Yellowstone Winter Wonderland

Welcome to the “Wild West” At 6:00 p.m., meet your Tour Director and travel companions for a welcome drink. Your Tour Director will prepare you for your upcoming adventure.

Wildlife in Winter Your day begins in the nearby [LOCAL FAVORITE] National Elk Refuge with a fun and exhilarating included sleigh ride excursion. Enjoy free time the remainder of the day to explore Jackson. Savor authentic tastes of the American Rockies with regionally-inspired cuisine and soak in the festive atmosphere for a classic Jackson winter experience. (B) LOCAL FAVORITE As many as 10,000 elk congregate here each winter, creating the largest concentration of wintering elk in the world. Your sleigh will travel among these magnificent creatures for a memorable up-close experience. Watch for a wealth of other wildlife in residence this time of year, including wolves, coyotes, moose, bison, trumpeter swans, hawks, and bald eagles. ENHANCED FREE TIME Discover the magic of downtown Jackson in winter, where snow-covered streets, iconic elk antler arches, cozy cafes, and unique boutiques create the perfect mountain-town escape. Consider a snowshoe outing, gondola ride or browse the local art scene downtown. This evening, warm up at the Jackson Hole Playhouse dinner theater or wander around Jackson Town Square for Western boutiques, live music and culinary delights.

Spectacular Sights Depart Jackson this morning and travel through Grand Teton National Park, where some of the majestic peaks soar beyond 13,000 feet. At Flagg Ranch, board a snowcoach and begin your journey on the John D. Rockefeller Memorial Parkway and through Yellowstone National Park, the world’s first national park. Along the way, marvel at the West Thumb Geyser Basin on the shores of Lake Yellowstone, the Continental Divide, and Shoshone Point Overlook before arriving at the Old Faithful Snow Lodge for a relaxing 2-night stay. (B,D) TOUR HIGHLIGHT The Grand Teton Range is the youngest mountain range in the Rockies and some of the youngest peaks in the world. Mere youngsters, these jagged masterpieces were born of earthquakes and glaciers just 2 million years ago. With eight peaks towering over 12,000 feet, the grandest of all is Grand Teton itself, at over 13,700 feet. So treasured is this magnificent national park that three presidents (Coolidge, FDR, and Truman) all fiercely fought for more land to be protected and preserved in the 310,000-acre Grand Teton National Park enjoyed today. ENHANCED FREE TIME Explore more in Yellowstone National Park! In winter, the interior roads at Yellowstone National Park are accessible only by commercial over-snow transportation, and Yellowstone’s snowcoaches are essentially the ultimate 21st-century (heated) sleigh. These fascinating vehicles travel over groomed snow-covered roads. The snowcoaches are driven by seasoned guides, so every mile, regardless of destination, is a guided tour of Yellowstone’s extraordinary winter scenery.

America’s First National Park Wake up this morning to the fresh, crisp air of Yellowstone in the winter. After breakfast, enjoy a guided walking tour of the Upper Geyser Basin. The remainder of the day is at leisure, a perfect time to try a typical winter activity like snowshoeing or cross-country skiing. Later, relax with a warm drink by the crackling fire. (B,D) TOUR HIGHLIGHT Experience the otherworldly beauty of Yellowstone in winter with a guided walking tour of the Upper Geyser Basin. The greatest geothermal basin on Earth, this region also features the extraordinary sights of world-famous Old Faithful, which erupts with regularity throughout the day, as well as other less predictable geysers, including Castle, Daisy, Riverside, and Grand Geysers. It’s an incredible and invigorating experience.