Heart Lake to Snake River Llama Trek
Llama Treks
5 Days, 4 Nights 36+ MI / 58+ KM
Trip Highlights
Our Heart Lake Llama Trek is an awesome opportunity to explore Yellowstone National Park‘s spectacular wilderness. We’ll sleep under the stars, feast on tasty backcountry cooking, enjoy days of memorable hiking, and keep an eye out for wildlife. We’ll also see very unique Yellowstone highlights including thermal features, wildlife, and big mountain views. We’ll camp next to lakes and rivers and have the opportunity to soak in hot springs.
Our hike starts near Heart Lake and work our way through lodgepole pines and beautiful meadows. We will continue deeper into the backcountry, traversing the Heart River to the Snake River, and exiting near the South Entrance of Yellowstone.
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Point to Point Thru-Hike
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Thermals & Hot Springs
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Abundant Wildlife Habitat
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Backcountry Solitude
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Hike with Light Daypack
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Llama Trail Companions
Book This Trip
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Trip Details
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Trip Type
Llama Treks -
Trip Length
5 Days, 4 Nights -
Daily Hiking Distance
6-10 mi -
Group Size
2-10 Guests
- day by day itinerary
- logistical and travel information
- gear and clothing lists and more
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Is This Trip Right For me?
This trip has long days of hiking (up to 10 miles). The trails are well maintained, and elevation changes are moderate. Crossing the Snake River twice requires good footing and balance, as the river is wider than most Yellowstone creeks, but the current is flowing swiftly.
Difficulty Level
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Solitude Level
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Trip Itinerary
Please Note: We always do everything in our power to follow the set itinerary, however it can change occasionally based on temporary access restrictions, weather, lodging/campground availability, guest ability/injury, natural events like fires and flooding, and other potential causes. Normal terms and conditions apply to trips with itinerary changes.
Day 1
Shuttle to Trailhead: 3.5 hrs
Hiking Distance: 10 miles
Elevation Gain: 460 feet
Elevation Loss: 770 feet
This Yellowstone llama trek begins with pickup at your hotel in Bozeman, Montana. We’ll drive to our starting point at Heart Lake Trailhead pack up the llamas and begin our trek. This hike starts with 4 miles of gentle ascent through densely wooded lodgepole forest. After lunch, we begin descending through open meadows and the Heart Lake Geyser Basin. Stay on the trail, as you will be passing near thermal crusts and thermal creeks. Finally, we make our way around Heart Lake to our campsite. We’ll set up camp and enjoy a dip in Heart Lake before settling in for a backcountry dinner and great night’s sleep.
Day 2
Hiking Distance: 6.5 miles
Elevation Gain: 140 feet
Elevation Loss: 300 feet
Today we follow the east shore of Heart Lake and the start of Heart River. Most of today is winding through lodge pole pine forests. We will break into a meadow as we drop into the Heart River Canyon. We end our day at the confluence of the Heart and Snake Rivers. Tonight we will have some time to relax, take in the scenery, or enjoy a good book before another wonderful backcountry dinner.
Day 3
Hiking Distance: 9 miles
Elevation Gain: 510 feet
Elevation Loss: 760 feet
Our trail today takes us along the Snake River for 5 miles through meadows and sparse lodgepole forest. We will stop for lunch before making the climb up and over the Snake River Cutoff Trail. We will cross the Snake River three times today, twice just after departing camp, and again just before arriving at camp for the night. Be prepared for a day full of adventure and a variety of landscapes all while keeping your eyes open for wildlife.
Day 4
Hiking Distance: 3.5 – 6 miles
Elevation Gain: 200 feet
Elevation Loss: 290 feet
Today we continue our hike along the Snake River to a camp that gives us access to the Snake River Hot Springs. This extraordinary thermal feature originates with a spring bubbling up scalding water which forms its own, steaming creek. The steaming water flows 1/2 mile, cooling as it goes, to where it meets the Snake River. We will soak at the confluence of the thermal water and the Snake River. We have had groups in the past see packs of wolves (with pups) from this amazingly special spot. We’ll celebrate our final night in the wilderness with a hearty feast and good night’s sleep.
Day 5
Hiking Distance: 6 miles
Elevation Gain: 120 feet
Elevation Loss: 200 feet
Drive time: 4 hours to Bozeman
For our final day we continue to follow the Snake River through open meadows. There is minimal elevation gain and easy walking for a smooth finish to our adventure. Just before our trailhead, we will cross the Snake River one last time. It’s usually not very deep, but very wide and fast. We will have lunch at the picnic area and then head back to Bozeman.
Trip Dates
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What's Included
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Pack llamas to transport the majority of gear and food
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Trained hiking guide(s) with years of personal wilderness and hiking experience, medical certifications, and a passion for leading people into breathtaking landscapes. See Guide Bios.
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Top-of-the-line tent, backcountry sleeping pad and multi-day backpack
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High quality, synthetic sleeping bag (professionally laundered after every use)
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Use of trekking poles
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All meals are included from breakfast the first day through lunch on the last day
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Roundtrip transportation from your hotel in Bozeman, MT
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Bear safety equipment including bear spray cannisters and food-hanging gear
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Emergency equipment including a company-issued first-aid kit and communication device
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Mandatory 5% national park fee that passes through directly to Yellowstone
What's Not Included
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Clothes, raingear, and footwear -
Sunscreen, toiletries and personal items
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Waterbottles and a headlamp or flashlight
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Guide gratuity (industry recommendation is 10-15% of trip cost)
Accommodations
BACKCOUNTRY SLEEPING
Tent Camping
Sleeping on llama treks is in premier 1-person, 2-person or 4-person backcountry tents. Solo travelers, and anyone else who requests it, are issued single tents. Top-of-the-line self-inflating sleeping pads and synthetic-fill sleeping bags (professionally laundered after every trip) are also provided.
BACKCOUNTRY CUISINE
Fresh & Delicious
Meals from breakfast Day 1 through lunch the last day are fully included and prepared by your trekking guide. We never use dehydrated backpacking meals, instead serving freshly prepared, delicious backcountry cuisine made with a variety of common and specialty ingredients that travel well in the wilderness.
AMAZING CAMPSITES
In the Action
Campsites vary by destination, trip and even by the individual day of a trip. However, you can expect to camp in beautiful areas that put you right in the action to make the most of your trekking adventure. We carefully design our itineraries with campsites in mind.
Trip Logistics & FAQs
Where Do We Meet?
At 5:00 PM the evening before Day 1, your guide will conduct a virtual orientation meeting (via conference call) at 5:00 PM to review the packing list, communicate the first day’s logistics and answer any last minute questions you have. Your guide will give you the phone number for this call during the pre-trip contact, approximately 10 days before your trip start date.
Early on the morning of Day 1 your guide will pick you up from your accommodations in Bozeman, MT.
Click here to see a printable, downloadable trip information packet with more detailed guidance about flights, shuttles, recommended lodging and more.
Travel Details
This trip begins and ends in Bozeman, MT
Pre and Post-trip On Request Lodging
We secure limited amounts of pre and post trip lodging in Bozeman, MT as an optional add-on for guests of this trip. This lodging is on request, and is available on a first come, first serve basis. If interested, please reach out directly to our team to check availability.
Start/End Times
You can expect the first day’s pick-up time to be around 6:o0 am although the exact time will depend on current weather and road conditions. We will drop you off at your hotel on the final day no later than 7 PM.
Safety Precautions
Your safety is our top priority. Our hiking tours are led by professional hiking guides, all of whom are wilderness-certified first responders or EMT’s, each with years of guiding and wilderness experience. Guides adhere to standardized risk management protocols in case of any potential or actual incident, and all tours carry an emergency communication device and comprehensive first-aid kit. Additionally we have a “24/7” system through which guides or guests can reach Wildland support personnel at any time.
If you have any further questions about safety, please contact us at 1-800-715-HIKE (4453) for more information.
Reviews
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Liz W
2 years agoI am so impressed with Wildland Trekking.
This trip was many firsts for me: my first time at Yellowstone, my first Wildland Trekking trip and my first llama trek. I loved every minute of it! The company is organized and well run, Yellowstone Park is diverse and gorgeous, the people on the trip were so nice, Jack and Ericka were amazing guides, and the llamas were delightful! Thank you for providing such a fantastic experience.
JB H
5 years agoAn Adventure Both Challenging and Rewarding
The Heart Lake Llama Trek is not for the faint of heart. Regardless of its moderately difficult rating, it is a demanding trek, especially for those who come from coastal areas like Miami, where I live. Although the trek itself is not technically difficult, the first day required a hike to a plateau of approximately 8400 feet. For me, I was hit with altitude sickness almost immediately, which included symptoms of nauseousness, shortness of breath and fatigue. Those not accustomed to altitude should bring along prescription Diamox to alleviate those symptoms, which unfortunately I failed to do. The first day’s hike was supposed to be nine miles, but my pedometer, and those of others, registered more than 11. The disparity between the mileage published on our guide’s map and the mileage registered by my pedometer remained like this throughout the trip. Thus, by the end of the journey, there was a consensus among my fellow trekkers that we had actually hiked about 60 miles, or 10 miles a day on average. Not the 50 miles or less as advertised on Wildland’s website. Hiking 10 miles a day under a blazing August sun in Yellowstone National Park is a tough, tough undertaking. The hot arid air sapped the hydration right out of me, leaving me constantly thirsty. A two liter Camelback full of water is completely insufficient for a day-long hike. As a result, since the llamas did not carry additional water, I was left constantly parched and resorted to begging others for a drink from their water bottles during breaks. The only water available to the group throughout the trip was that which was filtered manually, at an excruciatingly slow rate, from streams and rivers along the way. Food was yet another critical thing in short supply. Simply put, there was only enough food for a small single serving per person for each meal. Hiking all day does nothing if not burn calories and trigger a profound appetite among those who engage in this activity. Moreover, there was no fruit or juice on the trip, like apples, oranges, peaches, and the like. I found myself craving oranges and orange juice along the way, which may have been cause by a vitamin C deficiency while on the trail. That said, given the price of the trip, having more food and fresh fruit for a six-day journey does not seem unreasonable. Equally challenging was getting into and out of a one-man tent and changing clothes within its confines. I had to contort my body into various shapes to get out of my hiking clothes and into something warm and comfortable for the night, which usually resulted in my breaking a sweat just in time to climb into my sleeping bag. While the days were close to 100 degrees the nights would often drop into the 30s, turning dew into frost for a cold morning wake-up. Nevertheless, dressing warmly during the night was imperative. Of course, while the sights and sounds of Yellowstone are spectacular, even breathtaking, I was shocked to see how many bleached grey trees lay dead on the ground like battalions of confederate soldiers who once littered the battlefield at Gettysburg. On the first day, a dead tree blocked our passage preventing the llamas from moving forward. Luckily, a group of hikers headed in the opposite direction had a small hatchet, which I and a few others took turns chopping, until the tree split in half, and we were able to pass. Although most of the trees were cut and left to rot on the side of the trail by the Park Service, which has no appreciable way to remove them, it seemed to me they created a fire risk should lightning strike one of them indiscriminately. Speaking of fire, Yellowstone, like much of the West, is experiencing a severe drought. As a result, we were prohibited from having campfires, which we were not informed of prior to signing up for the journey. Not being able to have a campfire was disappointing, but understandable. Nevertheless, the restrictions on campfires did not stop one member of our group from smoking cigarettes along the trail, which is prohibited by the Park Service regardless of droughts. Wildland supposedly has a no smoking policy, but it must be buried in the small print, because I didn’t see it. Wildland should emblazon that policy across every page of its application, while encouraging those who smoke not to apply. Aside from the much-needed solitude and natural beauty of the alpine valleys and cold streams, the best part of the trip was our guides, Jeff and Brett. Jeff led the hike while Brett took care of the Llamas. Together they worked like dogs to ensure our party had a rewarding experience. Their stamina was remarkable. After hiking all day, they would help make camp, cook dinner, and break camp early the next morning, while packing and unpacking the Llamas. Not an easy task. To both, I bestow on them my highest praise. Brett and Jeff kept me going even when I felt as though I had hit the wall. After completing the trip, I knew I had accomplished something both challenging and rewarding.
Benjamin B
5 years agoTruly Memorable Experience
The Yellowstone Llama Trek I did around heart lake was amazing. It was everything I was looking for in terms of remoteness overalls physical endurance. Jeff was also a great guide. I highly recommended Wildland to anyone looking for a truly memorable experience!
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