Yellowstone Hiking and Wildlife with Grand Teton

After departing our rendezvous hotel in Jackson, our first stop for the day is the Upper Basin of Yellowstone National Park, home to nearly half of the world’s geysers. This includes Old Faithful which erupts about 20x per day. That reminds us – be sure to let us know if you have any food sensitivities.

We’ll take the time to explore ALL of the Upper Basin walking its entire length, point to point, enjoying a trail lunch on the way. Our SHE-nanigan Shuttle will be loyally waiting at the end to chauffeur us to our next stop, the Middle Basin. Here is where we’ll find the iconic Grand Prismatic Spring – the largest hot spring in the park and 3rd biggest in the world. The best view is from above, so we’ll hike up the Fairy Falls trail (4.8 miles and 170’ elevation gain) to rise above the tourists.

After we consider forming a geyser cult, we’ll head to our lodging for the next 3 days. Our locally-owned inn is located in the small town of Gardiner, Montana. After we check in, we’ll relax our barking muscles in the Yellowstone Hot Springs and fill up on too many nachos in town.

Transfer Time from Jackson to Upper Basin: 2.5 hours
Transfer Time from Grand Prismatic Spring to Gardiner: 75 mins
Hiking Distance: Roughly 6.8 miles and relatively flat

Accommodation: Gardiner Inn
Meals: L-D

Rise before the sun to hop into the SHE-nanigan Shuttle. We’ll give you nine reasons why: wolves, grizzly bears, bison, pronghorn, badgers, bald eagles, osprey, deer, and coyotes!

For day two of our Yellowstone trip, you’ll meet our local wildlife guide in America’s Serengeti, Lamar Valley. Trek on and off trail plus peer through scopes to search lush meadows for the Valley’s native wildlife. Is this real life?

After a yummy lunch, we’ll head back to town for our next stop. Hint, it ain’t Hobby Lobby. We’ll spend an adventurous 2-hours paddling some of the best whitewater on the Yellowstone River. We’re talking class II and III rapids with plenty of chill float time past Yellowstone National Park. Want to excite your smart watch? Hop out for a swim beneath views of the 11,000’ Electric Peak and Devil’s Slide. This is THE perfect intro to whitewater rafting for newbies with enough thrills for experienced rafters. Once we’re back on dry land, we’ll eat all the things at a local dinner spot before returning to our lodge for the most blissful zonk of our lives.

Transfer Time to Lamar Valley: 1 hour
Hiking Distance: Wildlife tour – 2 miles
Rafting time: 2 hours

Accommodation: Gardiner Inn
Meals: B-L-D

Explorer Chick takes on MAMMOTH HOT SPRINGS after a hearty, homemade breakfast at our Inn. March along a boardwalk that curves along travertine terraces and nearly 50 hot springs. Turn to the woman next to you and sigh dreamily. By midday, we’ll beeline to the Roosevelt area to hike down the Yellowstone River Suspension Bridge. We can end our hike gazing down at the raging river OR continue on another mile to nosh at the confluence of Yellowstone and Hell Roaring Creek.

The eyeball-blessing continues as we saddle up for a 2-hour scenic horseback ride. Throw a leg over your steed as you travel through woods, sagebrush flats and meadows the way Theodore Roosevelt intended. We’ll be hoofing it to a full-on campfire feast beneath the dusky sky. Prepare for an actual dinner bell as local wranglers ask how you like your steak (or veggies!) cooked. Save room for extra corn muffins, fruit cobbler and all the campy cowboy songs!

Transfer Time from Gardiner to Mammoth Hot Springs: 40 mins
Hiking Distance: Hell Roaring Creek – 4 miles/626ʹ gain
Horseback Ride: 2 hour

Accommodation: Gardiner Inn
Meals: B-L-D

*To ride horseback, you must be under 240lbs.

Going to Yellowstone without standing over the Grand Canyon is like going to Target without storming the Magnolia aisle. After a final breakfast at our Inn, we’ll say goodbye to Gardiner and make our way into Yellowstone for the next 2 nights.

A good chunk of the morning will be spent chasing stunning overlooks along the South Rim. We’ll hike Clear Lake Loop to hit the best view points and stretch our gams on what might be Yellowstone’s greatest hike. After lunch, we’ll head out on the trails again to hike to the summit of Mount Washburn at 10,219’ elevation! Along the trail, we’ll peep wildlife, flora and breathtaking views from the summit. By this point you’ll wonder about quitting your job, buying a ranch and adopting a dog named Gravy.

Transfer Time: Gardiner to Clear Lake Trail: 2 hours
Hiking Distance: Clear Lake Loop: 3.9 miles/423’ elevation gain
Mount Washburn: 6.8 miles/1,398’ elevation gain

Accommodation: Yellowstone Park Lodging
Meals: B-L-D

It’s an intense hike to the top of Avalanche Peak through pine forest, past wildflower meadows, and up talus slopes to reach the 360-degree views at 10,568ʹ. Welcome to total badass status. If it’s a clear day, you’ll be rewarded with a dazzling view of the Tetons, 50 miles South.

Lay low throughout the afternoon as we explore Yellowstone Lake and dig into a tasty waterfront lunch. Enjoy plenty of free time later into the evening to revisit favorite spots, splurge on souvenirs, or find a quiet spot for a snooze.

Hiking Distance: 4.6 miles RT. 2,000ʹ gain

Accommodation: Yellowstone Park Lodging
Meals: B-L-D

Smell ya later, Yellowstone! Enjoy a gorgeous hike into Grand Teton via Cascade Canyon*. Breeze past Inspiration Point with views of Jenny Lake and Hidden Falls. The canyon itself is a classic example of glacier-formed U-shaped valleys.

After, we’ll pop over to String Lake to swim in its shallow waters beneath towering mountains. Hello, back float selfies!

We’ll then hop back into the SHE-nanigan Shuttle to make our way to Jackson.

Our last supper will be in town at a favorite Jackson eatery. If you’re feeling up for it, saunter over to the Million Dollar Cowboy to literally saddle up to the bar for a cold one.

Transfer Time to Grand Tetons: 1:45-2:30 hours
Hiking Distance: 9.6 miles/1,110ʹ gain*

Accommodation: Jackson Downtown Hotel (Night 1 of 1)
Meals: B, L, D

*Per park regulations, Grand Teton National Park does not allow commercial guided hiking within the park boundaries. All Grand Teton hikes will be self-guided with your Explorer Chick guides providing a detailed briefing and all road-based services.

Enjoy one last breakfast together before parting ways and possibly agreeing on best friend tattoos. If you have some time before departing today, DO explore the town of Jackson! On Saturdays in the summer, the town park is transformed into a Farmer’s Market with all the locally made goodies.

You can schedule your departure anytime today. Promise you won’t forget about us.

Meals: B

Explorer Chick reserves the option to modify trip itineraries at the discretion of your adventure leader as necessary due to weather, conditions, illness, injury, group dynamics, safety, or other unforeseen incidents.