Yellowstone and Grand Tetons Inn Based
Jackson, WY
4.9 (15 reviews)Trip Highlights
- Stunning Views
- Snake River Rafting
- Diversity of Hikes
- Tetons Sight Seeing
- Lodging in Jackson & Yellowstone
- Wildlife Habitat
Description
Make the very most of your journey to the Northern Rockies by combining Yellowstone National Park and Grand Teton National Park in one iconic 5-day tour. We meet in Jackson, Wyoming. From Jackson we head north into central and northern Yellowstone National Park for 3 days of spectacular hiking to mountain viewpoints, waterfalls, geysers, other thermal features, deep canyons and wildlife areas (seeing wildlife is not guaranteed.) Our lodging in Yellowstone puts us right in the action to make the most of America’s first national park.
After the Yellowstone portion of our tour, we return to Jackson for two days of discovery in Grand Teton National Park. The first day we enjoy a spectacular lake hike with stunning views of the soaring ramparts of the Tetons (this hike is self-guided.) The second day in the Tetons, and the final day of the tour, we float a whitewater section of the Snake River below the Tetons, one of America’s most famous sections of river.
Join us for an adventure you’ll never forget in two of America’s most famous national parks!
Please Note: Grand Teton National Park does not permit commercially guided day hiking. Therefore this trip includes a self-guided hike in the Tetons. We recommend guests hike together on this day but cannot guarantee that will be the case. If you are uncomfortable hiking alone, or are unsure of your ability to follow moderately well signed trails, we recommend looking at our Best of Yellowstone Tour, which is fully guided.
The Wildland Trekking Company is an Authorized Permittee of Grand Teton National Park.
$1075 Single Supplement
The single supplement guarantees your own room. If you would like to forego the single supplement, you can request to be paired with a roommate of the same gender. If we are unsuccessful in pairing you with a roommate, the single supplement will apply.
DIFFICULTY LEVEL 2
Scale of 1-5. 1 is least difficult; 5 is most difficult
This trip follows well-maintained trails with easy-moderate distances and elevation gains. Our backpacks are light and terrain is generally not very rugged. The one unique factor with this tour is the self-guided hike on Day 4 in the Tetons, which is a moderate hike but due to regulations in the Tetons your guide is not permitted to accompany the group.
Hiking Distances:
4-6 mi
Backpack Weight:
8-12 lbs
Terrain:
Lightly Rugged
Max Daily Elev. ↑↓:
1400 ft
Heights Exposure:
Light
PHYSICAL DEMANDS OF THIS TRIP
- Hiking uphill or downhill with a 8-12 lb backpack for 5-7 hours
- Paddling in a raft off and on for 3.5 hours through flat water, as well as class 3 and 3+ rapids
- Embarking on a 6-mile self-guided, well-signed hike in the Tetons
SOLITUDE LEVEL 2
1 least solitude, 5 most solitude
We rate this hiking tour a solitude 2. You can expect as much as an hour of solitude at a time.
MINIMUM OF 2 GUESTS
If a trip does not reach the minimum number of guests, you may choose to transfer to another trip date or another trip, be refunded your payments in full, or you may have the choice to pay a supplemental fee to run the trip with fewer guests. We make the final determination for these trips 4-6 weeks before the departure date, and notify guests of changes and options immediately.
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 2
- 4 People: Rate x 1.5
- 5+ People: Rate x 1.15
*all rates are per person and single supplements apply
Learn About Our Private Trips
View Private TripsITINERARY
Day 1
- Shuttle from Jackson: 3-hour drive
- Hiking Mileage: 6 miles
- Elevation Gain/Loss: 1400 feet
The Yellowstone portion of our adventure begins today with one of the most beautiful hikes in the park, a hike to the summit of a mountain that gives us panoramic views of the surrounding meadows, river valleys and distant mountain ranges. The trail to the summit travels through picturesque subalpine parkland where wildflowers abound. Bighorn sheep are sometimes seen grazing in nearby meadows. This is one of the only places in the park where hikers can potentially get close up views and photos of the majestic sheep as they are habituated to the presence of hikers. It is a steady climb over several miles to the summit where we’ll have a tremendous view of the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone – a giant rift in a landscape of forested hills. Other sites include Yellowstone Lake, the Teton Range, Electric Peak, and an overall sense that the entire park stretches out below your feet.
Following this beautiful hike we’ll drive to the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone for a short stroll out to Artist Point for one of the more phenomenal waterfall views in North America – the Lower Falls of the Yellowstone River. The Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone is an amazing feature at 20 miles long, 1,200 feet deep, and a mere 4,000 feet in width on average. It was formed approximately 10,000 years ago when a large glacial ice dam in Hayden Valley burst, flooding the canyon and creating the two thunderous waterfalls and multicolored canyon walls it is known for.
Day 2
- Hiking Mileage: 6 miles
- Elevation Change: minimal
The glittering expanse of Yellowstone Lake will be the focal point of today’s first hike: Storm Point. This relatively flat 2.3-mile loop leads to a stunning vista of the largest lake above 7,000 feet in North America. In spring, the lakeshore is a corridor for grizzly bears. The hike begins at Indian Pond, a favorite locale for bison, and continues through a lodge pole pine forest to a bluff overlooking the picturesque shore of this hydrothermal fed lake. Before completing our loop, we will walk past enormous boulders, which are home to a colony of yellow-bellied marmots. If we are lucky, we may see one basking in the sun. We’ll then jump back in the van for a drive to Old Faithful where we will explore the Upper Geyser Basin. Yellowstone is home to 60% of the world’s geysers and most of them can be found here, including Old Faithful itself. Walking the boardwalks we’ll experience the basins’ diverse array of geysers from thin fountains to massive eruptions. It is an impressive scene.
Day 3
- Hiking Mileage: 5.4 miles
- Elevation Change: 200 feet
- Shuttle to Jackson: 90 minutes
Our final hike in Yellowstone takes us through classic Yellowstone meadows and lodgepole pine forests to a 200-foot waterfall plunging off a pine-studded cliff. After we soak up the sights and sounds of the falls we will stop at the Grand Prismatic overlook. The Grand Prismatic is the largest hot spring in the United States and one of the most iconic features in the park. It is a great way to close out the Yellowstone portion of our adventure!
After our hike we’ll shuttle back to Jackson Hole, passing through some of North America’s most stunning landscapes en route. We’ll check back into our Jackson lodge, after cleaning up and relaxing for a bit, enjoy dinner out on the town in Jackson.
Day 4
- Hiking Mileage: 4-6 miles
- Elevation Change: 450-760 feet
Today we’ll enjoy a delicious breakfast before setting out for Grand Teton National Park. We have at this point driven by the expansive Teton Range twice, and now we have an opportunity to drive into the Park and explore it on foot. The Tetons are an imposing range with towering granite peaks, glaciers, thundering rivers and more!
Grand Teton National Park does not allow commercially guided day hiking, so today’s hike is a self-guided one. Your guide will provide you with an information packet for the hike and collection of tasty trail snacks. The hike itself features abundant views of the Tetons, which are soaring into the sky above you (be sure and bring your camera/phone for great pics!) You’ll enjoy lakes, creeks, possible wildlife sightings (moose are relatively common!) and more as you make your way on this stunning trail.
After returning to the trailhead, we’ll enjoy a picnic lunch and then some more time in Grand Teton National Park with a relaxing road-based tour to key viewpoints and highlights of the Park. Your guide explains the natural and cultural history that makes the Tetons America’s most famous mountain range.
Day 5
After an enchanting week, we’ve saved some of the best for last! We’ll enjoy a relaxing breakfast and then head back to the Tetons for a float below the grandeur of the Tetons on the Snake River. We have hand picked the best white water rafting company in the Tetons to provide this afternoon’s adventure (Dave Hansen Rafting Company), and you’re in for an incredible treat! The 8 mile whitewater stretch that we do through the scenic Snake River Canyon includes a mix of calm sections where we can take in the scenery and watch for wildlife, and exciting class 3 and 3+ rapids. Plan on getting wet!
Following the conclusion of our rafting adventure, we’ll enjoy a leisurely picnic lunch beneath the Tetons and eventually make our way back to Jackson for the conclusion of our tour. What a week it’s been!
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
- 4 nights of double occupancy lodging (2 in Jackson, 2 in Yellowstone) (single occupancy requires an additional single supplement)
- Top-of-the-line daypack and trekking poles
- All meals are included from breakfast Day 1 through lunch Day 5
- 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.
- Roundtrip transportation from your hotel in Jackson Hole, WY; Victor, ID or Driggs, ID
- Entrance fees and national park permits
- Rafting tour on the Snake River
- Bear safety equipment including bear spray cannisters
- 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
What's Not Included
- Clothes, raingear, and footwear (see recommendations)
- Also recommended are water sandals or footwear for the rafting tour (no flip flops!)
- Sunscreen, toiletries and personal items
- Water bottles and a headlamp or flashlight
- Alcoholic beverages
- Guide gratuity (industry recommendation is 10-20% of trip cost)
Click here to see a printable, downloadable trip information packet with more detailed information about what to pack.
Meals: What to Expect
We provide all your meals from breakfast the Day 1 through lunch the last day. Your guide will prepare breakfasts and lunches with a variety of hot and cold meals that are appropriate for the day’s activities. Feel free to tell us about your food preferences, as we’re more than happy to tailor the menu to your needs/desires. For dinners, we’ll visit local restaurants you’re sure to enjoy!
Gear We Provide
We provide all group gear which includes the following:
- Deuter or Osprey backpacks
- Leki trekking poles
- Bear spray cannisters
- 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.
Trip Logistics
How Do I Register?
Reserve your spot today! In the Trip Dates & Booking section of this page, the green and red dates are bookable online by simply clicking on the date, and blue dates must be booked through our customer service team for a variety of possible reasons. To email our customer service team, you can click here to get the ball rolling. Our adventure consultants will confirm availability, and if you’re ready to register we’ll email you a link to a registration profile. You’ll have 72 hours to complete your profile (and that of any dependents) and pay the deposit.
Feel free to call us for more info – we’re here 7 days a week!
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 to Jackson, WY
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 A Black Car Service (307-413-2572, advanced reservations recommended) provide airport shuttles. Daily shuttles to Driggs and Victor provided by START Bus (Teton Valley Commuter)
- 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
Your guide will inform you of the first day’s pick-up time during the pre-trip communication. Generally, you can expect it to be between 5 and 8 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.
Guide Working Parameters
Guides are required to take 8 hours off each 24-hour period to sleep, recuperate, take personal/down time…etc. In addition, as part of the 8 hours off they must sleep/rest or be in their tents/rooms uninterrupted for a minimum of 5 hours each night. We ask guests to respect these requirements and to not interrupt guides’ off time and sleep time unless there is a true emergency.
Age Restrictions
Age restrictions on this trip are as follows:
- 12 and older to join scheduled tours (mixed groups)
- 5 and older to join private tours, with final approval and specific logistical requirements (such as porter or stock assist) determined on a case by case basis
Weather in Yellowstone Area
Being a Northern mountain environment, Yellowstone is prone to sudden temperature and weather shifts. This is an exciting aspect of being in Yellowstone. On the Spring/Fall Trekking Adventure 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 in Yellowstone:
AVERAGE TEMPERATURES (FAHRENHEIT)
| Month | High | Low |
|---|---|---|
| June | 70° | 42° |
| July | 80° | 47° |
| August | 78° | 45° |
| September | 68° | 37° |
Accommodations
Mountain Modern
2 Nights
This boutique lodge puts you smack dab in the heart of Jackson and close to everything this glorious area has to offer. We’re just 2 blocks from the infamous Town Square, 5 blocks from Snow King Mountain, 10 miles from Grand Teton National Park, 12 miles from Jackson Hole Mountain Resort and 55 miles from the south entrance to Yellowstone.
(Heated indoor pool, hot tub)
Canyon Lodge
0-2 NIGHTS
Canyon Lodge is a large, historic national park hotel, featuring some of the most popular accommodations in Yellowstone. Situated on the east side of the park near the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone River and Upper and Lower Falls, it puts us right in the action.
Roosevelt Hotel
0-2 NIGHTS
Some trip dates include two nights at the Roosevelt Hotel in Gardiner, Montana. This hotel is located just outside the northern entrance to Yellowstone National Park, very close to the famous Yellowstone River and offers fantastic access for us with a quieter feel and more culinary options.
* These exact accommodations are not guaranteed. In some instances alternative accommodations of similar quality and location may be used.
Trip Reviews
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Carolyn G
Fantastic company, fantastic experience, fantastic memories.
Our 2 guides, Jordan and Andrew, made our 5 day hiking trip one of the best experiences we've ever had. Their attention to detail, ***amazing*** camp cooking skills, knowledge, humor, and organization made this trip phenomenal. If you're ever looking for a guided hike or adventure trip in the US (or abroad), I HIGHLY recommend Wildland Trekking. Fantastic company, fantastic experience, fantastic memories.
Christopher B
Really Great Trip
Really great trip, coming from someone that’s not a big hiker. Our guides Jordan and Andrew did a fantastic job, making our trip informative and fun. Our hikes all had spectacular views. Jordan and Andrew made us delicious lunch’s and we had fantastic dinners. If you are considering a hiking trip of any kind, I would highly recommend Wildland Trekking.
Kathleen H
I LOVED this trip.
This was my first experience withWildland Trekking and a guided hiking tour. We went on the Inn based Yellowstone and Grand Tetons Tour. So hard to explain how much I LOVED this trip. Jordan and Andrew provided awesome experiences…so much knowledge about the parks, geology, history and wildlife was imparted to us. They went above and beyond to cook us amazing lunches and a dinner (fish tacos, steak and salmon, barbecue, homemade potato gnocchi), celebrations for a couple’s anniversary and a birthday, and even entertained us with a final night “jeopardy” game to summarize all we learned on the trip, Every restaurant (other than the Canyon Village Cafeteria) was excellent with awesome food and loved the “order anything and everything you want”. All in all, the experience is one I will never forget, and I will surely be planning another trip with Wildland Trekking ! My only negative comment is with the Mountain Modern hotel. We stayed there an extra night prior to our trip. They required us to check out and check back in…all rooms were loud (neighbors outside, inside, climbing stairs, and a restaurant below us with loud music and banging pots).. We stayed there a total of four nights, and none of them were “restful”.
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