5-Day Winter Yellowstone Tour

DAY 1: Salt Lake City & Idaho Falls

Your adventure will begin around 9 AM when your tour guide picks you up either from the Salt Lake City Airport or from a hotel of your choosing. If you’d like to start your tour from an area other than Salt Lake City, please let us know and we’ll make arrangements.

If you arrive before 12 PM, you will have the opportunity to choose between a half-day tour in Salt Lake City or a half-day trip to Volcano Hot Springs.

If you choose the Salt Lake City half-day trip, you’ll be taken to see various sites in Salt Lake City, including Temple Square, Antelope Island, the State Capitol Building, and the Hill Aerospace Museum.

Temple Square is often seen as the capital of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, also known as the Mormons. This historic region contains the world-famous Salt Lake City Temple, Tabernacle, and Beehive House, all important sights that must be seen!

Modeled after the US Capitol Building in Washington DC, the Utah State Capitol Building is both stunning and beautiful. This building is the house of government for all of Utah, containing the chambers and offices of the Utah State Legislature, the offices of the Governor, and of the Attorney General.

Following these sights in Salt Lake City, you’ll either be dropped off at a hotel in Salt Lake City or drive to nearby Volcano Hot Springs to be dropped off at a hotel.

If you choose the Volcano Hot Springs half-day trip, your tour guide will take you directly from Salt Lake City to the Volcano Hot Springs area. These hot springs are world famous, providing warm water from deep below the Earth’s surface. The minerals in these waters also provide health benefits, nourishing the skin as you soak in it. For an additional fee, you’ll have the opportunity to soak at one of two different types of hot springs. The first type is an all-natural hot spring whose waters constantly flow into an adjoining river, providing clean, fresh water that lacks a sulfur smell.  The other type is a thermal cave whose warm, crystal-clear water provides heat that maintains a constant, comfortable temperature. Regardless of which you chose, you’ll feel relaxed and refreshed after your soak!

Depending on airplane arrival time and chosen itinerary, you’ll either be dropped off at a hotel in Salt Lake City or Volcano Hot Springs. You’ll then have the rest of the night to rest and relax before the next day’s adventures!

Accommodations: Holiday Inn Express & Suites, SpringHill Suites by Marriott, Hot Spring Resort, Fairfield Inn by Marriott, Tru by Hilton, Crystal Inn Hotel & Suites, or similar quality hotel  

DAY 2: Great Salt Lake, Idaho Falls, West Yellowstone

In the morning, your tour guide will pick you up from your hotel and take you to Antelope Island. This island is found in the midst of the Great Salt Lake, a large body of saltwater often compared with the Dead Sea. On a still day, the sky reflects off of the lake, offering a stark contrast with the desert mountains of Utah. 

Following Antelope Island, you’ll then be taken three hours north to the town of Idaho Falls. This town is known for its large man-made waterfall that spans the length of the city. These pristine and sparkling waters provide the perfect backdrop for personal or family photos! You’ll also have some time to eat a quick lunch in the area before moving on to the next destination.

Next, we’ll travel to West Yellowstone, a small town immediately west to Yellowstone National Park. Along the way, we’ll cross over the continental divide, the boundary between two great river systems. One of these river systems flow into the Pacific Ocean, the other flows into the Gulf of Mexico. After arriving in West Yellowstone, you’ll have the chance to walk around a little, taking in the local sights and shopping at the many gift shops. 

At this point, you’ll be given the opportunity to choose the next activity. You can either go to Big Sky, Montana or go on a self-paid snowmobile trip of West Yellowstone. 

Big Sky is known for its vast, pure skies and its white, sweeping snow slopes. When the sun goes down, this region becomes the perfect place to see the stars, unpolluted by bright city lights.

Snowmobile is by far the most convenient way of traveling in this snow-covered tundra! Apart from its efficiency however, it’s also incredibly fun!  You’ll love speeding through the snow-covered trees, entering areas impossible to reach by foot or by vehicle. For $225 per person, you’ll be given all the essentials to explore West Yellowstone: a snowmobile, appropriate clothing, insurance, and gas. 

Finally, we’ll drive back to West Yellowstone and drop you off at your hotel, giving you time to rest and prepare before the next day’s journey. 

Accommodations: Yellowstone Lodge, Gray Wolf Inn, Three Bear Lodge, Stagecoach Inn, Brandin’ Iron Inn, 320 Guest Ranch, or similar quality hotel

DAY 3: Old Faithful & Fountain Paint Pots

In the morning, your tour guide will come pick you up from your hotel and take you to see the most famous landmark in Yellowstone, Old Faithful! Although not the tallest geyser in the park, Old Faithful erupts fairly regularly, offering an incredible demonstration of the Earth’s power. To get to the geyser, you’ll ride one of Yellowstone’s comfortable snow-coaches. These snow-coaches are the perfect place to see the beautiful winter scenery in Yellowstone, passing by picture perfect vistas, snow covered trees, and boiling Hot Springs.  

Along the way, the snow-coach will stop at Fountain Paint Pots, a unique thermal feature that is sure to mesmerize you. These “pots” are filled with viscous mud that appears to boil, sending large bubbles to the surface that spew mud everywhere. The area surrounding Fountain Paint Pots also contain many smaller Hot Springs that billow steam high up in the air. 

After arriving at Old Faithful lodge, you’ll either go out to watch the geyser erupt or eat lunch inside, depending on the predicted eruption time. This is the perfect opportunity to relax and enjoy the warmth of the lodge, or to walk around outside and observe nature. 

Depending on desire, you’ll also have the opportunity to ride a snowmobile or snowshoe in the area around Old Faithful Lodge. Exploring this winter wonderland will allow you to understand the true beauty of Yellowstone!

At the end of the day, your tour guide will lead you back to West Yellowstone for dinner and shopping. After dinner, you’ll be taken back to your hotel to rest and relax before the next day’s journey.

Accommodations: Yellowstone Lodge, Gray Wolf Inn, Three Bear Lodge, Stagecoach Inn, Brandin’ Iron Inn, 320 Guest Ranch, or similar quality hotel

DAY 4: Yellowstone

In the morning, your tour guide will come pick you up from your hotel and take you to Mammoth Hot Springs in Northern Yellowstone. To get there, we’ll drive along the Yellowstone River corridor west of Yellowstone. You’ll have many opportunities along the way to take pictures of both the landscape and local animals, such as bald eagles, golden eagles, bison, pronghorn antelope, elk, white-tailed deer, and even coyotes!

After a quick lunch in Gardner, you’ll continue onwards towards Mammoth Hot Springs. Since parts of Yellowstone are closed to vehicle traffic during the winter, your tour guide will take you the rest of the way using snowshoes, a truly unique experience. Compared to other Hot Springs in the park, Mammoth Hot Springs is massive with its white chalky terraces, colorful pools, hissing steam vents, and cascading water. 

Following Mammoth Hot Springs, you’ll return to West Yellowstone for a warm dinner at one of the many restaurants in the area. I’d suggest a hearty rack of ribs or some succulent brisket at a local BBQ restaurant. Finally, we’ll drop you off at your hotel, allowing you to rest up before the next day’s adventures! 

Or In the morning, your tour guide will come pick you up from your hotel at your own expense,  give you  a choice between three amazing activities from!

Option 1: Dog Sledding Adventure Tour of West Yellowstone (Half Day, $295 per person)

Dog sledding is something you don’t want to miss! For half day, you’ll experience the West Yellowstone flora and fauna up close and personal from the comfort of a sled pulled by a pack of well-trained dogs! These dogs are specially trained to work in perfect unison despite the freezing temperatures common to these regions. 

For the rest of the day, you’ll be able to explore the town of West Yellowstone and its surroundings. Your tour guide will identify many interesting attractions in the area depending on your own personal interests and ability.

Option 2: Dog Sledding Tour of West Yellowstone and Hot Springs (Full Day, $387 per person)

This option includes the previously described dog sledding adventure in addition to lunch and a relaxing soak in the local hot springs. This will take the majority of the day, leaving only a little time at the end of the day to explore the town of West Yellowstone.

Option 3: Snowmobile Tour of West Yellowstone (Full Day, $295/$395 per person)

Snowmobile is by far the most convenient way of traveling in this snow-covered tundra! Apart from its efficiency however, it’s also incredibly fun!  You’ll love speeding through the snow-covered trees, entering areas impossible to reach by foot or by vehicle. 

For $295 per person, you’ll be given all the essentials to explore West Yellowstone: a snowmobile, appropriate clothing, insurance, and gas.

For $395 per person, you’ll be given all the above plus a ticket to enter into Yellowstone National Park and a knowledgeable guide. 

At the end of the day, your tour guide will drop you off at your hotel in the town of West Yellowstone, letting you rest before the next day’s adventure.

Accommodations: Yellowstone Lodge, Gray Wolf Inn, Three Bear Lodge, Stagecoach Inn, Brandin’ Iron Inn, 320 Guest Ranch, or similar quality hotel

DAY 5: Yellowstone, Jackson Hole, Grand Teton, Salt Lake City

In the morning, your tour guide will come pick you up from your hotel and take you to Grand Teton National Park. During the winter months, this area comes to life as the destination of thousands of migrating animals escaping the cold north. As such, this is the best location to see wildlife such as moose, wolves, coyote, bighorn sheep, mule deer, and bison! you’ll depart for a sleigh ride that’ll take you straight through a herd of wild elk, estimated to be over 5,000 strong! These elk will appear as a sea of fur and snow, a sight that must be seen to believe! Don’t forget to bring your camera!   

Next, we’ll travel to Jackson Hole, Wyoming, a quaint Western town in Wyoming known for its artwork and cowboys. We’ll spend a little time here eating lunch and if interested, shopping, this is a great place to buy souvenirs!  

Finally, we’ll head south to Salt Lake City, our final destination. If your plane flies out that evening, we’ll drop you off directly at the airport. If your flight leaves the next morning, we’ll drop you off at your hotel. The hotel’s shuttle should be able to bring you directly to the airport.