Yellowstone Winter Wildlife Photo Expedition

Small groups are the best way to experience nature, and this is especially true for our photography adventures. With approximately 12 travelers, you’re assured plenty of space and personalized attention when you need it. Traveling in Nat Hab's specialty North America Safari Cruisers, we divide our group into two vehicles, each with a guide, further enhancing our low-key presence. As a small group, we maintain the flexibility to adapt to changing conditions in a way that maximizes photo opportunities—we'll depart early in the morning to chase the best light, remain at a site of specific photographic interest to fully explore its potential, or move to a new destination when desired. On private snowcoaches into the interior of Yellowstone National Park, we limit capacity to just six guests (though the vehicles can accommodate 15). Your Expedition Leader, an expert naturalist and professional photographer guide, is always by your side to help you capitalize on every possible photography opportunity.

Accommodations, services of Nat Hab's professional Expedition Leader(s) and local staff, transportation in Nat Hab's North America Safari Cruisers and local snowcoaches, all meals from dinner on Day 1 through breakfast on final day, some gratuities, airport transfers on Day 1 and final day, gear including warm parkas and winter boots, use of Nat Hab scopes and binoculars, all activities and entrance fees, all taxes, permits and service fees.

Travel to and from the start and end point of your trip, alcoholic beverages, some gratuities, passport and visa fees (if any), optional activities, items of a personal nature (phone calls, laundry and internet, etc.), airline baggage fees, airport and departure taxes (if any), optional travel protection and medical evacuation insurance.

Easy to Moderate
Tracking wolves in Yellowstone typically occurs in snowy, icy and/or wet conditions, and temperatures can be very cold, often dropping well below zero at night with daytime highs in the 30s. Our days generally start before sunrise and are filled with activities. Optional hikes and snowshoe excursions require moderate physical exertion, ranging from one to three miles in length over level ground and slight inclines, though snow and ice may create rough and/or challenging terrain conditions. If you opt to snowshoe, you must be able to go at least one-half mile. In order to view Old Faithful, participants must be able to walk 300 yards over icy, snowy pavement and boardwalk. To explore Yellowstone’s geothermal basins, you must be able to walk at least one-half to one mile over ice- and snow-covered boardwalk, dirt trails and pavement. While much of our wildlife viewing takes place from our vehicles, participants should be prepared to spend extended periods of time outside in cold temperatures. Travelers should be aware that activities in the park occur at altitudes between 4,810 and 7,380 feet. While travelers are not required to participate in all activities, if you should opt out of any of the day’s scheduled activities, we cannot guarantee that alternatives will be available.

On custom or private departures with smaller groups, our ability to accommodate varying levels of physical abilities or interests is limited, since these trips are staffed with a single Expedition Leader who may be assisted, pending availability, by local guides.

While the Lamar Valley and Yellowstone National Park offer some of the best opportunities to see wolves in the wild, these animals are still very elusive, and they usually do not come in close range of humans. This trip offers a totally natural, uncontrived experience, and as a result, most wolf viewing is done at a distance through spotting scopes. This allows us to watch the packs go about their normal behavior uninfluenced by the presence of humans. It is important to understand that it is incredibly difficult to see the wolves without the use of a spotting scope (Nat Hab provides spotting scopes on your trip). Often, the best way to get photos of the wolves is with a cell phone camera through a spotting scope. Your Expedition Leader will help you with this technique, called “digiscoping.” While a long lens is a must for photographers, even then, we can't guarantee excellent shots of the wolves. However, the sheer beauty and grandeur of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem provides magnificent nature imagery, and we are likely to see plenty of the region’s other iconic species. Please note that winter temperatures in the region are often very cold, and we do spend a lot of time standing in the outdoors. At times, temperatures may fall below 0° F. On some dates, our itinerary operates in the reverse order of what is listed on our trip page. Please contact our office for details.

Natural Habitat Adventures is an authorized permittee of the U.S. National Park Service.

Arrival: Arrive by 4 pm in order to attend a welcome dinner beginning at 6 pm on Day 1.
Departure: You may depart at any time on the final day of your itinerary.