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(USA) 406 646 1118 x 12 Email
Itinerary
Day 1 - Big Sky to Bozeman - About 1 hours, 15 minutes
Day 1 - Yellowstone In The Winter!
Most people think that Yellowstone is shut down in the winter. It isn't. But it is deserted. Instead of there being tens of thousands of people in the park, there are only a few hundred! You just about have Yellowstone to yourself.
During the winter months the vast majority of Yellowstone is closed to cars and buses. Not only will we have you gliding over the snow in a snowcoach or snowmobile - your choice - but we've also got a way of showing you a spectacular part of the park, with much wildlife, by road as well!
It is so hard to describe the thrill of snowcoaching through the crown jewel of America’s National Park system. If you prefer to snowmobile, it’s just you and the elements. With nothing in-between, you are exposed to endless vistas of the most incredible beauty. Whatever you choose, you will get up close and personal with sights you could only have imagined!
And what a unique experience it is, with the landscape being painted white, as far as the eye can see. But don't worry. You'll be nice and warm as you enjoy sights that only a tiny number of people get to see in their lifetimes.
Day 1 - Bozeman to Yellowstone National Park - 86 mi / 138.37 km - About 1.75 hours
Leaving Bozeman we'll be on the Interstate for a short way, until we reach the small town of Livingston, where we'll head south. The scenery is once again picturesque and depending on the time of the day, we may see wildlife as we approach Gardiner, which is located right at Yellowstone's north entrance.
Not many people know this, but Yellowstone's north entrance is open during the winter, and we'll enter the park under the famous Roosevelt Arch. With this being one of the lower parts of Yellowstone, we can expect to see wildlife here. Mammoth Hot Springs is just a few miles up the road, and we'll take a slow drive there, stopping to take photographs on the way.
A sack lunch is provided today, which your guide will have for you.
Day 1 - Mammoth Hot Springs - About 1.5 hours
Mammoth Hot Springs comprises of a series of terraces that are continually evolving. We'll take you towards the top, from where you can stroll some of the trails through the dormant terraces, to the ones that are still growing. The landscape is at times eerie in its desolation, with the dark, dead trees a stark contrast to the snow and the white terraces.
Day 1 - Mammoth Hot Springs to Cooke City - About 2 hours, 20 minutes
Yellowstone's north entrance provides access to the park's upper loop. Fortunately, the portion that is open to regular traffic in the winter months is the area where a lot of Yellowstone's wildlife is to be found, and this will be our focus. From Mammoth we'll make our way down the hill and across a bridge high above the Gardiner River.
We're making our way towards the road that leads to Cooke City, which is the north east entrance to the park. The route takes us along the Lamar River, and through the Lamar Valley, which is known for its wildlife. With any luck, the animals you may see include bison, big horn sheep, elk, coyote and pronghorns. Wolf sightings are more common in the Lamar Valley than anywhere else in the park, and we're going to do our best to try and find one.
You will see that the scenery is spectacular with snow covered valleys leading to the Lamar River. The towering Absaroka Mountains provide a splendid backdrop to nature's beauty. Depending on how much we do that day, and how often we stop, we may or may not make it all the way to Cooke City. The road beyond Cooke City is closed, and at some stage we will need to turn around and retrace our steps.
Day 1 - Cooke City to Mammoth Hot Springs - About 1 hours, 35 minutes
Day 1 - Yellowstone to Bozeman - About 2 hours
Leaving Yellowstone we'll make our way back to Bozeman. Once we get there we'll stop to enable you to buy a take out dinner to enjoy on the road.
Day 1 - Bozeman to West Yellowstone - About 2 hours
After driving to West Yellowstone, we will take you to check in at Yellowstone Motel, where you will be staying in a self catering studio for the rest of the tour.
Day 2 - Over the snow to Old Faithful! - About 6 hours, 30 minutes
Please remember that a trip by snowcoach is included in the price of this tour. If you would prefer to, you can ride a snowmobile instead. There is an additional charge for this, which can be seen elsewhere on this page. You can have either one or two people on a sled, as the locals call a snowmobile, and can select whichever option you prefer on checkout.
If you travel by snowcoach your driver/guide will pick you up, and take you into the park for your tour. If you ride a snowmobile yourself, you will first be kitted out with special clothing, and then be shown how to control your sled. You will also have park etiquette and regulations explained to you. The snowmobile tour is also led by a guide, who will show you where to go, and tell you all about what you are seeing.
Once in the park, we’ll follow the Madison River east, stopping whenever we see anything of interest, and there will be a lot of interest! At Madison Junction we’ll turn right, or south, and start making our way towards the geyser basins. Where you stop will depend on your guide, but options include the Lower Geyser Basin, which is home to Fountain Paint Pot, the Midway Geyser Basin, Black Sand Basin, and Biscuit Basin, before reaching the highlight of the trip, Old Faithful. As mentioned before, you can buy some lunch here, and watch Old Faithful. Alternatively, buy something in West Yellowstone and take it into the park with you.
After a fun filled day you will return to West Yellowstone. You are on your own for the rest of the day, and for supper.
Day 3 - Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone - About 6 hours, 30 minutes
Today we’re traveling by snowcoach to the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, which is an amazing canyon that the Yellowstone River has cut through the rocks. Just as you did yesterday, you are welcome to go by snowmobile instead. Please choose that option when you check out. Whatever you decide on, you will once again have a guide with you.
Day 3 - West Yellowstone to Big Sky - About 55 minutes
You will be dropped off at your in-town Big Sky hotel or Airbnb. Thanks for joining us!
Day 3 - Snowmobiling outside the park
There is the option of spending an extra day in West Yellowstone, to take a snowmobile on your own, outside the park. You will be able to ride your sled over your choice of hundreds of miles of trails through the forests and up and down the mountains of the area. This is really exhilarating fun!
Please order this option when you check out. It includes an extra night's stay and the use of a snowmobile. Note that you will not have a guide with you unless you want to pay extra for one.
Please be aware that the entrance fee to Yellowstone is excluded on this tour, and needs to be paid on arrival. As of mid 2020, the entry fee was $25 per person, but is subject to change without notice by the National Park Service.
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Please note the following...
This tour can be ordered online here. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||