DAY BEFORE TRIP STARTS

 

We will meet the evening before our trip starts in Bozeman, Montana at 5:00 pm, at a predetermined hotel. If the meeting is held at a different hotel than you are staying, your guide will gladly provide transportation to and from the meeting.  In this meeting, we will do a general orientation that will cover introductions, trip itinerary, safety precautions, pack fitting and group gear distribution. Most importantly, this is a chance to meet with your guide to discuss the personal gear and clothes that you plan on bringing; your guide will offer advice about what to bring and what to leave behind for a successful and comfortable trip.  This meeting generally lasts one hour.

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DAY ONE

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• Travel time from Bozeman: 3.5 Hours

• Distance: 5.6 Miles

• Difficulty: Moderate
   

We will pick you up early in Bozeman and enjoy a scenic drive through Paradise Valley on our way to the park.  Once in the park, we’ll start our search for wildlife as we drive through Little America and Lamar Valley.  The trail will start as we cross a footbridge over Soda Butte Creek, where we can look down and see Cutthroat trout swimming in the pristine waters.  The first few miles are flat and wildlife is typically plentiful in these wide-open meadows.  After a mile and a half, we will climb up some rolling hills and have our last glimpse of the road until the end of the trip since this is a very secluded part of Yellowstone.  We’ll continue searching for wildlife as we cross Cache Creek, then we will cover the last 2 miles to camp.

 

DAY TWO

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• Distance: 9 Miles

• Difficulty: Moderate
   

We will start with a healthy breakfast, prepared by your guide.  After breaking down camp, and packing up, we will continue our trip along the Lamar River; the trail will take us up and down and provide us with excellent vantage points to enjoy the scenery.  Along the way, we can stop and check out an old patrol cabin, all while continuing to search for wildlife.  We will set up camp in a spacious meadow and enjoy the sights and sounds of nature.

 

DAY THREE

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• Distance: 9 Miles

• Difficulty: Hard (due to elevation gain)
   

This is the day we will continue backpacking along the Lamar River until we reach the important junction of Mist Creek— here we will cross the Lamar River and Cold Creek. We will start to climb out of the valley and make our way up to a spectacular meadow nestled high in the mountains. As a group, we will take lots of breaks along the trail to enjoy the sounds of the meadow and watch wildlife. 

 

DAY FOUR

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• Distance: 12.7 Miles

• Difficulty: Hard (due to long distance)

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Today we will travel over the remote Mist Pass. Since our campsite the night before was at high elevation, we won’t have much elevation to gain and after we break out of the trees, we will have tremendous views at the pass. You will be able to see the Grand Tetons, Pelican Valley, Yellowstone Lake— it’s a special view to say the least. Then, we start the downhill; we lose about 800 feet with well-graded switchbacks. Once down in the valley, we will visit a old backcountry patrol cabin. Then we turn north and start our world-class trek through Pelican Valley. We will see wildlife and thermal features as we hike. Once at camp, your guide will make a tasty meal and we can get some much needed rest and tent time!
(The high hiking mileage is due to the fact that there is no overnight camping in Pelican Valley.)

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DAY FIVE

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• Distance: 5-8 Miles

• Difficulty: Moderate

 

Today is a layover day! We will still get a early rise to maximize the wildlife viewing, but generally have a more relaxed morning with plenty cups of coffee! Once we are ready, we'll set off to some remote and stunning lakes. The hiking will be easier with lighter backpacks. We will have lots of opportunities to relax near the lake shores with a pair of binoculars. You never know what you might see on this day
filled full of solitude and peaceful meadows.

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DAY SIX

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• Distance: 8.5 Miles

• Difficulty: Moderate

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Time to head into the forest! Most of the trip has been filled with wide-open spaces, now its time to
switch it up. The highlight today will be the diversity you'll experience in this part of Yellowstone, a new ecosystem is always refreshing to experience. Once at camp, we'll set up our tents and enjoy the last night under the shelter of the trees and stars.

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DAY SEVEN

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• Distance: 7.6 Miles

• Difficulty: Moderate

• Travel time back to Bozeman: 3 hours (estimated arrival is 5:00 pm)

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With a early start and a quick break down (we'll be pros of packing a backpack by now), we'll be on the trail and cruising pretty fast with lots of anticipation of what's to come. The Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone is waiting for us. It’s a marvel of geology, and like no place on earth. We won’t spoil too much of the surprise but lets just say it will be a place you will never forget. After the trip we will enjoy a big fresh lunch with cold drinks and will be off on our way back to Bozeman for some well-earned showers and a hot dinner!

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Trip Variations:

Nomadic By Nature always tries our best to follow the itinerary as closely as possible.  However, there may be slight variations based on the National Park Service permit system and the ever-changing dynamics of the outdoors.