Yellowstone Backpacking – Lamar Valley to Pelican Valley
4 days from Park Shore Waikiki to VALLEY ISLE RESORT
From $ 1149
Duration4 days
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Spend four days backpacking, sightseeing and animal-spotting in Yellowstone’s Lamar and Pelican Valleys. Elk, pronghorn, bear, wolf, moose—there is no shortage of wildlife in Yellowstone’s spectacular Lamar Valley. The area’s vast, far-reaching landscapes are renowned as a haven for these animals, and provide the perfect view for spotting them. The remote Pelican Valley is widely known as a premier grizzly bear habitat in the United States; its meandering meadows and creeks make for a perfectly serene backdrop for our adventure. Beginning in Lamar Valley, backpack south along the banks of the Lamar River, keeping eyes peeled for some of the 67 species of mammals that live in the park. Take a cooling dip in the river, or just let its tranquil sounds lull you to sleep from the comfort of our riverside campsites. Traveling in the shadow of the Absaroka Mountain Range, cross up and over Mist Creek Pass, ultimately dropping down into the beautiful open meadows of the magnificent Pelican Valley. By the end of the through-hike, the sights, sounds and smells of Yellowstone’s most spectacular landscapes will be forever etched into our minds.

This tour is operated by

  • Duration: 4 days
    Service level: Standard
  • Starts in: Park Shore Waikiki
    Physical Grading: Average
  • Ends in: VALLEY ISLE RESORT
    Ages: 18+
Yellowstone Backpacking – Lamar Valley to Pelican Valley - Tour Map

Itinerary

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Day 1: Transfer to Yellowstone National Park and hike into the backcountry.

Start place: Park Shore Waikiki

This trip begins in Bozeman, Montana. We meet our guides and fellow backpackers in the lobby of our Bozeman host hotel at 6am. After a brief orientation and gear check, we jump into our waiting vehicle and begin the three-hour drive to Yellowstone National Park. Our route takes us through the north entrance of the park, past Mammoth Hot Springs and on to the Lamar Valley. We arrive at our trailhead around lunchtime and, after fueling up for the trek ahead, we begin our hike into the Lamar Valley backcountry, renowned for its tranquil beauty and wildlife viewing. Our trail follows the Lamar River and requires that we ford Cache Creek before reaching the first backcountry campsite of the trip. After a delicious dinner prepared by our guides, we slip into our tents for a restful night’s sleep under the Rocky Mountain sky. Lunch and dinner included.
Transfer time: 3 hours; backpacking: 5-6 miles with 200’ elevation gain.
Meals: D
Day 2: Backpack through the Lamar Valley and search for park wildlife.
Today we continue into the heart of the Lamar Valley, known as North America’s “Little Serengeti.” Keeping our eyes peeled for some of the 67 species of mammals that live in the park, we continue backpacking south along the banks of the Lamar River. Even the river itself harbors life with native Yellowstone cutthroat trout living and spawning in the flowing waters while making a comeback as a result of recent protections. Fly fishing permits are available (catch and release only) and our guides can assist with securing permits upon arrival in the park on Day 1. We pitch our tents this afternoon on the Lamar riverbank, as serene a campsite location as one could ever hope for. All meals included.
Backpacking: 8-9 miles with 400’ elevation gain.
Meals: B, L, D
Day 3: Continue along the Lamar River to Mist Creek.
After a hot cup of coffee and a hearty breakfast, we break camp and continue backpacking along the Lamar River to Mist Creek. We hike through rolling grasslands and smell the sagebrush, navigating some creek crossings and passing over a footbridge en route to tonight’s campsite. The rugged peaks of the Absaroka Range come into view and the wildlife-viewing possibilities remain strong. These valleys and grasslands are home to elk, pronghorn, bison, bears, wolves, moose and many other wild creatures. Tonight, the music of Mist Creek plays in the background as we tuck ourselves into our sleeping bags and drift off to sleep. All meals included.
Backpacking: 8-9 miles with 950’ elevation gain.
Meals: B, L, D
Day 4: Hike over Mist Creek Pass and descend into Pelican Valley.
We get an early start this morning in preparation for our last big day of backpacking. We climb over Mist Creek Pass and begin a downhill cruise into the spectacular Pelican Valley, known as some of the premier grizzly bear habitat in the U.S. Our route takes us past the Pelican Springs backcountry ranger cabin, along the meandering creek, and through the spectacular open meadows of Pelican Valley. Reaching trail’s end, our van awaits to take us on a scenic drive along the shores of Yellowstone Lake and through some of the park’s geothermal areas before beginning the return drive to Bozeman. We plan to arrive back in Bozeman between 7-8:30pm this evening. Breakfast and lunch included.
Transfer time: 4 hours; backpacking: 10-11 miles with 200’ elevation gain and 900’ loss.

End place: VALLEY ISLE RESORT

Meals: B, L

Inclusions

Included

  • Professional guide leadership
  • roundtrip transportation from Bozeman, Montana, to Yellowstone National Park
  • meals as noted in the daily itinerary
  • tents
  • group cooking gear
  • campsite and permit fees
  • park entrance fees

  • Accommodation

    Camping, 3 nights

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