Multi Day Private Wolf Watching and Winter Wildlife
Safari

Private
4x4 vehicle w/ studded winter tires

Bozeman

November- May

2 or 3 Days

Max 11 people per group

Description

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DO NOT BOOK THIS TOUR IF YOU WANT TO GO TO OLD FAITHFUL

All of our Winter Tours are wildlife focused and this is the only tour we can offer Nov-April.

THE TOUR DESCRIBED BELOW IS A WINTER SAFARI TO THE LAMAR VALLEY IN A CHEVY SUBURBAN OR A MERCEDES VAN

Winter Wildlife Safari

Winter Wildlife & Wolves

Private wildlife-focused Multi-day tour in Yellowstone National Park

Highlights

- Best place in North America to see wild wolves

- Full days with morning and evening wildlife viewing drastically increase the odds of successfully viewing wolves

- Abundance of different wildlife species

- Includes a picnic lunch from a local bakery, coffee, snacks, drinks, and water

- Several hidden-gem, off-the-beaten-path hikes (weather permitting)

- Open to all ages and ability levels

- Includes binoculars for every guest

- Includes two high-resolution spotting scopes per tour

- Includes take-home videos of wildlife seen through our high-resolution optics

Tour Details

Travel to the best areas in the park to view wolves, moose, bison, and other wildlife species.

Frost-covered bison, snowy mountains, and wolves howling in the distance! Yellowstone is a true winter wonderland. This is a great time of year to observe wolves, moose, bison, elk, bighorn sheep, and several other species interacting across this frozen landscape. Our tour will focus on Yellowstone's Lamar Valley, undoubtedly one of the prime wildlife-viewing locations in all of North America.

During winter, the Lamar Valley's resident wolf packs become the dominant carnivores on the landscape. Due to deep snowpack at higher elevations, they may roam closer to the roadways, making the winter months one of the best times of year to safely view wolves from roadside pullouts using our high-resolution optics.

In late winter and early spring, the Lamar Valley becomes one of the best places to observe grizzly bears and wolves interacting and competing over winter-killed carcasses as the snow begins to melt and the park comes back to life after a long, harsh winter.

In the late afternoon, after we have satisfied our wildlife-viewing bucket list, we will walk the boardwalks of Mammoth Hot Springs. Yellowstone's geysers, hot springs, and other geothermal features were so overwhelming and fascinating to early park explorers that they helped inspire the creation of Yellowstone National Park in 1872 as the world's first national park.

Yellowstone has the world's largest concentration of geysers and hot springs. This walk will give us a taste of the exceptional geothermal activity that exists deeper within the park's interior.

2-Day Option

Day 1: Early pickup in Bozeman followed by morning and evening wildlife viewing in Yellowstone National Park. We take advantage of the prime early-morning and late-afternoon hours when wolves and other wildlife are often most active.

Day 2: Approximately 8 hours of wildlife viewing and exploration inside Yellowstone National Park, followed by the return trip to Bozeman.

Multiple wildlife-viewing sessions give us more time to locate Yellowstone's wolves and respond to changing wildlife activity and conditions throughout the Northern Range.

3-Day Option

Day 1: Early departure from Bozeman followed by morning and evening wildlife viewing in Yellowstone National Park.

Day 2: Morning and evening wildlife viewing in Yellowstone National Park, allowing us to take advantage of another full day and multiple prime wildlife-viewing periods.

Day 3: One final morning wildlife safari inside Yellowstone National Park followed by the return trip to Bozeman.

The 3-day option gives us the greatest amount of time and flexibility to locate wolves and other wildlife while adapting each day's itinerary to current wildlife activity, weather, and conditions.

Lodging

Guests are responsible for arranging their own lodging in Gardiner, Montana and Bozeman for our multi-day safari options.

Gardiner offers multiple lodging options, including hotels, cabins, lodges, and vacation rentals at a variety of price points.

We provide convenient door-to-door pickup and drop-off service directly from your Gardiner lodging each day.

Important Information

This tour requires patience and a willingness to experience Yellowstone in true winter conditions.

Wildlife sightings are never guaranteed, and there may be periods of several hours without sightings. Finding wolves and other wildlife can require extended periods of sitting and waiting in the vehicle, watching from ridges and elevated viewpoints, and walking through snow in cold and sometimes challenging winter conditions.

Our goal is to provide an authentic wildlife-viewing experience and give you the best possible opportunity to observe Yellowstone's animals in the wild.

If you are unsure whether this experience is the right fit for you, please give us a call before booking. We are happy to answer any questions and help you decide.

Pricing

2-Day Winter Wildlife Safari

$2,550for 2 people
$2,950for 3 people
$3,225for 4 people
$3,625for 5–6 people
$3,750for 7 people
$4,025for 8–9 people
$4,550for 10–11 people

3-Day Winter Wildlife Safari

$3,825for 2 people
$4,425for 3 people
$4,825for 4 people
$5,425for 5–6 people
$5,625for 7 people
$6,025for 8–9 people
$6,825for 10–11 people
What to Wear
Temperatures can range from -45°F to +50°F in the park, and weather is completely unpredictable. Dress in layers and plan for wind, snow, and rapid changes throughout the day.

Recommended

  • Insulated winter boots + warm socks
  • Base layers (wool or synthetic)
  • Mid-layer fleece or insulated jacket
  • Winter coat / parka (windproof preferred)
  • Warm hat + neck gaiter
  • Gloves or mittens (bring a spare pair)

Nice to Have

  • Sunglasses (snow glare can be intense)
  • Small daypack for layers
  • Camera gloves / thin liner gloves
  • Rain shell (for wet snow/wind)

Wildlife Viewing Guide

What month to visit to get your dream sighting

Wolves

All winter

Winter is prime wolf watching season in Yellowstone. Good chances to spot them.

Bears

Mid March, April, & May

First bears are usually seen mid march. End of april and early may are prime grizzly watching time

Moose

All Winter 

During the coldest months of the year, many moose gather in the valleys and can be seen.

Bison

All winter

Bison are very common and easily observed

Elk

All winter

Elk move to lower elevations in the winter and are commonly seen

Others

All winter

Bighorn Sheep, Pronghorn, River Otters, Red foxes and coyotes are seen on our tours.

Pick Up Info

Bozeman, Livingston,
Paradise Valley, Gardiner & Mammoth

5:30am -7:00 am

Our pick up times vary from location to location to allow best wildlife watching in the park while ensuring safety on the road. There is fluctuation from month to month on our pick up time based on time of year, weather forecast, and most recent wildlife sightings.

We pick up at 6:00 am in Bozeman, 6:30am in Livingston, 7:15am in Gardiner and 7:30 in Mammoth. This varies significantly based upon wildlife activity.

Tours in Bozeman and Gardiner are performed by Yellowstone Wilderness Expeditions LLC.

Start dreaming about your adventure...

FAQ

Most frequent questions and answers

We can not guarantee any wolf sightings, but there is always one exciting memory that guests bring home.

Yes, our tours are 100% private and customized to your desires. It will be just your family and friends for the entire day.

Each tour comes with a provided deli style lunch from a local bakery that makes all of their breads from scratch. You will get to choose from turkey, roast beef, ham, or vegetarian sandwich with mustard and mayo on the side. All sandwiches come with cheese, lettuce, tomato, and onion. Your lunch will come with a large selection of chips, an organic apple, and a fresh baked cookie.

Park Entrance Fee is not included in the price of the tour. However, if you have an annual park pass, it will get up 4 adult members of your group into the park. Otherwise, adults are $20/day.  Children 15 and under are free.  If you have a Senior Pass, are active Military, purchased a National Parks Pass, or are in the 4th Grade you will get yourself and part of the tour group in for free.

The weather can vary greatly. Anything between -30F and +30F is a possibility. We recommend wearing several layers. We are always  close to the car in case you get cold, do not be discouraged by colder temperatures.