Interested in setting up a Yellowstone backpacking trip this season? Make sure you get your reservations in now, and don’t delay! The best campsites fill up quickly, so advance planning is necessary to make sure you get an ideal spot.
We’re encouraging all guests to make their reservations by Monday, February 15, 2021. We will be putting in our first round of campsite requests on February 20, so please be prompt with your reservations!
Hiking in the time of COVID-19
We’re still expecting to be dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic throughout much of the year, so if you’re looking for a fun, socially distant outdoor adventure to enjoy, look no further than a Yellowstone backpacking trip.
If you’re wondering about the safety of hiking and backpacking during the time of COVID-19, here are a few tips to help you enjoy your journey responsibly:
Behave like you have the virus: This is a good general rule for your interactions when out in public. You might not have any symptoms or be aware of an exposure, but that doesn’t mean you absolutely are not carrying the virus asymptomatically. Be considerate in your interactions, leave plenty of space, keep groups small and limited to people who are in your bubble and do not behave recklessly when you encounter other groups of people on the trails or at campsites.
Stick to your campsite: It’s true that one of the great parts of backpacking or camping is coming across other groups of people at campsites and bonding around the fire. But this time around, you’re probably better off staying at your own campsite and keeping socialization limited to the group of people you’re traveling with.
Don’t congregate in areas: Avoid congregating in the parking lot at the trailhead, and don’t carpool with anyone who’s not in your bubble or your group.
Be smart on the trail: It’s important to practice social distancing while out on the trail. Try to keep at least six feet of distance from other hikers and groups. Step off the trail to let people pass, and pick wider trails whenever possible.
Keep your groups small: Try to keep your groups small. You’ll probably get more enjoyment out of the solitude of nature this way anyway, but remember that the more people you bring along with you, the greater the chances you’re camping with someone carrying the virus. Try to stick to traveling only with people in your household.
Bring a mask: Even though you are outdoors, it is still polite to have a mask or face covering with you if you’re going to be on busy trails. Putting on a mask briefly while passing others is polite during the pandemic, and simply the responsible thing to do.
These are just a few examples of some of the ways you can adjust your hiking habits to stay safe during the coronavirus pandemic. Backpacking trips in Yellowstone are still safe, fun adventures to take on, so make your plans now to get your campsite, and get yourself ready for a fun time!
If you’re looking to avoid crowds during ski season, skiing through the Yellowstone area is just the ticket. Your ski trip with Yellowstone Tour Guides will turn into an outdoor vacation when you enjoy the breathtaking views and wildlife, all while taking advantage of remote ski resorts throughout Yellowstone and Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area. Our rates include ground transportation, lodging and lift tickets—all you have to do is show up and enjoy what this spectacular area has to offer. It’s the best way to enjoy the outdoors, especially during COVID-19.
Here is a brief overview of our YTG ski trips. Could this be your next family vacation?
Big Sky to Jackson Hole
Big Sky is one of the best ski areas, with the shortest lift lines, thanks to its remote location. You’ll enjoy views of Yellowstone and the Grand Tetons as you zip through hundreds of miles of empty slopes. Look out for moose, bull elk and wolves as you ski through the Gallatin District.
Bighorn Basin
This trip includes four different ski areas in Montana and Wyoming. If you’re a beginner or intermediate skier (or just haven’t had a chance to go in a while), this is the perfect tour for you. There’s a great range of beginner through expert slopes, so everyone will be able to find a trail to enjoy. You can also opt to enjoy nearby hot springs, the Buffalo Bill Museum and other local attractions. (These are not included in the trip price.)
Montana Highline
Take the worry out of traveling remote winter roads—but enjoy some of Montana’s most hidden ski slopes—when you book a Montana Highline trip. Our guides will do the driving so you can sit back and relax on the way to the resorts. The northern ski areas are far less crowded than southern Montana, which is ideal during the COVID-19 pandemic. Plan carefully—not every ski area is open seven days per week, but we can offer substitution suggestions if your favorites are closed.
Montana Hot Springs
Skiing and hot tubs are a perfect combination. After a long day out on the slopes, you can come back to enjoy the nearby hot springs, like Fairmont, Jackson, Elk Horn, Lost Trail, Lolo and Quinn Hot Springs. It’s the best way to relax (and recuperate) after a physically exhausting day. Prices include lodging, ground transportation, lift tickets and hot spring passes, but not ski rentals, food, alternate activities and gratuity.
Your Yellowstone Tour Guides ski trip is guaranteed to show you a brand-new part of the Yellowstone area, all without the stress of driving yourself. When you’re looking for a COVID-19-safe, socially-distanced vacation for the whole family, you can’t beat a skiing and hot springs adventure. Call us today to learn more about our trips.
2021 is a year of milestones for all of us at Yellowstone Tour Guides. We’re celebrating 10 years on Facebook, our 20th anniversary and our founder’s 30th year guiding in the park. Come celebrate with us when you book a trip today!
If you’re like most Americans, you’re probably going a little stir crazy after almost a year of lockdowns. Backpacking trips in Yellowstone are a great way to travel, enjoy the outdoors and get away from it all for a few days. It’s a safe choice, too. With a vaccine still a few months away for most folks, backpacking is one of the best vacations for social distancing. We start applying for campsite permits on February 15, so now is the best time to lock in your trek for the summer of 2021. The best campsites fill up fast—if you’re thinking about taking a trip in the warmer months, now is the time to act.
What kind of backpacking trips are available?
We offer a variety of backpacking trips throughout Yellowstone National Park. Did you know that the vast majority of Yellowstone (97 percent) is considered “back country,” and only a fraction of visitors ever sees or spends the night off the beaten path? If you want a one-of-a-kind backpacking experience, the team at Yellowstone Tour Guides is here to help.
Our group backpacking trips can be private and customizable. We offer eight different group treks, including through the Black Canyon, Lava Creek, Thorofare and Snake Creek and more. Our trips are appropriate for everyone from novices to experts—we’ll teach you everything you need to know to enjoy the scenery, including proper bear etiquette, how to use your gear and what to watch for as you explore the back country with us. Our trips can be day tours or multi-day and night adventures. If the tour areas are unexpectedly closed, our expert guides will make sure there are other breathtaking alternatives that everyone will love.
Who can go on a backpacking trip?
We pride ourselves on offering trips that everyone can enjoy, including children or people who use wheelchairs. When you book your trip, just let us know whether you have any specific physical challenges or if age is a factor. We can make recommendations about the best trips for your group. After all, Yellowstone should be enjoyed by everyone, and we want to do everything we can to make that possible.
Now is the time to book a trip
When you’re thinking about booking a summer backpacking trip, visit our website to look through the current offerings. If nothing strikes your fancy, let us know. We have also been putting together group treks for those who want to join a group. Just look on our Facebook page and check out our events. We plan to add a couple more trips by the end of January. If you have an idea, please let us know and we would be happy to get another group trek going.
Don’t miss out on the opportunity to see Yellowstone like you’ve never seen it before. For more information, or to sign up for your Yellowstone backpacking trip, reach out to Yellowstone Tour Guides today. Make sure to ask about our special COVID-19 deals!
There are still plenty of opportunities for you to get out and enjoy the vast wilderness of Yellowstone National Park, even during the winter and during a pandemic!
Yellowstone Tour Guides is pleased to offer a variety of ski trips for visitors. These trips have been specially tailored to be suitable for COVID-19 safety, including social distancing and trips to highly remote areas.
It’s an especially excellent opportunity to see a different side of the park at a time of year when there are far fewer visitors. Most of Yellowstone is closed during the late fall to allow the snow to accumulate for the snowmobile and snowcoach season, which begins on December 15.
About our ski trips
During the COVID-19 pandemic, people are understandably looking to avoid some of the more crowded areas while they head out for their Yellowstone ski trips. The good news is that Yellowstone Tour Guides offers some great ski trips out to some “mom and pop” ski resorts in more remote areas. We use smaller SUVs to shuttle people out and carry up to four skiers per vehicle with the gear. Only up to 12 people are allowed on every trip, ensuring it’s a small, easily distanced occasion for you to enjoy.
During this ski trip, you will have the opportunity to visit some areas of Yellowstone National Park and Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area, without having to worry about any of the crowds you might encounter in normal circumstances or other seasons!
Throughout Montana and Wyoming you’ll encounter a wide range of remote roadways, and some ski areas that may only be accessible via steep mountain passes that may be intimidating for most drivers. Our guides have been highly trained in driving through wintery conditions even on some more precarious roadways to safely bring you to your destination, allowing you to enjoy some wintertime adventures away from the hustle and bustle of the more crowded ski resorts.
Rates for our Yellowstone ski trips include ground transportation, lodging and lift tickets. When planning your excursion, please remember that some of the areas to which we take our guests are only open and available two to four days a week, so you may need a bit of flexibility with your scheduling, especially if you want to hit more than just one of them.
If you love exploring the outdoors, there’s a good chance that this experience will prompt you to reconsider visiting major, often-crowded skiing resorts in the future, even after the pandemic subsides. Remote ski areas mean fewer people to deal with, no lines for lifts and a better overall experience. Plus, there’s something unique and special about being practically alone out in the wilderness.Interested in learning more about our Yellowstone ski trips? We encourage you to contact the team at Yellowstone Tour Guides with any questions you have about any of the excursions we offer. We’re happy to provide you with further information and look forward to getting you scheduled for your upcoming wintertime adventure!
One Saturday in October, a few tour companies from Gardiner, Livingston and Big Sky went into Yellowstone National Park with some locals and photographers for the very first Tour Company litter pickup in the park.
We hope this becomes a regular occurrence, and that our tour guides continue to come together to keep our park clean and looking great! We encourage all guests in the park to spend some time picking up any trash they see, and to leave their campsites clean for guests who arrive after them.
The Trash Pickup
The tour guide trash pickup was first developed by Cara McCary from In Our Nature Guiding Services. It quickly picked up steam, because it was such a great natural way for guides from the local companies to come together, spend some time in their favorite areas of the park and give them a little TLC.
Our very own Jim Holstein hopes to help Cara organize the next iteration of the event, and to add some companies from every side of the park. With just four days’ notice this year, we still managed to have a really impressive turnout. We’re hoping that by making it a regular occurrence, we’ll be able to have a veritable army of volunteers out in the park to pick up trash.
We also want to recognize the more than 50 local photographers and Gardiner residents who also came out to help pick up litter in the park. There was one lady from Georgia who decided to jump in to help when she saw one of the crews picking up litter.
It was a great day and such a great idea. We’re hoping that next year we can have an even bigger turnout to make for a great ice cream social afterward!
How Guests Can Help
In the meantime, we encourage all guests of the park to keep cleanliness and trash pickup a priority. Make sure to properly dispose of all trash at your campsite and leave it clean for the next person. Do this regularly the entire time you’re at your campsite so trash doesn’t get blown away or stolen by animals.
Additionally, when you’re out on the trails, do not leave trash lying around—put it back in your pack and have a special bag with you to collect your trash so you can easily dispose of it when you exit. There aren’t going to be any trash cans in the backcountry, so it’s on you to make sure you’re doing your part to keep the wilderness safe and clean.
Interested in learning more about how you can help to keep the park clean and preserve it for future generations? Contact us today at Yellowstone Tour Guides. We’d be glad to tell you more about 2020’s tour guides trash pickup, as well as anything you want to know about planning a visit to Yellowstone National Park. We look forward to hearing from you soon!
