Covid measures in Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming

57hours is committed to providing safe outdoor adventure experiences. We require all guides using our platform to have a COVID-19 safety plan and to make the details of that plan accessible to travelers. In most cases, group sizes will be reduced, guides will avoid overcrowded locations, and other safety measures will be met depending on the location and activity. We also expect clients to respect local regulations and take measures to protect themselves, their guides, and the communities they’re traveling to. For more information on COVID-19 measures in Yellowstone, WY, please refer to the official guidelines for air travel into the US and Yellowstone National Park’s COVID-19 guidelines. Please contact us if you have any questions or require further information. We are happy to provide you with the most up-to-date information!

What you get on this adventure: An experienced, local naturalist hiking guide or biologist with extensive knowledge of the area A half or full day of hiking, or a full day of wildlife watching Hot drinks and water refills on tour Brunch (wildlife watching tour), snacks (half-day hiking tour), or a full lunch (full-day hiking tour) Binoculars and spotting scopes for the wildlife watching tour What’s not included: Transportation to meeting location Accommodations Park entrance fees ($20 per person, $35 per family)

How fit do I need to be?

The best thing about hiking in Yellowstone NP is that there are incredible options for all skill levels. For beginner hikes, if you can walk for four to six hours on gentle, mostly flat terrain with little elevation gain, you are good to go! Intermediate trails will see more rocks and other obstacles, with up to 700 ft (215 m) of elevation gain. Advanced hikes cover steep, uneven, and heavily rocky terrain with challenging inclines and 1000 or more feet (300+m) of elevation gain. Keep in mind, the weather in the summer can be very hot and you’ll also be packing a daypack filled with water and other things you’ll need throughout the day. For wildlife watching, you won’t need to stray too far from the vehicle as wildlife watching is most effective from the road (with short walks to vantage points, up to about a half-mile each). Daily departures are at dawn (5 to 6 am in the summer, 7 am in the winter) and the duration of the tour is typically 7 to 8 hours.

What do I need to bring?

Here’s a list of the equipment you need to bring: Day pack large enough to carry all the items listed (around a 25-40L bag) Hiking poles — optional Water bottle or hydration bladder with at least 2L of water Lightweight hiking boots or shoes Spare clothes for layering Warm layers Waterproof rain jacket Sunhat Toiletries (sunscreen, hand sanitizer, bug spray, toilet paper, etc.) Bear spray — provided by guide Headlamp or flashlight Sunglasses Camera — optional (but recommended) Binoculars and high-quality Swarovski spotting scopes will be provided by your guide for the wildlife watching tour. Dress comfortably and for the weather in clothes you can move in. We suggest bringing clothing appropriate for the season. Layers are best and don’t wear jeans.

Group sizes and age requirements

Group sizes and prices: For the private wildlife watching tour, the max client-to-guide ratio is 6:1. For the private hiking tours, the max client-to-guide ratio is 10:1. The cost per person decreases as the group grows, so it’s the perfect opportunity to hike with friends and family! Hiking and wildlife watching in Yellowstone can be arranged for larger groups. Contact us to make arrangements. Min. age requirements: If you are older than 18, you’re good to go. Minors younger than 18 are welcome, but must be in the presence of a parent or legal guardian. If your group has hikers under the age of 18 , contact us prior to booking to make arrangements.

Getting there and meeting location

To get to the Tower-Roosevelt area in Yellowstone National Park, most people fly into Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport 3 hours away. From there, you can rent a car to get to Yellowstone. Meeting points Full-Day Hike: 8:30 AM to 4:00 PM at the trailhead

Yellowstone | Wyoming

Hiking and Wildlife Watching in Tower-Roosevelt, Yellowstone

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A panorama of the Tower-Roosevelt area in Yellowstone

A black bear in Yellowstone’s Tower-Roosevelt area

A bighorn sheep looking up in Yellowstone National Park

Intro
Itinerary
Brochure
Reviews
Things to know

Duration

1 day

Season

Late April through early November

Group size

Up to 10 people

With a rustic, “frontiersy” flair, an abundance Native American trails and an authentic buffalo ranch, Tower-Roosevelt is an Old West fanatic’s dream. A far cry from the hordes that abound in some of the other regions, Tower-Roosevelt provides the most solemn and relaxed hiking experience in the park, one that truly lets you get in touch with nature. Want to see bighorn sheep and pronghorns while hiking on various unnamed routes in the Yellowstone River valley? Go wildlife watching and marvel at wolf packs and grizzly bears? Explore the highest concentration of petrified trees in the world on Specimen Ridge? In the Tower Roosevelt area, the crowds won’t stop you—the only limit is your will and imagination.

Adventure highlights

Meet the rich and varied wildlife in their natural habitat
Explore a calmer and less-crowded area of Yellowstone National Park
Tower-Roosevelt is the best place to see wolves and grizzlies in the wild

Highlighted reviews from other travellers

Jeff L.

My wife, 9-year-old son, and 11-year old daughter were with Cara for two days last week, one day for wildlife watching and one day for a hike. It was a pleasure spending two days with Cara. She has an enthusiasm for the wildlife of the park and clearly enjoys sharing that enthusiasm and her wealth of knowledge. She has good relationships with other guides and wildlife watchers, and they cooperate to improve all of their chances of finding wildlife. She spotted many animals for us and worked hard to do so. And she took us on a beautiful hike. For the rest of our trip, my son kept saying that he wished we could have spent every day with Cara. Thank you, Cara, for the fantastic two days! They were the highlight of our two-week vacation!

Nicole B.

We had an amazing day with Cara. We had 3 kids (one is a baby) along with us… She had so much patience with us and still made it possible for us to see everything we had hoped for and more! We saw a grizzly, a pack of wolves, coyotes, bison, elk, mountain goats, and went on a great hike that was doable for our whole family where we even got to see trout in the lake. So knowledgeable about the animals and the area.. we learned so much in one day. We will definitely be back!

Macy

Me, my husband, and our 14 yr old daughter had an amazing experience on our hike with Cara. We saw several animals including a close encounter with a bear. It was definitely an experience we will never forget. We would recommend Cara to anyone who wants a guided hike in Yellowstone.

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Available itineraries

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Private Half-Day of Hiking in Yellowstone’s Tower-Roosevelt Area

Explore Tower-Roosevelt’s many unnamed routes, the majestic Yellowstone River, and head to Lost Lake in the northeastern part of Yellowstone on this half-day hiking tour of the Tower-Roosevelt region. Join a seasoned local guide as they show you the area’s coolest sights, such as the record-breaking petrified trees of Specimen Ridge, via awe-inspiring hiking trails!

Private Full-Day of Hiking in Yellowstone’s Tower-Roosevelt Area

Get your hiking boots ready for a full-day hiking trip in Yellowstone’s scenic Tower-Roosevelt area. Join an experienced local guide for a thrilling day hike across some of northern Yellowstone’s greatest mellow trails. Hit the Garnet Hill Loop and Hellroaring Creek Trail, discover the Native-American Bannock trail, visit the Hellroaring Suspension Bridge, and learn about the geologic history of the area!

Private Wildlife Watching Tour of Yellowstone’s Tower-Roosevelt Area

Welcome to the home of the wolf and the grizzly bear! Discover the vast and varied animal population of Yellowstone’s northeastern area in this wildlife watching tour. Visit numerous wildlife-spotting hot spots with a seasoned local biologist and get up close and personal with Yellowstone National Park’s fascinating fauna. Here you’ll find wolves, grizzly bears, pronghorns, bison, black bears, and more incredible wildlife!

Hiking and Wildlife Watching in Tower-Roosevelt, Yellowstone

Adventure Brochure

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If you have questions or need help with planning a trip, schedule a call with one of our adventure experts.

Meet your guides

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Cara McGary

Cara is a qualified biologist (B.S. Aquatic Biology and M.S. Biology) who wants to help others develop and feed their fascinations with the natural world in Yellowstone. When not in Yellowstone, she likes to explore places where there are good tidepools or snorkeling.

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Claire Lacey

Claire developed a passion for wildlife ecology and environmental studies leading her to Montana in 2017 for the opportunity to study the wolves of Yellowstone National Park. She has spent hundreds of hours watching wolves and studying their interactions with each other and with other species. Claire continues to follow her passion by inviting clients to share the same incredible experiences in Yellowstone that captivated her during her research.

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Nancy Lewis

Nancy has been a naturalist guide and educator in the Yellowstone area since 2015, but she has been fostering a passion for the outdoors and wild places since she first became a naturalist leader in junior high school.Now, she combines her experience in education with her love of the park to help lifelong learners look closely at nature.

5.00

Ben Buescher

Ben developed his passion for wildlife while working as a zoo educator in his hometown of Saint Louis, Missouri. He later moved to Fort Collins, earning his bachelor’s degree in Wildlife Biology at Colorado State University, before taking his studies all over the world. After graduation, he worked as a park ranger and wildlife educator in Kauai before settling in Yellowstone, where he uses his background in conservation biology and environmental education to teach his guests about the natural wonders of the park.

5.00

In Our Nature

In Our Nature is an eco-friendly guiding service specializing in private wildlife watching, day hikes, backpacking trips, birding, and night sky tours in Yellowstone National Park. Whether you’re looking to see some world-class wildlife, enjoy a scenic hike, or spend a night in the backcountry, they’ll make sure you get the most out of your adventure.

5.00(3 reviews)

Jeff L.

Nicole B.

Macy

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Jeff L.

Nicole B.

Macy

Things to know

57hours is committed to providing safe outdoor adventure experiences. We require all guides using our platform to have a COVID-19 safety plan and to make the details of that plan accessible to travelers. In most cases, group sizes will be reduced, guides will avoid overcrowded locations, and other safety measures will be met depending on the location and activity.

We also expect clients to respect local regulations and take measures to protect themselves, their guides, and the communities they’re traveling to. For more information on COVID-19 measures in Yellowstone, WY, please refer to the official guidelines for air travel into the US and Yellowstone National Park’s COVID-19 guidelines.

Please contact us if you have any questions or require further information. We are happy to provide you with the most up-to-date information!
What you get on this adventure:
- - An experienced, local naturalist hiking guide or biologist with extensive knowledge of the area
  - A half or full day of hiking, or a full day of wildlife watching
  - Hot drinks and water refills on tour
  - Brunch (wildlife watching tour), snacks (half-day hiking tour), or a full lunch (full-day hiking tour)
  - Binoculars and spotting scopes for the wildlife watching tour
What’s not included:
- - Transportation to meeting location
  - Accommodations
  - Park entrance fees ($20 per person, $35 per family)
The best thing about hiking in Yellowstone NP is that there are incredible options for all skill levels. For beginner hikes, if you can walk for four to six hours on gentle, mostly flat terrain with little elevation gain, you are good to go! Intermediate trails will see more rocks and other obstacles, with up to 700 ft (215 m) of elevation gain. Advanced hikes cover steep, uneven, and heavily rocky terrain with challenging inclines and 1000 or more feet (300+m) of elevation gain. Keep in mind, the weather in the summer can be very hot and you’ll also be packing a daypack filled with water and other things you’ll need throughout the day.

For wildlife watching, you won’t need to stray too far from the vehicle as wildlife watching is most effective from the road (with short walks to vantage points, up to about a half-mile each). Daily departures are at dawn (5 to 6 am in the summer, 7 am in the winter) and the duration of the tour is typically 7 to 8 hours.
Here’s a list of the equipment you need to bring:
- - Day pack large enough to carry all the items listed (around a 25-40L bag)
  - Hiking poles — optional
  - Water bottle or hydration bladder with at least 2L of water
  - Lightweight hiking boots or shoes
  - Spare clothes for layering
  - Warm layers
  - Waterproof rain jacket
  - Sunhat
  - Toiletries (sunscreen, hand sanitizer, bug spray, toilet paper, etc.)
  - Bear spray — provided by guide
  - Headlamp or flashlight
  - Sunglasses
  - Camera — optional (but recommended)
Binoculars and high-quality Swarovski spotting scopes will be provided by your guide for the wildlife watching tour. Dress comfortably and for the weather in clothes you can move in. We suggest bringing clothing appropriate for the season. Layers are best and don’t wear jeans.
Group sizes and prices:
- - For the private wildlife watching tour, the max client-to-guide ratio is 6:1.
  - For the private hiking tours, the max client-to-guide ratio is 10:1.
  - The cost per person decreases as the group grows, so it’s the perfect opportunity to hike with friends and family!
Hiking and wildlife watching in Yellowstone can be arranged for larger groups. Contact us to make arrangements.

Min. age requirements:
- - If you are older than 18, you’re good to go.
  - Minors younger than 18 are welcome, but must be in the presence of a parent or legal guardian.
If your group has hikers under the age of 18, contact us prior to booking to make arrangements.
To get to the Tower-Roosevelt area in Yellowstone National Park, most people fly into Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport 3 hours away. From there, you can rent a car to get to Yellowstone.

Meeting points

Full-Day Hike: 8:30 AM to 4:00 PM at the trailhead
Day Trips Cancellations
Fully refundable within the initial 48 hours from booking, unless the trip date is less than 7 days from the time of the booking.
Cancellations up to 7 days prior to the trip date are refundable 100%.
Cancellations within 7 days prior to the trip date are non-refundable.