Winter Hiking and Snowshoeing in Yellowstone

Trip Code: SKXWS

Why we love it

Keep an eye out for wildlife like bison, elk, coyote and bighorn sheep as you snowshoe along a groomed road towards Tower Falls tumbling into the valley below., Explore Yellowstone’s unique thermal features as you snowshoe through the Upper Geyser Basin towards Old Faithful and watch it spray over 4000 gallons of boiling water into the air., See the Mammoth Hot Springs travertine terraces where underground thermal activity expands and contracts to create an incredible hot spring feature., Take in the power of one of the more unique and impressive backcountry geysers in the park – Lone Star Geyser – and see the thermal features that give the Firehole River its name., Return to a delicious hot meal each day after exploring the park and spend your evenings chatting in front of the fire at a comfortable hotel with plenty of character and rustic charm.

Is this trip right for me?

This trip involves hiking or snowshoeing from 2 to 8 miles (3 to 13 km) per day with a total trip distance of 20+ miles (32+ km). The maximum daily elevation gain/loss is 750 feet (229 m). Please check the trip itinerary for more details.

On this trip, you’ll be required to carry a daypack weighing approximately 8-12 lb (3.5- 5.5 kg).

Yellowstone can be very cold in the winter so you must have the appropriate footwear and clothing. To be fully prepared, please follow the recommended clothing list closely. Yellowstone National Park snow coaches have limited space for luggage, so we ask that you have no more than 1 bag or suitcase weighing less than 22kgs, a day pack and a small carry-on bag.

Winter weather can be unpredictable in Yellowstone so we may need to make itinerary changes to keep the group safe and well at all times. If this occurs, we will do our best to find comparable activities and experiences.

Important information

1. Please note this trip requires a minimum number of booked customers to guarantee the departure. Your Booking Agent will advise at time of booking if the departure has met minimum numbers. If minimum numbers are not met, you will be advised no later than 30 days out from departure. We recommend arranging flights and related travel services once your departure is guaranteed. In the event that your departure is cancelled due to minimum numbers not being met, a full refund will be provided of monies paid.

2. A completed registration form is required to join these trips. You will not be confirmed for the trip until your form has been received and reviewed. We may ask for a medical release signed by your physician for medical conditions or circumstances which could possibly compromise your safety or the safety of others on this trip – please speak to your agent for further details.

3. A signed disclaimer (Acknowledgement of Risks Form) is required at the time of booking for this trip – please speak to your agent for further details.

4. To help ensure this trip is right for you, this trip is subject to additional ‘Essential Eligibility Requirements’ – see the ‘Itinerary Disclaimer’ section of the Essential Trip Information for further details.

5.This trip is operated and run by Wildland Trekking, an Intrepid company. You will be travelling with a mixture of both Wildland Trekking customers and Intrepid customers.

6. Please note, pre-trip orientation meeting will take place at 5:00 PM day before trip starts in Bozeman. Your Tour Leader will contact you approximately 2 weeks before your trip to share necessary details.

7. Early on the morning of day 1 (6-8am), you will be picked up from your hotel in Bozeman. We recommend you book a pre tour night in that hotel. Your trip will finish on a last day at approximately 7pm.

8. A single supplement is available. The single supplement applies to all nights of the trip and is subject to availability. Please speak to your booking agent for further information.

What to bring/pack

As well as your underwear, toothbrush and other items you always need to pack for travel, below are some items that you specifically need for this trip.

INCLUDED GEAR

We provide all group gear which includes the following:
- Deuter or Osprey backpacks
- Leki trekking poles
- Snowshoes (where applicable)
- Company-issued first-aid kit
- Emergency communication device(s)
- Bear spray cannisters (where applicable)

The following items are required for your trip unless otherwise noted. When packing, think layered clothing systems that work together and can be easily added or removed.

Our thorough packing list considers diverse weather conditions, but we suggest refining it based on the weather forecast 10 days before departure. Before your trip, our guides will reach out to review the list with you, addressing any questions. For newly purchased items, we suggest you keep receipts and tags attached until use, as our guides can provide real-time advice on their necessity. This approach ensures that you are well-equipped for your adventure, no matter what conditions you may encounter.

 Winter Hiking Boots/Shoes – insulated, lug-soled, waterproof and ideally well broken in.
(Note: buy your boots/shoes 1/2 size to 1 size larger than your street shoes to allow for feet swelling and thicker socks)
 Expedition Socks – 2 pairs of padded hiking socks, mid-to heavyweight wool socks. No cotton socks please!
 Gaiters – waterproof and mid-ankle to just below the knee in length
 Insulated gloves – waterproof/breathable, insulated gloves
 Warm Hat & Fleece Gloves – fleece lined beanie and light-to-mid weight fleece or wool gloves
 Balaclava or neck gaiter – mid-weight fleece or wool balaclava or neck gaiter for windy days
 Base Layer/Long Underwear – 1 pair of wicking tops and bottoms that are lightweight to midweight, synthetic wicking materials such as polyester, polypropylene, merino wool…etc.
 Fleece Pants – mid weight fleece pants or leggings for warmth
 Warm Tops – mid-weight sweaters or pullovers of wicking material such as merino wool, fleece or polypropylene
 Mid Layer Insulating Jacket – down-fill or synthetic-fill insulated “puffy” jacket or warm, heavy weight fleece jacket
 Insulated ski pants – waterproof/breathable pants insulated with a synthetic material
 Snow jacket – Waterproof/breathable snow jacket such as Gore-Tex® or coated nylon
 Casual Clothing & Footwear – comfortable clothes and shoes for evenings off the trail
 Personal Luggage – small duffel bag, suitcase or backpack – for extra hiking clothes and casual clothes
Important Note: Please, no cotton hiking clothes

GEAR CHECKLIST
 Insulated Water Bottle/Thermos – 2+ liter capacity, needs to be insulated to avoid freezing
(Note: bladder/hose style hydration systems will not work for this trip due to extreme freezing temperatures)
 Headlamp – preferably with an L.E.D. bulb that works with AA or AAA batteries
(Note: always test your headlamp before trips, travel/pack without batteries in device, and for longer trips (4+ days) consider a spare bulb and 1 set of spare batteries)
 Ski Goggles
 Contact Lenses and Glasses – if you wear contact lenses, please also bring a pair of glasses – your contacts are likely to become dirty and may be difficult to clean
 Sunglasses, Sunscreen, Lip Balm
 Toiletries
 Prescription Medication – please inform your trip leader of any medications you are taking
 2-3 Face Masks, 1-2 Over-the-counter Rapid Antigen COVID-19 Tests

OPTIONAL ITEMS
 Personal Trekking Poles
 Support Braces – consider bringing any joint braces that may be currently needed or from past injuries (i.e. knee, ankle, elbow, etc…)

Physical rating

4

This trip involves hiking or snowshoeing from 2 to 8 miles (3 to 13 km) per day with a total trip distance of 20+ miles (32+ km). The maximum daily elevation gain/loss is 750 feet (229 m). Please check the trip itinerary for more details.

The difficulties of this trip come from the typically harsh winter conditions of the area. Most hikes are on packed trails and boardwalks (when in geothermal areas), but the route to Lone Star Geyser can involve some difficult trail breaking depending on recent snowfall.

You can expect snowshoeing with an 8-12 lb backpack for 5-7 hours through packed and deeper, powdery snow, potentially in temperatures below 0 degrees Fahrenheit (-18 C).

Snowshoeing and/or hiking in winter is naturally more strenuous given the additional physical effort required when hiking through snow, especially on steep terrain and when gaining altitude. To enjoy this trip you should be used to walking in the mountains on rocky terrain and on reasonably steep slopes. No previous snowshoe experience is necessary and all necessary equipment will be provided, but a reasonable level of general fitness is required.

Please note that as the climate continues to change it is becoming more difficult to predict when and where snow will fall, and there may be times you are hiking rather than snowshoeing (or vice versa). As such the leader will adapt the trails taken according to the weather conditions and the physical condition of the group if required.

Joining your group

Holiday Inn Express Bozeman West, 2305 Catron Street, Bozeman, 59718, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

Alternate Joining Point


Joining instructions

Finishing your trip

Holiday Inn Express Bozeman West, 2305 Catron Street, Bozeman, 59718, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

Alternate Finish Point


Meals & dietary information

Breakfasts included: 4

Lunches included: 5

Dinners included: 4

All meals on your trip are included, from breakfasts and lunches with a choice of hot and cold meals, to delicious dinners at local restaurants. If you have food allergies or preferences, please let us know in advance so we can adjust the dining options to better suit your requirements.

Climate & seasonal information

Being a Northern mountain environment, Yellowstone is prone to sudden temperature and weather shifts. This is an exciting aspect of being in Yellowstone. In Winter, it is almost guaranteed it will get very cold with average temperatures ranging from 5 to 1 degree Fahrenheit in December through to February.

In case of emergency

While we always endeavour to provide the best possible holiday experience, due to the nature of travel and the areas we visit sometimes things can and do go wrong. Should any issue occur while you are on your trip, it is imperative that you discuss this with your group leader or local representative straight away so that they can do their best to rectify the problem and save any potential negative impact on the rest of your trip.

We recognise that there may be times when your group leader or local representative may not be able to resolve a situation to your satisfaction - if this is the case, please ask the group leader or local representative to speak to their direct manager.

You may also choose to provide details in your online feedback, which we ask you to complete within 30 days of the end of your trip. Please do be aware that it is very difficult for us to provide any practical help after the trip is completed, so informing us while still travelling will give us the opportunity to resolve the issue in real-time.

For general contact details please use the following page: http://www.intrepidtravel.com/ourtrips/contact/

In case of a genuine crisis or emergency, you can reach our local office on the numbers below:

POLICE AND AMBULANCE
In case of an emergency, local authorities can be contacted by calling 911 – this is the toll free phone number for the police, fire department and the ambulance in the USA and Canada. In case of doubt, call the operator on 0.

Intrepid's Local Operator: +1 928 224 0699

Accommodations

Experience some of America’s best national parks in style on an inn based tour with cosy accommodation and restaurant meals to look forward to each night. Inn based tours include transportation, lodging, meals, park entrance fees, and a professional hiking guide.

Transportation

AIRPORT TRANSFERS IN THE USA & CANADA
We recommend taxis and rideshare services like Lyft and Uber when traveling to and from hotels in the USA and Canada. These services are widely available across North America, offering convenient and accessible transportation options. Private transfers in North America incur high costs and present an increased risk of missed connections due to their fixed schedules. In contrast, taxis and rideshares offer both cost-effectiveness and flexibility, ensuring a smoother journey. With transparent pricing, GPS tracking, and on-demand availability, we believe that taxis and rideshare apps not only offer a reliable alternative to private transfers but also provide a secure, trustworthy, and budget-friendly transportation option for our customers.