The Yellowstone National Park – Wildlife Trails

Start your Yellowstone journey at Salt Lake City. Aside from being the capital city of Utah, it is the headquarters of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, otherwise known as the Mormon faith. There will be a welcome meeting at 18:00.

Stay overnight at the Crystal Inn or similar.

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Travel from Salt Lake City to Jackson Hole, Wyoming. On the way, you will visit the Targhee National Forest, which is home to the Curlew National Grassland. You will then arrive at the Jackson Hole Mountain Resort. During the winter months, you can participate in skiing and snowboarding, while in the summer there are plenty of hiking opportunities.

Optional activities include whitewater rafting, mountain biking, an aerial tram ride, dinner at Chuck Wagon, and a visit to an authentic Western Saloon.

Spend 2 nights at the Super 8 Jackson or similar.

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Make your way to the Grand Teton National Park, a region full of stunning mountains, unique wildlife, pristine lakes, and gorgeous alpine terrain. The area is home to many native wildlife, such as black and grizzly bears, bison, moose, mule deer, and elk. You can participate in many self-guided hiking trails, which let you admire the stunning scenery from unique perspectives.

Optional activities include a ferry across Jenny Lake, which takes you to a hiking trail that is often populated by moose and bears.

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Leave the Grand Teton National Park and head to the main destination of your trip, Yellowstone. You will enjoy a pleasant drive to the park, traveling on a long stretch of highway and passing by Jackson Lake. In real time, you will watch the scenery change from jagged peaks to wide, sprawling terrain, and the many thermal features onsite.

After arriving at Yellowstone, go on a walking tour of the volcanic area.

Stay for 4 nights at the Travelodge Gardiner or similar.

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Spend the first half of your day exploring the thermal features at Yellowstone. The region is home to around 10,000 thermal features, which include geysers, bubbling mud pools, fumaroles, and multi-colored hot springs. Your tour guide will share insightful details about the volcanic area, its origins, and its place in Yellowstone history.

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Go on a full-day wildlife tour. For many decades, Yellowstone has gone to great lengths to reintroduce the native wolves, who were once at risk of extinction.

You will learn about the wolves, the history of their declining population, and the work that the staff has done to give these beautiful creatures a second chance at surviving.

While there is no guarantee that you will actually see wolves on this trip, you will still get to marvel at other local wildlife.

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Enjoy a full day walking tour of the park. You’ll learn more about the region’s wildlife and geology, and then head more into the wilderness than previous days. Here, you will get to appreciate Yellowstone in its least altered state, where the natural beauty speaks for itself. You will also stop at the Mammoth Hot Springs.

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Leave behind Yellowstone and head to Glacier National Park. The region is a marvelous showcase of melting glaciers, carved valleys, and crystal-clear lakes. While most of the day will be spent driving, the memorable views and pleasant atmosphere will keep you enraptured from beginning to end. Of there, there will be regular meal and rest breaks.

Spend 3 nights at the Mountain Pine Hotel or similar.

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Enjoy a full 2-day hike in Glacier National Park. With assistance from a local hiking guide, and a shuttle bus for transport, you will visit the many trails and marvel at the native wildlife. One of those trails is the Hidden Lake Trails, which is about 5 miles in length. It is considered a relatively easy hike since most of the trail is flat.

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Go on an expert wilderness guide, traveling along the Going-to-the-Sun Road. Along the way, your tour guide will help you spot various wildlife, including the lynx, grizzly bears, and wolves. You may also see Big Horn Sheep and Mountain Goats. If the conditions are right, you will visit the Iceberg Lake, where you can admire the wildflowers and marvel at the scenic views.

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Transfer from Glacier to Coeur d’Alene. You will pass through several small towns in Idaho’s ‘Silver Valley,’ a narrow stretch of valleys that measure at 40 miles in length. Once you arrive at Coeur d’Alene, you may have the chance to go on a forest trail walk. If the weather is hot, you can bring a swimsuit and swim in the water.

Stay overnight at the Days Inn Coeur d’Alene or similar.

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Leave behind Coeur d’Alene and head to your final destination, Seattle. On the way, you will pass Mount Rainier National Park. The mountain is an active volcano and 14,410 feet above sea level, making it the tallest volcano in Washington.

End your tour at your gateway hotel in Seattle at around 17:00 hrs.