2022 Wyoming – Yellowstone and Grand Teton

After breakfast we enter Grand Teton National Park, where we will stay for four days. Antelope Flats Road here is a prime area for American Bison, Pronghorn and Moose along the river. The bull Moose are out of velvet at this time of year and quite determined to find a mate. American Bison are commonly found along the roadways for some good up-close photo opportunities against the dramatic backdrop of the Tetons. Sage Grouse, Sharp-tailed Grouse, Bald Eagle, and various hawks and swallows are common here.

We continue on the road to Kelly, stopping at Mormon Row, where the remnants of original settler cabins and homesteads remain part of the ecosystem. They make great nesting sites during the summer for various swallows and other birds. We proceed to Kelly and stop along the Aspen trees on our way to the Teton Science Schools. Williamson’s Sapsucker, Pine Grosbeak, American Three-toed Woodpecker, Northern Pygmy-Owl, Short-eared Owl, and perhaps even Great Grey Owl are all possible.

Finally but importantly, there is now an established pack of Grey Wolves called the Gros Ventre Pack, which often roams this area.

Overnight: Elk Country Inn or similar, Jackson, Wyoming

After breakfast we head to Moose Wilson Road – here there is a good possibility of seeing American Black Bear, often with cubs, as they feed heavily on the ripened berries along the roadside of this thick forest, fattening up for the upcoming winter. Many waterfowl share these wetlands with the moose, including American Wigeon, teals, and the occasional Barrow’s Goldeneye.

Both Williamson’s and Red-naped Sapsuckers are common in these woods. American Dipper is also often seen here in the running streams.

Once we reach Teton Village we can ride the ski lift to the top of Jackson Hole Mountain Resort and look for Grey-crowned and Black Rosy-Finches. Small flocks are often found here. Ruby-crowned and Golden-crowned Kinglets along with Pine Grosbeak, Pine Siskin, and Dark-eyed Junco will also be targets. This is also a good place to look for Clark’s Nutcracker if we haven’t seen any yet.

We continue to Oak Creek Canyon toward Star Valley – one of the few places in the Teton Wilderness area where we will see the bright red and orange colors of fall due to the higher number of maple and oak trees growing here.

We will stop at the South Park Wildlife Management Area – a good place for waterfowl and shorebirds. These include Trumpeter Swan, Cinnamon Teal, Redhead, Barrow’s Goldeneye (with luck), and American Wigeon. Sandhill Crane is often found here as well.

We should of course mention here that none of these activities and plans we mention are set in stone. We have to be flexible, and these suggested plans can certainly be changed depending on reports about where the wildlife is hanging out, how quickly we find the target species, and many other variables. Nature can’t be predicted!

Overnight: Elk Country Inn or similar, Jackson, Wyoming

After breakfast we drive to Kelly, Wyoming, and from there to Lower Slide Lake. This is a rich area that was created when a natural landslide dammed the Gros Ventre River on June 23, 1925. The Lake was much bigger, but the natural rock dam gave way two years later, causing deadly flooding to nearby Kelly, which was wiped out.

Red-naped Sapsucker, Red Crossbill, Black-headed Grosbeak, Eared (Black-necked) Grebe, and Northern Shoveler might be seen here. American Dipper is often found along the streams. After spending some time in the Slide Lake area we plan to continue to the Red Hills Campground – an area few tourists ever see. The beautiful hills appear to be painted by hand with watercolors.

They make for stunning photography with streaks and patches of green, red, white, and ochre. They are also part of a canyon, where oftentimes one can spot Mountain Goat, Bighorn Sheep, and various bird species. We continue to the northern section of Grand Teton National Park, overnighting at the southernmost boundary of Yellowstone National Park.

Overnight: Colter Bay Village, southern boundary of Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming

We usually make a very early departure (sometimes leaving at 5:30 a.m.) for sunrise. Providing an excellent wildlife habitat for both birds and mammals, Oxbow Bend, with Mount Moran reflected in the mirror-like stillness of Jackson Lake, is one of the most photographed scenes in Grand Teton National Park. Moose, Grizzly Bear, American White Pelican, and mergansers are commonly seen here in the early morning.

We are always sure to stop at Snake River Overlook to see the iconic vista made famous in the photo by Ansel Adams in 1942. Before dusk we return to Jackson Lake to listen at ‘Elk Island’ for bugling Elk and hopefully photograph them rutting.

Overnight: Colter Bay Village, southern boundary of Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming

After breakfast we drive into Yellowstone National Park, making our first stop here at Lewis Falls along the way and take in the sights of the Snake and Lewis Rivers. Soon we will arrive at Yellowstone Lake – with an average depth of 139ft and its greatest depth of at least 390ft – this is the largest body of water in Yellowstone and the largest freshwater lake in North America above 7,000ft. Common Loon, Eared (Black-necked) and Pied-billed Grebes, Trumpeter Swan, Caspian Tern, and the beautiful American Avocet are commonly found here, sometimes along with many other shorebirds.

Depending on time we may stop at the lake for a picnic lunch or, if early enough, we might continue driving to the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, passing through Hayden Valley. This is an excellent place to search for Grey Wolves and sometimes Grizzly Bears, which are often seen  hunting the large herds of ungulates, especially American Bison, which often share the roadway with cars. There are also plenty of spots to simply stop along the road or to have lunch while admiring the beauty of this area.

We’ll continue to the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, our lodging for the night. After checking into the hotel we’ll return to the canyon to view Upper and Lower Yellowstone Falls from Artist Point. Townsend’s Solitaire, Clark’s Nutcracker, Canada and Steller’s Jays, and, depending on timing, migrating warblers are commonly found among the thick forests of the canyon.

Overnight: Canyon Lodge and Cabins, Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming

After breakfast (about 7:30 a.m. departure) we drive to Mammoth Hot Springs, a collection of travertine terraces which were once popular with tourists. Sadly, they have largely dried up, and many of them have eroded due to the heavy human traffic, but they are still impressive. It is a long hike to the top, however; for those wishing to go there, we can drive to the top and walk down the well-maintained boardwalk/steps and be picked up at the parking lot next to the hotel.

From this vantage point you can still enjoy and appreciate some of the remaining colorful terraced pools alive with blooming algae.

We will continue driving through Lamar Valley on our way to Cooke City, Montana – our stopping point for the next two nights. Cooke City is a quaint, small Western town at the northeast entrance of Yellowstone and our base for wolf-spotting for the next two days.

Overnight: High Country Motel and Cabins or similar, Cooke City-, Montana, near Lamar Valley

It is said that if one wants to see Grey Wolves one should spend time in Lamar Valley, and we will do our best to find them. There are currently two packs that hunt and work the Lamar Valley area, and in recent years sightings have become much more frequent, often with good views just off the roadside if there has been a recent kill.

Lamar Valley has been called the “Serengeti of the Yellowstone” due to the open meadows and large herds of American Bison, Pronghorn, and other wildlife. And it isn’t just wolves that follow the herds of grazers; Grizzly and Black Bears are common as well. Although not guaranteed, our chances are increased by devoting time to this area of the park.

Overnight: High Country Motel and Cabins or similar, Cooke City, Montana, near Lamar Valley

After breakfast we depart for Old Faithful, stopping at Lower, Midway, and Upper Geyser Basins on the way. This is geyser country in Yellowstone! With plenty to see we will concentrate on the main attractions, Grand Prismatic Springs, Castle Geyser, and the Firehole River before ending our day at Old Faithful – the most famous geyser in North America and perhaps in the world.

Overnight: Old Faithful Inn, Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming

Day of leisure* to enjoy the beauty and wonder of this area. You may choose to wander the boardwalk exploring all the various geysers (do not miss walking all the way to the end and seeing Morning Glory Pool) or take in the view from the comfort of the hotel balcony, while enjoying a hot cup of coffee or chocolate or a beer as Old Faithful erupts at regular intervals.

Frequently American Bison and Elk come down to the geyser area during the cool fall evenings to keep warm at night.

Overnight: Old Faithful Inn, Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming

*Knowing our tour participants, we understand that some folks won’t want a day of leisure! So, for those who want to search for tough mammals and birds we haven’t yet seen, our guide will take you looking.

Today we depart after breakfast for Victor, Idaho. On the “flip side” of the Tetons we will have an opportunity to seek any target birds we may have missed in Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks.

Because of its rich farmland and slightly different topography, quite often some species may linger here a bit longer before continuing on their southern migration.

We spend a whole day driving out to various sites in this part of Idaho, looking for special birds, mammals, etc.

Overnight: Teton Spring Lodge and Spa or similar, Victor, Idaho

After final birding, mammal viewing, etc., we take the less than 2-hour drive to Jackson Hole Airport in Wyoming for your flights home. For anyone who flies home on later flights from Jackson, there is stacks to see in and around this town, and we’ll keep you entertained for as long as you need today.

Yes! We have birding planned if time allows and everything is on schedule.

Check the weather for the destination as close to your departure date as possible, and dress accordingly for your comfort level. You can also review our What to Bring page for more information.

There are many items the will be useful to you while on a Bird Treks tour. We have put together our list of recommendations on the What to Bring page.

Our tours are all conducted in English, but we do have some experience working with client that don’t speak English well – Some English would be needed for safety reasons. In locations where another language is predominately spoken, a native guide may accompany the tour.

Yes, we will always try our best to help with anything at all! We’re here to serve you. However, it is usually easier if you book your flight through your own travel agent as we can’t always get the best deals from your particular country. But we will help whenever needed!

While Day 1 is usually a travel (arrival) day, and the last day of the tour is usually also a travel day (departure), many people do like to arrive early and/or leave late. We can indeed book extra nights before and after the trip, and we in fact recommend you let us book them, as it avoids confusion and allows us to book the accommodation that is most convenient for the tour.

NOTE: Most often it is the same hotel or lodge that you use on the first night of the tour, but in some instances, it could be an airport hotel or an accommodation establishment where the guide is staying.

No, we do not. We find that it is better for trip participants to purchase their own medical, trip cancellation, and baggage insurance through their own insurance provider in the country they reside in. We expect all tour participants to have comprehensive insurance, and we encourage everyone to send us a copy of their insurance documents.

For most tours, meals are included in the tour price. This may include a hotel-provided breakfast, or guide-provided box lunches. For dinners, we strive to find interesting and delicious local restaurants – this allows us to give back to the local economy, and find exciting new place to eat.