Yellowstone & Grand Teton Photo Expedition

Arrive in Jackson, where our photo safari into Yellowstone Country begins. Encircled by the Teton, Gros Ventre and Snake River mountain ranges, historic Jackson is a ranching town turned luxury outpost that refuses to give up its dungaree and work glove vibe. Western pride abounds here, from the saddle-seat bar stools at the Silver Dollar Bar to the elk antler arches at each corner of the town square. With a local ski hill just a few blocks from the center of town and rodeo grounds nearby, it’s typical to see mountain athletes alongside working cowboys. The southern gateway to Grand Teton and Yellowstone national parks, Jackson is surrounded by vast wild terrain home to apex predators like grizzly bears and wolves, plus plenty of hoofed herbivores, some of which occasionally wander through town. Despite its growing opulence, Jackson retains a hardy character, emblematic of the Old West and exuding a deep reverence for all things wild. If time permits, explore the town with a stroll over its wooden boardwalks, camera in hand—you're sure to find some appealing shots.

At our welcome dinner this evening, meet your Photo Expedition Leader, who offers an overview of the adventures ahead. Your guide is both a professional nature and wildlife photographer, skilled at sharing tips and techniques to improve your images, and an expert naturalist, whose intimate knowledge of the region is essential to getting the shots you covet.

Nothing quite prepares you for the drama of the Tetons, which rear up in a row of pointed peaks from the floor of Jackson Hole. Protected forever in one of America’s most treasured national parks, the Tetons are emblems of the West’s wild grandeur, and the park's animals are as magnificent as its mountains. Today’s focus is on wildlife photography as we look for elk, pronghorn, mule deer, bison and eagles. This afternoon, water level permitting, float the placid Snake River beneath the jagged backdrop of the Tetons. From the raft, we may get eye-level shots of moose, beaver, osprey or even a bear near the river’s edge. We also visit Mormon Row for photos of the iconic T.A. Moulton Barn, backed by the Teton spires—a quintessential image for any western portfolio. As the day draws to a close, we linger at golden hour to capture the sun setting behind the famous range.

Rise early to experience daybreak on the Tetons as we capture the sunrise alpenglow on the crags. Today is devoted to mountain landscape photography, focusing on depth of field and proper exposure. As we travel to some of the park’s most photogenic areas, we look for elk, moose, bears and eagles. This afternoon, a thrilling view is in store as we ride the Jackson Hole Mountain Resort tram to the top of 10,455-foot Rendezvous Peak. Ascending 4,139 vertical feet from the flat valley floor to the summit, without foothills to ease the climb, the steep scale of this mountain range comes into focus. From the tram dock there are shorter and longer hike options atop the mountain, with plenty of time for alpine photography. Ride the tram back down and disembark for another sunset shooting session on our way to historic Jackson Lake Lodge, where we often see moose along the marshy shoreline, backdropped by the famous Teton peaks.

Rise at dawn to savor golden-hour light as we search for moose in the willow-covered bottomlands of Oxbow Bend east of Jackson Lake. Made famous by Ansel Adams in a 1942 shot of the Snake River in the foreground and Mount Moran in the background, this special spot features dramatic leading lines for artistic compositions. The slow-moving water provides habitat for fish that are food for other wildlife, and our subjects may include river otter, beaver, muskrat, osprey, bald eagles and American white pelicans.

Continue north to Yellowstone, the world’s first national park, established in 1872. From bubbling mud pots to plumes of boiling water rocketing skyward, Yellowstone’s geothermal features captivated early explorers like John Colter and Jim Bridger and prompted conservationists like Teddy Roosevelt to champion the park’s natural assets. Today we have a chance to photograph these exciting features, with insight into the park’s geology from our Expedition Leader. Have your wide-angle lens ready to embrace vast landscapes, and experiment with macrophotography as you observe intricate crystal formations in geothermal crusts and layers of color in mineral-laden pools. Learn about fire ecology as we drive through recovering areas once ravaged by wildfires, with opportunities to capture the contrast between green new growth and blackened snags. Once we reach Old Faithful, our Expedition Leader offers tips for getting exciting shots of the renowned geyser. Then head to Firehole River Basin, which boasts the highest density of geothermal features on Earth. As we wander the boardwalks among simmering hot springs and fumaroles, capture photos of geysers, mud pots and other dynamic phenomena.

More of Yellowstone National Park awaits today, beginning with Hayden Valley, a favored grazing area for large herds of bison and elk. Yellowstone is home to some 4,000 bison, the largest land mammal in North America, which we expect to photograph today. Bighorn sheep may be on view near Mount Washburn, and we may also spot coyotes and bald eagles. Next, we head toward the park’s most inspiring vista: the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone River, where Yellowstone Falls pours off a sheer cliff into a thousand-foot deep gorge. Here, we have a chance to experiment with slower shutter speeds to soften the thundering cataract.

This afternoon, continue to the Lamar Valley, one of Yellowstone’s most remote sectors that is also one of its best locales for wildlife viewing. Using spotting scopes, we have our first chance to look for wolves, where the odds to spy these elegant predators are better than anywhere else. Though Yellowstone’s famous gray wolves are elusive and almost always viewed at a substantial distance, the Lamar Valley is the best place in North America to find and photograph them. We have the added advantage of working closely with wolf researchers in the park who help us track them. Tonight, stay just outside the park’s northern boundary in Gardiner, which lies along the Yellowstone River.

Early this morning, set out in search of wolves, grizzlies and large herds of elk and bison in the broad meadows of the Lamar Valley. Wolves were reintroduced here to their native ecosystem amid much controversy in the 1990s. After a 70-year absence following their government-sanctioned eradication, wolves have again flourished, supported by bountiful prey, and their presence has helped right imbalances in the ecosystem. Although pack movements are unpredictable and the impact of past human interactions has made wolves shy in the presence of people, our guides are experienced trackers and teach us how to search for them. We are in close contact with scientists who conduct research on wolves, and they may help us locate them based on recent sightings. Our telephoto lenses are always at the ready, but we’ll also learn the process of digiscoping, which is the best means of capturing images of wolves at a distance. Our Expedition Leaders carry high-powered spotting scopes on board our vehicles, and if we are fortunate to spot wolves, they will teach you how to get shots and video on your smartphone using the scope’s magnification.

This afternoon, continue to Cooke City to visit the Hartman Gallery, with a slide presentation by Dan Hartman. An award-winning wildlife photographer and videographer whose work has been featured by National Geographic and the BBC, Dan shares insights about wolves and wildlife photography that will inspire your visual storytelling. From Cooke City, we ascend the famous Beartooth Scenic Byway through the glacier-scoured Beartooth Range, reaching the top of a high-alpine granite plateau dotted with meltwater lakes. Charles Kuralt called it “the most spectacular road in America,” and it’s easy to concur. Return to Yellowstone’s Northern Range early this evening for more wolf tracking, knowing our chances to photograph them are best at dawn and dusk.

After one last quest for wolf and bear in the Lamar Valley this morning, return through the Northern Range and continue to Mammoth Hot Springs, one of the park’s best-known geothermal features. Scalding water spills over white travertine terraces that have been described as a “cave turned inside out,” and heat-loving organisms called thermophiles add colors to the mineral-laden formations. The textures and steam create intriguing abstract images, and the leading lines along the geothermal pool edges offer interesting framing. Mammoth’s resident elk herd is almost certain to be on display, and unique shots that contrast nature with human presence, such as visitors ogling the animals from a busy parking lot, speak to the story of Yellowstone today.

Leaving the park through the north entrance at Gardiner, we follow the Yellowstone River through Emigrant Canyon and into the scenic Paradise Valley, flanked by the Absaroka and Gallatin ranges. Cresting Bozeman Pass, we reach the city of Bozeman, where we recount our adventures over a farewell dinner this evening.

Although you’re leaving the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem today, you're taking part of it home with you. Anticipate the enjoyment of reviewing, editing and sharing your images as our western safari concludes. A transfer to the airport is included. For those with extra time to spend in Bozeman, there's plenty to explore in this historic Old West/New West town. With a rich mining, trapping and ranching heritage, Bozeman boasts 40 individual properties on the National Register of Historic Places. Home to Montana State University, the rapidly growing city has also become a hub for tourism and technology. A highlight is the Museum of the Rockies, a Smithsonian Affiliate and important repository for dinosaur fossils, including the mounted Montana's T. rex skeleton.

Natural Habitat Adventures is an authorized permittee of Grand Teton and Yellowstone national parks.