My wife and I just returned from the 5-day Winter Wolf Watch tour and are confident that…read moreYellowstone Wolf Tracker is your best bet for spotting wolves and other wild life in Yellowstone. They may not be the cheapest tour, but they're the best. To start with, the company is owned and operated by Nathan Varley (Ph.D), who participated in the reintroduction of wolves to Yellowstone in 1995. Our guides, Michelle and Jamie, were extremely knowledgeable about the park and its wildlife and plants/trees. The tour has close connections to the most accomplished biologists studying the Yellowstone Wolves, so they have access to the latest information on the location and activity of the wolf packs. Nature being nature, you can't expect guarantees that you'll see wolves, but we saw 10 wolves from the Eight Mile pack and several from the Junction Butte pack on our first day. We also saw a black bear sow and her two cubs emerge from their den, as well as a fox, mountain goats, big horn sheep, elk, and buffalo. I was pleasantly surprised at the quality of the evening programs and the evening meal. Chef Zac prepared possibly the best meals we have ever had, anywhere. He really is incredible. Dr. James Halfpenny's presentation on Track Scene Investigation (TSI) was not only educational but fascinating as well. Bob Landis, who won an Emmy Award for his documentary "Wolf Pack" previewed his latest documentary project on the birds of Yellowstone, with his usual outstanding nature photography. The tour provides high quality spotting scopes (Swaroski and Nikon), so there's no need to bring your own, but you'll probably want to bring a decent pair of binoculars. We were very happy with our tour, and recommend them highly.

Nathan, Michelle, Jamie and the rest of the folks running the operation are great. Saw wolves three…read moretimes, including a bonus sighting from the porch on the morning we were leaving. The catered dinners were notably excellent--a step above typical tour food. And the guest speakers and presenters were informative and engaging.

My family and I experienced the best three tours in Yellowstone. Our tour guide was Aleska and her…read morekindness was beyond appreciated! We rode in a van for the first two days and it was spacious and comfortable. The last day, we drove in a SUV which was also roomy and relaxed. For the food, Aleska thoughtfully provided snacks such as granola bars, fruit gummies, and nuts for the ride. In addition, she provided turkey sandwiches, crackers, carrots, oranges, hummus for lunch. Throughout our journey, Aleska drove and guided us to different sightseeing destinations including hot springs, waterfalls, rivers, lakes, and wildlife spots. My favorite highlight of this trip was being stuck in a bison traffic jam. Overall, 10/10 experience and highly recommended!!

What an epic adventure! We went on the Bear and Wolf private tour with Aleksa and had an amazing…read moreexperience in Yellowstone. Not only did we see 5 bears (1 black bear and 4 grizzlies), we saw 3 wolves and 2 wolf puppies! We also saw at least 15 other species during the trip as we drove and hiked through the animal-filled Lamar Valley. Their awesome scopes ensured we could see miles into the distance! We had such a fantastic time and we will surely be talking about our adventures for a lifetime. Definitely take this tour!

What a spectaular experience! I brought my grandson across country and have been in awe and…read moreamazement every day. We thought after a week in the park on our own we had accomplished quite a bit. Then we took this private and OMG!!! . Our guide Eligah gave us the experience of a lifetime with memories to cherish together! His awareness of his surroundings, his knowledge of park and the way he shares it is a gift my grandson and I treasure forever! Eligah, we can not thank you enough Sincerely , Michele and Angelo Giofre

Tour guide was very knowledgeable and kind. He allowed us to reschedule our tour after we were…read moreunable to continue after meeting in the morning.

What a fantastic day we had touring the lower loop of Yellowstone National Park with Yellowstone…read moreTouring Company / Wild Trout Outfitters. Arranging the tour on the phone was easy and quick. We had the choice of having pickup at our condo in Big Sky or meeting at the storefront on Highway 191. We chose to meet at the store to maximize our 10 tour time which starts end ends when the driver leaves the parking lot. Check in was simple. Each participant had to sign a waiver and then we were off. The Sprinter van was clean and very spacious with seating for 10 although we had a private tour for 4. Pricing for private tours are flat rate and we chose the 1-5 participants. Our tour guide, Mat, was amazing. He kept us entertained on the way to the park with stories and factoids. In addition to showing us the "usual suspects," took us to places that are not listed in the guidebooks. He varied the route a bit at times to accommodate the geyser schedules and spend as little time as possible waiting for eruptions. All the time, he was filling our heads with area info. He was terrific at spotting wildlife for us as well. When we found ourselves with a little extra time at the end our our tour. He stopped at two additional sites that people normally drive right by. We were thrilled with his service. While this tour does not supply food, they have a cooler on board with plenty of ice, soft drinks, bottled water and space for the food that we brought. We packed a lunch and Mat found us a table at the edge of Yellowstone Lake were we stopped and ate on a checkerboard tablecloth - courtesy of Mat. If we were to come back, we would absolutely arrange for the Upper Loop tour with this company and possibly even a fly-fishing trip. Thanks to Mat and YTC for a great day.

Last week my family and I vacationed in Big Sky for our first trip to Montana and Yellowstone…read moreNational Park. Since our time was limited and the park so large we decided to hire a tour guide for one day. Upon researching the options I discovered there are a lot of ways to tour Yellowstone, however having the disability of chemical sensitivity I found it challenging to choose one. Ultimately after many phone conversations I talked with J.D. Bingham at Yellowstone Touring Company/Wild Trout Outfitters. Based on our telephone conversation I was confident that J.D. understood my special needs and would be able to accommodate our party of nine persons, which included children and elderly. On the day of the tour our guide Paul picked us up at or rental house in Big Sky right on schedule. That was no small feat in itself as the house was VERY out of the way on the side of a mountain at 8200 feet. The vehicle was clean, spacious and comfortable for all of us. More importantly, per my request for my chemical sensitivity, both Paul and the vehicle were completely fragrance free. Paul asked us questions about what we were looking to get out of the tour, and then designed our day around our specific requests. It could not have been any better. He was knowledgeable not only about Yellowstone but about where we were staying in Big Sky. He was patient with both the children and the elderly. He is an excellent driver and we all felt quite safe in his hands the whole time. The sights that he chose for us were perfect. He knew everything from which rest rooms were most likely to be cleanest, (very important for the ladies), to where to find the bison. All in all, I cannot say enough about our tour with Paul from Yellowstone Touring Company. I would do it again in a heartbeat, and recommend him to anyone. Also after our interactions with J.D., I would also imagine his fishing guides from Wild Trout Outfitters to be as special and would have tried that also if we'd had more time.

Mike was amazing and so accommodating to my family. He was extremely knowledgeable and we felt like…read morewe saw/experienced things that others without him did not. His wife's muffins and cookies were delicious and the experience was 5 star. Not only did he help me before our trip there to make sure we were going to get the experience we wanted but he was a wonderful tour guide for two full days. I am so happy we chose Yellowstone Wonders!!

We decided in January that we were going to Yellowstone park. I started searching places to stay,…read moreetc. Social media said here's some suggestions! I clicked on something that led me to Yellowstone Wonders. I called the number and left a message for the dates we would be in the area in July. Mike called me back and I knew from the phone call that he was special. I booked 2 days with him. He used an "off" day to accommodate my family. We went on Wednesday and Friday because he had Thursday already booked. Over the next few months, he gave me suggestions at my request on places to stay and fishing guides. If I asked, he knew someone. I will say we witnessed his kindness to the park rangers and other locals. He was greeted with smiles and hugs and he even had treats for them! He picked us up at our rental at 5:30 in a Yukon XL. Of course he was early! We had 4 adults and a baby. He knew where the car seat would go so we could exit on the safety of the passenger side when getting out from the 3rd row. We never had to think because he was thinking for us. He was so prepared. He says his head is on a swivel!!! He is just amazing and he and his wife are the perfect team. No we didn't meet her but she is amazing! She made us muffins. Cinnamon was our flavor both mornings. Probably because we raved so much on Wednesday morning on them he couldn't dare bring anything else on Friday! She also made our family Snickerdoodle cookies which were equally delicious! Trust me you just have to bring your absolute necessities. He has waters. Snacks. Breakfast with coffee and hot chocolate. Have you home by 12:30-1:00 for lunch. He has the binoculars and a very nice scope for you to look at the animals. He is great at spotting the animals in the distance. Of course his knowledge as a guide he knows where the animals are most active. Yes we went to spots that others were at, but people pulled up without guides asking "what are y'all looking at?" Without the binoculars or the scope we would not have gotten the wonderful experience we had! We used Wednesday as a wildlife tour and it did not disappoint. Friday we went to the geysers and The Grand Canyon of Yellowstone. When I first contacted Mike I told him the price was worth it to not argue with my husband on where to turn reading a map! I stand behind the fact that if my husband was driving he would have missed out on so much of the adventure!!! He loved watching the bison on the side of the road as Mike drove us around. Yes there is an app that gives you the tour through your radio. Mike has as much knowledge and more. We felt like he was our best friend those 2 days! He addressed each of us by our names all day even the first day! He answered all our questions. This is his business. He is your one and only contact person. He loves what he does. Let him be your friend too. Book with him and I promise you will not regret it!

Horseback riding with Wilderness Connection was easily one of the best parts of our trip. A…read morefamily-owned business that has been passed down through 5 generations - you can feel the pride and passion behind everything they do. Our guide, Tyler, made the ride unforgettable. He was incredibly knowledgeable about the history of the area and also had an unbelievable ability to spot wildlife along the trail. The views were gorgeous the entire ride. The horses were wonderful, healthy, well cared for, and matched thoughtfully to each rider's comfort and experience level. The whole team created such a welcoming and safe environment. Highly recommend.

Had a wonderful time at The Wilderness Connection! The…read morecustomer service was fantastic--everyone was so patient and kind, especially with our 7-year-old who was very scared at first. Thanks to Tylers calm and encouraging approach, she ended up having an amazing time and now says she wants to come back and work there when she grows up! Truly a memorable experience. What an amazing family we will definitely be back to hunt in the winter.

Yesterday I checked off the first item on my bucket list and went dogsledding. It was even more…read morethan I hoped it would be. I read some earlier reviews about the treatment of the dogs and my experience was the opposite of hers. They are not "skinny mutts." They are a mixture of breeds born to do this, and are not only well-fed. They are well- loved, too. My only regret of the day, in fact, was not getting a photo of our guide, Manny aka Kenny holding one of the pups like a baby. It kind of says it all. They also pay extra attention to the dogs who might be ready to retire. For example, they had been noticing one of the dogs having slack in his line so they were probably going to retire him because that is what he seemed to want. Other dogs, the guides told us, are shy or anxious when they arrive so they work with them individually to help him be part of the team. The relationships between the guides and dogs was a wonderful thing to witness. The trail was gorgeous and serene because once you start the dogs stop barking and it becomes quiet. I can't say enough about all the guides. I felt safe at all times. I was also given a blanket for for extra cushioning and warmth. Their happiness and love for what they do shines through and is contagious. Loved it!!!

This is my second sled dog trip. Today we went with Jessie In west Yellowstone. ( spirit of the…read morenorth has a couple different sledding locations ) Today's trip was just as magical as the one I did 20 years ago in Big Sky MT. Jessie and her family love their dogs and it shows . You can drive your own sled or request just to be a passenger. The trip we went on was approx 2 hours 12 miles. We had a nice break for complimentary hot chocolate 3/4 of the way through. Jessie thought us a lot about her dogs and history of the Iditarod race. 10+ stars

Just finished a fabulous 2-day tour of Yellowstone Park with Cara from IN-Our-Nature. Even though…read moreI had been to Yellowstone in the past, and thought I knew the sites fairly well, with Cara's in-depth knowledge of the park, its wildlife, the geology and natural history, all together made for a memorable trip. Of course we did get to see a lot of wildlife, and some that I would not have seen on my own, like the wolves and mountain goats, but I came away feeling like I not only had a great time , but learned a whole lot at the same time.

Had a great tour with Cara as our guide. She was knowledgeable about the wildlife and seemed to be…read moreable to see bears with her naked eyes that we were barely able to see with her spotting scopes. The tour started with hot coffee and we got a mid-morning snack as well as lunch. We saw so many animals and birds. It was really one of the best trips we'd been on!!