Winter Yellowstone & Grand Teton Photo Expedition

Our Yellowstone wildlife photo tour begins in the classic Western town of Jackson, which sits at the edge of Grand Teton National Park. This evening, meet your Photo Expedition Leader and fellow travelers at an informal welcome dinner and orientation. Your guide will offer an overview of the adventure to come and answer questions about gear and photo opportunities.

This morning, explore the broad valley of Jackson Hole 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.

Our tour takes us to the National Elk Refuge, 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.

After lunch at the National Museum of Wildlife Art in Jackson, we travel by horse-drawn sleigh through the National Elk Refuge. 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.

Rise early for a sunrise photo shoot in Grand Teton National Park, hoping to capture the golden rays of dawn on the Tetons’ jagged spires. The range is a striking backdrop for wildlife subjects, and we look for large mammals roaming the valley floor.

Reaching the boundary of Yellowstone, we board heated snowcoaches that convey us into the pristine winter splendor of America's first national park. We stop at West Thumb Geyser Basin on the edge of Yellowstone Lake, looking along the way for moose, river otters and trumpeter swans before arriving at Old Faithful Snow Lodge.

Because winter access to the park's interior is limited to snow vehicles, an overnight stay here is a coveted experience. In silent seclusion, witness the park's most famous geothermal feature, Old Faithful geyser, erupt in a crystalline veil of spray. And on a clear night, we may even get to watch it shoot skyward by the light of the moon.

Yellowstone’s geysers are legendary, and 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 this remarkable landscape via special over-the-snow vehicles.

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.

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.

On Day 5, we traverse Yellowstone’s interior by snowcoach on our transfer from Old Faithful to Mammoth Hot Springs. Our Photo Expedition Leader will determine our route based on current wildlife sightings and snow conditions. We may spend time along the Madison River, watching for bison, coyotes and eagles, or in Hayden Valley.

This over-the-snow journey gives us access to remote geothermal areas, where steaming features remain active even in the coldest months. Along the way, our guides share insights into Yellowstone’s seasonal ecology, with ample chances to photograph wildlife and the wintry white landscape.

Arriving at Mammoth Hot Springs in the afternoon, we often see elk near the white travertine terraces. Here, thermal water flows over limestone formations shaped by mineral deposits and heat-loving microorganisms called thermophiles, which create vivid color patterns across the rock.

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 Day 6, 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.

On Day 7, we continue our exploration of the Northern Range, spending another day in search of Yellowstone's legendary wolves and the other wildlife that inhabits this remarkable winter landscape. Our Expedition Leader determines where to focus our efforts based on recent wildlife activity, giving us further opportunities to practice the photographic techniques we've been honing throughout our adventure.

This morning, we depart Mammoth Hot Springs and travel north toward Bozeman. As we exit Yellowstone National Park at Gardiner, keep an eye out for wintering bighorn sheep in Gardiner Canyon.

We follow the Yellowstone River north through the aptly named Paradise Valley, flanked by rugged heights of the Absaroka and Gallatin ranges, which provide a dramatic backdrop for landscape photos. Along the way, look for rough-legged hawks, eagles, mule deer and pronghorn antelope.

Crossing Bozeman Pass, follow the historic route of the Lewis and Clark Trail into Bozeman for our final night. Our hotel is in the heart of the city's historic downtown. Fast-growing Bozeman was originally built upon mining, trapping and ranching, but today its economic base includes a booming tech industry, Montana State University and an expanding tourism sector.

Gather with our Expedition Leader this evening for a farewell dinner.

If your flight schedule permits, you may enjoy exploring Bozeman on your own today. This historic Old West/New West town boasts 40 individual properties on the National Register of Historic Places. With a wide range of cultural and outdoor activities, Bozeman offers plenty to do.

A transfer to the airport is included to meet your departing flight.