Essence of Yellowstone and Grand Teton

Wildlife Watching, Floating, and Discovery

Overview

The most famous national parks might actually be the least well known – to the drive-by tourists who stream through, anyway. That’s why we send you off with a seasoned guide to get you behind the scenes, into the quieter corners and on the road to discovery and connection. Your Off the Beaten Path guide is an experienced naturalist who has spent many years in the Yellowstone region and knows the parks inside and out. Days are active but not hurried, and fun as well as enriching.

After a road trip along the Yellowstone River through the Paradise Valley, the journey begins with guided walks among the travertine terraces of Mammoth Hot Springs. The next day, look for rainbows in the waterfall mist at the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone and watch for bison, coyotes, elk and maybe even a grizzly bear in the Hayden Valley. Things heat up with a day of exploring Yellowstone National Park’s colorful hot springs, bubbling mud pots, and spouting geysers – including the iconic Old Faithful Geyser. Next stop, Jackson Hole, where the craggy Teton Range cast their shadow and your guide hunts up the best spots to explore and optimal viewpoints for photos. From a wonderful lodge in Grand Teton National Park, the adventure is wrapped up with a wildlife watching float on the beautiful Snake River.

This small group adventure through Yellowstone and Grand Teton is perfect for travelers that are hungry to get back to nature!

Off the Beaten Path is an authorized permittee of the National Park Service.

Price From

$6,995 USD
Trip Type

Small Group Adventure
Departure Dates

May 23 - 29, 2026
Jun 6 - 12, 2026
Jun 20 - 26, 2026
Jul 4 - 10, 2026
Aug 1 - 7, 2026
Aug 15 - 21, 2026
Aug 29 - Sep 4, 2026
Sep 5 - 11, 2026
Sep 12 - 18, 2026
Sep 19 - 25, 2026
Sep 26 - Oct 2, 2026
Oct 3 - 9, 2026
May 15 - 21, 2027
May 22 - 28, 2027
Jun 5 - 11, 2027
Jun 19 - 25, 2027
Jul 3 - 9, 2027
Jul 17 - 23, 2027
Jul 24 - 30, 2027
Jul 31 - Aug 6, 2027
Aug 14 - 20, 2027
Aug 28 - Sep 3, 2027
Sep 4 - 10, 2027
Sep 11 - 17, 2027
Sep 18 - 24, 2027
Sep 25 - Oct 1, 2027
Oct 2 - 8, 2027
Mouse over or tap the departure dates to see trip prices.
Duration

7 days / 6 nights
Trip begins/ends
Bozeman, Montana / Jackson, Wyoming

*Price per person based on double occupancy. Trip price includes all lodging, meals, ground transportation, guide services and activities as described in this itinerary.

Call Toll-Free 800-445-2995

Do you want to customize this trip?

We customize trips all the time! Email us today: [email protected].

Trip Details

Trip Highlights

What’s Included? Everything you need, plus everything you want.

Wildlife watching: Your guide knows the best places for spotting wildlife, including wolves, grizzly and black bears, moose, bison, bald eagles, and more.
Natural treasures: See Old Faithful Geyser, the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, the Grand Tetons, and other iconic landmarks.
Scenic river float: Relax on a quiet Snake River float with striking views and wildlife-watching opportunities.
Seasonal variety: As the seasons change, so do the parks. Each departure is crafted to capture the best of each season to ensure your delight.

The Essentials

Essence of Yellowstone and Grand Teton

Trip Type: Small Group Adventure

Territory: North America

Region: Rocky Mountains

Trip Price: From $6,995

Single Supplement: $2,150

On-Trip Airfare: $0

Duration: 7 days/6 nights

Trip Begins/Ends: Bozeman, Montana / Jackson, Wyoming

Minimum Travelers: 2 travelers

Maximum Travelers: 16 travelers

Select Terms & Conditions

Pricing detailed for this Small Group Adventure is based upon double occupancy. Additional charges for single travelers and any on-trip airfare required for the trip apply. A booking deposit is required to reserve your space. Small Group Adventure pricing includes all lodging, meals (unless otherwise noted), activities, baggage handling, transportation, and guide service. Not included are travel costs to/from gateway cities, guide gratuities, and personal incidentals including, but not limited to, trip cancellation/interruption insurance, alcoholic beverages, and laundry service. Travel with Off the Beaten Path requires agreement to our standard Terms & Conditions.

Energy Index

No Sweat - 1-2 miles of walking or hiking per day, plus easy activities

Nice & Active – 3-6 miles of hiking or walking per day, plus physically active exploration

High Five! – 5-10 miles of hiking per day, plus possible peak bagging or other action-oriented fun

Essence of Yellowstone and Grand Teton

The Energy Index for this trip is “Nice & Active”, with “No Sweat” elements, at elevations ranging from 4,800 to 8,400 feet. Activities include hiking 1 to 3 miles per day, with elevation gain/loss not typically more than 300 feet. Travelers who can hike the minimum end of this range are a good fit for this trip. Contact a Travel Advisor for more details.

Make It Private

Make this trip all yours!

Most all of our Small Group Adventures can be made private to just your traveling troupe. Just give us a call at (800) 445-2995 and tell us that you would like to “make it private”!

Generally, there are two ways to make a small group adventure private. First, you could capture one of our published departure dates for just your group. In order to achieve this, we have to have sufficient space available to create a separate private trip. Second, we could take the details of this itinerary and fashion it for just your group on dates of your choosing. For this, too, we just need to review your interest, group size, and preferred timing in order to create the trip.

In all cases, the process begins with a phone call so give us a ring at (800) 445-2995 and after just a few minutes gathering information, we can set to the task of making your trip a reality!

Trip Highlights
The Essentials
Energy Index
Make It Private

What’s Included? Everything you need, plus everything you want.

Wildlife watching: Your guide knows the best places for spotting wildlife, including wolves, grizzly and black bears, moose, bison, bald eagles, and more.
Natural treasures: See Old Faithful Geyser, the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, the Grand Tetons, and other iconic landmarks.
Scenic river float: Relax on a quiet Snake River float with striking views and wildlife-watching opportunities.
Seasonal variety: As the seasons change, so do the parks. Each departure is crafted to capture the best of each season to ensure your delight.

Essence of Yellowstone and Grand Teton

Trip Type: Small Group Adventure

Territory: North America

Region: Rocky Mountains

Trip Price: From $6,995

Single Supplement: $2,150

On-Trip Airfare: $0

Duration: 7 days/6 nights

Trip Begins/Ends: Bozeman, Montana / Jackson, Wyoming

Minimum Travelers: 2 travelers

Maximum Travelers: 16 travelers

Select Terms & Conditions

Pricing detailed for this Small Group Adventure is based upon double occupancy. Additional charges for single travelers and any on-trip airfare required for the trip apply. A booking deposit is required to reserve your space. Small Group Adventure pricing includes all lodging, meals (unless otherwise noted), activities, baggage handling, transportation, and guide service. Not included are travel costs to/from gateway cities, guide gratuities, and personal incidentals including, but not limited to, trip cancellation/interruption insurance, alcoholic beverages, and laundry service. Travel with Off the Beaten Path requires agreement to our standard Terms & Conditions.

Energy Index

No Sweat - 1-2 miles of walking or hiking per day, plus easy activities

Nice & Active – 3-6 miles of hiking or walking per day, plus physically active exploration

High Five! – 5-10 miles of hiking per day, plus possible peak bagging or other action-oriented fun

Essence of Yellowstone and Grand Teton

The Energy Index for this trip is “Nice & Active”, with “No Sweat” elements, at elevations ranging from 4,800 to 8,400 feet. Activities include hiking 1 to 3 miles per day, with elevation gain/loss not typically more than 300 feet. Travelers who can hike the minimum end of this range are a good fit for this trip. Contact a Travel Advisor for more details.

Make this trip all yours!

Most all of our Small Group Adventures can be made private to just your traveling troupe. Just give us a call at (800) 445-2995 and tell us that you would like to “make it private”!

Generally, there are two ways to make a small group adventure private. First, you could capture one of our published departure dates for just your group. In order to achieve this, we have to have sufficient space available to create a separate private trip. Second, we could take the details of this itinerary and fashion it for just your group on dates of your choosing. For this, too, we just need to review your interest, group size, and preferred timing in order to create the trip.

In all cases, the process begins with a phone call so give us a ring at (800) 445-2995 and after just a few minutes gathering information, we can set to the task of making your trip a reality!

Itinerary

Day 1: Arrive in Bozeman, MT

Meet your guide and fellow travelers in Bozeman for a welcome dinner.

Day 2: Bozeman to Yellowstone National Park

Follow in the return-journey footsteps of Lewis and Clark over Bozeman Pass to the Yellowstone River, then leave that historic trail and turn south into the Paradise Valley headed straight for Yellowstone National Park. For our first, easy Yellowstone hike, the guide will choose a favorite trail near Mammoth Hot Springs. We’ll also wander the boardwalks through the fascinating and beautiful travertine mineral terraces, and have a chance to visit the Albright Visitor Center.

Day 3: Yellowstone National Park

This morning, we make our way to the interior of the park. Wildlife focused departures will first go to the Lamar Valley, “America’s Serengeti”, and the best place to view wildlife in the spring and fall. Summer departures head to the dramatic Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone where we’ll find the best vantage points for photographs and enjoy a short hike. Moving on, we pass through the broad Hayden Valley—one of the best places in the park for spotting wildlife. Bison, elk, grizzly bears, coyotes, wolves, and a host of other species live here. We’ll arrive at our in-park lodging in time for dinner.

Day 4: Yellowstone National Park

This whole day is dedicated to discovering, exploring, and learning about the bizarre and fascinating world of geysers, hot pools, and mud pots from your guide. Possibilities include a hike to off the beaten path spots like Lone Star Geyser as well as other amazing thermal oddities. This famous Upper Geyser Basin holds more active geysers than the rest of the world put together, including iconic Old Faithful Geyser.

Day 5: Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks

Today we travel south, making our way out of Yellowstone and into Grand Teton National Park. We’ll stop along the way to visit the many visitors centers and enjoy lunch with a view! We arrive at Jackson Lake Lodge this afternoon in time to settle in for the next two nights. Staying at Jackson Lake Lodge means you are sleeping in the National Park next to wide expanses of fields surrounding a rich-blue mountain lake, with moose, elk, and bison wandering close by.

Day 6: Grand Teton National Park & Snake River Float

This day varies depending on the time of year. Water levels and seasonality will determine if your group will float the scenic Snake River through the heart of Grand Teton National Park. This is a calm-water float with majestic views and great wildlife watching opportunities. Our river guide has a wealth of natural history knowledge and plenty of local stories to tell. As the seasons change other opportunities arise that are sure to delight! Extended time in the parks allow for spontaneous wildlife-spotting and exploration throughout the day. For tonight’s fond-farewell dinner celebration, we savor the sweeping views of the Tetons from the famous Mural Room at Jackson Lake Lodge.

Day 7: Jackson and Departures Home

Enjoy one last outing to view Grand Teton’s wildlife and take one last mental picture...for your flight home from Jackson Hole airport.

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Lodging

Kimpton Armory Hotel

The most elevated and amenity-rich hotel in Bozeman, the Armory Hotel is perfectly located in the heart of historic downtown Bozeman, providing easy walking access to charming boutiques, independent coffee shops, galleries and lively bars and restaurants. The hotel boasts three restaurants and bars and frequently hosts live music events that may be of interest.

Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel & Cabins

Located near the north entrance into Yellowstone Park, Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel & Cabins is the perfect home base for all things Yellowstone! Accommodation options vary from standard hotel rooms, suites and cabins.

Old Faithful Snow Lodge

Situated near Old Faithful and the Upper Geyser Basin, Old Faithful Snow Lodge make a wonderful base for exploration. The lodge is one of Yellowstone’s newer accommodations and a beautiful example of classic 'parkitecture', with its heavy timber accents, exterior log columns, and cedar shingle roof.

Canyon Lodge & Cabins

Located on the east side of the park near the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, Canyon Lodge & Cabins is a great base of exploration. The renovated cabins all have private bathrooms, and the main lodge and restaurant is LEED Certified following a recent major renovation. The lodge is on the New York Times' list of 'Five Hotels for Eco-Conscious Travelers.'

Jackson Lake Lodge

Staying in the park at Jackson Lake Lodge means you are sleeping next to wide expanses of fields surrounding a rich-blue mountain lake, with moose, elk, and bison wandering close by. Rising above is one of the most photographed mountain ranges in the world, the Grand Tetons! Jackson Lake Lodge is the largest of all the eco-friendly properties in Grand Teton National Park. It is centrally located and has a swimming pool for relaxing at the end of each day. There are a variety of dining options, and we recommend dining in the Mural Room at the lodge, we would be happy to secure a dinner reservation when we confirm the lodging.