon’s rocky walls are common finds on these journeys. Up close and personal wildlife encounters are also possible, and showcase the lives of wild animals away from the din of roads and people.
What's Included
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Hotel pickup
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Professional naturalist guide
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Private safari
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Lodging x2
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Breakfast x3
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Lunch x3
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Dinner x2
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Assorted snack basket
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Non-alcoholic beverages (hot and cold)
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Use of UHD binoculars and spotting scopes
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Guide gratuities
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National Park entrance fees
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Activity (optional)
Private Safari
Reservations are dependent on hotel availability at the time of booking.
Pickup Information
All of our guests are picked up (and dropped off) at their lodging location. We pick up in Bozeman, Livingston, Emigrant/Paradise Valley, Gardiner, and Mammoth. We’ll confirm your exact pickup time based on the season as well as your exact pickup location.
Please allow your guide an additional 5-10 minutes before and after the scheduled pickup time in case of weather delays or traffic conditions.
Approximate pickup times include:
- 7:00AM Bozeman
- 7:30AM Livingston
- 7:45AM Emigrant / Paradise Valley
- 8:30AM Gardiner
- 8:45AM Mammoth
Itinerary
Yellowstone National Park
Yellowstone National Park
On our second day, we will begin early and our guide will pay attention to the most recent wolf activity in order to provide the best opportunity to spot wolves at sunrise. You will have opportunities for snowshoeing and exploring along the way, as well as time for in-depth investigations into the lives of Yellowstone’s most wild residents. We will also visit Mammoth Hot Springs, completing our journey through the entirety of the Northern Range.
We will return to our evening accommodations for another nourishing meal before turning in for an evening of relaxation.
Yellowstone National Park
For our third morning, we will venture out at sunrise for a morning game drive. Your guide will offer an in-depth look at wildlife track and sign and highlight specific elements of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem that are of interest to you. You can choose to explore the area by snowshoe, or reserve more time for photography. At the end of the day, we will return you to your choice of lodging in time to check-in before dinner.
Taking consideration of the weather and the latest wildlife sightings, we will spend our third day taking a into the lives of diverse wildlife, and examining additional opportunities for snowshoeing, photography, and exploring unvisited areas of the Greater Yellowstone’s winter landscape. We will return you to your lodge, or other accommodations, by early evening in time for you to check-in and enjoy dinner.
We visited Yellowstone in the deep winter in December. As a honeymooning couple we had had our itinerary arranged. We were put in touch with our guide and we met him in Bozeman. The only thing I can say is that he was a phenomenal guide, knowledgable on flora, fauna and wildlife and his passion for the local area was outstanding. We were immersed in a world totally alien to us, (we live in Kenya so Yellowstone in winter was the complete opposite). He told us historical facts, facts relating different species to individual ecosystems and was enthusiastic to answer any questions we had. There were too many highlights to write here but he showed us an amazing array of unique species. Moose, wolves, foxes, eagles, deer, bison ... all were pointed out to us and we were left overwhelmed with information about each animal. It was an amazing trip. I would recommend this company to anyone wishing to experience the beauty and diverse wildlife of Yellowstone National Park. Thank you, for the most amazing trip. One we will never forget!
Safari Tour Gallery
All photography has been shot by our talented tour guides.
FAQs
Where is the best place to spot wolves in Yellowstone?
Winter is the season of the wolf in Yellowstone National Park. Several packs move around the northern range during the winter months and while wolves are also visible in summer, the snowy white landscape during the winter months makes it easier to spot and observe these fascinating wild animals. Our guides are in the field most days, communicating with each other on wildlife locations and movements. Going with a professional guide offers the best opportunities to spot wildlife on your safari tour. Opting for a multi-day departure gives you the greatest chance at spotting wildlife in Yellowstone.
What are my chances of seeing a wolf in Yellowstone?
Wildlife is wild! There are many factors that contribute to a wildlife sighting in the National Park. We take a look at multiple factors when route planning, like seasonality, road conditions, previous sightings, animal behavior, weather, and guest interests, just to name a few. The winter season is favorable for tracking and spotting wolves in the northern range in Yellowstone, so many of our guests opt for a multi-day tour to fully experience the park and increase the chances of a remarkable wildlife encounter.
What should I bring for Yellowstone winter wildlife tours?
Yellowstone National Park can experience extreme winter conditions at its coldest, and mild winter conditions during the shoulder seasons. Come prepared with layers that you can remove as needed. We recommend a waterproof shell as your outermost layer, a warm fleece layer beneath that and a very lightweight wicking layer against your skin, avoiding cotton and opting for wool or synthetics if possible. This should keep you dry and comfortable whether you are inside the vehicle or standing outside to view wildlife. We recommend waterproof winter boots with warm wool or synthetic socks. They’ll provide you traction in the snow and help to keep your feet dry. A warm winter fleece or wool hat and mittens will help keep your head and hands warm while you’re outside in the cold Wyoming air. Bring your camera for winter landscapes and wildlife shots! We will provide binoculars for each guest and a spotting scope for watching wildlife safely from a distance.
Is 3 days in Yellowstone enough?
Yellowstone is large, 2.2 million acres in size – larger than the entire states of Rhode Island and Delaware combined. In order to really explore this National Park, you’ll need much more than 3 Days. However, in order to make the most of your time, a 3 Day excursion into the park with a knowledgeable guide can be an incredible experience. The extended time frame allows you to cover more ground, or less! The flexible timing lets you slow your pace and explore certain areas without the time constraints of a day tour.
Do I need a reservation to visit Yellowstone in the winter?
Reservations are necessary for all our safari tours. Once you know the dates you’ll be in the area, we recommend making your reservation at that point. If possible, make your reservation for the front end of your time here so that you get the most out of your remaining time in the area. So much of what we do is educational in nature, that the remainder of your time will be enhanced by the time you’ve spent with your guide. You’ll be able to take the knowledge from your wildlife safari and apply it in the field as you explore Yellowstone further.
What do others say about this tour?
5 Stars
We visited Yellowstone in the deep winter in December. As a honeymooning couple we had had our itinerary arranged for us. The only thing I can say is that we had a phenomenal guide, knowledgeable on flora, fauna and wildlife and his passion for the local area was outstanding. We were immersed in a world totally alien to us (we live in Kenya so Yellowstone in winter was the complete opposite). He told us historical facts, facts relating different species to individual ecosystems and was enthusiastic to answer any questions we had. There were too many highlights to write here but he showed us an amazing array of unique species. Moose, wolves, foxes, eagles, deer, bison … all were pointed out to us and we were left overwhelmed with information about each animal. It was an amazing trip, I would recommend it to anyone wishing to experience the beauty and diverse wildlife of Yellowstone National Park. Thank you, for the most amazing trip. One we will never forget!
Jimmy R.
Guides and Staff
Our Team
Local, experienced naturalist guides.
