Things to do / Travel Guide
With so much to see – and so much to say – about Yellowstone area's parks and attractions, hitting the trails with an expert guide is certainly a great way to experience this nature and history rich region. There are tours of practically every type available, so you can relax and let the experts guide you through the extraordinary vacation that is Yellowstone.
Sightseeing Tours of Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks
There is no public transportation within Yellowstone so, unless you have your own car, an organized trip is really one of the best means of touring the park. In addition to the convenience of these tours, guides possess a wealth of information about park history, geology, wildlife, and other interesting facts only experts could know. Yellowstone National Park Lodges offers such tours, and Xanterra is one of the primary tour providers in the area, offering a variety of trips and tours. Their tours vary from the ambitious 10-hour Yellowstone in a Day tour to more relaxing options such as a three to four hour wildlife excursion, half-day tour of primary attractions, or even a sunset tour. Other independent companies offer similar tours, and ½ day tours of Grand Teton National Park are also available. In Yellowstone, tour users can connect with buses to head to gateway towns like Cody, West Yellowstone, or Gardiner. General sightseeing tours are also available in multi-day packages. These tours include lodging and sometimes meals.
Wildlife Tours in Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks
Wildlife viewing safaris are a popular pick for visitors whose vacation wouldn't be complete without at least one grizzly or wolf sighting. A variety of wildlife viewing safaris are available throughout the region, including half-day and full-day Grand Teton, Jackson Hole, and multi-day Yellowstone trips. Tour organizers use custom vehicles and boats with special equipment for wildlife observation. You can set your sights on a specific animal, or go on a general tour. In either case these guided tours will definitely improve your chances of getting close to the animal action.
Visiting Yellowstone, Montana and Wyoming in the Winter
Visiting Yellowstone in the winter can be a truly extraordinary experience. Between November and late March crowds are sparse compared to the busy summer season and the entire region is covered in a beautiful blanket of white. While accessing the park can be quite difficult in these winter months, a variety of snow-friendly tours make the experience not only possible but incredibly enjoyable. Snow coaches are one of the easiest ways to enter Yellowstone in the winter months. The old-fashioned, rather gawky, machines can carry up to 10 passengers and their gear (at up to two suitcases per person). Multi-day, full day, and three hour trips are available through Xanterra Parks and resorts, with major discounts for kids. Some companies provide combined snow coach and guided cross-country skiing trips as well, or even mix wildlife viewing in with the snow coach experience.
Guided snowshoe, snowmobile, dogsled or ski tours are also available several times a week, provided either by private local companies or park naturalists. There are also organized multi-day trips that combine travel, guides, equipment, and accommodation with skiing and snowboarding opportunities in the parks and nearby areas.
Adventure Tours of Yellowstone and the Snake River
If you want a taste of adventure, but need a little instruction or guidance, you will find plenty of guided tours or trips that cater to your needs in the Yellowstone area. Kayak and rafting trips down the Snake River near Jackson can be experienced independently or with a trusty guide by your paddle-side. Similarly, a mountain bike excursion into unknown territory can only be improved with the assistance of an expert guide, knowledgeable about terrain and backcountry trails. Practically all adventure activities – biking, hiking, rafting, riding, four-wheeling or skiing – can be included in package tours and trips through the region, many of which offer expert guides, meals, accommodations, and transport.
Photo Safari Tours in Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks
You'll find a photo opportunity at practically every turn in the Yellowstone region. Whether its nature, wildlife, or even family portraits that have you exercising your photo-taking finger, you'll certainly come home with albums worth of material. While visitors can take pictures on their own, signing up for a photo safari – a tour focused on photography – means you can come home with professional quality photos from the region. You'll learn from professional photographers how to get great shots of scenery and wildlife in Yellowstone while enjoying the sounds and sights of the region. Yellowstone National Park Lodges offers a “picture Perfect Photo Safari” – a morning safari trip with a photographer-guide who will lead visitors to some great wildlife watching spots. During the summer, a representative from Kodak leads free daily photo walks and evening photography programs. Other private companies offer specialized, photo-focused, single or multi-day tours of the region as well.
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