Join a small group of other like-minded Yellowstone enthusiasts
Per Person
Gardiner, MT
May 25-28
We will spend some early mornings searching for wolves with binoculars and spotting scopes from the road corridors in the Lamar Valley area, and then head off-road (and mostly off-trail) to explore the hidden landscapes where wolves go when we can’t see them from the roadways. Hikes will be carefully selected to explore the past, present, and future of wolves within and beyond Yellowstone.
Hikes are intended to explore wolf habitat, habits, and travel corridors, not to search for or disturb wolves in the backcountry. Where do wolves go when they disappear from the famed landscapes of Slough Creek? What lies over the hills and just out of view in Lamar Valley? Where is the last remaining wolf acclimation pen that was used during the reintroduction in the mid-1990’s? See and learn this and so much more on this in-depth exploration of wolf country beyond the roads in Yellowstone!
2026 Dates: May 25 – 28
We will spend some early mornings searching for wolves with binoculars and spotting scopes from the road corridors in the Lamar Valley area, and then head off-road (and mostly off-trail) to explore the hidden landscapes where wolves go when we can’t see them from the roadways. Hikes will be carefully selected to explore the past, present, and future of wolves within and beyond Yellowstone.
Hikes are intended to explore wolf habitat, habits, and travel corridors, not to search for or disturb wolves in the backcountry. Where do wolves go when they disappear from the famed landscapes of Slough Creek? What lies over the hills and just out of view in Lamar Valley? Where is the last remaining wolf acclimation pen that was used during the reintroduction in the mid-1990’s? See and learn this and so much more on this in-depth exploration of wolf country beyond the roads in Yellowstone!
2026 Dates: May 25 – 28
May 25 – 28, 2026
If these dates don’t work for you, please contact us to discuss planning a private program!
The itinerary below has been carefully crafted to make the most of your time in Yellowstone. Departure times and specific hike destinations may need to be altered due to wildlife activity, trail conditions, weather forecast, or other factors. If hike destinations need to be adjusted, hikes will remain within the difficulty levels described below.
Day 1:
– Evening welcome dinner (catered), orientation, & introduction to Yellowstone wolves
Day 2:
– Early-morning (approx. 5 a.m.) depart for wolf watching in the Lamar Valley area.
– Mid-morning planned hike: Rose Creek Wolf Acclimation Pen, 3 miles round-trip with 550 feet elevation gain/loss. On an unofficial trail with one small creek crossing (rock- or log- hopping)
– Mid-afternoon: Return to Gardiner, afternoon and evening on your own.
Day 3:
– Approx. 7 a.m.: Depart for the field
– Planned hike: Hellroaring toward Slough Creek / Mom’s Ridge. Up to 8 miles with up to 800 feet elevation gain/loss. Mostly off-trail with potential for small creek crossing(s) (rock-hopping).
Day 4:
– Early-morning (approx. 5 a.m.) depart for wolf watching in the Lamar Valley area.
– Mid-morning planned hike: Crystal Creek to Jasper Bench, 5 miles with up to 500 feet elevation gain/loss. Mostly off-trail with potential for small creek-crossing (rock-hopping)
– Program concludes by 3-4 p.m.
$795 / person
Evening welcome dinner (catered) & orientation
3 full field days in Yellowstone
Transportation for each field day in our comfortable touring vehicle
High-powered, high-quality binoculars and spotting scopes
Hot beverages for each field day
Light snacks for each field day
An engaging, educational experience with a small group of other Yellowstone enthusiasts
Lodging is not included with your registration fee. Discounted lodging at the family-owned Yellowstone River Motel may be reserved at the time of your program registration if desired.
This program includes hikes of the following distances and difficulties. In order to fully participate in the program, you must be able to complete these hikes at an average walking pace of 2 miles per hour (with plenty of stops to rest, enjoy our surroundings, and learn about the wolves whose trails we are following).
– 3 miles, 550 feet elevation gain/loss, 1 small creek crossing (rock- or log-hopping), on an unofficial trail.
– Up to 8 miles, up to 800 feet elevation gain/loss, potential small creek crossing(s) (rock-hopping), mostly off-trail.
– 5 miles, 500 feet elevation gain/loss, potential small creek crossing (rock-hopping), mostly off-trail.
Carolyn Bulin‘s first wolf sighting had her hooked: In 2002, she watched the Druid Peak pack successfully hunt an elk in Lamar Valley. In 2009, she began working in Yellowstone, and shortly thereafter began her naturalist career as a field instructor with the Yellowstone Institute, teaching multi-day field courses focusing on wolf research and management and university courses about environmental policy. Carolyn holds a bachelor’s degree in Outdoor Recreation Leadership and Management with emphases in ecology and cultural anthropology from Northern Michigan University. As a certified trainer of interpretive guides through the National Association of Interpretation, she also teaches in-depth classes that share the art and skill of naturalist guiding. Carolyn’s volunteer experience in Yellowstone includes snow tracking surveys for the Yellowstone Cougar Project, carcass surveys with the grizzly bear research team, and assisting with trapping ravens and fitting them with GPS harnesses for research. During her free time, Carolyn enjoys exploring the GYE with her husband and two small children.
Your park pass, if you have one. Park entry is not included in your program registration fee.
Layered clothing. Your confirmation email will include a detailed, seasonally-appropriate clothing and equipment list. If you have questions about clothing prior to booking, please just contact us!
Food. We provide hot beverages and light snacks for each field day. Please bring your field-friendly lunches.
Reusable water bottle. Your guide will have a large cooler of water from which you can refill your bottle.
Camera (if desired).
Small backpack to carry water, clothing layers, lunch, and snacks on hikes.
Lots of questions, enthusiasm, and curiosity! This is a participatory program, and discussions will evolve from your and your fellow participants’ questions and interests.
In order to reserve your spot, a $200 deposit is due at the time of booking, with the remainder charged to the card on file 30 days in advance of the program start date.
Should you need to cancel your reservation with us more than 30 days prior to your program start date, your payment is fully refundable. At 30 days prior to your program start date, the balance due will be charged to your card on file, and your program registration fee becomes non-refundable.
For programs that offer the option to reserve lodging with the program, lodging fees are fully refundable until 72 hours in advance of the program start date.
Should we need to cancel your program due to low enrollment, we will notify you 30 days in advance of the program start date, and we will provide a full refund. We are not responsible for reimbursing you for airline reservations, lodging that is not associated with the program, or other travel costs.
As a small business, we regret that we are rarely able to make exceptions to our cancellation policy. We strongly recommend that you purchase third-party travel insurance that will protect you in case of unforeseen cancellations or changes to your travel plans.
We believe in a strict code of ethics. The animals of Yellowstone face enormous pressure from the sheer number of visitors coming every day to observe them. The park has set forth certain rules that we will adhere to. Mainly, we must not disturb wildlife and we should maintain a good distance to ensure that the animals can carry on with their day-to-day lives and that we stay safe. The current rules include 100 yards from bears, wolves, and cougars (mountain lions) and at least 25 yards from everything else. We appreciate your understanding and so will the animals.
yellowstonewildlifeprofiles@gmail.com