Best of Yellowstone Tour + Grand Teton Hiking
Overview
Read HERE for info on 2023 Dates.
Explore the mountains, wildlife, thermals, hot springs and geysers of Wyoming on our 7-day Best of Yellowstone Tour and Grand Teton Hiking adventure! Cue the goosebumps as the SHE-nanigan Shuttle passes below the Roosevelt Arch inscription: For the benefit of the people. Preach, Teddy!
Epic Yellowstone Tour, Explorer Chick Style
Welcome to the world’s first-ever national park, where you’ll go deeper than a highlight tour to see all of Yellowstone’s goodies.
Beginning north, nerd out over the world’s great collection of hot springs with funky travertine terraces. Spider-monkey to the top of Bunsen Peak and clamber down to one of Yellowstone’s two suspension bridges. There’s even a two-hour horseback ride to a classic Dutch oven dinner.
Lamar Valley
Blow up your photo roll tracking Lamar Valley wildlife on and off trail as the sun comes up. Our local wilderness guide leads the way as we break out the scopes searching for wolves, grizzly bears, bison, pronghorn, badgers, bald eagles, osprey, deer, and coyotes—who knows what we might see?
Geysers, Thermals, and Hot Springs—Oh My!
Gaze into the Grand Canyon in search of rainbows from Artist’s Point in the South Rim. Spend an entire day chasing enough geysers, thermals, and hot springs to last a lifetime. Catch Old Faithful being a total diva. Rise above the tourists for an osprey’s view of Grand Prismatic Spring. Scramble up talus slopes to the top of Avalanche peak for views of the Grand Tetons 50 miles away. Soak and soothe sore muscles in hot spring fed rivers.
Grand Teton National Park Hiking
Enter Grand Teton National Park for a favorite hike up Cascade Canyon, where you’re surrounded by towering mountains. Then wash it all off with a brisk swim in a cold mountain lake.
Best of Yellowstone Tour Accommodations
You’ll get plenty of chill time in our quiet mountain lodge (first three nights) on the banks of Yellowstone River in Gardiner, followed by a Yellowstone National Park hotel (next two nights). End your girls’ trip in a hotel nestled in the heart of Jackson with plenty of time to shop and throwback shots.
Adventure Highlights
- Actively explore every nook and cranny of Yellowstone National Park over the course of 5 days.
- Wake up before sunrise to track wildlife in Lamar Valley – on and off trail – with a local wilderness guide.
- Admire the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone from the Artist’s Point on the South Rim.
- Watch Old Faithful erupt amidst the world largest concentration of geysers.
- Skip the crowds for an overhead view of the Grand Prismatic Spring.
- Get into the Tetons with a hike deep into Cascade Canyon.
- Snap that Instagram photo of the Tetons from Mormon Row.
- Geek out over the world’s great collection of hot springs in Mammoth.
- Saddle up for a 2 hour horseback ride to a Dutch Oven dinner fit for a cowgirl.
- Get a bird’s eye view of Yellowstone from the summits of Bunsen Peak and Avalanche Peak.
- Wander the mountain town of Jackson Hole.
- Swim the rivers and lakes of the National Parks.
- Settle in each night in a mix of a lodge on the Yellowstone River, Yellowstone National Park hotel, and a Jackson Hotel.
- Experience your parks with 2 Explorer Chick Guides who will ensure you hike the best, and sometimes most challenging, hikes and hit all the highlights.
- Relax and let us do the driving in the Explorer Chick SHE-nanigan Shuttle!
- Disconnect to reconnect! Leave behind the constant contact and use your phone solely for capturing moments.
- Relax with a comprehensive itinerary that makes the logistics, entrance fees, navigation, meal planning, lodging, and everything in-between easy.
- Geek out with supportive and encouraging Explorer Chicks on a private, women-only, small group adventure tour.
Day 1: Welcome to Yellowstone and Mammoth Hot Springs
Be sure to eat a gluttonous breakfast before meeting your group at 8:00am at our Rendezvous Hotel in Bozeman, MT. You’ll be greeted by your Explorer Chick Guides with an official orientation to follow. We’ll then hop into our Explorer Chick SHE-nanigan Shuttle for a 2 hour transfer to Yellowstone National Park.
First stop on our Yellowstone tour: MAMMOTH HOT SPRINGS, BABY. A boardwalk curves along the travertine terraces giving you a VIP view of nearly 50 hot springs.
Next up: A dip in Boiling River where it crosses Gardiner River, creating the perfect hot spring soaking bubble. The afternoon continues as we saddle up for a 2 hour scenic horseback ride to feast on a Dutch Oven dinner.
Day 1 is finito with full bellies and unpacking at our Explorer Chick mountain lodge – our home for the next 3 days. This hella charming oasis in Gardiner sits on the Yellowstone River with a grassy backyard bonfire pit, mountain views, and solitude from the park crowds.
Distance: 3 miles
Transfer Time: 2 hours
Accommodation: Explorer Chick House (Night 1 of 3)
Meals: L, D
Day 2: Wildlife in Lamar Valley and Hell Roaring Creek Hike
Rise before the sun to hop into the SHE-nanigan Shuttle. We’ll give you nine reasons why: wolves, grizzly bears, bison, pronghorn, badgers, bald eagles, osprey, deer, and coyotes!
For day two of our Yellowstone tour, you’ll meet our local wildlife guide in “America’s Serengeti,” Lamar Valley. Trek on and off trail plus peer through scopes to search expansive meadows for the Valley’s resident wildlife. Extra credit points for Steve Irwin impressions.
By afternoon, we’ll head over to the Roosevelt area to hike down the Yellowstone River Suspension Bridge. We can end our hike looking down at the raging river OR hike on another mile to nosh at the confluence of Yellowstone and Hell Roaring Creek.
Distance: Wildlife tour – 2 miles, Hell Roaring Creek – 4 miles/626ʹ gain
Lamar Valley Transfer Time: 1:15 hour
Accommodation: Explorer Chick House (Night 2 of 3)
Meals: B, L, D
Day 3: Grand Canyon, Norris Geyser, and Bunsen Peak
Going to Yellowstone without standing over the Grand Canyon is like going to Target without wandering the decor section. A good chunk of the morning will be spent chasing stunning overlooks along the South Rim. We’ll hike Clear Lake Loop to hit the best view points and stretch our gams on what might be Yellowstone’s greatest hike.
After lunch we’ll explore Norris Geyser Basin – home to the area’s hottest and most volatile thermal.
We’ll close out the day in Yellowstone with a hike up Bunsen Peak to take in 360-degree views over the Valley, Mammoth Hot Springs, and Gardiner Range.
Distance: Grand Canyon – 3.9 miles/423ʹ gain, Bunsen Peak- 4.4 miles/1,282ʹ gain Grand Canyon Transfer Time: 1:15 hour
Accommodation: Explorer Chick House (Night 3 of 3)
Meals: B, L, D
Day 4: Old Faithful, Grand Prismatic, and Firehole River
GEYSERS + THERMALS ALL DAY LONG. Our first stop for day four on our tour is the Upper Basin, home to around half of geysers in the world. This includes the Grand Daddy of all geysers, Old Faithful. We’ll take the time to explore all of the Upper Basin walking its entire length, point to point, with our SHE-nanigan Shuttle waiting at the end to take us to our next stop, The Middle Basin.
The Middle Basin boasts the iconic Grand Prismatic Spring – the largest hot spring in the park and 3rd in the world. We’ll grab a bird’s eye view hiking up the Fairy Falls trail.
Our afternoon ends with a swim in Firehole River. Jump straight into the rapids and float through a canyon in this amazeballs hot spring-fed river.
Distance: Roughly 6.8 miles and relatively flat
Old Faithful Transfer Time: 2 hours
Accommodation: Yellowstone Park Lodging (Night 1 of 2)
Meals: B, L, D
Day 5: Avalanche Peak and Yellowstone Lake
It’s an intense hike to the top of Avalanche Peak through pine forest, past wildflower meadows, and up talus slopes to reach the 360-degree views at 10,568ʹ. Welcome to total badass status. If it’s a clear day, you’ll be rewarded with a dazzling view of the Tetons, 50 miles South.
Lay low throughout the afternoon as we explore Yellowstone Lake and dig into a tasty waterfront lunch. Enjoy plenty of free time later into the evening to revisit favorite spots, splurge on souvenirs, or find a quiet spot for a snooze.
Distance: 4.6 miles RT/2,000ʹ gain
Accommodation: Yellowstone Park Lodging (Night 2 of 2)
Meals: B, L, D
Day 6: Grand Teton National Park
Smell ya later, Yellowstone! Enjoy a gorgeous hike into Grand Teton via Cascade Canyon. Breeze past Inspiration Point with views of Jenny Lake and Hidden Falls. The canyon itself is a classic example of glacier-formed U-shaped valleys.
After, we’ll pop over to String Lake to swim in its shallow waters beneath towering mountains. Hello, back float selfies!
We’ll then hop back into the SHE-nanigan Shuttle to make our way to Jackson, but not without a stop at Mormon Row to snag that Insta-famous photo with the barn and all the Glamour Shots.
Our last supper will be in town at a favorite Jackson eatery. If you’re feeling up for it, saunter over to the Million Dollar Cowboy to literally saddle up to the bar for a cold one.
Distance: 9.6 miles/1,110ʹ gain
Grand Teton Transfer Time: 1:45-2:30 hours
Accommodation: Jackson Downtown Hotel (Night 1 of 1)
Meals: B, L, D
Day 7: Jackson Hole and Ugly Cries
Enjoy one last breakfast together before spending a few hours exploring the town of Jackson. On Saturdays in the summer, the town park is transformed into a Farmer’s Market with plenty of locally made goodies.
We’ll then board the SHE-nanigan Shuttle for our farewell drive to where it all started: Bozeman, MT. Be sure (*whimper) to plan evening flight departures (*single tear) after 7pm (*SOB).
*Explorer Chick reserves the option to modify trip itineraries at the discretion of your adventure leader as necessary due to weather, conditions, illness, injury, group dynamics, safety, or other unforeseen incidents. If an activity must be cancelled due to conditions and cannot be rescheduled, your Explorer Chick guide will work to find alternatives or modifications to ensure the best value for your trip.
- 7 days/6 nights in shared occupancy accommodations
- 3 Nights in our quiet lodge on the banks of the Yellowstone River in Gardiner. Every night stare up at the stars next to the campfire in our large backyard. (Shared 1-2 per room)
- 2 Nights in a Yellowstone National Park hotel. (Shared 2 per room)
- 1 Night in a downtown Jackson Hotel (Shared 2 per room)
- All National Park Entrance and commercial permit fees
- All meals as indicated in itinerary: B-6, L-7, D-6
- Private Explorer Chick land-transportation throughout itinerary
- A commemorative Explorer Chick shirt and swag.
- A detailed Travel Guide upon booking with everything you need to know for your trip.
- The freedom to enjoy your vacation and mindlessly wander!
- 2 experienced Explorer Chick Guides ensuring your trip is seamless and unforgettable!
- Small Group experience! Your Explorer Chick Adventure is exclusive and limited to 10 women.
*Packages do NOT include your rendezvous hotel, departure hotel, airfare, airport transportation, alcoholic beverages, travel insurance, meals exclusive of itinerary, or costs for additional activities.
*Does NOT include your Explorer Chick Guide’s Tips – Tipping your Explorer Chick Guides is optional, but customary. If you wish to recognize your Explorer Chick Guides for exceptional service we recommend you tip total 10-25% of your trip costs. Gratuity may be given to one guide—the team divides tips among themselves after the trip.
*Per park regulations, Grand Teton National Park does not allow commercial guided hiking within the park boundaries. All Grand Teton hikes will be self-guided with your Explorer Chick guides providing a detailed briefing and all road-based services.
*To ride horseback, you must be under 240lbs.
You will receive a Travel Guide with all the hotel and additional information you’ll need to prepare for your epic trip!
Your adventure begins and ends in Bozeman, MT.
Day 1: Arrival. We will rendezvous as a group at 8:00am on Day 1. It is highly recommended to arrive the day before. You are responsible for booking your arrival hotel and airport transportation.
Day 8: Departure. Plan to fly out of Bozeman, MT on Day 7 after 7pm. It is recommended to fly out the following day in case there are road delays or issues on the trail. You are responsible for booking your departure hotel and airport transportation.
We require a minimum of 4 Explorer Chicks for this trip. Please confirm your trip is guaranteed before booking airfare.
Daily Hikes:
During your Best of Yellowstone Tour and Grand Teton Hiking adventure, you will hike some of the best trails in the National Parks. The itinerary is packed full of hiking every single day. You can expect to be on your feet for most of the day to squeeze in as much of the park as possible.
You should be comfortable with hiking up to 10 miles in a day carrying a light day pack with elevations gains up to 2,000 feet.
Notable Hikes:
- Hell Roaring Creek: 4 miles/626′ gain
- Grand Canyon Clear Lake Loop: 3.9 miles
- Mt. Bunsen: 4.4 miles/1,282′ gain
- Avalanche Peak: 4.6 miles/2,000′ gain
- Cascade Canyon: 9.6 miles/1,110 gain
This does not include many of our smaller stops, such as the Upper Basin, where we’ll be doing shorter hikes and walks on the countless boardwalks.
We highly recommend training prior to your adventure. The itinerary is packed full of hiking. You should be comfortable with hiking up to 10 miles in a day carrying a light day pack with elevations gains up to 2,000 feet.
You should be training on rough and rugged terrain – not perfectly paved sidewalks. Also, find steps, a hill, or the StairMaster and get to climbing! Your quads, booty, and calves will thank you.
Train your tootsies! Do not show up with brand new hiking boots or trail shoes. You should be spending hours upon hours in your boots leading up to your adventure to break them in. Better to suffer blisters at home than to miss out on a hike due painful hot spots on your feet. This is our number one injury. Don’t let it happen to you!
Explorer Chick prides itself in curating trips for women who live an active, healthy lifestyle. What this means is we tackle the big climbs, the long trails, the bucket lists, and the uncomfortable. To get the most from your adventure we recommend having a solid fitness base with training on trails in a variety of weather conditions and hill/stair climbing. Train how you play!
Please consider your ability to meet the physical demands very seriously. It is for the safety of both you and our group. All Explorer Chicks will be required to sign an Acknowledgement of Physical Demands as part of their waiver upon booking.
Learn More with Explorer Chick
How to Train for Hiking and Backpacking Trips
The 10 Essential Items to Pack for Every Hike
What’s the Best Time to Visit Yellowstone National Park?
8 Top Things To Do In Yellowstone National Park
Still not convinced that THIS is the adventure for you?
We’ve rounded up some of our most popular blog posts, so you can get to know us a bit better and learn what really goes down on your Explorer Chick Adventure.
- Remember How it Feels to Play
- You are NOT Alone
- The Power of Explorer Chick
- What Does an Explorer Chick Look Like?
- We are ALL IN
- We Do Dumb Stuff
- The Explorer Chick Purpose
- The Traveler vs. the Tourist
- 6 Benefits to Booking with a Tour Company
You can always reach us by email with more questions! Info@ExplorerChick.com
To protect your travel investment and your hide, we highly recommend purchasing travel insurance. World Nomads is our trusted travel insurance provider. Receive an no-hassle, online quote in less than 2 minutes.
TRIP PRICE
$3,899
Save $300 with Early Bird Pricing!
See our Discount page for Codes and Expirations!
Non-Refundable Deposit: $300 due at booking to secure your spot
Payment Plans Available: Email payments@ec-old.design-works.com after booking to set up your monthly payment plan.
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2 Reviews
Julia
September 9th, 2021I highly recommend the Best of Yellowstone and Grand Tetons trip with the Explorer Chicks! We had an awesome, action-packed trip to one of the most beautiful regions in the United States and got to have so many cool experiences like seeing bears, wolves, and bison in the wild, horseback riding in the back country, seeing the geysers erupt, and enjoying the lovely hot springs. This amazing group of women was led by two knowledgeable and supportive guides, Kirsty and Lauren! Well worth the time and money for an unforgettable experience! Thank you, Explorer Chicks!
Bonnie
November 30th, 2021I highly recommend this trip! It was a new and outstanding experience each day of the trip. Our guides, Lauren and Kirstie, were amazing, extremely knowledgeable and guided us towards the best scenery and experiences. Saw so much wildlife and natural beauty. Met an amazing group of women and shared a fantastic experience together!