Yellowstone Wildlife Adventure | 5-Day Lodging Trip

Yellowstone Boardwalk

Pickup Location: Main Lobby at the AC Marriott Hotel Salt Lake City Downtown – 225 West 200 South Salt Lake City, Utah 84101

Starting at our designated gateway hotel in Salt Lake City, we embark on a journey to Yellowstone National Park, traversing through Utah, Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming. Your guides will introduce Yellowstone National Park including information about the flora, fauna, and unique geology that make this one of the most unique places on the planet.  Plan on exploring one of the geothermal areas today for a leisurely but exciting boardwalk hike. We’ll settle down for the evening in Gardiner, Montana. This town overlooks the Gardiner River and often gets elk and pronghorn roaming close by. Enjoy a delicious meal at a favorite local restaurant before relaxing for the night at a rustic lodge.

Yellowstone wildlife in Lamar Valley

Rise and shine! This morning we head off quite early to explore the Lamar Valley—known as America’s Serengeti— one of the top spots for wildlife viewing in Yellowstone National Park. Your guides will provide viewing scopes and binoculars as you search the hills for some of North America’s most majestic animals.  There are some short trails that your guides may opt to take you on in this area, or we’ll continue our adventure to some other sections of the park for better success. In the afternoon, view the stunning waterfall and dramatic topography of the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone. This evening we will return to Gardiner where you’ll have time to explore shops and enjoy dinner on your own.

Driving Time: Local

Hiking: Distance: 4-6 miles | +/- 500 feet elevation gain | Varied Trails

Accommodation: Ridgeline Hotel or similar in Gardiner, Montana

Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch

Grand Prismatic Overlook hike

Today we’ll focus on visiting the geothermal areas that make Yellowstone famous and unique.  From Grand Prismatic to the iconic Old Faithful, you’ll get to see some of the most well-known geothermal features on the entire planet.  Geothermal areas of the park commonly attract wildlife, such as bison who use the steam for warmth on the cold autumn mornings. Plan on doing some scenic hikes in this area during the day and enjoy dinner in the park this evening before returning to Gardiner to relax for the night.

Driving Time: 3 hours

Hiking: Distance: 3-5 miles | +/- 400 feet elevation gain | Varied Trails

Accommodation: Ridgeline Hotel or similar in Gardiner, Montana

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Entering Grand Teton in the fall

This morning, hop back in our comfortable 15 passenger van and hit the road towards Grand Teton National Park.  Along the journey, we have several more Yellowstone stops up our sleeves that will provide great opportunities for wildlife viewing and photography.  This afternoon, we’ll introduce you to Grand Teton National Park with stunning views of one of North America’s most iconic mountains. Grand Teton towers above the valley floor at 13,776 feet.  Plan to make a few stops and possibly do a short hike before heading to the quaint mountain town of Jackson, WY. This evening you’ll be free to explore some of the town’s eclectic shops, local breweries, art galleries, and the Town Square with its arches made of shed antlers from the nearby National Elk Refuge.

Driving Time: 3 hours

Hiking: Distance: 2-5 miles | Minimal elevation gain | Varied Trails

Accommodation: Mountain Modern or similar in Jackson, Wyoming

Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch

Moose spotting in Grand Teton

After a hot breakfast, we’ll return to Grand Teton National Park in search of moose!  Just outside of the park there are several areas prime for moose spotting. A short hike will immerse you in fall colors as the Aspens begin turning vibrant yellow. Grand Teton National Park has many notable locations for photography and wildlife viewing and wouldn’t be complete without a stop at the historic barns of Mormon Row.  Lunch will be provided by your guides before we make our return drive back to Salt Lake City this evening. Plan on returning by 6:00pm-7:00pm.

Driving Time: 4+ hours (Return to Salt Lake City)

Hiking: Distance: 3-4 miles | +/- 400 feet elevation gain | Varied Trails

Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch