Grand Teton and Yellowstone Winter Wonderland Expedition 2028

December 7, 2028 to December 18, 2028

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Overview

Join us in early winter on our Yellowstone and Grand Teton winter tour for a grand exploration of the beauty Grand Teton, Yellowstone and the National Elk Refuge have to offer.

Early winter is a fantastic time to visit the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. There is snow on the ground but not so much that you can’t move around. It’s wintry but not January cold.

All of the wildlife looks as good as they are going to look all year. Elk and bison are beginning to migrate. Wolves are settling in to their winter routine. The bighorn sheep rut is just winding down.

This is the best time of winter to visit the parks.

We only take 6 guests in two SUVs on this all-inclusive private adventure. Everyone gets a door that opens. Everyone gets a window and door that opens. You get a guide to guest ratio of no more than 3:1, ensuring that you have a fantastic time.

If you are a photographer we will give you as much or as little instruction as you want.

Note that this tour starts in Jackson and ends in Bozeman.

Grand Teton National Park

On our Grand Teton winter tour, earlier in the season finds moose everywhere, elk migrating south, bison still grazing, grizzly bears occasionally still about, swans heading for lower elevations and otters feeding on a late season trout run.

Landscape and wildlife viewing and photography abound. Much of the park is still open ensuring you have access to and incredible experience.

National Elk Refuge

Adjacent to Grand Teton National Park, the National Elk Refuge was created in 1913 to feed elk whose migration route was blocked by the growing town of Jackson. At some 26,000 acres up to 7000 elk make their home here every winter. Miller Butte hosts a migratory bighorn sheep population and is also home to badgers, coyotes, elk, wolves, golden eagles and mountain lions.

West Yellowstone

On our way to Yellowstone from the Tetons we will stop in to the Grizzly Wolf Discovery Center to visit the grizzly bears, wolves and otters.

Yellowstone National Park

Our oldest national park, Yellowstone was created in 1872. At 3471 square miles one can never see it all.

The one open road takes us across the Northern Range where we will find wolves, bison, elk, moose, golden eagles, coyotes and foxes.

We’ll talk about the human and natural history of the place we call “Wonderland.” At 50 or so miles across the Northern Range we take several days to ensure we see everything Yellowstone has to offer.

Details

We start in Jackson and end in Bozeman.

Winter in Yellowstone can be pretty sharp. Bring the warmest clothes you own, have waterproof and insulated boots. Leave any clothing made of cotton at home.

We will discuss clothing options in detail at your prompting and might change advice depending on the weather forecast.

Our rooms in Gardiner have full kitchens. We generally buy groceries at the local market and allow guests to prepare their own breakfast. We bring lunch with us to maximize time in the field.

The dining options are limited in winter so we usually buy groceries and either prepare a family style meal or allow guests to cook on their own.

We can accommodate almost any special dietary requirements with advance notice.

There will be some light walking and you may spend some time standing in the December weather, but the vehicles are never far.

itinerary

December 7

Pickup at Jackson Airport. Grab lunch and spend afternoon looking for wolves and moose. Dinner in Jackson. Lodging at Elk Country Inn.

December 8

Spend the day looking for moose, elk, bighorn sheep and wolves. Breakfast in the field. Lunch in Jackson. Dinner in Jackson. Lodging at Elk Country Inn.

December 9

Head north looking for bison, wolves, coyotes, foxes and otters on remaining open water. Breakfast and lunch in the field. Dinner in Jackson. Lodging at Elk Country Inn.

December 10

Spend morning revisiting any favored locations. Breakfast in the field. Lunch in Jackson. Head over Teton Pass in the afternoon for a bit of owling. Dinner in Victor. Lodging at Cobblestone Inn.

December 11

Head north to Yellowstone stopping at the Grizzly Wolf Discovery Center in West Yellowstone. Continue to the northern entrance of Yellowstone, stopping for elk and pronghorn along the way. Check in to Yellowstone Gateway Inn. Local wildlife drive and then stock up on supplies for days ahead.

December 12

Wildlife viewing and photography along Yellowstone's Northern Range. We will have plans but go to where the wildlife is. Lunch in the field. Dinner in Gardiner. Lodging at Yellowstone Gateway Inn.

December 13

Wildlife viewing and photography along Yellowstone's Northern Range. We will have plans but go to where the wildlife is. Lunch in the field. Dinner in Gardiner. Lodging at Yellowstone Gateway Inn.

December 14

Wildlife viewing and photography along Yellowstone's Northern Range. We will have plans but go to where the wildlife is. Lunch in the field. Dinner in Gardiner. Lodging at Yellowstone Gateway Inn.

December 15

Wildlife viewing and photography along Yellowstone's Northern Range. We will have plans but go to where the wildlife is. Lunch in the field. Dinner in Gardiner. Lodging at Yellowstone Gateway Inn.

December 16

Private snowcoach in to Yellowstone's interior conditions permitting. Lunch in the field. Dinner in Gardiner. Lodging at Yellowstone Gateway Inn.

December 17

Check out of Yellowstone Gateway Inn. Morning wildlife viewing along Northern Range. Revisit any last spots. Head to Bozeman in afternoon. Lunch in the field. Stay at Belgrade Holiday Inn and Suites. Farewell dinner.

December 18

Transfer to Bozeman Airport for flight home.

‍Itinerary booking faq's terms & conditions

Price

Sharing:

$8995 pp

Single:

$10995 pp

Deposit:

$2000 pp

Key Areas Visited

Grand Teton National Park
National Elk Refuge
Yellowstone National Park

Group Size

Group size 1-6

Included

All meals from lunch on December 7 – breakfast on December 18
Coffee, tea, hot chocolate, drinking water
11 nights lodging
Parks passes
Transportation
Photography instruction
The use of binoculars, spotting scopes
Private snowcoach

Not Included

Alcoholic Beverages
Souvenirs
Flights

vehicles

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Team 399 is an authorized permittee of Grand Teton National Park, the National Elk Refuge and Yellowstone National Park

FAQ's

What wildlife will I see on a winter tour?

Wildlife is wild and can show up anytime anywhere. Wildlife looks as good as they will look all year in late autumn and early winter, gradually showing the strain of winter's grip. Winter is the best time to see canines (wolves, foxes, coyotes). Bighorn sheep are readily visible in both parks. Moose congregate right after their autumnal rut, showing up in loose herds until early January. We are seeing the occasional bear in recent years as predators congregate around any food source.

What will the weather be like?

While the weather patterns are rapidly changing we've seen it as low as -42 Fahrenheit in January and as warm as 60. The winter wind bites pretty hard in the sagebrush flats and you might not need a coat at Oxbow Bend.

What should I wear?

We always recommend dressing in and bringing layers. We have plenty of room for you to bring varies levels of clothing. Waterproof boots above the ankle are always favored. Long pants and SPF long sleeve shirts. A knit cap and a sun or baseball cap. We always recommend sunblock and SPF lip balm. Leave anything made of cotton at home.

Who is the tour for?

This tour is for singles, couples, families and private groups. People of all ages, photographers and non-photographers alike are welcome. Anyone wanting to get a deeper appreciation for the Greater Yellowstone ecosystem will enjoy this private tour.

Will we be hiking or snowshoeing?

Our tours are road-based. Most trails are closed and impassable. We will get out of the car on many occasions and walk around. If the tour is to Yellowstone the boardwalks are generally passable. We do not have a concession to lead snowshoeing tours.

What happens in the event of a blizzard or inclement weather?

If the roads are open we go. We will do our best to find things to do in the area that may not include inside the park. If the roads are all closed we stay in a safe place and wait for the weather to clear. While your safety is always our first concern inclement weather often brings out the wildlife and provides for the best photography.

Terms & Conditions

Payment

1. $2000 pp lodging deposit due at time of booking via check or wire transfer.

2. Remaining balance due 60 days before the start of tour via check or wire transfer.

Cancellations/Refunds

1. 60 days or more before start of tour: Full refund less $250 booking fee, any lodging cancellation fees, any credit card fees, any wire transfer fees.

2. 30 – 59 days before start of tour: Refund of 50% of balance less $250 booking fee, any lodging cancellation fees, any credit card fees, any wire transfer fees. unless we can re-book the dates of the tour in which case full refund less the fees listed above.

3. Less than 30 days before start of tour: No refunds available.

Unplanned Events

Floods, pandemics, forest fires, terrorism, severe weather and other unplanned or unforeseeable global catastrophes are beyond our control. In the event of one or more of these events we will make every attempt to provide you with a quality experience, but these types of events are not our fault. Please consider trip insurance if you have any concerns.

Medical Concerns

The Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem is a dry, high altitude relatively remote environment. Please consult with your medical provider if you have any health concerns.