Winter Yellowstone & Grand Teton Photo Expedition

Arrive in Bozeman, where you’re met at the airport and transferred to our 4-star hotel in the heart of the city's historic downtown. Bozeman offers a classic example of the Old West/New West dichotomy, which makes for street photography opportunities for those who arrive in advance of our welcome dinner. With a rich mining, trapping and ranching heritage, Bozeman boasts 40 individual properties on the National Register of Historic Places. It is also home to Montana State University and has a thriving economy built on growing tourism and tech sectors.

At this evening’s welcome dinner, meet your Photo Expedition Leader who will offer an overview of the adventure to come and answer questions about gear and photo opportunities. A professional photographer skilled at capturing high-quality images of the animals and landscapes of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, your guide is also an expert naturalist whose understanding of wildlife behavior will be essential to getting the images you covet.

Depart early this morning, traveling in our custom North American Safari Cruisers to follow the Lewis & Clark Trail over Bozeman Pass to the Yellowstone River. Today offers a primer into landscape and wildlife photography as our Photo Expedition Leader offers instruction en route on helpful skills for shooting Yellowstone in winter. We'll review key elements including focus, composition, white balance and exposure, with tips for photographers of all ability levels. Spend the morning in the Paradise Valley in search of eagles, mule deer and pronghorn antelope. The ragged heights of the Absaroka Range rising above the river provide a dramatic backdrop. As we travel, look for wintering bighorn sheep in Gardiner River Canyon.

We enter Yellowstone National Park through the northern entrance at Gardiner, then continue to Mammoth Hot Springs where we spend the next three nights. There's plenty of time to photograph the thermal activity as super-heated water flows over the white limestone terraces, which some observers describe as a "cave turned inside out." Elk frequently roam the area, too—no long lens required. But take it with you later this afternoon as we enter Yellowstone’s Northern Range, the best place in the park to search for wolves, and our first possibility to capture photos of them. More frequently, we spot coyotes, elk and bison against the snow-mantled landscape. As dusk fades, return to Mammoth to spend the first of three nights.

Each morning, we rise early to reach the Lamar Valley at the break of day in hopes of spotting wolves. As dawn breaks over the snowy expanse of the Northern Range, the broad glacial valley offers wide-open vistas of a sublime landscape. If wolves are present, they are likely to stand out against the snowy backdrop, although they are almost always seen at a distance. Our Photo Expedition Leaders carry high-powered spotting scopes on board our vehicles, allowing us to observe wolf activity from a distance without disturbing their natural behavior. If we are fortunate to spy wolves, we'll have the opportunity to obtain images via digiscoping, with coaching from our guides. Many of our Expedition Leaders have worked for years with on-site researchers who track the packs daily, and together they provide us every opportunity to find and photograph these charismatic animals in their natural surroundings. Other wildlife is abundant, and we're sure to come away with exhilarating images that may include coyotes, foxes, moose, elk, and ice-crusted bison plowing through snowdrifts.

On one day, we'll stop in Silver Gate, just outside the park's northeast corner, for a presentation at the Hartman Gallery. Owner Dan Hartman is a renowned Yellowstone wildlife photographer and local naturalist whose wolf images are widely acclaimed. He'll share slides, insights and observations about wolf behavior gleaned from countless hours in their presence, as well as tips for pursuing photos of Yellowstone’s winter wildlife. Then, as the light wanes by mid-afternoon, we return to the Lamar Valley to turn our focus on wolf tracking again, knowing our chances to see them are best at dawn and dusk.

Yellowstone’s geysers are legendary, and today we capture their wonder as we explore via private snowcoach, with a special emphasis on iconic Old Faithful geyser. Most of the park roads are closed in winter, yet we are able to access Old Faithful Snow Lodge, where we spend two nights, via this special over-the-snow vehicle. Very few people are present, and we relish the rare solitude and profound silence of the white-mantled land around us. Yet everywhere we turn, the blanket of snow and ice contrasts with steaming heat from the geothermal features that simmer beneath, breaking through in shots of boiling spray and bubbling mud. Have your wide-angle lens ready to frame all the drama we witness, from vast landscapes to rocketing geysers. Dial your gaze in close, too, to capture intricate ice crystals forming in geothermal mist, experimenting with composition, macro angles and exposure against the vibrant colors of the mineral-laden crust in the geyser basins.

Our Photo Expedition Leader provides expert guidance and insight into the natural history of the park's geology that creates this wondrous tableau. Beyond famous Old Faithful itself, the Firehole River Basin boasts the highest density of geothermal features on Earth, offering shots of geysers, hot springs, mud pots and fumaroles. The dynamic beauty of these geyser basins inspired early explorers and conservationists like Teddy Roosevelt to protect this singular landscape for all time. Winter adds special allure as steam vents and bubbling mud attract wildlife to the warmth, creating the possibility for photos of trumpeter swans, bald eagles, elk and bison against the steaming landscape. A chance to go snowshoeing through these pristine environs offers a special encounter with the quiet essence of Yellowstone nature.

With the entire day dedicated to wildlife photography, there's time to practice the techniques we've been honing as we photograph more winter scenes via a private snowcoach tour through farther reaches of Yellowstone. Our Photo Expedition Leader will determine our route depending on where wildlife sightings are best, but we are likely to spend time along the Madison River and in little-visited Hayden Valley, whose rolling hills are home to herds of bison and the Wapiti wolf pack that established a presence here several years ago. With luck, we might see them in action as we transit the valley. Once we disembark the snowcoach and exit the park, continue driving south to Grand Teton National Park, stopping along the way for our first shots of the Tetons' arresting spires. More striking photos await as sunset casts alpenglow on the jagged range, creating an incomparable backdrop for wildlife images that may include elk, coyote, bighorn sheep and moose.

Our winter photo safari continues into Jackson Hole, the broad, open valley at the base of the Tetons where we go in search of bighorn sheep, bald and golden eagles, coyotes, bison, mule deer, moose and elk. A sleigh ride on the National Elk Refuge offers another opportunity to capture intimate wildlife shots. Established in 1912 to protect the habitat of one of North America’s largest elk herds, the refuge provides an unparalleled setting for photographing not only elk but other iconic Rocky Mountain mammals and stunning mountain backdrops. The open sleigh offers unique low-angle perspectives, ideal for creating dynamic compositions with leading lines in the snow or the arresting contrast of elk against the snowy white meadow expanse. Experiment with depth of field to isolate subjects, or use a wide-angle lens to emphasize the grandeur of the Teton tableau. This evening, gather for a farewell dinner to celebrate our photography adventures.

After breakfast, the day is yours to explore the Old West town of Jackson before you depart, as your schedule permits. Stop by Tom Mangelsen’s downtown gallery, where you’ll find his captivating collection of wildlife and landscape photography. A Jackson resident for more than 40 years, Mangelsen’s images offer a masterclass in composition, storytelling and the beauty of nature. You’ll also find a wide range of other interesting subjects, from the famous elk antler arches in the town square to the western saddle barstools at the famous Million Dollar Cowboy Bar. A gondola ride up Snow King Mountain offers panoramic views over the town and Tetons beyond.