SPRING Wildlife of
Greater YELLOWSTONE
MAY 16-22, 2027 & MAY 30-June 5, 2027
A wobbly, newborn bison calf pushes with all its strength, standing and taking its first steps. A sleepy black bear grazes on lush grasses, her cubs of the year wide-eyed and curious as they discover the big new world they just emerged from hibernation into. An osprey rigorously hunts for fish, its mate sitting on a nest full of tiny chicks to feed. Small pops of pink, purple, blue, and yellow begin to dot the landscape as the first wildflowers of the season bloom and add color to the greening mountain slopes of Lamar Valley and the Teton Range.
This awakening is what makes spring in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem my very favorite time of year. And it’s at this exact moment - when the park is most alive - that we will explore it on this workshop.
On this adventure, we will explore both Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks. We will get to see the best both offer, and with the terrain ranging from otherworldly thermal features in Yellowstone to the most rugged, dramatic mountains in the nation in Grand Teton, there will be no shortage of diverse backdrops for our images.
With the annual baby boom is in full swing, animals are at their most active in both parks, working overtime to feed and protect their young. Bear cubs, coyote pups, fox kits, bison, elk, and moose calves, badger kits, eagle hatchlings… the list of species we might get to see and photograph goes on and on. In addition to wildlife photography, the spring landscape is incredibly vibrant, with dramatic and unpredictable weather regularly moving through it, making this a fantastic time to shoot this region’s iconic landscapes, especially the Tetons.
Long hours of daylight means long hours in the field, maximizing our time to shoot. By the end of this workshop, you will have a portfolio of photos that showcase the magic of Greater Yellowstone’s spring, a time when the parks are waking up, bursting at the seams with new life and energy. If you are looking for the definitive spring Rocky Mountain experience, look no further - this is the workshop for you.
Quick Details
Dates
Session 1: May 16 - 22, 2027
Session 2: May 30 - June 5, 2027
Cost
$6,550 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 once you get to Bozeman, MT
Transportation for the duration of the workshop
Meals for the duration of the workshop
All photography instruction
Park passes
What’s not included:
Airfare arriving in Bozeman, MT
Airfare departing from Jackson, WY
Basic Itinerary
Day 1: Your adventure will begin in Bozeman, Montana, where I will pick you up for transfer to a hotel in Gardiner, Montana, just outside Yellowstone’s northern border. We will enjoy a group dinner this evening, followed by a Welcome Orientation designed to set you up for success throughout the rest of the week.
Days 2-3: Departing Gardiner before sunrise, we will go into Yellowstone for an incredible morning photography session. Depending on group interest, wildlife activity, and lighting conditions, we will either take a midday break and return to the park in the afternoon, or stay out shooting for the majority of the day. Wildlife will be plentiful: bear cubs, bison calves, songbirds, foxes, coyotes, elk… the list goes on and on. If the weather is right, many species will be active all day, so expect these field days to be long, but very rewarding. In the evening, we will share a sit-down group dinner. Location and timing of dinner will depend on our location (in the park or in Gardiner) and current wildlife activity.
Day 4: After a couple of very long field days, we will sleep in this morning. At 9 AM, we will plan to meet for breakfast and an image review/post-processing session. This is always one of the most helpful and constructive parts of photo workshops. Following this, we will have lunch, and then depart Gardiner for Jackson, Wyoming, where we will be staying for the rest of the trip. Our route will take us through both Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks, and we will photograph the iconic wildlife and stunning landscape we encounter as we travel south. In the evening, we will checking into our new accommodations and share a sit-down group dinner. Location and timing of dinner will depend on our location (in the parks or in Jackson) and current wildlife activity.
Days 5-6: We will depart Jackson before sunrise and go into the Grand Teton for a sunrise photography session. Depending on group interest, wildlife activity, and lighting conditions, we will either take a midday break and return to the park in the afternoon, or stay out shooting for the majority of the day. Wildlife will again be plentiful: moose, pronghorn, bears, osprey, elk calves, and more can be found throughout the valley of Jackson Hole. If the weather is right, many species will be active all day, so expect these field days to be long, but very rewarding. In the evening, we will share a sit-down group dinner. Location and timing of dinner will depend on our location (in the park or in Jackson) and current wildlife activity.
Day 7: After a final morning photography session, we will have a group breakfast in Jackson before departing back to the airport for drop-off, leaving with memory cards full of baby animals, sweeping mountain peaks, and images that perfectly showcase the awakening of this wonderful ecosystem.
Fitness level
Easy. Very little hiking involved, as most photography will be done on or near the roadside. Long days in the field, sometimes in inclement weather. Prepare for all seasons in a day.
What it’s LIke
Check out this YouTube video from an incredible month I spent photographing Greater Yellowstone’s wildlife in the abundance of spring.
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.