AUTUMN Wildlife of
Jackson Hole
OCTOBER 3-8, 2027 & OCTOBER 10-15, 2027
At the base of the freshly snow-capped peaks of the Teton range, surrounded by vibrant gold and orange foliage, a monstrous bull elk emerges from the fog, the eerie sound of his bugle piercing the crisp mountain air. A few miles away, bull moose stir, subtly displaying signs of dominance to one another as they work their way through a creek bed in pursuit of a mate. Meanwhile, a family of grizzly bears gorges on berries, while otters cruise the Snake River, and great grey owl fledglings hunt for the first time. This is what it’s like to be in Jackson Hole in autumn, and this is what this workshop is all about!
As this landscape undergoes a season of rapid change, inevitability hurtling towards another long, bitter winter, the wildlife are doing everything possible to prepare while they can. The result is many species being active and visible all day - their survival depends upon it - which means photo opportunities will be plentiful. We could see and photograph moose, elk, bison, pronghorn, black bear, grizzly bear, bald eagle, great grey owl, river otter, beaver, and much more. The elk, moose, and pronghorn ruts will be in full swing, making this the very best time of year to photograph each of these species.
In addition to the wildlife, it would be a disservice to not mention the landscapes of Jackson Hole in autumn. The aspens and cottonwoods will be popping with shades of gold and amber, adding warmth to our photographic scenes. In contrast, the Tetons are likely to be capped in the first snowfall of the season, creating cool, blue tones for our image backgrounds. These are the quintessential Rocky Mountain landscapes scenes, and there is truly nothing else like them on earth.
By the end of this workshop, you will have a colorful portfolio of images documenting the dramatic and powerful show that plays out in Grand Teton National Park in the fall. All seasons are incredible in the valley, but in my opinion, autumn is the season to be there.
Quick Details
Dates
Session 1: October 3-8, 2027
Session 2: October 10-15, 2027
Cost
$6,150 USD single occupancy
Inquire with Yellowstone Wild for double occupancy rates
Please note: Online bookings may include supplemental fees, which will be displayed in your cart prior to checkout. Reservations made directly by phone with Yellowstone Wild (406-224-0001) are only subject to the 2.5% processing fee.
Group Size
4-6 participants (4 minimum for the trip to run)
What’s included:
All lodging for the duration of the workshop
Transportation for the duration of the workshop
All meals for the duration of the workshop
All photography instruction
Park passes
What’s not included:
Airfare to and from Jackson, WY
Basic Itinerary
Day 1: Your adventure will begin at Jackson Hole Airport, where I will pick you up at 3 PM for transfer to the Flat Creek Inn, just north of Jackson, Wyoming. We will enjoy a group dinner, followed by a Welcome Orientation to discuss the camera gear you brought, the way in which we plan to create photos during this workshop, and the critical concepts you must understand to be photographically successful.
Days 2-5: We will depart Jackson before sunrise and go into Grand Teton National Park. The Teton peaks will be glowing pink as light pours into the valley floor, and magical morning hours filled with iconic wildlife and jaw-dropping landscapes will ensue. If the weather and light are in our favor, the photography will be good all day, so expect some days to be long, full field days. On days that are warmer, wildlife are likely to bed down through the midday period, so we may return to the hotel for a few hours. This will be an opportunity to rest, charge batteries, and meet with me to learn about post-processing your images from this trip. On these days, we will return to the park for an evening shoot.
Regardless of weather, light, and wildlife activity, at least one of our midday periods will be carved out for a group image critique/post-processing session, where we will discuss what you are doing well, what you can improve upon going forward, and how to effectively post-process the photos you have captured to this point.
While wildlife is the primary focus of this workshop, there will certainly be some world-class landscape photography opportunities as well, and, depending on group interest, we will try and allocate some limited time to these. After sunset each day, we will go into Jackson for a sit-down group dinner.
Day 6: Meet at 8 AM to check out of the hotel, then have a sit-down group breakfast in Jackson before going to the airport, leaving with memory cards full of rutting elk and moose, bears, birds, bison, and golden autumn mountainscapes.
Fitness level
Easy. Most photography will be done on or near the roadside. Up to 2 miles of hiking per day, in extreme cases, for rare or specific photo opportunities. Long days in the field, sometimes in inclement weather. Weather could be hot and sunny, or cold and dumping snow - this is the nature of autumn in the Rockies, so prepare for all seasons in a day.
What it’s LIke
Check out this YouTube video from an epic week I spent in the Tetons during autumn.
This workshop is being organized and hosted by Yellowstone Wild and instructed and led by me. For more information about the trip, to see booking and cancellation policies, or to reserve your spot on this adventure, click the Book Now button below to be take to Yellowstone Wild’s website.