Experience Yellowstone in its very most vibrant season. In the mountains, early June is spring, the time when birds are at their peak of song as they court and nest and the hooved mammals bear their young. The peak of Elk calving occurs the second week of June; our trip is timed to ensure seeing the park’s iconic predators: Black and Grizzly Bears, Gray Wolf, Red Fox, Coyote, and Badger.

In early June few places match Yellowstone National Park’s Lamar Valley for viewing the dynamics of large predators and their prey. Snow in the high country keeps herds of Elk and Deer in the valleys. Predators—particularly bears and wolves—take advantage of this, often in numbers that create real pressure between species. At the same time, prey species are raising young, which are abundant and a joy to see.

We dial in on wildlife viewing in the dawn and dusk hours, while mid-day we offer excursions to the interior of Yellowstone to explore the geyser basins, Hayden Valley, and the dramatic Upper and Lower Falls of the Yellowstone River. Our route to and from Bozeman lets us see some of North America’s finest mountain scenery following the Yellowstone River through Paradise Valley. Western birds are active with song throughout our days, busy in the long-daylight hours of their short nesting season.

Tour Highlights

• Experience the American West with fun meals, grand scenery, and wildlife
• Begin on the Yellowstone Ecosystem’s west side, where Trumpeter Swan, Sandhill Crane, and Moose are often found at Red Rock Lakes NWR and Harriman State Park
• Travel up the Madison River where Elk herds congregate with young, a verdant and bird-rich corridor entering the park from West Yellowstone
• Watch for Osprey and Bald Eagle on nests
• Enjoy the steam of Yellowstone’s iconic geysers and marvel at myriad, colorful thermal features
• See the brilliant colors of male Harlequin Duck as they feed in cascading rapids of Hayden Valley
• Take in the arresting beauty of Yellowstone Falls and the antics of American Dipper nesting nearby
• Find Mountain Bluebird and Red-naped and Williamson’s Sapsuckers at their nest holes, and possibly Ruffed or Dusky Grouse as they display
• Watch hundreds of Elk with their calves in the Lamar Valley, spot Mountain Goat and Bighorn Sheep young
• Witness hunting by the park’s great predators, Black and Grizzly Bears, and coming and going from their den sites, Gray Wolves
• Watch as Lazuli Bunting throw their heads back in song and Green-tailed Towhee bring food for their young

Trip Itinerary

Itineraries are guidelines; variations in itinerary may occur to account for weather, road conditions, closures, etc. and to maximize your experience.

Fri., June 7: Bozeman/Gardiner, Montana | Northern Gateway to Yellowstone

Please arrive in Bozeman no later than 2:00 PM today; afterwards we drive over a mountain pass to Livingston, and then turn south along the Yellowstone River to the northern gateway of Yellowstone National Park. Our drive is through lush agricultural areas, mainly hay crops grown to feed livestock. This is classic Big Sky scenery. Sometimes we spot raptors, perhaps Sandhill Crane or White-tailed Deer feeding in the meadows. We stop a few places along the way and arrive in time for you to settle into your room with fine views of mountains and the Yellowstone River. Enjoy dinner tonight at a favorite local restaurant.
Accommodations at the Absaroka Motel, Gardiner (D)

Sat., June 8 : Wildlife Watching with a Wolf Expert | Lamar Valley

Jumpstart your adventure in Yellowstone by spending time with a real expert, Nathan Varley, also known as the Wolf Tracker. Nathan did his doctoral work on the Yellowstone Wolf Project and has been close to the project ever since, residing in Gardiner. This highly successful program that began in 1995 reaches its 25 year milestone this year. Nathan accompanies us today in the field, with a keen eye for all wildlife but particularly wolves. We stay out for the full day, taking a picnic lunch, and enjoying time at vast herds of elk, possible Mule Deer, Pronghorn, and birds such as American Dipper, Mountain Bluebird, and Lazuli Bunting.

We return in the afternoon, and if you wish, enjoy time to look around the small mountain town of Gardiner with its tempting shops. Dinner tonight is at another favorite local restaurant.
Accommodations at the Absaroka Motel, Gardiner (B,L,D)

Sun., June 9 : Swan Lake Flats | Norris Geyser Basin | Old Faithful Geyser Basin

Today we mix it up a bit and head into the interior of the park. Swan Lake Flats has several ponds that attract Sandhill Crane and various species of waterfowl at this time of year. On a walk to explore thermal features at Norris Geyser Basin, we are among mixed conifer trees, a good place to spot Red or possibly White-winged Crossbill, Pine Grosbeak, and Pine Siskin. We then follow a lush river corridor past Madison Junction, heading to Old Faithful with its iconic lodge and thermal features. Elk graze in the meadows, Canada Geese lounge on the shores, and Bald Eagle may be present and fishing. A boardwalk trail winds through geysers, fumaroles, mud pots, and colorful hot springs en route down to Morning Glory Pool, passing many of the major thermal features for which the park is known. Bison seem attracted to the basin at this time of year; watching their calves is a delight. The Firehole River is a good place to watch for dippers, Barrow’s Goldeneye, and even River Otter.

We enjoy a picnic lunch, time for an ice-cream at one of the park stores, and return to Gardiner for dinner.
Accommodations at the Absaroka Motel, Gardiner (B,L,D)

Mon., June 10 & Tues., June 11 : Lamar Valley, Yellowstone | Dunraven Pass | Hayden Valley

The second part of our week is based out of Yellowstone’s Northeast entrance, with two full days to survey abundant wildlife of the Lamar Valley in search of wolves, Black and Grizzly Bears, and all of the hoofed mammal species upon which they prey. At no time is the drama more intense—snow on the mountains keeps the large herds down in the valley during their most vulnerable time: during the birth of calves. The predators search the sagebrush flats, new-leafing aspen groves, and sheltered pine and Douglas Fir forests for their prime targets, Elk, as well as other prey.

We should have close looks at Bison, Mule Deer, Bighorn Sheep, Elk, and Pronghorn, all of which should have young. We hope to see wolf activity as well: hunting, traveling, and possibly feeding young. We review the entire history of wolf reintroduction, and by using a spotting scope at the edge of the road, we also hope to observe both Black and Grizzly Bears in great detail at a safe distance.

Slough Creek and the cottonwood-lined Yellowstone River corridor give us good birding sites for riparian species, Williamson’s and Red-naped Sapsuckers, and a variety of western warblers.

One afternoon we venture over Dunraven Pass to the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone with its dramatic Upper and Lower Falls, a scenic highlight for many. En route we may see active Peregrine Falcon or Osprey at their nest sites, fascinating to watch from above as they are found in the canyon below us. Bison herds with calves often create “road blocks” in Hayden Valley beyond the falls, much to viewers’ delight. In the vast open hills of Hayden Valley, we may see Coyote, Northern Harrier, and possibly bright male Harlequin Ducks at LeHardy Rapids.

Dinners are in Cooke City or nearby Silver Gate where several good restaurants vie for our attention. Lunches are picnic or perhaps we visit the log-cabin dining room at Tower Falls.
Accommodations at the Alpine Hotel (B,L,D)

Wed., June 12 : Beartooth Pass | Top of the World!

Today we mix it up again and head to higher elevations, weather permitting. After breakfast and scanning for hummingbirds at a local resident’s feeders, we head off for an extraordinary drive; one Charles Kuralt has called the most scenic in North America. Even in June we may have walls of plowed snow near the upper reaches. If we can tear our eyes away from the stunning views of both the Beartooth and Absaroka Mountain ranges, we’re likely to see montane and alpine species such as Black- and Gray-crowned Rosy Finches, American Pipit, Horned Lark, Northern Goshawk, Yellow-bellied Marmot, Pika, and other species. Clark’s Nutcracker and a herd of Rocky Mountain Goat frequent the rest stop at Rock Creek.

We descend through lush forests broken by meadows and with luck we may spot a Moose and her calf. The pointed peaks of Pilot and Index mark our arrival back to the mountain town of Cooke City where we dine tonight.
Accommodations at the Alpine Hotel (B,L,D)

Thurs., June 13 : Birding the Northeast Entrance | Lamar Valley | Mammoth Hot Springs

This morning we enjoy birding around the tall trees and underlying willows at Silver Gate. We also visit the studio of famed wildlife photographers Dan and Cindy Hartman where birds use feeders and natural perches to reach them. We have a leisurely breakfast, pack up our gear, and make our way back through Lamar Valley.
We should make it to Mammoth Hot Springs for lunch and birding in the chokecherry thickets behind the lodge, and at the nearby 45th Parallel parking area.

Over dinner we celebrate our grand adventure in style!
Accommodations at the Alpine Hotel (B,L,D)

Fri., June 14 : Departures from Bozeman

Enjoy optional early birding on the grounds of our hotel, and then breakfast in the cozy dining room at Chico before packing up to head to Bozeman (about 1.5 hour drive) and flights out. (B)

Cost of the Journey

Cost of the journey is $3590 DBL / $4365 SGL per person, based on double occupancy, from Bozeman, MT. This cost includes: accommodations for 7 nights, all meals as specified in the itinerary (B=breakfast, L=lunch, D=dinner), airport welcome and transfer, land transportation during the journey, professional guide services, park and other entrance fees, and miscellaneous program expenses. Cost does not include: round-trip airfare to and from Bozeman, items of a personal nature such as laundry, telephone, drinks from the bar, and gratuities for luggage handling or personal services.

Travel Details

Please plan to make air travel plans only after the minimum group size has been met. We will send you a confirmation email as soon as the trip has been confirmed.

Arrival and Departure Airport: Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport (BZN)

Arrival Details: Plan flights to arrive June 7, 2024 no later than 2:00 PM.

Departure Details: Plan June 14, 2024 flights after 1:00 PM.

Travel Tip: If you want to arrive early, Bozeman is a scenic and fun town to explore. The Museum of the Rockies is an excellent introduction to natural and cultural history. The downtown area is trendy with western-themed shops and restaurants, very walkable. The airport is 10 miles from downtown so depending on your interests, you may want to choose a hotel that offers shuttle service to town, choose a downtown hotel, or rent a car. Taxis and Uber are readily available, too. You will either need to return to the airport by 2:00 PM or be at the Best Western GranTree Inn by 2:30 PM on June 7.

Hotel Recommendations: : Just want to rest up and have the option to take a hotel shuttle downtown? We can pick you up at this hotel: Best Western Plus GranTree Inn (406) 587-5261.

If you prefer to stay adjacent to the airport, we recommend:  Holiday Inn Express & Suites Belgrade (406) 388-7100 Do you want to splurge a bit and stay right in the downtown area? We recommend: Kimpton Armory Hotel Bozeman (406) 551-7700 Element Bozeman (406) 582-4972.

Browse below for trip reports and species lists from past versions of this and other tours from this destination.

• Wes Larson
  

  Wes Larson is a wildlife biologist who specializes in some of the most beloved and threatened species around the world. His primary research has been on polar, black, grizzly and sloth bears, but he has been lucky enough to work on conservation projects with myriad other species, including Golden Eagle, African Wild Dog, Green Sea Turtle, Elephant Seal, Spotted Eagle Ray, Burrowing and Flammulated Owl, American Kestrel, Temminck’s Ground Pangolin, and American Alligator. Wes also has a passion for wildlife conservation education, and hosted the Mission Wild series for CNN’s Great Big Story, and regularly shares his travels and field work with his large social media following. He credits his love for wild things and bears to an upbringing in Montana, where the forests and mountains are a last refuge for his favorite species, the Grizzly Bear of the Rocky Mountains. Wes’s passion for all things wild is infectious and the only thing he loves more than seeing wildlife in its natural habitat is sharing those experiences with other people.

  Other trips with Wes Larson

  • Yellowstone: Birds, Bears & Wildlife
    FULL See our June departure!
    May 30 - June 6, 2024
  • Brazil’s Pantanal: Jaguars! And More…
    September 9 - 19, 2024, w/Atlantic Forest extension
  • Ultimate Patagonia
    October 16 - 30, 2024
  • Birds & Mammals of Ecuador's Andes
    November 2 - 15, 2024
• Hugh Simmons
  

  Hugh Simmons' interest in photography began when he was a young boy, as did his love of nature. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Biology during which he was “sparked” by a chance encounter with an Eastern Towhee. Not long after college he took up birding with, of course, a desire to photograph birds. Today he enjoys sharing his decades of photographic knowledge to help others get the most out of their photography whether it be of birds, landscapes, flowers, other wildlife or people. Hugh is a founding member of the North American Nature Photographers Association and served on the board of directors of the National Audubon Society. He is a long time board member of the Chesapeake Audubon chapter in Maryland and is the Audubon Climate Watch Coordinator for his area. Hugh also volunteers with the Cape May Bird Observatory and the Phoenix Wildlife Center.

  Photo credit: Mike West

  Other trips with Hugh Simmons

  • Platte River Cranes: A Migration Spectacular
    March 10 - 16, 2024
  • Prince William Sound Explorer
    Experience the Gulf of Alaska
    August 2 - 9, 2024
  • Yellowstone in The Fall
    September 21 - 28, 2024

Essential Information +

Packing List +

Suggested Reading List +

Useful Links +

• Yellowstone: Birds, Bears & Wildlife
  FULL See our June departure!
  May 30 - June 6, 2024
• Nevada's Great Basin
  August 23 - 31, 2024
• Yellowstone in The Fall
  September 21 - 28, 2024