Pebble Creek Llama Trek
Yellowstone National Park, WY
Trip Highlights
- Great Family Trip
- Pristine River Valleys
- Vast Meadows
- Wildlife Habitat
- Fields of Wildflowers
- Diversity of Scenery
- Mountain Pass Over 9,000 ft
- Amazing Natural History
Description
Our Pebble Creek Llama Trek is a classic journey through the more mountainous northeast section of Yellowstone. It’s a quintessential trip that features diverse hiking, arguably the park’s most beautiful meadows, picturesque trout rivers, and a good chance (but never a guarantee) of seeing wildlife. Your hike will start in the Pebble Creek drainage and top out on a mountain pass over 9,000 feet high. The creek valley we follow on this trip is open, lush, and filled with wildlife and wildflowers. This is a hallmark 3-day tour of not just Yellowstone, but the Rocky Mountains as well
Please note: this trip is operated by Wildland Llamas, a separate company from Wildland Trekking. Wildland Llamas is a licensed stock outfitter and guide company in Yellowstone National Park.
$2035 Per Person
DIFFICULTY LEVEL 3
Scale of 1-5. 1 is least difficult; 5 is most difficult
This trip is mostly on well-maintained trails. There are three creek crossings, all of which are easy. The trail up to one of our mountain passes is steep and rugged, and if going all the way it is 8-10 miles roundtrip and 1300+ft of gain.
Hiking Distances:
6-10 mi
Backpack Weight:
10-20 lbs
Terrain:
Lightly Rugged
Max Daily Elev. ↑↓:
1300 ft
Heights Exposure:
Hilly
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS
- Hiking uphill or downhill with a 10-20 lb backpack for 6-8 hours
- Maintaining balance and footing on well-maintained trails
- Creek and river crossings
SOLITUDE LEVEL 3
1 least solitude, 5 most solitude
We rate this Yellowstone llama trip a solitude 3. You can expect hours of solitude at a time.
This trip begins and ends in Jackson, Wyoming. Jackson has an airport served by United, Delta, and American Airlines. A Black Car Service (307-413-2572) provides private airport shuttles (advance reservations are recommended.)
You can also fly into:
- Idaho Falls – small, more affordable airport; can meet your guide in Driggs, ID instead of Jackson; requires a car rental
- Salt Lake City – Salt Lake Express (800-356-9796 or 208-656-8824) and Alltrans (800-652-9510) offer daily shuttles (4.5 hours). Advance reservations required.
PRIVATE TRIPS
Travel in perfect company by booking a private trip exclusively for your group!
Our sliding scale for private trips is based on the final number of guests in your group. Rates are per person and do not include sales tax, national park fees or guide gratuity. The final rate is based on the actual number of guests on the trip and may adjust based on cancellations or additions.
Please Note: you can also enjoy a private trip at our normal scheduled rates by filling any empty tour to capacity. However, if group members drop from the tour those spots will automatically become available on our website for instant booking. By purchasing a private trip at the rates listed below, your trip will remain exclusive to your group regardless of cancellations.
PRIVATE RATES FOR THIS TRIP
- 2 People: Rate x 2.5
- 3 People: Rate x 1.75
- 4 People: Rate x 1.25
- 5+ People: Rate x 1.15
*all rates are per person
Learn About Our Private Trips
View Private TripsITINERARY
Day 1
- Shuttle to Trailhead: 4 hours
- Hiking Distance: 3 miles
- Elevation Gain: 960 feet
- Elevation Loss: 700 feet
From our trailhead on day 1 we ascend a ridge above Pebble Creek and then follow the valley downstream. As we hike we’re treated to dramatic views of Cutoff Mountain (10,695′) and Meridian Peak (10,538′), both dominant features of the skylines surrounding us. Pebble Creek contains spectacular wildflower-filled meadows and the occasional remnants of the 1988 forest fires through this stretch. Our first night in the backcountry will be a relaxing one, with a roaring campfire (if permitted) and a feast of a dinner prepared by your guide(s).
Day 2
- Hiking Distance: Up to 10 miles
- Elevation Gain: 1300 feet
- Elevation Loss: 1300 feet
Following a hearty breakfast we’ll leave camp set up and hit the trail to begin our climb to the trip’s high point, a mountain pass at over 9,000 feet in elevation. After fording Pebble Creek for the last time it is a 1,300 foot climb up switchbacks to the pass. The east side of the pass initially affords a spectacular view into Pebble Creek. We’ll continue to the pass or even over to the other side to get more views of the adjacent drainage. We’ll pick out a spot for a picnic lunch and soak up our surroundings over some tasty sustenance. Eventually we’ll head back to camp for a relaxing evening, time to fish for those who are interested, and a delicious dinner.
Day 3
- Hiking Distance: 3 miles
- Elevation Loss: 960 feet
- Elevation Gain: 700 feet
- Shuttle to Trailhead: 4 hours
Today we’ll enjoy a leisurely morning and big breakfast before breaking camp and hiking back down the valley to our starting point. We’ll keep a sharp eye out for wildlife as we hike and soak up the down-valley views that we didn’t get to savor on day 1 when we were hiking up the valley. At the trailhead, we’ll say goodbye to the llamas and shuttle back to Jackson Hole.
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.
TRIP DATES & BOOKING
AVAILABLE TO BOOK
This trip is available and bookable online! Click on the date to register now or contact us online to book through our award-winning customer service team!
GOING FAST
This trip has 1 or 2 spots remaining and is bookable online! Click on the date to book now or contact us online to book through customer service.
REQUEST A RESERVATION
This trip is exclusively booked through customer service due to logistics with lodging, permits, staffing, availability, or something else. Please contact us online or call us at 800-715-HIKE (4453) to request a reservation.
Don't see your dates? Call us! We may be able to add new trip dates.
800-715-HIKE (4453)Trip Details
What's Included
- Pack llamas to transport the majority of gear and food
- One or more professional, knowledgeable, certified Yellowstone National Park hiking guides
- Top-of-the-line tent, backcountry sleeping pad and multi-day backpack
- High quality, synthetic sleeping bag (professionally laundered after every use) – or bring your own.
- Use of trekking poles
- All meals are included from breakfast the first day through lunch on the last day
- Roundtrip transportation from Jackson to the trailhead and back
- Bear safety equipment including bear spray cannisters and food-hanging gear
- Emergency equipment including a company-issued first-aid kit and communication device (InReach Explorer or satellite phone)
- Mandatory 5% national park fee that passes through directly to Yellowstone
- You will receive a Lifetime Hiking Membership entitling you, your spouse and your kids to a lifetime discount of 10% off any Wildland Trekking hiking trip after your first one!
What's Not Included
- Clothes, raingear, and footwear (see recommendations)
- Sunscreen, toiletries and personal items
- Waterbottles and a headlamp or flashlight
- Guide gratuity (industry recommendation is 10-15% of trip cost)
Click here to see a printable, downloadable trip information packet with more detailed guidance about what to pack.
Meals: What to Expect
All of our hiking and backpacking tours include a diversity of tasty meals packed full of critical carbohydrates, proteins and fats. We carry foods that travel well in the backcountry – rice, pastas, lentils, beans, couscous, packaged meats, nuts, breads, oatmeal, granola, and more.
For optimal taste and energy, we supplement all our meals with spices, herbs, oils, cheeses, butter, sugar, and fruits and vegetables (fresh and dried). In addition, we provide you with with an assortment of trail mix, snacks, and dried fruits to eat at your own discretion.
We regularly accommodate vegan, vegetarian, kosher and non-gluten diets and will make adjustments for food allergies. These and other special dietary requests may require an additional fee.
Gear We Provide
We provide all group gear which includes the following:
- Deuter or Osprey backpacks
- Sierra Designs or Mountain Hardware tents
- Sierra Designs, Kelty, Big Agnes and Mountain Hardware synthetic-fill sleeping bags (or bring your own)
- Thermarest or Big Agnes sleeping pads
- Leki trekking poles
- Mountain Safety Research cooking stoves
- Mountain Safety Research cookware
- Bear spray cannisters and food-hanging gear
- Company-issued first-aid kit
- Emergency communication device(s)
What Gear to Bring
We ask that you supply a couple of gear items on your hiking tour. These items are two 1-liter waterbottles per person, either a headlamp or flashlight per person, and a lightweight waterproof stuff sac for your clothes and belongings. Basic items like sunscreen, bug repellent (where and when applicable), lip balm, and toiletries are also important.
Additionally, some guests choose to bring their own sleeping bag. We supply high quality, synthetic fill bags that are professionally laundered after every trip. Synthetic fill is non-allergenic, insulates when damp and stands up well to repeated washings, but is heavier and bulkier than down. If you’re able to bring your own down sleeping bag, there are multiple benefits. If not, we’ve got you covered!
What Clothes to Bring
When you register for this tour you’ll receive access to a printable, downloadable trip information packet with detailed guidance about what clothes to pack (click here to see it now.) All trips require a sturdy pair of hiking shoes or hiking boots, rain gear, and our recommended clothing system. A minimum of three pairs of wool or synthetic hiking socks are also required.
Trip Logistics
Where Do We Meet?
Your guide will conduct a virtual orientation meeting (via conference call) at 5:00 PM the evening before your trip begins 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 Jackson Hole, Wyoming; Driggs, Idaho; or Victor, Idaho.
Click here to see a printable, downloadable trip information packet with more detailed guidance about flights, shuttles, recommended lodging and more.
Start/End Times
You can expect the first day’s pick-up time to be between 5 and 7 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 Considerations
Your safety is our top priority. Our hiking tours are led by professional Wyoming hiking guides, all of whom are wilderness-certified first responders or EMT’s, each with years of guiding and wilderness experience. We’ve developed comprehensive risk management protocols that our guides adhere to in case of an emergency, and all tours carry an emergency communication device. If you have any further questions about safety, please contact us at 1-800-715-HIKE (4453) for more information.
Guides
Your tour will be led by a trained, experienced professional with a solid guiding background, years of personal wilderness and hiking experience, training in llama-handling, medical certifications, and a passion for leading people into breathtaking landscapes. Check out our Meet Our Team page for staff bios.
Group Size
The standard ratio of guests to guides on llama trips is 1 guide for 1-4 guests; 2 guides for 5-8 guests; and 3 guides for 9-10 guests. If you have more questions about group size, please give us a call at 800-715-HIKE (4453) and we’ll answer all your questions.
Weather in Yellowstone
Being a Northern mountain environment, the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem is prone to sudden temperature and weather shifts. This is an exciting aspect of being in Wyoming’s mountains. On trips in June, snow is a slight possibility, and the rest of the summer you’re likely to get rained on at least once during your trip. To be fully prepared, please follow the recommended clothing list closely (this list comes as part of your trip packet when you register). See below for average summer temperatures around Yellowstone:
AVERAGE TEMPERATURES (FAHRENHEIT)
| Month | High | Low |
|---|---|---|
| June | 70° | 42° |
| July | 80° | 47° |
| August | 78° | 45° |
| September | 68° | 37° |
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
Of course campsites vary tremendously 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 llama trekking adventure. We carefully design our itineraries with campsites in mind.
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