Wild Wyoming Llama Trek
Jackson, WY
5.0 (15 reviews)Trip Highlights
- Remote Mountain Trekking
- 200' High Waterfall
- Off Trail Hiking & Camping
- Mountain Solitude
- Spectacular Mountain Views
- Abundant Wildlife Habitat
- Dramatic Night Skies
- Guides Choice Trip
Description
The Wyoming Range is one of the least traveled mountain ranges in Wyoming, simply because word has never gotten out about how magnificent it is. Providing the ability to see more animals than people, the Wyoming Range – and our Wild Wyoming Llama Trek more specifically – truly provides an opportunity to step back into the Wild West.
Highlights of this trip include the adventure of hiking off-trail much of the time; amazing waterfalls including Cliff Creek Falls which in total is over 200 feet high; secluded and scenic campsites; vast wildflower-filled meadows; and last but not least fantastic views of the surrounding mountain ranges including the Tetons. As you hike with the llamas through the high mountain meadows, looking far down on the valleys below, gazing up at Hoback Peak and its perennial snow fields, standing mesmerized by pristine waterfalls, and staring in awe at the distant mountains, it may very well occur to you that you’re one of the luckiest people alive.
The Wildland Trekking Company operates under a permit issued by the United States Forest Service, and is an equal opportunity service provider.
$2730 Per Person
DIFFICULTY LEVEL 3
Scale of 1-5. 1 is least difficult; 5 is most difficult
The hiking on this trip is rugged because much of it is off trail or on faint trails. The summit of Hoback Peak is rugged and relatively steep. Expect generally moderate distances (with one 10-mile day) and elevation gains/losses but an increased difficulty because of the difficulty of the terrain.
Hiking Distances:
4-10 mi
Backpack Weight:
10-20 lbs
Terrain:
Significantly Rugged
Max Daily Elev. ↑↓:
2450 ft
Heights Exposure:
Moderate
PHYSICAL DEMANDS OF THIS TRIP
- Hiking uphill or downhill with a 10-20 lb backpack for 6-8 hours
- Maintaining balance and footing on significantly rugged terrain
- Hiking with occasional moderate heights exposure
SOLITUDE LEVEL 5
1 least solitude, 5 most solitude
We rate this Jackson Hole Llama Trek a solitude 5. You can expect to see one or two other groups of hikers per day.
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
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ITINERARY
Day 1
- Shuttle to Trailhead: 1.5 hours
- Hiking Mileage: 6 miles
- Elevation Gain: 600 feet
This Jackson Hole Llama Trek begins at a remote trailhead in a wild corner of Wyoming approximately 90 minutes from Jackson Hole. We will have a wonderful day one as we hike 7 miles up a pristine valley to our Cliff Creek camp. We will set up camp and prepare for our hike to the pass tomorrow. Time permitting, we may hike up to the second waterfall for a view, go search for animals, or simply relax and enjoy sitting around a fire at camp near stunning Cliff Creek Falls.
Day 2
- Hiking Mileage: 4 miles
- Elevation Gain: 1000 feet
Day 2 starts with a big backcountry breakfast before we break camp and begin our day’s hike. Today we head onto a seldom-traveled trail and leave the few people that ever travel into the Wyoming Range behind. Taking the llamas high onto Cliff Creek Pass we will hike through high mountain meadows with spectacular views of the surrounding mountain ranges, including the crumbling Gros Ventre’s, the towering granite spires and glaciers of the Wind Rivers, and even an occasional glimpse of the Tetons from a perspective very few people ever experience.
Day 3
- Hiking Mileage: 4 miles
- Elevation Gain/Loss: 1700 feet
We will leave camp set up today, which gives us an opportunity to climb as far up Hoback peak as weather and fitness permits. After traversing a stunning alpine valley with mountain views in all directions, we’ll have the chance to enjoy lunch on a high ridge and look for animals or to go for the summit attempt if the group is up for it.
Day 4
- Hiking Mileage: 4 miles
- Elevation Loss: 1000 feet
Today we will retrace our steps from day 2, back to our camp near Cliff Creek Falls. We’ll enjoy a celebratory dinner as it’s our last night in the wilderness. We’ll soak up the peace and quiet of the Wyoming Range, views of the brilliant star-filled sky, the sounds of Cliff Creek and the falls, and conversation with our trail companions before turning in for one last good night’s sleep.
Day 5
- Hiking Mileage: 6 miles
- Elevation Loss: 600 feet
- Shuttle to Jackson Hole: 1.5 hours
After the guides pack the llamas one more time, our last day’s trek begins as we hike down beautiful Cliff Creek. Our hike is consumed by views of the creek as it twists down a valley laden with pristine forests and wildflowers. We will hike past towering cliffs (the namesakes of Cliff Creek), whose rock ranges from bright reds to tan, and we may see the occasional snow patch still clinging to the hillsides. We’ll eventually reach our ending trailhead and nostalgically say goodbye to these amazing mountains before shuttling back to Jackson Hole for much deserved showers and hotel rooms.
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
- 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.
- 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 your hotel in Jackson Hole, WY; Victor, ID or Driggs, ID
- 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)
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, 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)
Guest Packing List
When you register for this tour you’ll receive access to a printable, downloadable trip information packet with a detailed packing list specific to this trip (click here to see it now.) All trips require a sturdy pair of hiking shoes or hiking boots, rain gear, a recommended clothing system, a headlamp or flashlight, a hydration system (water bottles and/or bladder) and other items specific to each trip.
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!
Trip Logistics
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 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.
Travel Details
This trip begins and ends in Jackson, WY, with pick-up also available in Driggs and Victor, ID.
You can fly into:
- Jackson Hole – some hotels and several transportation companies provide airport shuttles.
- Idaho Falls – small, more affordable airport; Salt Lake Express (208-656-8824) offers 2 daily shuttles between Idaho Falls and Jackson.
- Salt Lake City – Salt Lake Express (208-656-8824) and Alltrans (800-652-9510) offer daily shuttles (4.5 hours). Advance reservations required.
Pre and Post-trip On Request Lodging
We secure limited amounts of pre and post trip lodging in Jackson, Wyoming 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 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 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.
Essential Eligibility Criteria
Essential Eligibility Criteria (“EEC”) have been specifically identified to help you understand the skills and abilities necessary to participate on each Wildland trip, and they apply uniformly to all potential trip participants, irrespective of the presence or absence of any disability.
Once you identify a trip in which you may be interested, please carefully review the EEC and itinerary details. If after reviewing the EEC that apply to your desired trip, you determine you need an accommodation in order to meet the EEC, please contact us prior to registering to discuss your requested accommodation.
The EEC exist for your own safety and the safety and enjoyment of all participants. If you are unable to meet the EEC for the trip, with or without an accommodation, you are not eligible for that trip. If you register and arrive for a trip for which you do not meet the EEC, you will be disqualified from participation on the trip and will be dismissed or evacuated from the trip without a refund.
Hiking with Llamas
Ideally you desire to be on a trip with llamas, by this we mean that a trip with stock animals is different than a backpacking trip in many ways. One big difference is that it takes time for your guide to get all the animals loaded and ready to go in the morning and to unload gear and care for them once we arrive in camp. Also the pace of a llama trip can be a bit slower than you would walk without a pack and you’ll be expected to hike with the group.
On a llama trip the animals tend to take on a focus of the trip. These trips are most rewarding when the clients want to interact with and help out with caring for the llamas. The tradeoff for not having to carry a large backpack is that llamas do require extra work from their guide/handlers. If you are choosing a llama trip solely on the basis of not having to carry a backpack and do not wish to interact with a llama, you need to speak honestly with your Adventure Consultant about this and potentially add another Wildland Guide to your trip to cover the extra workload of caring for the llamas.
Weather Around 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 this trip 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 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 Reviews
- SORT BY:
- Most recent
- LOW - HIGH
- HIGH - LOW
Karen W
Excellent trip and amazing guides.
Excellent trip. Beautiful scenery including mountain views and wildflowers. LLamas were fun and often amusing. Guides Casey and Matt were outstanding, attentive, cheerful, hardworking, helpful, and conscientious about safety and leave no trace camping. I had some problems on the first day (coming directly from sea level and hiking at altitude and heat near 90 degrees). Guides were personally helpful and able to modify the camp destination that day and personally helpful the rest of the week also (taking my llama when I needed to use 2 trekking poles). Food was delicious and plentiful. It was nice to have camp chairs. The sink setup facilitated handwashing and cleanliness. The camping equipment (tent, sleeping bag, pad) was excellent All the participants were friendly and interesting. If you consider doing this trip, believe the number 3 ranking --despite the apparent shorter distances and elevation changes on some days, the hiking was strenuous with many steep ups and downs on loose gravelly dirt. It was also very hot the entire week (high 80's - 90's) altho nights were cool (40s). I personally needed my stash of salt tabs and electrolyte mix during the day hikes (that I brought myself). The water crossings worked fine in tevas. Overall, an excellent trip and amazing guides.
Kyle A
Crushed It!
Casey and Matt CRUSHED it! It was back country Ritz Carlton style service!
Irina G
Another great experience!
We had another fantastic adventure with Wildland Trekking! From the guides to the food and the hikes , everything was outstanding! I am eagerly looking forward to booking my next trip with them !
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