Experience the Winter Wonderland of Yellowstone National Park
Overview
Join SUST as we take you on the winter adventure of a lifetime. Yellowstone is fantastic any time of year but it holds a special wonder in the winter. Steam clouds rise on the horizon while bison, elk, and other wildlife roam the snow-covered prairies and hills of America’s first National Park.
On this trip, we explore the park in custom-built snow coaches, one of the only ways to access much of the park in the winter. WE will make stops at the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone and Old Faithful as we explore the park in comfort.
Ever wondered how the earlier explorers got around in the winter? Well on this tour you will have a chance to experience dogsledding in a picturesque and controlled environment.
Finally, we will spend day wildlife viewing in the Northern Part of the park. The North Road is the only road open year-round and the park and we will spend the day enjoying the wildlife and beauty of the Lamar Valley.
This truly is a spectacular experience and we look forward to sharing it with you all.
The Staff at,
Southern Utah Scenic Tours.
Day One: Fly In Bozeman, MT
You will be met by your guide at the airport in Bozeman, MT where we will gather our group and make our way to West Yellowstone, MT for Dinner and Lodging.
Dinner will be on us at one of the local restaurants with some time to shop if desired before we retire to our hotel for the evening.
(Dinner included)
Day Two: Old Faithful
After Breakfast at the hotel, we will board our 8 am Snow Coach Tour and make our way into the park for our visit to Old Faithful. If you have never experienced Yellowstone in the winter you are in for a real treat. The fumaroles, mud pots, springs, and geysers take on a whole new look in the wintertime. It is a beautiful and sometimes eerie atmosphere of steam, frost, and snow. Along the way we will make stops and short walks at some of the thermal features.
Once at Old Faithful, we will get to the seats and wait for the most famous feature of Yellowstone to erupt into the sky.
We will have a box lunch and have some time to look around before we start our trip back to West Yellowstone for the evening.
Dinner and lodging in West Yellowstone
(Breakfast and Lunch Included)
Day Three: Yellowstones Grand Canyon
Again we will have breakfast at the hotel prior to our 8 am Snow Coach Departure.
Today our Snow Coach Tour will take us along the Madison and the Gibbon Rivers as we make our way to the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone.
We have had good luck with animal sightings in the past on this trip and the view of the falls and canyon are spectacular. A stop for a lunch will be made along the way. Boxed lunch included.
Bring your cameras and be prepared for some amazing photo opportunities throughout the day.
Dinner and lodging in West Yellowstone.
(Breakfast and Lunch Included)
Day Four: Dog Sled and Grizzly Wolf Experience
Yellowstone is famous for the wolves and grizzlies that wander the park. Unfortunately in the winter, the bears are typically hibernating and the wolves are normally seen at a great distance. Fortunately for us, the Grizzly and Wolf Experience allow us to view and learn about wolves and grizzlies in an environment that allows for up-close viewing. The Grizzly/Wolf is a rescue for orphaned and injured animals that allows visitors to see the animals year-round. They also are the main test facility for bear-proof containers which help keep our animals and people safe.
After lunch, we will make our way over toward Big Sky for a one-of-a-kind dog sled experience. This ancient form of transportation is still used by people in the arctic in some of the harshest climates in the world. Fortunately for us, the weather is much milder in Montana and our guests will have the opportunity to ride in or drive a dog sled according to their preference. We will get to spend some time meeting the dogs and then be able to take them out for a run. This has been a fantastic experience and well-received by guests.
Afterward, we will make our way back to West Yellowstone for Dinner and Lodging.
(Breakfast and Lunch Included)
Day Five: Mammoth and Animal Viewing
We will have breakfast at a nearby restaurant before packing up and departing for the day. We will be traveling North to Mammoth Hot Springs. We will have lunch somewhere along the way based on time.
Once we arrive at Mammoth Hot Springs and get some photos of the thermal pots and streams that have formed the gigantic (one might even say mammoth) travertine terraces that overlook the Mammoth facilities. There are multiple wood walkways that allow us to traverse the terraces and we will spend some time doing this prior to departing into the park.
Depending on time, we may have the opportunity to travel a little deeper into the park to get some late afternoon wildlife Viewing done. Afterward, we will get checked into our individual cabins in the nearby town of Gardiner, MT.
(Breakfast and Lunch Included)
Day Six: Yellowstone North Road Animal Viewing
Today we will get an early start and head directly into the park. We are looking for animals and the Lamar Valley is just the place to see them. As we make our way across the North road in the park we will keep our eyes out for eagles, bighorn sheep, fox, coyotes, wolves, elk, and of course Yellowstone’s bison herds.
Lunch will be a picnic lunch in the park followed by more animal viewing. Your guide will have several sets of binoculars and a spotting scope to help with some of the far-off animals but don’t worry we will also get some close up as well.
Our final night will be in nearby Gardiner. Dinner will be on us.
(Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Included)
Day Seven: Return to Bozeman For Flights Out
After Breakfast, we will make our way to Bozeman arriving at the airport no later than 11:00 AM for flights out.