Heart Lake Llama Trek
Yellowstone National Park, WY
5.0 (3 reviews)Trip Highlights
- Point to Point Thru-Hike
- Summit Mount Sheridan
- Thermals & Hot Springs
- Abundant Wildlife Habitat
- Mountain Solitude
- Hike with Light Daypack
- Llama Trail Companions
Description
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 enjoy roaring campfires.
Our hike starts near Heart Lake, where we camp for two nights and ascend Mount Sheridan on Day 2. On Day 3 we leave Heart Lake and enter into the deeper backcountry, traversing the Heart River to the Snake River, and exiting near the South Entrance of Yellowstone.
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.
$2525 Per Person
DIFFICULTY LEVEL 3
Our difficulty ratings are based on a scale of 1-5, tours with a rating of 1 being least difficult, tours with a rating of 5 being most difficult
- Backpack Weight:
- 10 pounds
- Daily Hiking Distances:
- 3-11 miles
- Most Elevation Loss:
- 2805 feet
- Most Elevation Gain:
- 2805 feet
- Quality of Trails:
- Well-maintained
- Additional:
- This trip follows well-maintained trails. It has some longer days of hiking (up to 11 miles) and some broad river crossings. Also, our hike to the summit of Mount Sheridan (optional) requires significant elevation gain and loss (nearly 3,000 feet).
Participants should:
- be active and healthy
- exercise several times per week
- be comfortable hiking 8-10 miles per day in hilly or mountainous terrain
SOLITUDE LEVEL 4
1 least solitude, 5 most solitude
We rate this Yellowstone llama trip a solitude 4. You can expect to see a couple other groups of hikers per day.
All Wyoming llama trips begin and end in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. Jackson Hole has an airport served by United, Delta, and American Airlines. One can also fly into Salt Lake City and drive to Jackson Hole. It is a 4.5-hour drive from Salt Lake City to Jackson Hole on good roads.
Shuttle from Jackson Airport to Town
A Black Car Service (307-413-2572) provides private airport transportation. Advance reservations are recommended.
Shuttle from Salt Lake to Jackson
Salt Lake Express (800-356-9796 or 208-656-8824) and Alltrans (800-652-9510) offer daily vans from Salt Lake City to Jackson Hole. Advance reservations required.
Montana and Wyoming do not charge sales tax on services, so there is no sales tax for this trip.
All trips in Yellowstone National Park have a 5% fee required by the National Park Service. This fee is applied when your reservation is made and is passed through directly to the national park.
There are no other taxes or fees associated with this trip. Feel free to give us a call at 800-715-HIKE (4453) with any questions!
Private Trips
Traveling in perfect company is a wonderful thing! With our private trip offerings you can book a trip exclusively for your group. Whether it’s with family, friends or colleagues, private trips are a fun and enriching way to explore the outdoors.
Private trip pricing is based on a sliding scale, depending on the number of people in your party. Rates are per person and do not include sales tax and national park fees (where applicable) or guide gratuity. Give us a call at 800-715-HIKE to get the ball rolling!
Private Rates FOr This Trip
- 2 People: Rate x 2
- 3 People: Rate x 1.3
- 4 People: Rate x 1.1
- 5+ People: Rate x 1
*all rates are per person
Learn About Our Private Trips
View Private TripsITINERARY
Day 1
- Shuttle to Trailhead: 1.5 hours
- Hiking Distance: 9.2 miles
- Elevation Gain: 200 feet
- Elevation Loss: 500 feet
This Yellowstone llama trek begins with pickup at your hotel in Jackson, Wyoming. We’ll drive to our starting point at Heart Lake Trailhead (passing stunning views of the Tetons enroute), pack up the llamas, and begin our trek. Today takes us through meadows and lodgepole pine forests to a broad valley looking down onto Heart Lake. We’ll hike by Witch Creek – a boiling creek – and other thermal features and traverse 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: 11.2 miles
- Elevation Gain/Loss: 2805 feet
Today we leave camp set up and get an early start to beat potential thunderstorms. Our hike takes us up the flanks of Mount Sheridan to a summit ridge. We’ll follow the ridge to the summit for absolutely spectacular views, a picnic lunch, and long break before we descend. From the top of Mount Sheridan we can see how Heart Lake earned its name – it is indeed a huge, heart-shaped lake surrounded by classic Yellowstone wilderness. We’ll be able to see the Tetons in the distance to the South and the Gallatin Mountains to the north.
Once back at camp, we will have some time to relax, swim in the lake, or enjoy a good book before another wonderful backcountry dinner.
Day 3
- Hiking Distance: 5.7 miles
- Elevation Gain: minimal
- Elevation Loss: 200 feet
Today we leave Heart Lake and begin a gradual traverse of the Heart River. At this point we are in very remote feeling country characterized by broad valleys, deep lodgepole stands, vast meadows, wonderful-smelling sage brush and willows, and all-around excellent wildlife habitat. We have seen packs of wolves, moose, elk, deer, bear, coyote, fox and a variety of wildlife in this area. We’ll keep our eyes out and hope to see some! Eventually we’ll come to our campsite not far from the shores of the Heart River.
Day 4
- Hiking Distance: 5-8.5 miles
- Elevation Gain: 0-500 feet
- Elevation Loss: 100-300 feet
There are two possibilities for today, both of which take us down the Heart River to its confluence with the Snake River. One is 5 miles and leaves 6 miles of hiking for Day 5; the other is 8.5 miles and leaves 3 miles of hiking for Day 5. Which campsites are available when we secure permits will determine which alternative we take. Either way we start with a heart breakfast, traverse miles of stunning Yellowstone river wilderness, and end up camping near the shores of the famous Snake River.
Day 5
- Hiking Distance: 3-6 miles
- Elevation Gain: 300 feet
- Elevation Loss: 550 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 6
- Hiking Distance: 5.7 miles
- Elevation Gain: 300 feet
- Elevation Loss: 550 feet
- Shuttle to Jackson Hole: 1.5 hours
Today we have our final backcountry breakfast and break camp. We cross the Snake River and hike out to a trailhead not far from the South Entrance to Yellowstone National Park. We’ll enjoy a picnic lunch either during our hike or at the trailhead, and enjoy a relaxing shuttle past the Tetons back to Jackson.
Please Note: We always do everything in our power to follow the set itinerary, however it can change occasionally based on temporary park restrictions, campsite availability, weather, road closures, guest ability/injury, and natural events like fires and flooding.
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 satellite phone
- 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 (Oboz hiking shoes and boots recommended)
- 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. All of these items are available online at Wildland Trekking Outfitters.
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. All of these items are available online at Wildland Trekking Outfitters.
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 most tours carry a satellite phone. 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 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 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.
Trip Reviews
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Janet F.
Absolutely wonderful!
Absolutely wonderful! Scott and Alex make a superstar team - both are serious outdoorsmen and both are terrific cooks! Who knew there could be cheesecake and French pressed coffee in the backcountry?! My fellow travelers were just the best group of interesting, like minded and kind people. Our weather was glorious (including an awesome thunderstorm storm!!!). Llamas are the perfect way to travel - off the grid in heavenly country while glamping.
Marsha C.
I am already planning for another one!
This was my 4th hike with Wildland. Again I was very happy with the experience. The guides were professional, knowledgeable & lots of fun. Even loved the llamas. I am already planning for another one.
Angela Y.
I had an amazing experience!
Dan and Marshall were amazing. We were very well looked after and I didn't expect that camp food could be so tasty! It was my first time trekking and camping and I had an amazing experience!
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