yellowstone wildlife photography tours

Wildlife & Landscapes

Yellowstone photography tour & wildlife safari.

Destination

Explore the wilderness of Yellowstone National Park through a photographer’s lens. This private safari is an opportunity to practice and enhance your photography skills while you travel through Yellowstone National Park’s incredible landscapes, all with the guidance and keen attention of your professional photography guide.  This region offers diverse photo opportunities you’ll only find here in Yellowstone. Mountains, rivers, snow and ice, sunshine and shadow, wildlife from North America’s greatest apex predators, like wolves and bears, to the smallest mammals and birds, like red foxes, and birds of prey such as eagles, hawks, falcons, marsh birds and waterfowl. On this private wildlife and landscape photography tour,  you will have the best chance to capture the many changing scenarios of weather, wildlife and mystery that the National Park has to offer.

• Premium Private Safari
• Personalized Photography Instruction
• Yellowstone National Park Landscapes & Wildlife Sightings

Our professional photography tours are led by one of our passionate wildlife photography guides who are there to maximize your photography goals and build upon your skills. These tours are tailored to each guest and will benefit both amateur and professional photographers alike. Throughout the day, your guide will work with you to advance your skill set covering topics such as gear, shutter speed, aperture, ISO, framing, lighting, composition, editing, and more.

It’s important to keep in mind that landscape photography opportunities are subject to change due to weather conditions and wildlife photography is dependent on, well…wildlife, and there are no guarantees for close shots or perfect opportunities. Regardless of the conditions of the day, your guide will be happy to help you with your photography gear, answer any questions you may have about photography, and share some of their best photography practices.

This tour is van-based with ample time out of the vehicle for photography and instruction.  We ask that our guests come prepared for a variety of weather conditions and terrain.

A full day private photography tour begins with an early-morning pick up in the Bozeman or surrounding areas in order to maximize wildlife and lighting opportunities. Pick up time will vary slightly depending on these factors, and our photography guides will cater the trip to your creative interests and goals. Whether you are looking to practice your landscape shots in a variety of light and perspective, or are hoping to home in on wildlife habits and behavior, this experience will afford you plenty of ways to practice and explore your photography amidst the wildly diverse setting of Yellowstone National Park.

Your guide will navigate you through the vast terrain and road systems of Northern or Southern Yellowstone, depending on your interest and starting point, paying mindful attention to elements conducive to successful photography conditions. Yellowstone is known for its protected ecosystem, roadways that have strategically placed pullouts offering dramatic vistas of sweeping valleys, winding rivers, crystalline bodies of water that mirror open sky, craggy, alpine peaks and the potential for spectacular wildlife sightings.  Working in this wild space also results in no two pictures being the same; the weather, clouds and lighting vary on a near daily basis. Our guides are well-versed in popular photography spots and will also help encourage you to experiment at each location and challenge you to produce unique work.

The unpredictability of wildlife enhances the experience as well.  While many animals, like bison, elk, moose and pronghorn, wolves and bears have distinct habitats they are typically found amongst during certain seasons, there is always the chance of finding them in unexpected places that could create the set up for an entirely unique photo.  Then there are less frequently seen species, such as otters, fox, pika, badger, or great gray owls. These animals keep you on your toes, potentially darting along a river bank or dashing through an open field and vanishing before the click of a shutter.

Yellowstone’s wildlife and scenery change in every season of the year. We encourage you to book this unique photography experience specific to your landscape and wildlife of interest. Our office and guide staff are available to discuss these options at length.

To finish out our photography tour, your guide will accompany you to a local coffee shop to review your images, discuss successes, comment on areas of improvement, and expand your knowledge of Adobe Lightroom. Our guides will not only put you in the right habitat to get your dream shot, but also help bring your creative vision to life during our editing workshops. One goal of the tour is to see you go home with several successful images that demonstrate your growth and understanding of photographic concepts covered on the tour.

It is important to note that appropriate gear for the season is necessary to accommodate for times when we will need to walk short distances in variable weather conditions.

Your Photography Guides

Grant johnson.

Grant has nearly 20 years of experience as a photographer, filmographer and wildlife guide. He assisted the team filming Shark Week for over a decade while based in Bimini, The Bahamas, where he also offered eco-tours in the Caribbean Sea. He has worked for Yellowstone Safari Co. for 7 years and has extensive experience finding wildlife, especially our wild wolves. He is our Social Media Manager and is responsible for many of our highlighted photos on the web.

What's Included

• Hotel pickup
• Professional naturalist guide
• Private safari
• Catered picnic lunch
• Assorted snack basket
• Non-alcoholic beverages (hot and cold)
• Use of UHD binoculars and spotting scopes
• Guide gratuities
• National Park entrance fees
• Camera equipment

Private Safari (Summer)

Private safari (winter), pickup information.

For all private tours , all of our guests are picked up (and dropped off) at their lodging location.  We pick up in Bozeman , Paradise Valley , Gardiner , and Mammoth .  At the time of reservation, we’ll confirm your exact pickup time, based on the season, as well as your exact pickup location.

Please allow your guide an additional 5-10 minutes before and after the scheduled pickup time in case of weather delays or traffic conditions.

Approximate pickup times include:

Summer (April – October)

• 5:30AM Bozeman
• 6:15AM Paradise Valley
• 7:00AM Gardiner
• 7:15AM Mammoth

Winter (November – April)

• 6:30AM Bozeman
• 7:15AM Paradise Valley
• 8:00AM Gardiner
• 8:15AM Mammoth

Our guide was excellent and spotted things that neither my wife or myself would have found or seen on our own. We had a three dog day on day one and saw 14 moose on day two. On day three we saw large herds of pronghorn antelope, bighorned sheep, and both golden and American bald eagles. He was courteous and ensured we were always in position to take the best images possible and did not hurry or rush us to move on. As an amateur photographer and my 6th trip to the park, I took some of the best images I have taken in Yellowstone National Park.

Safari Tour Gallery

All photography has been shot by our talented tour guides .

How close are we going to be to the wildlife on this tour?

Wildlife are unpredictable and are often wary of the roads, but that is not always the case. We do sometimes see mammals and birds within distance for most lenses to capture, even if we walk to better viewing places not near the road. For those guests interested specifically in wildlife photography we recommend bringing or renting the longest lens you feel comfortable using.

Do you provide any photography equipment for this tour?

We do not provide any photography equipment for you on this tour, but do work with a local camera shop in Bozeman, MT where you can rent bodies and lenses for reasonable day-use rates.  If you’d like to have camera gear reserved for your tour, you can rent a pro level kit and it will be ready and waiting for you when we pick you up from your lodging.  Each rental package has a top of the line camera body (Canon, Sony, Nikon or similar) and two lenses, a telephoto zoom for capturing wildlife and a standard zoom (24mm-70mm) for shooting everything from landscapes to historical architecture and thermal features.  **Rentals are subject to availability with our partner.

Will we see any geysers or thermal basins on this tour?

Most of Yellowstone’s geysers such as Old Faithful and hot springs such as Grand Prismatic Spring are located in the southern half of Yellowstone National Park. Our photography safari focuses mostly on the northern range, however if you are interested mostly in the volcanic region of the park we are happy to build a specific itinerary for you!

Photography Specialists

Guide staff.

Local, experienced photography guides.

Naturalist Guide

Further reading, north america’s awe-inspiring wildlife on the northern range, nov 28, 2022.

Yellowstone National Park is widely regarded as the best place in the United States to view and experience our country’s native wildlife, and there is nowhere in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem with better access to this abundance of biodiversity than the Park’s awe-inspiring Northern Range…

Yellowstone in Winter

Feb 27, 2023.

The route between Gardiner, MT and Silvergate, MT remains open year-round; this incredible drive will take you by the novel travertine terraces of Mammoth Hot Springs, through the iconic Lamar Valley, and eventually to the foothills of the steep beauty that is the Beartooth Mountain Range.  Aside from the scenery, this park region is also rich with wildlife, even during the winter months, so you can get your fill of geothermal features, views, and the opportunity to observe the glorious fauna that Yellowstone is known for…

More Adventures

Keep exploring.

3 Day Bear and Wolf Safari

3 Day Winter Wolves and Wildlife Safari

Yellowstone Multi-Day Photography Tour

Yellowstone Tours

Yellowstone National Park Tours

Yellowstone National Park has a way of making your dreams feel real. Steam rises from the ground, bright yellows, deep blues, and vibrant greens flood your sights, and animals you’ve only ever seen in movies roam so close beside you that you can almost touch them. Here, you’re surrounded by natural beauty, curiosity, and century old secrets that inspire awe inside you. And that’s just a scratch on the surface. Located primarily in the state of Wyoming, but also stretching into Montana and Idaho, Yellowstone is home to some of the most iconic natural features in the world. This natural wonder spans over 2 million acres of stunning landscapes, unique geological formations, and abundant wildlife. Yellowstone is waiting for you. It’s about time you experienced it. 

Our Yellowstone National Park Tour allows you to safely venture throughout the area and learn alongside a knowledgeable and passionate naturalist guide. Based on your interests and the time of year of your visit, you’ll have a choice of Animal Safaris , Yellowstone Photography Tours , and hiking in Yellowstone to discover the stunning vistas and natural beauty of the area such as Old Faithful, Grand Prismatic Spring, and so much more.  

Things to See in Yellowstone

Probably the most common interest that Yellowstone visitors have is the wildlife. Yellowstone is part of an incredibly special ecosystem thanks to years of conservation efforts from land preservation and wildlife management, including the famous reintroduction of the gray wolf and the tireless recovery of the grizzly bear. There are very few places in the lower 48 where you can potentially see and photograph a long list of charismatic megafauna, including these two endangered apex predators. Seasonal events such as breeding and migrations promise quite a show of these magnificent species, attracting both amateur wildlife watchers and professional photographers from around the globe.

Stunning Landscapes

If you, like most people, appreciate an impressive waterfall, awe-inspiring canyons, open spaces, and the serenity of the forest, there is no doubt you are in Yellowstone for its undeniable natural beauty. Everywhere you turn, you will be rewarded with vistas and landscapes that many only see in paintings or nature documentaries. There’s no better place to escape the hustle and bustle of everyday life and feel rejuvenated.

Geothermal Activity

Usually, the mere mention of Yellowstone makes people think of Old Faithful. This famous geyser is one of the most popular destinations within the park and considered one of the biggest highlights. What many don’t know is that it is only one of 500 geysers in the park, and only one of 10,000 geothermal features! Yellowstone is one of the world’s largest volcanoes which has been dormant for 70,000 years. The last major eruption was approximately 631,000 years ago, forming the monstrous Yellowstone Caldera which covers more than 40% of the park.

Due to this extreme volcanic activity, Yellowstone is home to hot springs, mud pots, steam vents, travertine terraces, and of course, geysers! Bright yellows and oranges swirl around the springs and geysers giving a striking painted appearance amongst the thermal areas, formed by thermophilic (heat loving) bacteria. Steam bellows from the ground all across the landscape, creating an other-worldly atmosphere. Many exclaim that they feel they are on another planet! Having a guide to accompany you is particularly helpful when observing these phenomena to be able to interpret what you are seeing and understand the ‘how’ and ‘why’, which only makes it more interesting!

Yellowstone Seasonal Tours

The seasons change so drastically in this region that the activities and tours available to you will vary, as will the wildlife. Be sure to check what’s available during the time of year that you are visiting, and what you can expect to see!

Spring/Summer

During the spring and summer months there are plentiful opportunities to see wildlife including moose, elk, deer, bison, pronghorn, fox, coyote, bald and golden eagles, black bears, grizzly bears, and even wolves! From May – October we even offer two and three day safaris that focus primarily on finding the ecosystem’s most dominant apex predators: wolves and bears. Our Yellowstone day tours that depart from Jackson aim to take in all of the “greatest hits” of the southern loop of the park, filling the day with unforgettable scenery, geysers, hot springs, and wildlife. The roads are generally clear and all areas of the park are easily accessible, although potential snowstorms in April/May and September/October due to the elevation can cause some brief road closures which may affect tours, but there are usually options available in the unlikely event your tour is impacted. 

In the winter, you’ll find that peace and serenity overtake the park. However, a thick blanket of snow doesn’t stop nature from thriving here. The south entrance to Yellowstone is closed from mid-November to mid-May, meaning day trips are not available from Jackson. We offer a 3 Day Winter Wolves and Wildlife Safari as an incredible way to immerse yourself in the dramatic winter landscape that will take you straight from your lodging in Jackson Hole to the northern range of Yellowstone to experience the incredibly diverse range of flora and fauna, including bison, elk, coyotes, bighorn sheep, eagles, and the elusive gray wolf in their natural habitats. Keep in mind that bears are hibernating during the winter months, so they will be absent from the landscape. The colder months are the perfect time to join a Yellowstone Snowshoe Tour for a unique immersive experience of Yellowstone’s wild nature.

Because each tour is customizable, you will be able to learn about the aspects of the area you feel the most connected to and experience what interests you most. Spend more time soaking in the sights, learning about geology, or searching for exciting wildlife sightings. Welcome to Yellowstone—we are so glad you’re here.

Explore our list of premium Wildlife Safaris and Photography Tours that visit Yellowstone National Park.

Yellowstone National Park Tour

Join a professional naturalist guide on a tour featuring the highlights of Yellowstone National Park. This tour will focus on the geology, wildlife, and natural history of Yellowstone.

Destination

Yellowstone snowshoe tour.

This winter, explore the beauty of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem that extends beyond the reach of Jackson Hole – by snowshoe!  Immerse yourself in the natural world where you not only see the wild beauty, but you’ll feel the invigorating frosty air fill your lungs and you’ll smell the piney incense of subalpine firs.

2 Day Bear and Wolf Safari

On this overnight wildlife safari tour, we will spend our time in prime bear and wolf habitat within both Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks. Travel with our professional naturalist guides for the best opportunities to spot and photograph wildlife in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem.

3 Day Bear and Wolf Safari

Join a professional naturalist guide on a three-day bear and wolf safari tour of Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks. Your guide will educate you on the geology, history and wildlife of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem while you track, study and photograph bears and wolves in their natural habitat.

3 Day Winter Wolves and Wildlife Safari

Join an experienced local wildlife guide to track, study and photograph the abundant wintering wildlife and wolves found on the Northern Range of Yellowstone National Park. This popular winter wildlife safari tour will focus on finding and safely viewing Greater Yellowstone’s wintering wildlife including both predators and big game.

Is Yellowstone Easy to Tour from Jackson Hole?

Yes! Not only is it easy, but you get the added bonus of traveling through Grand Teton National Park on the way to and from Yellowstone, rewarding you with some of the most beautiful mountain views you will ever see and additional chances for wildlife sightings! The south entrance to Yellowstone is about a 1.5-hour drive from Jackson, which is a treat in itself.

Can I Tour Yellowstone and Jackson Hole in the same weekend?

Yes! We recommend booking a half-day or a full-day Grand Teton tour first, and then a Yellowstone tour a day or two after. Alternatively, you can do a two-day tour and overnight in Yellowstone, spending a little time in Grand Teton on your way there and back.

What types of tours can you do in Yellowstone National Park?

If you’re short on time, a full day Yellowstone tour will take you around the southern loop where you’ll see highlights such as Old Faithful, varying geothermal features, Hayden Valley, and the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone. 

We also offer extended tours of two and three days, beginning and ending in Jackson. You’ll enjoy comfortable lodging around the park and tour both the upper and lower loops, seeing Mammoth Hot Springs, Tower Falls, and the famous Lamar Valley in addition to the lower loop highlights. We even offer a five-day photography workshop led by a professional photography guide if you are serious about photography!

If you are visiting the park from the northern towns such as Bozeman, Big Sky, or Gardiner, our sister company Yellowstone Safari Company operates out of Bozeman and can take you on the same incredible adventures from there. All of our guides have thousands of hours in the field and an innate passion for the local ecosystem, so no matter where you tour from you will receive the highest quality guided experience in Yellowstone!

What do I need to bring on a Yellowstone tour?

For these types of excursions, it is good to be prepared for any weather. Because weather can be unpredictable at any time of the year, with temperatures varying greatly from morning to afternoon, layers are key! Wear clothes that you would be comfortable in for a warm, sunny day with an extra sweatshirt/fleece, and a shell for rain. In the early spring and late fall, a heavier, warmer jacket is recommended. Comfortable sneakers or boots are best for walking on uneven trails and boardwalks. If you have a camera, bring it along! Don’t worry about binoculars, we will provide those. For multi-day tours, a change of clothes, pajamas to sleep in, and toiletries. Bring any medication you would need. We will provide food and water!

Will there be restrooms?

Yes! There is no need to worry, there will be ample restroom opportunities. It is said that you are never more than 10 minutes away from a toilet in Yellowstone. They are not all flush restrooms, many areas of the park are remote with only vault toilets (outhouse-type bathrooms) around, but our guides will let you know when there is a more comfortable flush restroom available. In the early spring and late fall, most, if not all, flush restrooms will be closed for the season. Don’t worry, vault toilets are everywhere, and are part of the experience!

What kind of vehicle will we be in?

We provide both private and public tours, but we keep our group sizes small, so you will not be on a big bus. We use spacious SUVs and passenger vans. This allows us to focus on individual guests more closely, have a more personable experience, and we can pull over easily for wildlife sightings!

Photography Tour

Get an early start for that early morning light and a chance to capture some of the most iconic wildlife in north america..

Quick Details

• Clock Duration: 8 hrs
• Users Groups: Great for families!
• Info Private: Private & Customizable

Full day Photography Tour of Yellowstone National Park

Get an early start for that early morning light and a chance to capture some of the most iconic wildlife in North america. This trip is completely customizable allowing us to focus on the animals and landscapes you’re most eager to photograph.

This tour is limited to 3 guests to maximize our ability to photograph. If you have a larger group, please inquire about options.

Please inquire about split days (Sunrise and Sunset) for additional costs

What to Bring

Of course your camera, batteries, memory cards and tripod. We recommend the longest lens you have. Beautiful images can be captured with any length, but having a lens 400mm or longer is recommended.

For every tour, year round we recommend the following items.

• Reusable Water Bottle
• Your park pass (receipt, or annual/lifetime pass)
• Medications & Sunscreen
• Camera (Spare batteries, and memory cards are recommended)
• Inquire about lens recommendations
• Warm jacket (Yes, even in the summer)
• Rain jacket
• Gloves and Hat (We recommend a ball cap for sun protection and a beanie to cover the ears)

Spring (April, May, June)

Spring in Yellowstone can feel like winter in many other places. However usually by afternoon the temps are rising and sun is kissing the newest greens on the valley bottoms. For us that means being prepared for just about any type of weather and being ready for it to change quickly. We highly recommend dressing for colder temps in the morning and using a layering system to help adjust to the warming later in the day. This is also a fairly wet time of year in Yellowstone so having water resistant shoes will help keep feet warm and a waterproof rain jacket is a must!

Guides Choice:

Hiking Boots with thick pair of warm wool socks. Thin merino long johns with a thicker windproof pair of hiking pants. A thin merino base layer shirt covered by a lightweight sun hoodie (synthetic material), a light puffy jacket, ball cap and sunglasses. As always a thicker puffy jacket, rain jacket, beanie and gloves can be left in the vehicle at the ready.

Summer (July, August)

Summer in Yellowstone is an amazing time to visit. Expect cool mornings, warm afternoons and a pleasant breeze. This is probably the greatest factor in making the most popular time to visit the park. Its typical for us to see sunrise temps around freezing which quickly give way to powerful sun and beautiful picnic weather. Later in the summer afternoon thunderstorms occasionally blow through and cool the air just in time for dinner and a campfire.

Hiking boots with thin merino socks. Wind-proof hiking pants and a merino base layer with a sun hoodie. A ball cap and sunglasses are a must! The lightweight puffy is usually enough to get through the colder mornings and is often retired shortly after the sun breaks the horizon.

Fall (August, September, October)

Fall is one of our favorite seasons here in the park with a cool dry breeze, the crunchy ground beneath our boots and plenty of sunshine. Mornings are typically frosty and most days are sunny and warm enough to shed the jacket by the mid-day. However, winter is always creeping into the days this time of year and snow flurries are not uncommon starting in September. Again, layering is key.

Winters in Yellowstone can be legendary. Potential snowpack over your head, temperature drops well below 0 and air so cold the moistures falls like diamonds in a haze around us. With all that in mind, it’s exactly what many visitors come for. Wildlife sightings are world class and the hustle of the summer transfers into the season of the wolves. Being prepared for the cold is imperative but not impossible and when ready Yellowstone provides her hearty visitors with a stunning winter wonderland. The heaviest of insulating layers should always be at hand along with durable insulated boots and all the accessories for head and hands available. With all this preparation making sure guests are warm and comfortable is a full time job during the winter and one we have learned some solid strategies for. Warm drinks, hand warmers and a comfortable touring vehicle ready to be converted into a warming hut are always nearby.

Warm insulated ankle high boots with a thin merino sock layer under the thickest merino socks available. We also recommend gaiters this time of year if you have them to prevent snow from getting into your boots and one more layer of protection for the feet. Heavy merino long johns under a layer of thick fleece or puffy pants and wind and waterproof hiking pants. Again, merino or thick wool baselayers work best with a heavy wool or fleece layer under a heavy puffy jacket. During the coldest mornings a thin puffy jacket under the thicker one is also recommended. Finally, a warm beanie, sunglasses and gloves that are easily put on and off are a must. We also provide hand warmers to put in pockets for that extra warming kick when fingers need it.

Related Activities

• Hiking All gear provided
• Fishing Great for all skill levels
• Clock 8 hrs

Fly-Fishing Combo

Why not combine two great activities into one day? Begin your morning early with our expert wildlife spotter searching for Yellowstone’s charismatic megafauna then trade the binoculars for a fly-rod and head towards the rivers.

• Info No experience needed
• Clock Overnight trip

Backpacking Trip

A guided, multi-day backpacking trip exploring Yellowstone’s Backcountry. We’ll head into the backcountry for camping in the pure, Yellowstone wilderness.

• MOST POPULAR
• Info Private & Customizable
• Users Great for families!

Wildlife Watching

Get into the park early for a full day of watching wildlife in Yellowstone National Park. This tour specializes in Yellowstone’s native flora and fauna, including bears, wolves, bison and elk.

WE'RE TAKING BOOKINGS FOR WINTER 2024/2025!

Yellowstone Tours in Winter

Full day and multi-day wildlife tours.

We offer private, single-day, custom Yellowstone National Park winter tours, as well as all-inclusive multi-day packages, focusing on the wolves and other wildlife wintering on the Northern Range of Yellowstone National Park. To read more information about the wildlife in the park during winter, scroll to the informational section at the bottom of the page. 

• Most Popular in the Winter!
• Dec - March
• Hour Glass Full Day

Winter Wolves and Wildlife Watching

Winter is the season of the wolves! And Yellowstone is the best place on the planet to see wild wolves. Experience wildlife at its best on the pristine snow-covered landscapes of Yellowstone in winter.

Winter Wildlife Photography Tour

Have you ever wanted to spend a day in Yellowstone with a local professional wildlife photographer? Our private photo tours are the best way to capture powerful images of Yellowstone’s iconic wildlife.

Winter Family Adventure Tour

Yellowstone is perfect for family trips, any time of year. Children have a natural fascination with Nature, and we passionately explore Yellowstone’s wonders with them to create memorable learning experiences.

• Hour Glass Multi-Day

6 Day Winter Wolf Watching Package

This all-inclusive wolf watching package is the ultimate way to experience Yellowstone’s abundant wildlife and pristine beauty, each evening enjoying the comforts of your lodge, hearty meals and presentations from local experts.

• New for winter 2024/2025

Wolves & Winter Wonders 6-Day Package

Discover the extraordinary in our enhanced Winter Wolf Package! This new package includes an entire day exploring the Old Faithful and surrounding thermal areas via a private snowcoach. Immerse yourself in the ultimate all-inclusive adventure, where wolves, wildlife, and winter wonders converge.

Snowshoe or Cross Country Ski Excursion

Experience Yellowstone’s backcountry silence and solitude as you explore a snowy winter wonderland with your Naturalist Guide on Snowshoes or Cross Country Skis

Multi-Day Photography Workshop

We’re excited to be offering two immersive Yellowstone Photography Workshops for Winter 2025. Each workshop will focus on encouraging all levels of photographers to hone their visual storytelling skills through one-on-one instruction with a local professional photographer.

2025 Workshop Dates and Instructor

Workshop 1:     9-Days: 1/5/2025 – 1/13/2025 ~ Led by local photographer Evan Watts 

Workshop 2:     7-Days: 2/9/2025 – 2/15/2025 – Led by local photographer Rob Harwood

Further Information on Winter Tours, Yellowstone

The deep snows of winter have pushed Yellowstone’s iconic wildlife down in an elevational migration into the wintering grounds of the Lamar Valley and lower Yellowstone Canyons. Thousands of elk and bison, along with moose, bighorn sheep, white-tailed and mule deer, and pronghorn have filtered out of the higher mountains of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem and have concentrated in the lower valleys and grasslands where winter is less extreme. Winter can be tough on these grazing animals, and partially because of that, this is when and where Yellowstone’s wolves and other carnivores thrive. This is the season of the wolves!

• Chevron down Winter Wildlife on the Northern Range

As soon as we enter the northern gate of Yellowstone National Park, wildlife viewing opportunities abound! The Gardiner Canyon immediately greets us as we start our ascent towards Mammoth Village. This canyon is home to the McMinn herd of Rocky Mountain big horn sheep, which overwinter in this lower elevation canyon. Come spring, they spread back out and fill in their high-mountain territories throughout the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. During November and December, the rams can be found among the herds competing for breeding rights.  The cracking sound of their impressive skulls and horns crashing together can sometimes be heard for miles. Keep your eyes up on these steep canyon walls, as nowhere is out of reach for these climbing specialists.

Climbing our way to 6,200-foot elevation, we arrive at the historic park headquarters at Mammoth Hot Springs. Originally established as Fort Yellowstone by the U.S. Army in the late 1800s, Mammoth is most known for the exquisite beauty of the Mammoth Terraces. Large herds of elk spend their winter in and around Mammoth, often providing the up-close views that have given Mammoth the nickname of Elk Town.

Here we turn to the east and find ourselves climbing ever further up and eventually over the Blacktail Plateau. Our route parallels one that has been used for tens of thousands of years, not by humans but by Yellowstone’s prehistoric survivors, the American Plains bison. Buffalo, as named by early explorers and settlers, have traveled in the footsteps of their ancestors for millennia, heading towards the lower elevations of the Gardiner basin to escape winter’s relentless assault.  Along this path, we often see family groups of bison heading west and downhill, appearing as natural and adept on the landscape as the very snow itself. It is humbling and inspiring to witness these timeless creatures carry out, and pass on to the next generation, the route of this ancient migration. The open vistas and windswept landscape of the Blacktail Plateau is as good as any place along the Northern Range to experience it.

Further toward the east, we have a couple massive vistas overlooking the confluence of Hellroaring Creek and the Yellowstone River, an area known simply as Hellroaring. From our pullout views here, it is easy to become overwhelmed by the scale, with the landscape first dropping away from your feet then dramatically rising again, leaving a beautifully soft and welcoming slope below — surely, an Ansel Adams-worthy landscape, but also a winter wildlife viewer’s delight! The lower elevations along the bottom of the slope and the edges of the Yellowstone River are a welcome refuge for the large migrators of Yellowstone. Elk and bison alike gather here, sometimes resting along their march or spending their entire winter season in the bottom of Hellroaring. This concentration of prey undoubtedly draws the attention of several wolf packs that annually travel into Hellroaring for this season, also looking for a meal. Your guides use their high-powered optics to find them!

Carrying on past the Tower Ranger Station, a beacon of human life dropped into the vast frozen wilderness, we cross the Yellowstone River, and approach Little America. This area of the park is unique for its glacial erratics, evidence of a time when ice and cold truly dominated the land some 20,000 years ago. But Little America isn’t just a playground of geologic history; it’s a wolf watcher’s dream. This area, 7 miles long and 3 miles wide, is home to some of Yellowstone’s best wolf habitats. With massive views in all directions, the opportunity to spot a wild wolf is as good here as anywhere. Wolves commonly travel the road during the dark winter nights, and with the only the vehicle’s headlights illuminating the road, an experienced guide can often pick up their tracks, determine their direction of travel, and often the number of individuals to search for. This is always an exciting moment, knowing the elusive apex predator is nearby, and it’s often in Little America.

Moving further to the east, we pass through the Lamar Canyon, a cascade of the Lamar River, over boulders, ice and toppled pines, and approach the destination most intrepid winter visitors of Yellowstone covet, the Lamar Valley.

A valley often likened to “driving into a postcard” or the “Little Serengeti”, never disappoints, regardless of the season, but there is a little extra magic during a Yellowstone winter.  First noticed is the Lamar, snaking it way through the valley bottom, with meanders so beautiful and natural it reminds us what rivers a supposed to look like. Dots in the distance, first appearing as rocks, turn into frosted steam generators and eventually reveal themselves. Bull bison, in bachelor groups will stay in Lamar Valley all winter, leaving the cows, and younger bison to migrate to easier pastures. Are these bulls too stubborn to migrate? Or too strong to worry about the extreme cold and snow? Regardless, they appear perfectly adapted to wait out Old Man Winter.

This sacred valley was also the site of the first wolf tracks to be laid upon Yellowstone in 69 years. The first release of wolves into Yellowstone in 1995 was right here in Lamar Valley.  Since, it has been dubbed “the valley of the wolves” because of its unique opportunities to view wild wolves, living truly wild lives. It was called home by the park’s most famous, and maybe the world’s most famous wolf pack: the Druid Peak Pack, who reached its peak in 2001 with 37 members. Currently, the Junction Butte pack, and the Lamar Canyon pack both use the valley to hunt, and raise their young. When it comes to wolves in the Lamar, perhaps the most impressive wolf sightings, photographs, films and scientific research of all time have occurred right here in Lamar Valley, and everyday something new and memorable happens.

The Lamar Valley is also home to many other creatures, large and small. Golden Eagles can sometimes be seen hunting their favorite winter meal, Golden-eye Ducks along the Lamar River. Otters frequent openings along the ice-shelved river as well, always wary of trout stealing Bald Eagles. Foxes and Coyotes use the mid-day hours to hunt, when the snow is softest, and their diving plunge through it is most rewarding. We never know what may be around the next bend or coming over the ridge, but we do know, there’s always something amazing happening in the Lamar; it’s just a matter of finding it!

Moving along the northern bank of the Lamar River, past the confluence with Soda Butte Creek, we transition into the Soda Butte Valley. Here the landscape changes, from the vast expanses of the Lamar to a tighter and more dramatic section of the Northern Range. Soda Butte Creek is lined with willows, hiding the valley bottom, and therefore creating textbook habitat for another one of Yellowstone’s mega fauna: Moose. Winter is the perfect season to find these gangly, yet somehow majestic browsers. Harsh temperatures and deeps snow have pushed them to the valley floor, and often into view if you know where to look.  Fortunately, we do!

We will spend the day exploring the wonders of the Northern Range: a variety and density of wildlife unmatched by anywhere else in North America, breathtaking vistas, and a natural and human history rivaling a story stranger than fiction. With the restoration of wolves and their subsequent impacts on the ecosystem, known as “trophic cascades”, Yellowstone’s Northern Range now holds all of its original species and ecological components, and scientists declare it to be every bit as wild and healthy right now as it’s ever been! The Northern Range has become a world-class destination for wildlife viewing, and immersing yourself in a truly wild ecosystem and the beauty of winter will only enhance everything you’ve come for!

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Next Open Tour

Yellowstone spring tour june 5 - 11, 2021.

This tour has 2 spots left!

Max Waugh and Zack Clothier are officially licensed Yellowstone tour operators.

Yellowstone Photo Tours with Max Waugh & Zack Clothier

Tours led by professional photographers with over a decade of park experience.

"Max's knowledge of the animals, their habits, and locations they like to frequent was evident from the first day through the last. This trip was more than I ever imagined, it was definitely a trip of a lifetime." –Richard B. Join wildlife photographer Max Waugh on a week-long tour of the world's first national park! Yellowstone remains the premier place for general wildlife photography in the continental US and perhaps all of North America. The variety and proximity of wildlife is often unmatched elsewhere. Whether your focus is predators like bears and wolves, or powerful giants like elk and bison, or even smaller critters such as rodents or birds, Yellowstone has something for nearly every wildlife photographer.

Max Waugh has been photographing wildlife in the region since the year 2000 and has become intimate with some of the best locations to find many of the park's major species. Having previously published maps and guides used by thousands of visitors every year, Max is now able to share his knowledge first-hand on these guided Yellowstone photo tours.

Some of our tours are led by Zack Clothier, an award-winning landscape and wildlife photographer based in western Montana. Zack brings his knowledge and experience photographing the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem to our fall and winter tours.

Congratulations to Max and Zack for their honors in the 56th Wildlife Photographer of the Year awards!

Winter in Yellowstone: January 17 - 24, 2021

With max waugh.

The winter tour also gives you a special opportunity to visit Yellowstone's remote interior, which is closed off to wheeled traffic during the winter. We'll visit several of the park's famous thermal areas, which remain active year-round and provide unique landscape photo opportunities. Our trip to the interior also involves visits to the Madison River (home to endangered trumpeter swans and the rare bobcat) and the vast Hayden Valley and Yellowstone Falls. This tour features 3 days in the park interior on a private snow coach.

This tour is now FULL.

Yellowstone Spring Wildlife, Tour: June 5 - 11, 2021

The spring tour focuses on the park's north and east wildlife-rich quadrants, but we'll go wherever great animal photo ops can be found. There's no shortage of subjects, from grizzly bears and wolves uncovering winter carcasses to newborn bison, elk and deer, to migrating birds passing through the park or building their nests. Our recent spring tours were incredible in terms of the variety and volume of subjects. 2020 promises more of the same!

Yellowstone & Grand Teton Fall Tour: 2021 or 2022

With max waugh or zack clothier.

This is the ideal tour for those interested in shooting everything the ecosystem has to offer, from animals to the golden leaves of autumn. We will rise early for sunrise landscape opportunities and morning wildlife activity.

We'll seek out bears fattening up for winter, as well as male moose, elk and pronghorn laying claim to females during the autumn rut, and much more.

See a sample itinerary and inquire about our next fall tour.