With over 900 miles of trails and 300 backcountry campsites, Yellowstone National Park is a hiker’s dream. But before you start your journey, it’s important to know what precautions you should take. Weather, elevation, wildlife encounters, and the physiological effects of the park’s terrain can make a difference between a comfortable hike and a dangerous one, so our Yellowstone tour guides are here to help.
Precautions
Yellowstone is a magical place that boasts a wealth of natural beauty and a host of wildlife to watch. However, it’s important to be aware of some safety precautions you need to take when hiking in this national park. One of the most common safety concerns for hikers is that of wildlife. While many of these animals are docile and calm, others can become aggressive if they feel threatened. Bears are perhaps the most dangerous animal to watch for when in the park, but other animals like bison can be equally unpredictable. If you encounter a bison, give it space and wait for it to move away from you. Moose are another animal that should be kept on the lookout for, especially during rut season. These strong animals with large antlers can be quite aggressive, so if you see a moose, don’t try to walk around it or approach it.
What To Bring
If you’re planning on a single-day hiking trip in Yellowstone, here are a few essentials that you’ll want to bring with you. They’ll help you stay comfortable and happy on your adventure! First of all, you’ll want a backpack or day pack to carry all your gear. Whether you’re staying in a campground or tenting, you’ll need a bag that can hold everything you need and is comfortable to wear throughout the day. You’ll also need a few things to keep you safe, like sunscreen and bear spray. Sunscreen is especially important if you’re going to be hiking around high altitudes, where the UV rays can be intense. You’ll also need a hat to protect your head from the sun and wind. You can opt for a baseball cap or a hat that can be crushed and packed down, so it won’t take up too much space in your pack. Keeping your hands warm is also important, so be sure to bring insulated gloves or mittens.
Staying Safe
Hiking in Yellowstone is an excellent way to get up close and personal with nature, but there are a few things to look out for before you go. For one, bears can be a big threat to visitors, so be sure to lock up any food or plates you’ll be carrying. Another thing to keep in mind is that hiking off the trail is frowned upon, so you’ll want to stay on the designated pathways as much as possible. Straying can lead to a variety of negative consequences, such as damaging the ecosystem or harming wildlife. You should also plan to spend at least 3 days in Yellowstone to really see and do it all! That way you can fit in all the must-sees and still have time to hike some extra trails, too. Contact us to start planning your next adventure now!
Tips For Visiting Yellowstone National Park In The Spring
Yellowstone National Park is an incredible place to visit at any time of year, but springtime brings its own uniqueness. It’s full of new life and exciting wildlife, and it’s a great way to experience this incredible natural wonder!
1. Hike Early In The Morning
If you want to get the most out of your Yellowstone National Park experience, it’s important to hike early in the morning. This will give you plenty of time to enjoy the park and not be rushed. Hiking in Yellowstone is one of the best ways to see the parks natural wonders, and there are many great hikes to choose from. For those looking for a longer trek, the North Rim Trail is a great choice. It offers incredible views and is very accessible.
2. Be Prepared For The Weather
Spring is a great time to visit Yellowstone, because the parks roads are still open and wildlife is in full bloom. The number of visitors is still low, but you’ll have more chances to see wildlife than you would during the summer season. Yellowstone’s weather is unpredictable, so be prepared to pack warm clothing and rain gear. It can be cold at night in the park and icy during the day, especially if you’re hiking high in the mountains. The weather can also change drastically from day to day, so it’s best to keep an eye on the forecast before you set out each morning. April can be a transition month, with a lot of snow melting during the day and then refreezing at night, making icy conditions more common.
3. Don’t Be Afraid Of Bears
Spring is the best time to see grizzly and black bears, their cubs and young ones. This is also a great time to spot other wildlife like wolves and bison, as they resurface from their winter dens and shelters. Bears are usually curious about new things, so make some noise and yell, “Hey bear!” every once in a while. This will alert them that you are out and about, and they’ll be less likely to approach you. If you notice a bear, back away slowly. Keep your hands away from your neck and shoulders, and use a bear spray to deter any attacks. You can rent bear spray directly at Yellowstone national park.
4. Be Patient
If you are looking to get the most out of your Yellowstone National Park trip, you should be prepared to be patient. The park is one of the most popular destinations in the world, and it can be easy to become overwhelmed if you don’t know what to expect. While the summer season (June, July, and August) is by far the busiest, you can still see plenty of wildlife in the spring. Bears emerge from hibernation between March and April, migrating birds arrive just before May, and the elk rut begins mid-September.
5. Be Flexible
Spring in Yellowstone is a time of renewal, as animals escape the winter weather to find warmth and rebirth. It’s a great time to see bears, elk, and bison birthing calves, as well as emerging from Winter dens. One of the best ways to experience Yellowstone National Park is to be flexible. This will help you get the most out of your trip, and avoid frustrations such as traffic jams caused by wildlife or crowded parking lots. Be sure to plan ahead! After all, you won’t want to miss out on a geyser eruption or an unexpected wildlife encounter!
Considered by many to be one of the most beautiful, iconic, and diverse locations in the world, Yellowstone National Park offers a plethora of incredible scenery, complete with everything from geysers to geothermal springs to mud pools. Encompassing more than 3400 miles, Yellowstone National Park is a true behemoth, and planning a visit requires conscientious care to ensure you get the most bang for your buck. Larger than Delaware and Rhode Island combined, Yellowstone National Park is a bucket list visit for all. Keep reading to learn about the most popular Yellowstone National Park tours.
Day Tour from Jackson or Teton Village
If time is not in your favor, this one-day tour will allow you to see the majority of Yellowstone’s top attractions within the Lower Loop, including Upper Geyser Basin, Grand Prismatic Spring, and the Fountain Paint Pots. For the best experience, opt for guided Yellowstone tours that include an expert to navigate you through the landmarks and discuss their history.
Snowmobile Tour
The majority of the park is inaccessible to four-wheeled vehicles, but snowmobiles are able to take those with an adventurous spirit off the beaten path to areas where the park’s larger animals like to roam, and the scenery is breathtaking.
Rafting Adventure
Take to the water on a two-hour trip that will have you paddling Class II and III rapids while passing unbelievable sights like Electric Peak at 11,000 feet and Devil’s Slide. Running from May to August, these trips are age-appropriate for youngsters, with riders starting at the age of 12.
Photography Tours
Whether you are looking to spot wild animals or want to capture breathtaking scenery, a photography tour offers the best of both worlds. You’ll explore the park with a leading photographer as you search for moose, bears, wolves, and more along your route.
When it comes to enjoying all that Yellowstone National Park has to offer, you’ll want to select the best available Yellowstone Park tour guide. Luckily, the team at Yellowstone Tour Guides is a family-owned operation that has been specializing in tours, sightseeing, and hikes across Yellowstone and Big Sky, Montana since 2001. Fully licensed and accredited by the National Park Service, Yellowstone Tour Guides offers road-based trips, photography tours, day hiking, backpacking and skiing tours. To learn more information and schedule a tour with us, give our friendly team a call today.
There are many good reasons to visit Yellowstone National Park, and you’ll undoubtedly have an amazing time while you’re there. However, you can boost the pleasantness of your experience by hiring a tour guide. Here’s why you should consider going on guided Yellowstone tours instead of doing it alone:
Meet a Friendly and Knowledgeable Guide
One of the most noteworthy benefits of visiting Yellowstone National Park with a tour guide is talking to a friendly and knowledgeable agent. This person will likely be a resident of the area who can give you exciting information about the location’s history.
Having someone right there who knows about the locale will make your trip much more meaningful. You’ll also have some thrilling stories to tell your friends and family members from what you learn from your guide.
Go To Specific Landmarks and Hot Spots
You won’t have to concern yourself with maps, GPS systems, or strangers. Your tour guide can take you directly to the most frequently visited spots and attractions. He or she can direct you to sites where you can take photos and videos of the wildlife or gorgeous nature structures.
You can go on hiking or camping adventures if you like, or sit and watch the animals in the most comfortable areas. The best part of guided tours is that you can customize your experience based on what you want to see.
Benefit From Having an Organized Itinerary
Tour guides have experience in customer service and time management, and they are there to ensure that you reap the benefits of a complete and organized itinerary. Vacationers often over-plan their trips and end up not doing everything they set out to do.
With an experienced guide at the helm, every event on your journey will fit into a time slot. You’ll also have an extra person there to remind you when it’s time to move on to the next event. That way, you’ll get a fully packed vacation and have time left over to relax and post pictures of your adventures. The visit to Yellowstone might be a once-in-a-lifetime event, so you’ll want to get the most out of it.
Engage in Exhilarating Activities
You have the right to be active or passive during your Yellowstone tour. If you want to be involved, you can participate in several adventurous activities. Hiking is one of the most common events visitors partake in when visiting the area. Choose from one of the gorgeous hiking trails in the area to take your family.
You can also sign up to take some boat rides while you’re there. A certified guide or instructor can ride alongside you to ensure you’re safe while exploring the water. Fishing trips are another common adventure people go on when visiting Yellowstone.
Now that you’ve read the benefits, you can be confident that taking a guided tour for Yellowstone sightseeing is the best option for you. Guided tours are available through reservations with a respectable provider near the location. Contact a service provider for updated pricing and service listings.
