Some trails were made for postcards. The Sky Rim Trail was made for adventurers. For four days, we’ll venture away from the crowds and into Yellowstone’s backcountry, where mountain views stretch forever and every campsite feels like our own piece of wilderness. Expert naturalist guides will show us hidden viewpoints and forest trails while sharing stories of America’s first national park. After two nights in the wild, we’ll see Old Faithful erupt and witness the colors of Grand Prismatic Spring. One last hot spring soak, and we’ll head home with stories most visitors only dream of.
Discover Yellowstone's backcountry on this 4-day Sky Rim Trail adventure that brings together the best views of America's first national park. We'll start our journey with expert naturalist guides who'll lead us through remote backcountry terrain, sharing their knowledge of local wildlife and ecosystems along the way. We'll set up camp in carefully selected spots, with all camping gear provided and hearty trail meals prepared for our group. After exploring the high country, we'll dive into Yellowstone's classics, visiting Grand Prismatic Spring and Old Faithful. All the details are taken care of, from airport pickup in Bozeman to park fees. Ready for an adventure that blends true wilderness with Yellowstone's greatest hits?
Welcome to Bozeman! After meeting the guide, we’ll head down to a remote part of Yellowstone National Park and begin the scenic hike to our first campsite. In the evening, we’ll get to know each other over camp dinner and s’mores!
Meals: Lunch and dinner
Hiking time: Up to 6 hours
Hiking distance: Up to 10 mi (16 km)
Elevation gain/loss: Up to 3,000 ft (914 m)
Accommodation: Campsite in Yellowstone NP
After breakfast, we’ll hike out through lodgepole pine forests and alpine meadows before beginning our initial ascent up the ridge. Expect panoramic views of some of Yellowstone’s highest peaks! After a stunning day on the trail, we’ll arrive at our backcountry campsite where we’ll cook a delicious camp dinner. We’ll listen to local ghost stories around the campfire before settling into your tent for the evening.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Hiking time: Up to 6 hours
Hiking distance: Up to 10 mi (16 km)
Elevation gain/loss: Up to 3,000 ft (914 m)
Accommodation: Campsite in Yellowstone NP
Today we’ll continue hiking through the national park, taking in Yellowstone’s vistas and learning about the history of the national park along the way. Once we reach the trailhead, we’ll make our way towards West Yellowstone to explore some of the most famous features of the park: Grand Prismatic Spring and Old Faithful. Tonight we’ll spend the evening frontcountry camping in the center of Yellowstone!
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Hiking time: Up to 6 hours
Hiking distance: Up to 10 mi (16 km)
Elevation gain/loss: Up to 3,000 ft (914 m)
Accommodation: Campsite in Yellowstone NP
After breakfast and bidding farewell to camp, we’ll jump in the van to cram in as many of Yellowstone’s highlights as we can en route back to Bozeman. Along the way, we’ll stop at a local hot spring for a dip!
You’ll be back at Bozeman Airport in time for your onward flight later this afternoon.
Meals: Breakfast and lunch
Hailey was an amazing tour guide. We had a fantastic time and learned so much. Highly recommend.
Great tour with a wonderful guide. The entire team has taken great care of us, from preparation to performance. Outstanding experience.
Included:
Add-ons
Not included:
To enjoy this Sky Rim Trail backpacking adventure, you’ll need great fitness levels and some hiking experience. You’ll spend up to 6 hours per day hiking or walking for up to 10 miles (16 km), with up to 3,000 ft (914 m) elevation change. Keep in mind you’ll be carrying your pack with water, food, and equipment with you.
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Yellowstone and the Tetons experience very extreme weather—iin fact, the highest recorded temperature difference in a 24-hour period was nearby in Montana, exceeding 100°F (about 56°C)! July and August can be warm and dry during the day, but cool in the evenings, with average highs in the 70s°F (21–26°C) and lows in the 40s°F (4–9°C). Recently, daily highs have been reaching well beyond historical averages.
Summer weather in Yellowstone is generally mild, with daytime temperatures ranging from the 70s to 80s°F (21–31°C), but evenings can be quite chilly, dropping to the 30s and 40s°F (0–9°C).
One small suitcase per person can be left in the vehicle. Dress comfortably and for the weather in clothes you can move in. We suggest bringing clothing appropriate for the season. Layers are best and don’t wear jeans.
Here’s a list of the equipment you need to bring:
Gear
Clothing
Group sizes and pricing
A Sky Rim Trail backpacking adventure can be arranged for larger groups. Contact us to make arrangements.
Min. age requirements
If your group has hikers under the age of 18, contact us prior to booking to make arrangements.
The starting point of your Sky Rim Trail backpacking adventure is Bozeman, MT. To get there, fly into Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport (BZN), where your guide will pick you up. It’s best you pick a flight that arrives before 12pm MST on Day 1. If you’re arriving in Bozeman earlier, your guides can pick you up at your accommodation in Bozeman at around 11:15am MST.
We highly recommend that you cover all your bases with both medical and travel protection. To make your booking and traveling experience as carefree as possible, simply choose Redpoint—the official 57hours insurance partner!
Redpoint tailors their protection packages for adventure travel, offering a comprehensive travel program, even in remote locations. Trip cancellation, natural disasters, pandemic coverage, medical evacuation, primary medical expenses—regardless of the travel interruption that may happen, Redpoint will have you covered.
Once your booking is confirmed and your trip is paid in full, you will be offered to purchase Redpoint’s protection. If you need any help or require more information, let us know and we will be happy to help!
To secure your spot, a deposit in the amount of 40% is required at the time of booking. The remaining amount must be paid 60 calendar days (2 months) prior to the trip departure. Once the trip is confirmed by the guide, the cancellation policy stated below applies. If you cancel the booking…
Please note that booking fees are non-refundable in all cases and will be deducted from the refund amount.
We had the most amazing time! Kelsi our guide was fantastic, I would highly recommend asking for. I thought I saw it all until this adventure. She was so knowledgeable and had a great personality. If you want to see and learn about Yellowstone, this is the way to go. Thank you so much for the memories we’ll never forget.