Under instruction from President Joe Biden, the National Park Service now requires all employees and visitors to wear face masks indoors, as well as outdoors when physical distancing is not possible. This comes as a reversal of policies implemented under former president Donald Trump. Yellowstone Tour Guides supports and will abide by and enforce the new regulations, and Superintendent Cam Sholly is seeking clarification regarding outdoor areas where social distancing is possible.
This announcement came as part of a broader order by the Biden administration to mandate face masks at federal properties, in federal buildings, at airports and on public transportation. Biden signed these executive orders in his first days of his presidency as part of his efforts to take immediate action to combat the COVID-19 pandemic still raging throughout the United States.
What to know
Here’s a quick overview of everything you need to know about this order and how it could potentially affect your visit to Yellowstone National Park (or any other national park you may wish to visit while this order is in effect):
Face masks are now required at all National Park Service buildings and facilities, and even on outdoor lands managed by the service if it is impossible to physically distance. This means people on crowded trails or at overlooks should be prepared with face masks.
The order applies to everyone in the park, from visitors to employees, contractors and anyone else on the grounds.
There are other safety measures that will also be implemented at national park sites, including one-way trails, temporary closures and capacity limits. These measures will only be implemented if deemed necessary based on COVID-19 spread in the local area.
Park rangers have the authority to issue citations as deemed appropriate for anyone they find violating the mask requirement. In some circumstances, mask-wearing violations could result in civil or criminal penalties, including fines.
This order affects 423 total sites managed by NPS across the United States, and more than 85 million acres of land. This doesn’t just include outdoor parks, but also historic sites like the Lincoln Memorial and Independence Hall.
Under the previous administration, face masks were encouraged but not required at national park facilities, both indoor facilities and in areas that already had local or state mask mandates in place.
Currently there is no guidance as to when this order will be relaxed, so national park visitors should be prepared with face masks when visiting parks until they hear otherwise.
The good news is that you can still have a relatively mask-free experience at national parks. You are not required, for example, to wear masks at your camp site if you are only with the group you came with. When on trails that are not crowded, there is no need to wear masks. Most of the time before the busy season begins, you will not be in areas so crowded that it is impossible to keep six feet of distance from other visitors.To learn more about these mask rules at national parks and what you should know about planning a COVID-friendly Yellowstone excursion, contact the team at Yellowstone Tour Guides today.
Are you thinking about taking a trip to Yellowstone in the near future? As you may know, Yellowstone’s interior roads close in mid-March, then reopen in April and May—which means that if you want to see that portion of the park sooner rather than later, you need to act fast. However, you can still enjoy wolf and wildlife viewing tours throughout the late winter and early spring.
Even though the Interior of Yellowstone closes on March 15 for spring snowplowing, we will continue to offer our one- to three-day wolf and wildlife viewing tours throughout Yellowstone’s Northern Range. During this quiet shoulder season, we tend to see the first of the bears coming out of hibernation, the first bison calf (in April) and few crowds. If you love nature and wildlife—especially baby wildlife—this is a great opportunity to see the park like you never have before.
What kind of wildlife will I see?
According to the United States National Park Service, Yellowstone is home to “300 species of birds, 16 species of fish, five species of amphibians, six species of reptiles and 67 species of mammals—including seven native ungulate species and two bear species.”
If you take an early spring trip, you’re likely to see wolves and bears, along with the first bison calf. As the snow melts and the wildlife reappears, you may also see foxes, martens, weasels and deer or elk.
Birds also come back to Yellowstone during the spring, so avid bird watchers should not miss this opportunity. Raptors, owls, eagles and songbirds are all prevalent throughout the park. Bring your binoculars and your best camera lenses to capture each special moment.
What kind of tours are available?
Our wildlife tours can be booked for two or three days, starting in early November and continuing through June. This is a prime opportunity to book a tour, since the crowds are usually much lighter in the winter and early spring. Once the summer months arrive, school is out and visitors start crowding the landscape.
You can start your tour by flying into Bozeman, MT, where we will pick you up and take you through the Northern Range. You’ll enjoy lodging at Chico Hot Springs, Gardiner or Cooke City, MT, where you can also cross-country ski and soak in the hot springs.
Our trips are customizable and can be combined with some of our other tours, so feel free to call us and let us know what you’re most interested in seeing. You’ll have plenty of opportunity to relax in the evenings at your resort, including the famous hot springs.
If you’ve been dying to see what Yellowstone National Park has to offer, there’s no better time to book your vacation. Yellowstone Tour Guides has been offering exciting trips for two decades. Come explore with us. Call us today and book your wolf and wildlife viewing tour, or learn more about combining vacations.
If you’re thinking about touring Yellowstone in March, you’d better hurry. Yellowstone’s Interior closes on March 15th, making this the last date to visit Old Faithful by snow coach. You won’t be able to visit the park’s interior until the spring, starting in April and May.
Here are some of the winter tours you can take with our expert Yellowstone tour guides:
Winter wildlife adventure: Get up close and personal with Yellowstone’s wildlife, like bears, bison and wolves. Fly into Bozeman, MT for a two- to three-day trip around the Northern Range. We’ll take you around the park and to Old Faithful by snow coach. At night, you can enjoy soaking in the hot springs at one of the nearby resorts. It’s the perfect weekend getaway—but there are only a few weekends left until the roads close, so you need to act fast.
Photography tours: If you’ve been dying to brush up on your photography skills, and want to take a tour of Yellowstone’s spectacular landscapes and wildlife, join us for a photography tour. You’ll need to bring your long lenses, as we’ll stay back at least 25 to 100 yards from the wildlife. Receive instruction from a professional photographer who has been working in Yellowstone for over 10 years—and come home with a roll of amazing film!
Seven-day photo workshop: If you want a longer opportunity to photograph Yellowstone’s natural wonders, we also offer a seven-day photo workshop. These workshops take tourists through the interior by snow coach, and focus on the Northern Range and Gallatin District. Space is limited on these tours, so be sure to book as soon as possible.
Back country ski treks: Avid skiers should not miss our back country ski trips through the Gallatin District. We’ll pick you up and show you scenic trails for cross-country skiing, where you’ll enjoy seeing the wildlife and beautiful vistas.
Multi-day vacation packages: If our regular tours aren’t enough, we also offer multi-day vacation packages that can combine skiing, sightseeing and more. Visit resorts like Big Sky and Jackson Hole for anywhere from two to 10 days.
Day trips: Finally, we’re also happy to take you on day trips through the park. Stay in Big Sky and visit Jackson Hole or Grand Targhee Resort, all with the help of our knowledgeable Yellowstone tour guides.
Whatever you hope to see in Yellowstone, we can help you find it. Let us know if you want to combine any of these winter tours into one epic vacation. We’re happy to customize your experience. Whether you’ve visited Yellowstone many times or this will be your first visit to the area, Yellowstone Tour Guides will show you a whole new side to this national park.
Get in touch with us now to arrange a last-minute private tour to experience the best Yellowstone National Park has to offer in the wintertime. Time is running out before the roads close, so hurry—you won’t regret seeing everything Yellowstone has to offer at this time of the year!
Planning on a Yellowstone visit this spring or summer? If so, get your plans made now, because our tours book up quickly!
That’s right, now is the best time to set up a multi-day tour package if you’re interested in one of our extended Yellowstone adventures in 2021. This is the time of year when we’re able to get the best hotel rates and campsites.
You can get a hold of our staff at [email protected] for assistance in planning your Yellowstone adventure this year. Keep in mind that Yellowstone is a massive park, so it’s best to stay in different locations to get the best experience. This will help you make a more active trip, and cut out some of the backtracking and driving you have to do.
Our team can help you plan out your entire trip, including lodging, backpacking, tour routes, alternate activities to take on and more. Fly into Bozeman, and we’ll handle the rest from there!
Here are a few examples of some of the multi-day Yellowstone tour packages we offer:
Simple two-day Yellowstone trips: Just here for a weekend or a quick visit? We can get you a great experience packed into a short timeframe to help you make the most of your limited time at the park. On day one, you’ll depart Big Sky or Bozeman and visit such sites as Firestone Falls, Old Faithful, Yellowstone Lake, the Upper and Lower Falls, the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, Dunraven Pass, Crystal Falls and then stay overnight in Cooke City. On day two, you’ll see some early morning wildlife, take in Tower Falls and the Mammoth Hot Springs, see the Petrified Tree and enjoy a short day hike in the backcountry.
Seven-day Yellowstone trips: If you’re interested in a longer visit, we can plan out an entire seven-day adventure for you in Yellowstone that will give you extended time in the park that includes some of the must-see items and plenty of time for you to get into the backcountry and enjoy some of the solitude and wildlife of the park. Rates start at $1,500 per day for double occupancy and $2,000 per day for quad occupancy. We also offer seven-day trips that include short backpacking excursions.
Eight-day Yellowstone trips: Our eight-day trips add in Grand Teton National Park and Beartooth Highway, which are not usually included in our seven-day trips. You still have opportunities to add in time for backpacking, and you’ll have plenty of time to visit all the must-see sites in the park. Starting rates are the same as for the seven-day trips.
10-day Yellowstone trips: Our 10-day trips spread out the adventure possibilities, including time in Grand Teton National Park and Jackson, WY, adding in many of the elements of the seven- and eight-day trips, with more adventure time and more time for you to relax and enjoy nature.
For more information about our multi-day tour packages or to book your visit in 2021, contact the team at Yellowstone Tour Guides today.
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!
