Yellowstone Winter Wildlife Tour: Snowshoe & Lamar Valley

Track wolves and bison across snow-covered Lamar Valley with a naturalist guide.

A full-day private winter tour of Yellowstone National Park with a live naturalist guide, round-trip transportation from Bozeman, Paradise Valley, or Gardiner, and snowshoe rentals. The itinerary covers Mammoth Hot Springs and Lamar Valley, where you watch for wolves, bison, moose, and other wildlife. Park entry, a gourmet picnic lunch, and all gear are included. International visitors may owe a separate park entrance fee, collected on arrival.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time at each

1. Mammoth Hot Springs45m
2. Lamar Valley3h

Explore Yellowstone winter highlights

• Visit Mammoth Hot Springs
• Wildlife watching in Lamar Valley
• Hike or snowshoe to Yellowstone River overlook

The experience

You arrive in Yellowstone with a guide who knows the park's geology, history, and wildlife patterns, not just the scenic overlooks. The day splits between two main stops: Mammoth Hot Springs, where you see travertine terraces including the famous Canary Spring, and Lamar Valley, the wildlife-watching heart of the park. The guide drives you through the snow-covered landscape, stopping where animals are most likely to appear. Bison, moose, wolves, bighorn sheep, foxes, and coyotes all move through this valley, and the guide reads the terrain to find them.

Midway through the day, your guide serves a gourmet picnic lunch on-site, with dietary requests accommodated if you mention them when booking. You have the option to hike or snowshoe to an overlook of the Yellowstone River and the hot springs that line its canyons. The snowshoes are provided, and the guide decides whether the conditions call for them or crampons instead. The full day runs six to eight hours, and transportation leaves from Bozeman, Paradise Valley, or Gardiner, so you don't navigate the winter roads yourself.

The guide is medically trained and speaks English, so you get both safety and clear explanation of what you're seeing. New visitors often arrive unsure what to expect from a winter park, and this tour removes the guesswork: you see the thermal features, you search for wildlife with someone who knows where to look, and you eat lunch without leaving the park.

What’s included

• Park entry fees.
• round-trip transportation from Bozeman, Paradise Valley, or Gardiner.
• snowshoe or crampon rentals as needed.
• gourmet picnic lunch with dietary accommodations.
• medically trained naturalist guide in English.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 08:00

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 3 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelStroller friendly

Operated by Good Trip Adventures

Is this one for you?The guide speaks English and delivers commentary throughout the day, so anyone comfortable following a live explanation will follow the tour easily. The full day runs six to eight hours with one main hike or snowshoe option, making it suitable for visitors with varying fitness levels who want to move at a steady pace without extreme exertion.

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Top questions

What animals am I likely to see in Lamar Valley in winter?

Lamar Valley is home to bison, moose, wolves, bighorn sheep, foxes, and coyotes. The guide watches for them throughout the day and positions you where sightings are most likely, though wildlife viewing is never guaranteed.

Do I need to be an experienced snowshoer for this tour?

No. The tour is suitable for all physical fitness levels. Snowshoes are provided, and you have the option to hike or snowshoe to the Yellowstone River overlook: the guide assesses conditions and your comfort before deciding.

What's included in the gourmet lunch?

Your guide serves lunch on-site at midday. The operator caters to all dietary requests if you mention them when booking, so let them know about any restrictions or preferences ahead of time.

Do I need to pay the national park entrance fee separately?

Park entry is included in the tour price for U.S. residents. International visitors may owe an additional National Park entrance fee, which is collected in-destination when you arrive, not at booking.

Where does the tour pick me up?

Round-trip transportation is included from Bozeman, Paradise Valley, or Gardiner. Confirm your pickup location when you book.