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These private adventures include customized Yellowstone Wildlife Watching Excursions and Day Hikes with experienced biologist guides plus deluxe lodging at Wanderlust Lodge in Gardiner, MT. Rates are based on parties of 1 to 4 people and include 1 arrival day and 1 departure day, with 2 days of guided touring .
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Officially founded in 1880 with historic roots in the era of fur trappers, mountain men and prospectors, Gardiner welcomed early visitors arriving here on the Northern Pacific Railway trains. Since its early beginnings, Gardiner has served as the original entrance to Yellowstone with its famous, towering landmark, the historic Roosevelt Arch dedicated by President Theodore Roosevelt in 1903 welcoming visitors from around the world. You can walk to the Arch from your cozy lodging and make a stop at some of Gardiner’s shops and restaurants. As you explore Gardiner, you may see some of it’s four-legged locals. Gardiner is full of wildlife! Remember to keep yourself safe by staying at least 25 yards/meters away from deer, elk and other wildlife, even if they look completely at ease.
Return to your home away from home and settle in for a good night’s sleep before your first day of guided Yellowstone adventure.
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Your experienced biologist guide will meet you at your lodging at an agreed time in the morning, typically half an hour before dawn. Spend a 7 to 8-hour day in Yellowstone watching wildlife! You will travel in a comfortable four-wheel drive vehicle. Depending on the season, we will spend a day on the Northern Range or in Hayden Valley, two of the best wildlife watching areas in the park.
You might spot wolves leaving their den, or even get a lucky peek at the pups as they make their first steps outside. Black bears and grizzlies may travel with their cubs. May is baby season, so you could see bear cubs, bison calves, and maybe even some owl chicks. Elk and bison cover the landscape with their herds. Bighorn sheep and mountain goats climb in lofty heights.
Your tours include a delicious picnic lunch or brunch, snacks, and hot drinks (during the colder seasons). Premium optics such as spotting scopes and binoculars allow you to watch wild animals even at greater distances.
The day is customized with plenty of time outside the vehicle and chances for short hikes and walks. During the winter months, this day’s excursion would be on the Northern Range to watch wolves and other wildlife. Winter is the best time to watch wolves and Yellowstone is the foremost location on the planet to see them. Make sure you bring your cameras!
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This day can be designated for an invigorating hike to spend a whole day in the great outdoors with lots of exciting discoveries such as animal tracks, wildflowers, birds as well as satisfying exercise and awesome views. Animals may cross our paths unexpectedly, a wolf may howl in the distance, a skull may rest in the ground near the trail telling its own story of the circle of life.
Another option for this day is a visit to the breathtaking Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone measuring 1200 feet at its deepest point, 4,000 feet across and 24 miles long. The upper and lower falls combined with 109 and 308 feet respectively are taller than the Niagara Falls. Your guide will take you to the best overlooks and trails along the rim. An unforgettable adventure!
The third and final option would be a geothermal day with a visit to select hydrothermal features such as hot springs, geysers and mudpots. During the winter months, this day would be suitable for an invigorating snowshoe or cross country ski outing.
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What you get on this private adventure:
- An experienced, local biologist guide with extensive knowledge of the area
- Hot drinks and brunch on early morning trips or lunch and snacks on other day trips
- Accommodation in a private luxury cabin – secluded, but walkable to everything in town
- Transportation for the tours and hikes
What’s not included:
- Dinners
- Transportation from and to the airport
- Entrance pass to Yellowstone National Park
Pickup at the Bozeman Airport is available at an additional cost. Let us know if you need us to organize your transportation when booking.
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The best thing about this guided multi-day tour in Yellowstone National Park is that there are incredible options for all skill levels. Tours can be adapted to accommodate all ages and abilities. Please let us know at the time of booking if you have specific needs or disabilities.
For those wishing to get off the road and into the wild, we have a range of hiking options to suit your abilities. With beginner hikes, if you can walk for four to six hours with little elevation gain, you are good to go! Intermediate hikes will have a little more change in elevation and hikes will start to increase in length, hiking anywhere between four to eight miles. Advanced hikes are full day treks with steep descents and challenging switchbacks. Snowshoeing and cross-country skiing are great options for active winter visitors. These can vary from short introductory outings (2 to 3 hours) on easy terrain to full day adventures for the experienced explorer.
Keep in mind, the weather in summer can be very hot and you’ll also be packing a daypack filled with water and other things you’ll need throughout the day.
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All of them! Depending on your preferences of temperatures and wildlife, you can choose between winter season (from mid October to mid May) and summer season (from mid May to mid October).
Activities during summer and winter months will be different due to the precipitation. During snowy months, you can try out snowshoeing or cross-country skiing through the park before returning to your cozy, warm cabin. You can hike to geysers and hot springs from April through early November but keep in mind that Old Faithful is not approachable during snowy season.
Wildlife watching and birding expeditions are a great activity throughout the year. Baby season is usually in May and June. Your local guide will help you plan the trip to be in the right place at the right time and help increase your chances of seeing the animals you’re most interested in. Wildlife is as dynamic and adventurous as possible but animals get shy too, so there is a chance you won’t see every type of animal in Yellowstone.
Yellowstone hosts more than 4 million visitors each year, with peak season being June through September. If you don’t love crowds, you might want to consider visiting in the winter. That’s not to say if you do visit in the summer you’ll be walking the trails conga-line style. Remember, the park spans more than 2 million acres, so if you’re up for hiking in the backcountry you’ll be able to put some space between yourself and other visitors.
Here is a table showing the best months to visit northern Yellowstone.
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Your guides have a very high success rate for finding wildlife such as wolves and bears. However, these are wild animals and sightings are not guaranteed. July and August are some of the most challenging months to see larger mammals because high temperatures cause reduced wildlife activity. The more days you spend in the wilderness, the better are you chances of spotting a wolf.
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The list can change depending on the chosen activities and the time of year. Here’s a list of the basic equipment you need to bring in the warmer part of the year:
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- Day pack large enough to carry all the items listed (around a 25-40L bag)
- Hiking poles — optional
- Water bottle or hydration bladder (3L capacity per day)
- Waterproof insulated shoes (with slip-resistant soles)
- Spare clothes for layering
- Waterproof rain jacket
- Lightweight hiking pants
- Warm hat
- Sunhat
- Insulated gloves
- Clothes for lodging
- Toiletries (sunscreen, hand sanitizer, insect repellent, toilet paper, etc.)
- Headlamp or flashlight
- Sunglasses
- Camera — optional (but recommended)
What you should bring if you are visiting in winter:
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- Warm clothing layers for sub freezing (-40 F to 32 F/ -40 C to 0 C), often windy weather
- Warm hat and gloves
- Long underwear or fleece
- Waterproof jacket and pants
- Very warm socks (no cotton!)
- Insulated, waterproof shoes
- Insulated water bottle (to reduce waste)
- Sunscreen and sunglasses
- Camera and any other viewing or recording devices you like to use
Please DON’T bring firearms, smoke or wear synthetic fragrance on our trip.
In the summer, temperatures can swing from freezing to 85°F (29°C) in a single day, with thunderstorms and blue-bird skies thrown in for good measure. In the winter, it can get as low as -40°F (-40°C), and just because the sun is out doesn’t mean you’ll feel its warmth.
If you’re sensitive to bug bites, bring loose clothing that covers the lengths of your arms and legs. Also, bring lots of sunscreen no matter the season. You’ll be at a high base elevation (about 5,000 feet) and often go over 9,000 ft in the course of the day.
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You will be staying at Wanderlust Haven—a private house on the edge of Yellowstone in Gardiner Montana with amazing views! The house is equipped with two queen-size beds, two baths, a full kitchen, and beautiful views all around you. Spend your evenings on the large rear deck with seating for dining and star gazing. The home is walkable to everything in the town but retains a secluded feel.
Amenities include:
- Internet
- Washer & Dryer
- Heater
- Air Conditioning
- TV
- Parking
- BBQ
House rules:
- Check in after 4:00 PM
- Check out before 10:00 AM
- You will be responsible for any damage to the rental property caused by you or your party during your stay
- No pets allowed
- No events allowed
- No smoking allowed
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Group sizes and prices:
- The max. guest-to-guide ratio for these adventures in a 2 bed/2 bath cabin is 4:1.
- These tours are private.
- There is no minimum number of guests. Costs per person decrease as the group grows, so it’s the perfect opportunity to travel with friends and family.
Hiking in Yellowstone National Park can be arranged for larger groups. Contact us to make arrangements.
Min. age requirements:
- Nature lovers of all ages are welcome on this trip. Minors have to be accompanied by a parent or a legal guardian.
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These adventures are not just for hikers! Because the trips are private, we can customize the activity level of the trip based on you (and your group’s) needs. If you would like to emphasize hiking, your guides can do that. If you’d like some hiking and some more relaxed exploration and vehicle-based portions, they’ve also got you covered. If you don’t prefer to hike at all, no worries! With over 250 miles of roads leading you through 2.2 million acres of varied, incredible landscape, there’s plenty to see and do. While a few major sites do get crowded in midday, your guide will know when and where to go to avoid them, even on a road-based trip.
Your guides strive to make your multi-day tours in Yellowstone National Park accessible to as many people as possible. They are happy to help you navigate the obstacles that will be encountered in the remote wilderness nature of this special place. If you are considering a tour and have specific needs, please let us know. Your guides have experience guiding families, multiple generations, wheelchair users and others with a variety of needs. For more information about accessibility in Yellowstone, please see the Yellowstone National Park website.
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To get to Yellowstone National Park, most people fly into Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport in Montana, just under 2 hours away from Yellowstone National Park’s North Entrance, at Gardiner MT. Your guide will meet you at your accommodation on the first day of your tour together.
Some choose to rent a car, but your guide can also arrange transportation from the airport in Bozeman to Gardiner (and back) for an additional cost. This option is especially useful in winter driving conditions.
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57hours is committed to providing safe outdoor adventure experiences. We require all guides using our platform to have a COVID-19 safety plan and to make the details of that plan accessible to travelers. In most cases, group sizes will be reduced, guides will avoid overcrowded locations, and other safety measures will be met depending on the location and activity.
We also expect clients to respect local regulations and take measures to protect themselves, guides and the communities they’re traveling to. For more information on COVID-19 measures in Yellowstone National Park please refer to the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services, Yellowstone National Park Website and Wyoming Department of Health websites.
Please contact us if you have any questions or require further information. We are happy to provide you with the most up-to-date information!
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