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Winter Wildlife of Yellowstone Photography Tour

23rd Feb - 4th Mar 2029 - Was: £8999 Now: £7999

One of Yellowstone's Bison standing in the snow - typical of the type of image that you will capture during the Wildlife of Yellowstone in Winter Photography Holiday

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Reserve with a deposit of £1600

No payment is taken at enquiry stage. We confirm availability first, then send booking forms and deposit payment details. Please read our booking conditions and financial protection information before paying a deposit.

Winter Wildlife of Yellowstone - 23rd Feb - 4th Mar 2029 - Was: £8999 Now: £7999 - Single occupancy

Make A Booking Enquiry

No payment is taken at enquiry stage. We confirm availability first, then send booking forms and deposit payment details. Please read our booking conditions and financial protection information before paying a deposit.

Yellowstone National Park is home to the most extensive concentration of wildlife in the lower 48 states & when winter hits, the Park transforms into a picturesque winter wonderland, complete with snowy woods, ice pellets of geyser rain & frozen waterfalls.

Whilst some of the Wildlife of Yellowstone, notably the bears hibernate, bison, elk, moose, mule deer, wolves, foxes & coyotes roam the Park as the cold & wind drives them down from the high ridges to forage & hunt for food in the open meadows near the road.

We will spend three full days scouring the interior of Yellowstone. During these days, we will travel by snow coach & the primary focus will be on the wildlife of Yellowstone, such as bison, coyotes, red foxes, Trumpeter Swans, otters & bobcats.

However, no trip to Yellowstone would be complete without a trip to see Old Faithful, the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone & other geyser basins.

On day five, we relocate to Gardiner, our base, for the remainder of the trip.

We will explore Gardiner & the Lamar Valley for the next four days, looking for Bald Eagle, Bison, Coyote, Elk, Moose, Pine Marten, Wolf, Bighorn Sheep, Otter, Red Fox, Stoat.

If we are lucky, we may even see foxes “mousing”.

The Lamar Valley is one of the best places in the world to see grey wolves. During the winter, the snowy landscape acts as a blank canvas for quickly spotting their dark shapes as they move across the hills & valleys.

Yellowstone National Park in winter is a truly magical place with opportunities to capture images of some stunning landscapes & the fantastic wildlife that call the Park their home.

For this 9 night tour, we have joined forces with Adam Brubaker of Tied to Nature, a long-time provider of some of the finest winter tours in Yellowstone. Adam is a resident of Idaho & spends his entire year devoted to the wildlife of the Yellowstone ecosystem; he has been providing Yellowstone winter tours for many years.

In addition to Adam, throughout this photography holiday, David, will be on hand to guide & lead you; David will be providing assistance & advice as needed & helping you develop your skills. They will help you capture images of the incredible wildlife.

What wildlife can you see in Yellowstone in winter?

We hope to observe & photograph Bald Eagle, Bison, Coyote, Elk, Moose, Wolf & much more besides, all with the impressive backdrop provided by the surrounding snow-capped landscape.

Curious what keeps photographers coming back to Yellowstone? Read why photographers keep returning to Yellowstone.

Discover the fascinating Yellowstone wildlife in winter for a deeper look at what to expect on this trip.

Snow-clad trees make for impressive images - typical of the type of image that you will capture during the Wildlife of Yellowstone in Winter Photography Holiday

The following is the proposed itinerary for this photography holiday, it should be considered provisional & subject to change.

  • Day 1 - Assemble Bozeman - transfer to West Yellowstone - overnight West Yellowstone
  • Day 2 - Day 4 - Travel by snow coaches into the interior of Yellowstone - overnight West Yellowstone
  • Day 5 - transfer to Gardiner - overnight Gardiner
  • Day 6 - Day 9 - Photography of wildlife on the northern tier of Yellowstone including the Lamar Valley - overnight Gardiner
  • Day 10 - Transfer to Bozeman - Flights to Home Location
Snow-clad trees make for impressive images - typical of the type of image that you will capture during the Wildlife of Yellowstone in Winter Photography Holiday

We have taken care to refine the itinerary for this wildlife photography holiday; as such, we consider the following to be amongst the highlights of this tour.

  • Three full days scouring the interior of Yellowstone by snow coach
  • Photograph old faithful, the grand canyon of Yellowstone & other geyser basins
  • Explore Gardiner & the Lamar Valley for four days
  • 4 nights accommodation in West Yellowstone on a full board, non-shared basis
  • 5 nights accommodation in Gardiner on a full board, non-shared basis
  • Single occupancy accommodation is provided at no extra cost to you
  • Capture images of some stunning landscapes & the fantastic wildlife
  • Great guide to client ratio of no more than 1:3
  • Guided by Adam Brubaker with David Miles for NaturesLens
One of Yellowstone's Coyote's pauses - typical of the type of image that you will capture during the Wildlife of Yellowstone in Winter Photography Holiday
A Lucky Find One Of Yellowstones Ermine Bounces Across The Snow Captured During The Wildlife Of Yellowstone In Winter Photography Holiday
A Lucky Find An Ermine Bounces Across The Snow Captured During The Wildlife Of Yellowstone In Winter Photography Holiday
One Of Yellowstones Foxes Seeks A Mouse In The Deep Snow Typical Of The Type Of Image That You Will Capture During The Wildlife Of Yellowstone In Winter Photography Holiday
One Of Yellowstones Coyotes Pauses As It Crosses The Snowy Landscape Typical Of The Type Of Image That You Will Capture During The Wildlife Of Yellowstone In Winter Photography Holiday
Snow-clad trees make for impressive images - typical of the type of image that you will capture during the Wildlife of Yellowstone in Winter Photography Holiday

What Do You Need To Bring With You?

The items listed below are intended as guidance rather than requirements. They outline optional & recommended clothing & camera equipment to help you prepare for the conditions & photographic opportunities you may encounter.

Clothing suggestions for the conditions expected.

  • Clothing suitable for very cold conditions
  • Windproof & waterproof outer layers
  • Footwear for very cold conditions
  • Warm hat & gloves
  • Sunglasses

Suggested camera equipment for the opportunities expected.

  • DSLR or mirrorless camera body
  • Spare camera body
  • Spare batteries, charger & memory cards
  • Standard zoom lens for general wildlife photography (e.g. 24-70mm, 24-105mm)
  • Telephoto zoom lens for wildlife photography (e.g. 70-200mm, 100-400mm)
  • Super-telephoto lens (e.g. 400mm, 500mm, 600mm, 800mm)
  • Tripod, monopod or bean bag
  • Camera rain cover or waterproof protection
  • Lens cleaning kit
  • Camera backpack or suitable carry-on bag
  • Laptop or storage device for image backup
A Moose resting in willow - typical of the type of image that you will capture during the Wildlife of Yellowstone in Winter Photography Holiday

What's Included & What's Not Included On The Winter Wildlife of Yellowstone Photography Holiday

Before booking the Winter Wildlife of Yellowstone Photography Holiday, we recommend reviewing what is included in the trip price, along with any items that are not. This helps ensure you have a clear understanding of what is covered, allowing you to focus fully on the photographic experience.

Most services & experiences are included in the trip price.

  • Guidance from our experienced team members
  • Accommodation on a Single occupancy basis
  • Internal transfers
  • Park fees
  • Meals on a full board basis

Some items & services are not included in the trip price.

  • International flights
  • Internal flights
  • Camera equipment
  • Travel insurance
  • Visas
  • Gratuities
  • Personal expenses
  • All drinks
One of Yellowstone's Bison seeking vegetation beneath the snow - typical of the type of image that you will capture during the Wildlife of Yellowstone in Winter Photography Holiday

Travel Insurance – it is a requirement when booking on any wildlife photography holiday scheduled by NaturesLens that you have adequate travel insurance, we suggest a policy from TrailFinders or Campbell Irvine.

One of Yellowstone's Red Foxes crosses a snowy landscape - typical of the type of image that you will capture during the Wildlife of Yellowstone in Winter Photography Holiday

This wildlife photography holiday is carefully structured around reliable encounters with a diverse range of wildlife. Intended photography subjects include Bald Eagle, Bighorn Sheep, Bison, Coyote, Elk, Moose, Otter, Pine Marten, Red Fox, Stoat & Wolf. As with all ethical wildlife photography, sightings cannot be guaranteed.

NaturesLens photography holidays do not include flights unless it is explicitly stated on the event page. When it is time to book your flights, we will send you the details in plenty of time to allow for bookings at the best available price.

The photography holiday itinerary is subject to change & is to be considered provisional.

NaturesLens photography holidays require a minimum number of participants in order to be viable. If this minimum number is not met, the photography holiday may not go ahead.

In the event that the minimum number for a photography holiday to go ahead is not reached, NaturesLens reserves the right to cancel any given photography holiday. In that event 100% of monies received will be returned. However, NaturesLens is not responsible for expenses incurred by its customers.

Not all mentioned wildlife can be observed & photographed at all times of the year, thus some activities may be considered seasonal & not available.

Please note the cuisine on many of the NaturesLens photography holidays is authentic & typical of the region in which you are travelling. International or western cuisine is often NOT available. If you have any concerns over the food arrangements or have any special dietary requirements, please contact us prior to making a booking.

All personal luggage are the responsibility of the owner & we request that photography holiday participants limit their luggage to the equivalent of one suitcase, one flight bag, one camera bag & tripod. We do not wish to appear dictatorial in this matter & the request is made to ensure space & comfort for everyone in our vehicles.

NaturesLens & its agents act only as agents for the passenger in all matters relating to travel arrangements, & as such, do not assume responsibility for injury, accident, damage, loss, delay or irregularity which may occur via defect of transportation or any other cause.

NaturesLens reserves the right to substitute hotels, & other previously outlined arrangements as necessary, to either improve or equal the travel experience.

NaturesLens reserves the right to pass on to photography holiday participants any additional & unplanned expenditure incurred during a photography holiday, via events beyond the control of NaturesLens. NaturesLens reserves the right to accept or decline any person as a member of any photography holiday.

Payment of a deposit by photography holiday participants or their representative constitutes their acceptance of all conditions contained herein.

All bookings are made subject to our terms & conditions.

Join us for a February 2029 wildlife photography holiday in Yellowstone, focused on the region’s winter wildlife, mood, atmosphere & light.

View More Information
Difficulty
Hard
Group size
4-6 guests
Activity period
Daytime
Itinerary type
Photography Tour

Combine This Trip

This photography holiday pairs perfectly with the trips shown below. Running immediately before or after this tour, they allow you to extend your time in the region, photograph additional species & habitats & make the most of your international travel arrangements.


Frequently Asked Questions

We’ve compiled answers to the questions we are most commonly asked about this photography tour, covering everything from accommodation, transport & group size through to photography opportunities, fitness requirements & what to expect in the field. If you can’t find the information you’re looking for, please don’t hesitate to contact us – we’re always happy to discuss any aspect of the trip before you book.

Booking & Availability

How do I secure my place on this trip?

You can secure your place with a booking deposit, with the balance due by November 23rd, 2028. This departure is guaranteed to run with 5 places already sold out of a maximum 6 photographers.

What's Included

What's included in the trip cost?

Trip cost includes 8 nights accommodation (4 nights in West Yellowstone, 4 nights in Gardiner), all meals on a full board basis, guiding by Adam Brubaker with David Miles for NaturesLens, snow coach travel into Yellowstone's interior, & airport transfers. Single occupancy accommodation is included as standard.

Accommodation & Meals

What is the accommodation like?

You'll stay 4 nights in West Yellowstone & 4 nights in Gardiner, both on a full board, non-shared basis. Single occupancy accommodation is provided at no extra cost to you, ensuring privacy & comfort after long winter photography days.

Group Size & Guides

What are the benefits of a 6-photographer maximum group?

The 6-photographer limit ensures everyone has sufficient space in snow coaches & at photography locations, receives personalised guidance from Adam Brubaker & David Miles, & enjoys a more relaxed winter wildlife photography experience with a guide to client ratio of no more than 1:3.

Fitness, Skill & Equipment

Do I need advanced photography skills for this winter trip?

No advanced skills are required. Adam Brubaker & David Miles provide experienced guidance suitable for photographers of all levels during snow coach travel & wildlife photography sessions. Detailed equipment recommendations will be provided before departure.

Wildlife & Photography

What wildlife can I expect to photograph?

Species regularly photographed include Bald Eagle, Bighorn Sheep, Bison, Coyote, Elk, Moose, Otter, Pine Marten, Red Fox, Stoat, & wolves in the Lamar Valley. Additional species such as Trumpeter Swans & bobcats may also be encountered. As with all wildlife photography, sightings can never be guaranteed.

Travel, Visas & Insurance

What visa & insurance requirements apply?

US visitors require an ESTA or appropriate visa depending on nationality. Travel insurance is a requirement when booking & must include adequate coverage for winter conditions & medical emergencies.

Changes & Cancellations

What if I need to change my booking or cancel?

Contact us as early as possible to discuss the options available. Any changes or cancellations are subject to our booking terms & conditions, which will be provided at the time of booking.

Winter Conditions

What are the weather conditions like in Yellowstone during winter?

Expect very cold climate with sub-zero temperatures, snow & ice throughout the trip. Winter conditions transform Yellowstone into a snowy wonderland with frozen waterfalls & ice pellets from geyser rain, creating dramatic photographic opportunities.

Transportation

How do we travel within Yellowstone during winter?

We travel by snow coach during the three full days in Yellowstone's interior, as regular vehicles cannot access these areas in winter. Snow coaches are specially designed vehicles that can navigate the snowy terrain while keeping photographers warm & comfortable.

Photography Focus

How much time is dedicated to wildlife photography?

This is a dedicated wildlife photography holiday with seven full days of photography - three days scouring Yellowstone's interior by snow coach & four days exploring Gardiner & the Lamar Valley. The winter focus maximises opportunities to photograph wildlife behaviour unique to the season.

Lamar Valley

Why is the Lamar Valley particularly good for winter wildlife photography?

The Lamar Valley is one of the best places in the world to see grey wolves, with the snowy landscape acting as a blank canvas for quickly spotting their dark shapes as they move across hills & valleys. Winter drives wildlife down from high ridges to forage in open meadows near roads.