Yellowstone Snowshoe Traverse
Bozeman, MT
5.0 (26 reviews)Trip Highlights
- Yellowstone's Most Magical Season
- Solitude, Peace & Quiet
- Famous Geysers & Thermals
- Snow-blanked Meadows & Frozen Rivers
- Amazing Natural & Cultural History
- Potential to See Wildlife
- No Previous Experience Necessary
Description
Our Yellowstone Snowshoe Traverse is an opportunity to explore and enjoy the truly majestic winter beauty of Yellowstone National Park on foot. We’ll embark on five days of snowshoeing through vast, snow-covered meadows to geysers, frozen waterfalls, and wildlife areas. Each evening we’ll return to cozy national park lodges for showers, relaxation and hearty meals!
Included in the trip cost is your lodging, all your meals, local transportation, gear and a professional Yellowstone guide. We take care of nearly everything so you can relax and soak it all in! Come join us for an unforgettable snowshoe tour in America’s first national park!
Need to Know: Hotel Deadline
New reservations on this trip within 45 days of trip start date are highly unlikely due to Yellowstone National Park’s lodging cancellation policies. It’s highly recommended to book at least 46 days in advance!
$990 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 3
Scale of 1-5. 1 is least difficult; 5 is most difficult
The difficulties of this trip come from the typically harsh winter conditions of the area. The majority of the hikes are on packed trails and boardwalks (when in thermal areas), but the route to Lone Star Geyser can involve some difficult trail breaking depending on recent snowfall.
Hiking Distances:
2-7 mi
Backpack Weight:
10-15 pounds
Terrain:
Moderately Rugged
Max Daily Elev. ↑↓:
Up to 750 ft
Heights Exposure:
Light
PHYSICAL DEMANDS OF THIS TRIP
- Snowshoeing with a 10-15 pound backpack for 5-7 hours through packed and deeper, powdery snow condition
- Hiking in potentially below 0 degree Fahrenheit temperatures
SOLITUDE LEVEL 4
1 least solitude, 5 most solitude
We rate our Yellowstone winter tours a solitude 4. You can expect hours of solitude at a time, particularly on our longer ski/snowshoe forays.
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 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 Mammoth Hot Springs: 2-hour drive
- Snowshoe Mileage: 5 miles
We begin this tour with a snowshoe along a nicely groomed road out to Tower Falls. Ascending toward the falls we will be on the lookout for wildlife, as it is common to see bison, elk, coyote, and bighorn sheep in this area. After enjoying a picnic lunch and appreciating the overlook of the 132-foot Tower Falls we’ll retrace our steps back to the vehicle for a drive through the Lamar Valley. The Lamar is world famous for wolf and other wildlife watching. While we can’t guarantee wolf sightings, winter in the Lamar provides some of the best opportunities for viewing these impressive canines. After the drive, we will return to the lodge for dinner and relaxation!
Day 2
- Snow Coach Shuttle to Old Faithful: 4 hours
- Snowshoe Mileage: 3-5 miles
We’ll be dropped at Biscuit Basin, where we’ll explore numerous thermal features before snowshoeing through the Upper Geyser Basin (photo below) on our way to Old Faithful. Yellowstone is home to 60% of the world’s geysers and most of them can be found here. Snowshoeing the trails we’ll see the basins’ diverse array of geysers from thin fountains to massive eruptions as thick plumes of steam rise heavily through the frigid air. It is an impressive scene.
Day 3
- Snowshoe Mileage: 5-8 miles
Today we’ll set out for Mystic Falls or Black Sand Basin depending on group goals for the day. We cover approximately 8 miles on the roundtrip hike to Mystic Falls and roughly 5 miles on the hike to Black Sand Basin. Either hike will once again take us through the Upper Geyser Basin, affording new chances to see various geysers such as Riverside, Grand, and Old Faithful herself in their eruption phases!
Day 4
- Snow Coach Shuttle: 30 minutes
- Snowshoe Mileage: 7 miles
Following breakfast we’ll take a snow coach to the trailhead from which we head out to one of the more unique and impressive backcountry geysers in the park – Lone Star Geyser (photo below). Our route hugs the Firehole River, named for the numerous thermal features that feed its waters, before we arrive at the geyser. Found in a clearing surrounded by dense forest, it erupts from a large, cream colored mound. At full tilt it sprays scalding water and steam 40 feet into the air. We’ll reverse our route back to dinner and time spent warming by the lodge’s fire.
Day 5
- Snowshoe Mileage: 2 miles
- Snow Coach Shuttle To Mammoth: 4 hours
- Shuttle: 2 hours
The final morning of our journey will commence with breakfast at Old Faithful Snow Lodge followed by an early morning snow coach departure back to Mammoth Hot Springs Lodge. Upon returning to Mammoth Hot Springs, our group will embark on a short drive to a trail head that allows for exploration of the Mammoth Hot Springs travertine terraces. As we travel along the Upper Terrace loop, the expansion and contraction of this hot spring feature dominates the mixed conifer forest landscape. Our group will be able to view areas of the feature that have grown or shrank depending on changing underground thermal activity. Once on top of the Terraces, we will be gifted with wide ranging views of the deeply cut Gardner River Canyon directly below, Mt. Everts, and snow clad peaks of the Southern portion of the Absaroka – Beartooth Range. From the high vantage, the group will descend back to the vehicle for the return drive to Bozeman and our conclusion to a unique winter experience.
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
- Roundtrip transportation from your hotel in Bozeman, MT to Yellowstone and back
- Roundtrip snow coach transportation from Mammoth to Old Faithful
- 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.
- All meals are included from breakfast the first day through lunch on the last day
- Double occupancy lodging at 2 different lodges in and around Yellowstone National Park (single occupancy requires an additional single supplement)
- Use of snowshoes
- Use of a top-of-the-line backpack
- Use of ski poles
- 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)
- 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 guidance about what to pack.
Meals: What To Expect
We provide all your meals from breakfast the first day 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 enjoy meals in historic Yellowstone lodges!
Gear We Provide
We provide all group gear which includes the following:
- Deuter or Osprey backpacks
- Use of snowshoes
- Use of ski poles
- 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?
You’ll meet your hiking guide and group in Bozeman, Montana for an orientation meeting at 5:00 PM the evening before the trip begins. Your guide will be in contact approximately 2 weeks before your trip and will specify the exact location of the orientation meeting at that point. The next morning we’ll pick you up at your hotel for transport to the trailhead.
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 6 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. uninterrupted for a minimum of 8 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
Yellowstone can be very cold in the winter. 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 winter temperatures in Yellowstone:
Average Temperatures (Fahrenheit)
| Month | High | Low |
|---|---|---|
| December | 25° | 5° |
| January | 24° | 1° |
| February | 28° | 1° |
Accommodations
Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel
1 night
This historic lodge is the perfect place from which to explore Yellowstone’s Northern Range in winter filled with wildlife and sensational scenery. Rooms were recently remodeled, embracing its early 20th Century roots, but with modern touches and comforts.
Old Faithful Snow Lodge
2-3 nights
This is Yellowstone’s newest and most modern full service hotel. It won the prestigious “Cody Award for Western Design” and Travel and Leisure’s “Inn of the Month.” As the name implies, it’s near Old Faithful and gives us amazing access to many Park highlights.
* 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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Kenny K
Awesome Trip, Good People
It was a magical trip, Yellowstone delivered,our guide Rosy is awesome,passionate, knowledgeable,there’s not enough words to go on, but I highly recommend this trip
William P
Phenomenal Tour
Yellowstone in winter is an indescribable experience; beauty, majesty, challenging, and peaceful. Feel mindfulness from the quiet minus the crowds.
Cecelia T
Stunning and Unique!
WOW! I can't tell you just how much we enjoyed this trip! My husband and I both said we can't imagine that Yellowstone could possibly be more beautiful any other time of year. There is something incredible about walking (or snowshoeing) down the middle of roads that would be back-to-back cars any other time of year. The snow-covered geyser basins looked almost other-worldly. The length of the hikes was just right, this was our first time snowshoeing, and the hikes were challenging without being exhausting. The views each day were stunning and unique. Scott, our fearless guide, was fantastic. We knew we were in good hands, and he was a wealth of knowledge about the area. We are so happy that we took this amazing trip!
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