Wake Up to Wildlife Tour
Wake Up to Wildlife Tour
Wake Up to Wildlife Tour
4.5
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About
Dawn is really the best time to search out the wild things, so we’ll leave Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel or Roosevelt Lodge bright and early and head for Lamar Valley. Here, expansive views provide great opportunities to find spectacular megafauna grazing or hunting on the open hillsides, and your driver/guide will know where the action has been as of late (as we’re looking for genuinely wild animals, there are no guarantees of course!). Our Historic Yellow Bus will be provisioned with muffins and juice for all aboard. If you really want to take your best chance to glimpse the great beasts, come Wake Up to Wildlife with us!
Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming
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KKTravels35
Nashville, TN21 contributions
Jun 2022
Wow, what an awesome tour! My group and I had dreamt of seeing Yellowstone wildlife (bears and wolves mostly). Well, our dreams came to reality. We were able to see a brown bear with her cinnamon cub. We were actually very lucky and saw a wolf on a separate tour. Our guide was Cari, and this was our second tour with her. I highly recommend Cari. She was so dedicated to our group and willing to go the extra mile. This tour is totally worth your time. You will see wildlife and just have a great time!
Written June 16, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
OhioHick
Ohio, USA8,797 contributions
Sep 2011 • Couples
My wife and I stayed at Roosevelt Lodge as part of our time in Yellowstone, in part so that we could have easy access to the Lamar Valley. We expected to explore the area on our own, but at the last moment decided to add the Wake up to Wildlife Tour on a historic Yellow Bus. We had taken a Red Bus tour when we visited Glacier National Park in 2009 and that tour provided an outstanding introduction to the park, so we figured that this tour would provide an equally good overview of the Lamar Valley. We were not disappointed.
Our tour was on a Saturday in early September. We made the reservation for the tour just the afternoon before (probably only able to do this as it was near the end of the season). The staff at Roosevelt Lodge took care of the reservation details. The tour originated at Mammoth and arrived at Roosevelt Lodge at 7:00 to collect us. The stop at Roosevelt was also used as a coffee break and rest stop for the tour. The bus was nearly full when it rolled in from Mammoth, so my wife and I had to split up (no big deal), but I got lucky and got to ride shotgun. I reckon we were on the road toward the Lamar Valley about 7:15.
Our driver/guide for the tour was Charlotte and she was an OUTSTANDING guide! She was extremely knowledgeable about the park and the wildlife, a great communicator, and was a lot of fun. Sitting in the co-pilot’s seat was a great opportunity for discussion with Charlotte as well as for photos.
The tour covers the Lamar Valley, and I am sure that the tours vary from day to day based on what critters are out and about. The plan for our tour was to head over to a bison carcass located near Soda Butte Cone (the bison had been gored and died the day before, so the wolves and bears had been feeding). However plans do not always work exactly as laid out as we hit a bison jam about 10 minutes out of Roosevelt Lodge and trailed the herd for quite a while before they exited the highway. This was actually very cool, as we were traveling with the herd and had the big animals all around the bus. We saw a LOT of bison on the trip and got some good shots. We also saw a couple small herds of pronghorn, but mostly we kept heading east toward the carcass.
On the drive to the carcass area, Charlotte gave us some history on the wolves, which were reintroduced to Yellowstone in 1995. The original wolf population was eradicated in the early 1900s. The first reintroduced pack in the Lamar Valley was the Druid Pack, however they were challenged by the Slough Creek pack and driven from the valley about 5 years ago. However, the Druids regained control of Lamar Valley 2 or 3 years ago but were then stricken by mange and decimated. Only a couple of animals survived and became the core of the Lamar Valley Pack.
As we got closer, we saw a lot of cars and many folks out in the field with spotting scopes. Charlotte was able to wedge the bus into the parking area (horse ride loading turnout). Once unloaded, we headed out to see what we could see.
We walked out to one of the groups with spotting scopes and got hooked into where the wolves were. They were about a mile across the valley in the sage brush. We saw five or six wolves from the Lamar Valley Pack. Seems they had clashed with another pack and the pups were scattered about, so there was a lot of calling and movement trying to get the pack back together. The regular watchers said that this was an extraordinary viewing and action, so we were very lucky.
We were there until well after 9:00 then headed on east to look for Mountain Goats. We spotted one on Baronette Mountain; it was just a little dot on the mountain side, but easily visible through the spotting scope. Charlotte had a scope and binoculars to share, but if you have binoculars, bring them along on the tour. Then we headed back the way we came toward Roosevelt. All was quiet at the carcass site when we passed, so we kept cruising. We saw a lot of bison and pronghorn and one mule deer during the return trip and made a couple of photo stops. We also spotted several ospreys and a Clark’s Nutcracker. We were back at Roosevelt Lodge at about 11:00.
Overall, this was an excellent tour and a great introduction to the Lamar Valley. We were fortunate to see so many animals. The bison herds were huge and seeing the wolf pack, even from a distance, was a tremendous treat. While we could have done the same drive ourselves, we would have missed all the information provided by Charlotte. Plus, having someone else do the driving so that we could both enjoy the scenery and the animal watching was a major plus.
Note that coffee, juice and muffins are also included with the tour. Tip: bring binoculars if you have them.
Our tour was on a Saturday in early September. We made the reservation for the tour just the afternoon before (probably only able to do this as it was near the end of the season). The staff at Roosevelt Lodge took care of the reservation details. The tour originated at Mammoth and arrived at Roosevelt Lodge at 7:00 to collect us. The stop at Roosevelt was also used as a coffee break and rest stop for the tour. The bus was nearly full when it rolled in from Mammoth, so my wife and I had to split up (no big deal), but I got lucky and got to ride shotgun. I reckon we were on the road toward the Lamar Valley about 7:15.
Our driver/guide for the tour was Charlotte and she was an OUTSTANDING guide! She was extremely knowledgeable about the park and the wildlife, a great communicator, and was a lot of fun. Sitting in the co-pilot’s seat was a great opportunity for discussion with Charlotte as well as for photos.
The tour covers the Lamar Valley, and I am sure that the tours vary from day to day based on what critters are out and about. The plan for our tour was to head over to a bison carcass located near Soda Butte Cone (the bison had been gored and died the day before, so the wolves and bears had been feeding). However plans do not always work exactly as laid out as we hit a bison jam about 10 minutes out of Roosevelt Lodge and trailed the herd for quite a while before they exited the highway. This was actually very cool, as we were traveling with the herd and had the big animals all around the bus. We saw a LOT of bison on the trip and got some good shots. We also saw a couple small herds of pronghorn, but mostly we kept heading east toward the carcass.
On the drive to the carcass area, Charlotte gave us some history on the wolves, which were reintroduced to Yellowstone in 1995. The original wolf population was eradicated in the early 1900s. The first reintroduced pack in the Lamar Valley was the Druid Pack, however they were challenged by the Slough Creek pack and driven from the valley about 5 years ago. However, the Druids regained control of Lamar Valley 2 or 3 years ago but were then stricken by mange and decimated. Only a couple of animals survived and became the core of the Lamar Valley Pack.
As we got closer, we saw a lot of cars and many folks out in the field with spotting scopes. Charlotte was able to wedge the bus into the parking area (horse ride loading turnout). Once unloaded, we headed out to see what we could see.
We walked out to one of the groups with spotting scopes and got hooked into where the wolves were. They were about a mile across the valley in the sage brush. We saw five or six wolves from the Lamar Valley Pack. Seems they had clashed with another pack and the pups were scattered about, so there was a lot of calling and movement trying to get the pack back together. The regular watchers said that this was an extraordinary viewing and action, so we were very lucky.
We were there until well after 9:00 then headed on east to look for Mountain Goats. We spotted one on Baronette Mountain; it was just a little dot on the mountain side, but easily visible through the spotting scope. Charlotte had a scope and binoculars to share, but if you have binoculars, bring them along on the tour. Then we headed back the way we came toward Roosevelt. All was quiet at the carcass site when we passed, so we kept cruising. We saw a lot of bison and pronghorn and one mule deer during the return trip and made a couple of photo stops. We also spotted several ospreys and a Clark’s Nutcracker. We were back at Roosevelt Lodge at about 11:00.
Overall, this was an excellent tour and a great introduction to the Lamar Valley. We were fortunate to see so many animals. The bison herds were huge and seeing the wolf pack, even from a distance, was a tremendous treat. While we could have done the same drive ourselves, we would have missed all the information provided by Charlotte. Plus, having someone else do the driving so that we could both enjoy the scenery and the animal watching was a major plus.
Note that coffee, juice and muffins are also included with the tour. Tip: bring binoculars if you have them.
Written October 13, 2011
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sue H
Denver, CO1,484 contributions
Feb 2015 • Couples
We did the Wake Up to Wildlife Tour as part of the Trail of the Wolf snowmobile package in Feb 2015. You depart from the Mammoth Hot Springs hotel while it is still dark in a comfortable van. It is about 18 miles from the hotel to the Roosevelt Tower intersection, then another 15 or so miles through the Lamar Valley. By the time you get to the valley it will be light.
They provided a muffin and juice on our tour but I'm not sure if that is because we were part of the Wildlife Tour or part of the Trail of the Wolf Tour. Our guide, David, gave us lots of information about the park and about wildlife along the way.
We had driven the Lamar Valley on our own the day before and although we saw a few things, we didn't see as much as we did on the tour. We drove it again on our own several days later and saw much more because we knew what to look for.
You know it's a good day when you have a "3 dog day" - wolves, red fox, and coyotes. We saw all three, plus a bald eagle, moose, big horn sheep, and many bison. There is no way we would have seen all of this on our own for two reasons. First, you have many more eyes in the van to spot wildlife, and two, the guides know where these critters tend to be. About 10 miles after turning into the Lamar Valley from the Roosevelt Tower junction you will see a large pullout with photographers staring across the road at a close-by hill. That is where the big horn sheep tend to be. Several miles further down the road at a big bend you'll see willow trees on the right with more photographers and this is where the moose tend to be. Coyotes can be seen on the right (as you're driving into the Lamar Valley from Roosevelt Tower junction) all along the wide field between the river and the mountains. Wolves and red foxes are more rare, but if you see a string of very serious photographers with long lenses all pointed in the same direction there's a good chance they've seen wolves.
We saw the most wildlife in the morning. Regardless of whether you spot all you want to see, this is a pretty drive along one of America's iconic roads. Highly recommended.
They provided a muffin and juice on our tour but I'm not sure if that is because we were part of the Wildlife Tour or part of the Trail of the Wolf Tour. Our guide, David, gave us lots of information about the park and about wildlife along the way.
We had driven the Lamar Valley on our own the day before and although we saw a few things, we didn't see as much as we did on the tour. We drove it again on our own several days later and saw much more because we knew what to look for.
You know it's a good day when you have a "3 dog day" - wolves, red fox, and coyotes. We saw all three, plus a bald eagle, moose, big horn sheep, and many bison. There is no way we would have seen all of this on our own for two reasons. First, you have many more eyes in the van to spot wildlife, and two, the guides know where these critters tend to be. About 10 miles after turning into the Lamar Valley from the Roosevelt Tower junction you will see a large pullout with photographers staring across the road at a close-by hill. That is where the big horn sheep tend to be. Several miles further down the road at a big bend you'll see willow trees on the right with more photographers and this is where the moose tend to be. Coyotes can be seen on the right (as you're driving into the Lamar Valley from Roosevelt Tower junction) all along the wide field between the river and the mountains. Wolves and red foxes are more rare, but if you see a string of very serious photographers with long lenses all pointed in the same direction there's a good chance they've seen wolves.
We saw the most wildlife in the morning. Regardless of whether you spot all you want to see, this is a pretty drive along one of America's iconic roads. Highly recommended.
Written February 14, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Chris W
Cheltenham, UK48 contributions
Jun 2011 • Couples
We took the tour from Mammoth. We were taken in a refurbished "old bus" which is an interesting experience of itself. The driver/guide was knowlegeable and enthusiastic. The route took us out into the Lamar valley where we saw lots of bison, a couple of bears, elk, pronghorn deer, a fleeting glimpse of a wolf and some smaller mammals. However, we had driven through the valley on our way from Cody the previous day and covered the same territory.
If you get up early, take a flask of coffee and some eats with you and keep your eyes open you can probably see as much as you would on the tour, albeit without the input of the guide. Generally where there was wildlife to be seen there were groups of people armed with cameras and binoculars, so just stop where they are and ask what they're looking at (if its not obvious)
If you get up early, take a flask of coffee and some eats with you and keep your eyes open you can probably see as much as you would on the tour, albeit without the input of the guide. Generally where there was wildlife to be seen there were groups of people armed with cameras and binoculars, so just stop where they are and ask what they're looking at (if its not obvious)
Written October 4, 2011
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
TravelTwin777
Gahanna, OH72 contributions
Aug 2014 • Friends
I took the Wake up to Wildlife tour from the Mammoth Hotel area. This required a 6:15am departure time. Note that from this area, you will drive about 1 hour to the Roosevelt Lodge area to pick up other guests and then finally make your way to Lamar Valley. By the time you get to Lamar Valley though, the sun is already way up and shining brightly. Much too late to catch the early rising wildlife.
Our driver, Steve, was a Ranger in the park for over 30 years. He was VERY knowledgeable about the wildlife and the park and was very happy to answer questions, tell stories and chat. He was also a good driver and always made sure we were comfortable.
I just don't think this tour was worth the money though. We drove all the same main roads that everyone else drives and didn't go anywhere exclusive or learn anything that I couldn't have seen or read on the roadside signs or at the visitor centers. Despite the early call time, as I mentioned earlier, I feel the tour should have started earlier. It took much too long to drive from Mammoth to arrive in the Lamar Valley for early morning sightings. The highlight of the tour was seeing Mountain Goats that Steve pointed out. I definitely would not have known to look for them.
Not recommended. At $90 a head, I expected more - more time in wildlife rich areas, arrival in the wildlife rich areas earlier when animals are more active, more "insider" info and routes. You can do this on your own. I don't even think they should offer this tour from Mammoth area - it's just too far away from the Valley.
Our driver, Steve, was a Ranger in the park for over 30 years. He was VERY knowledgeable about the wildlife and the park and was very happy to answer questions, tell stories and chat. He was also a good driver and always made sure we were comfortable.
I just don't think this tour was worth the money though. We drove all the same main roads that everyone else drives and didn't go anywhere exclusive or learn anything that I couldn't have seen or read on the roadside signs or at the visitor centers. Despite the early call time, as I mentioned earlier, I feel the tour should have started earlier. It took much too long to drive from Mammoth to arrive in the Lamar Valley for early morning sightings. The highlight of the tour was seeing Mountain Goats that Steve pointed out. I definitely would not have known to look for them.
Not recommended. At $90 a head, I expected more - more time in wildlife rich areas, arrival in the wildlife rich areas earlier when animals are more active, more "insider" info and routes. You can do this on your own. I don't even think they should offer this tour from Mammoth area - it's just too far away from the Valley.
Written August 29, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Edr20
1 contribution
No value added here. You drive around in a bus and the driver points out wildlife. The downside is that you need to make several stops to pick up other people for the tour. Save your money and time and drive through the valley yourself. If you can tell the differance between a bison and a great blue herring you already know everything you need to know.
Written August 18, 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
shifra w
toronto4,500 contributions
Aug 2015 • Couples
We made reservations for this tour from Canyon Village many months in advance. We were doing the entire Loop Road, but did not plan to drive out to the Lamar Valley, so we invested in the "Wake Up to Wildlife Tour" to cover that base.
The yellow bus picked us up at Canyon Village at 6:15 for what was supposed to have been a five hour tour through Lamar Valley.
But, for whatever his reason was, the driver did NOT go to the Lamar Valley--he headed for the Hayden Valley, which was a place we were going to be driving ourselves.
First the yellow bus drove us to see an osprey nest, which we had visited ourselves the day before.
We saw some elk along the road and some bears through a spotting scope, which were just tiny dots to the naked eye. We spent way too much time peering at those tiny bear dots.
We were then accosted by buffalo along the road and took pictures. These were all things we could have done ourselves on our drive the next day to Lake Yellowstone Village.
We did not see pronghorn sheep. We did not see wolves. We were not issued blankets, though it was freezing that day.
We did not do any of the things others have mentioned in their reviews and, just reading the other reviews, makes me even more disappointed.
No one offered to reimburse us for this trip, which was not what we had paid for.
If we do go back to Yellowstone, I think the park administration, who booked us on this trip, should at the very least, offer us a trip to the Lamar Valley, which is the one part of the park we unfortunately missed.
The yellow bus picked us up at Canyon Village at 6:15 for what was supposed to have been a five hour tour through Lamar Valley.
But, for whatever his reason was, the driver did NOT go to the Lamar Valley--he headed for the Hayden Valley, which was a place we were going to be driving ourselves.
First the yellow bus drove us to see an osprey nest, which we had visited ourselves the day before.
We saw some elk along the road and some bears through a spotting scope, which were just tiny dots to the naked eye. We spent way too much time peering at those tiny bear dots.
We were then accosted by buffalo along the road and took pictures. These were all things we could have done ourselves on our drive the next day to Lake Yellowstone Village.
We did not see pronghorn sheep. We did not see wolves. We were not issued blankets, though it was freezing that day.
We did not do any of the things others have mentioned in their reviews and, just reading the other reviews, makes me even more disappointed.
No one offered to reimburse us for this trip, which was not what we had paid for.
If we do go back to Yellowstone, I think the park administration, who booked us on this trip, should at the very least, offer us a trip to the Lamar Valley, which is the one part of the park we unfortunately missed.
Written February 20, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
jpradonc
209 contributions
Jan 2011
This is a fantastic tour. It is in a large passenger van that travels over plowed roads. The road from the "North Entrance" (near Mammoth) is plowed year round to Cooke City which is straight to the east at the "Northeast Entrance". This van has tires and is not a tracked vehicle like the ones that go to Old Faithful.
Everyone meets very early in the morning when it is still dark. I am not much of a breakfast person but I have to get lots of coffee. The hotel has complimentary coffee that starts at 5:30 AM. There were seven of us including the driver. I went with my 15 year old son. He and I each got our own bench in the van. It was all very casual. I think that the tour guides name was Jason. He was very friendly. We all waited in the lobby of the hotel and then he came in and got us. We could bring coffee on the trip if we had poured it already from the lobby.
The sun came up as we drove east. The farthest we went on the trip was to the "Tower Roosevelt" area. We got about half way out there when the sun came up. It was very beautiful. It is possible to drive this yourself since the road is plowed but this was much more fun. Everyone was friendly and we were all talking about all sorts of things and then Jason would refocus the conversation on something to look at.
He would park the van whenever anyone wanted to get out and take a photo. There were no binoculars in the car so bring these if you have them. Also, these tour guides are always talking with each other and they have a good idea about where things are going on. We got lots of photos of bison. We also saw bighorn sheep. The remains of an elk that had been eaten and lots of live elk. There were also bald eagles.
One of the highlights was seeing wolves. There is an organization that tracks them and they were pulled over and had their spotting scopes out. They really enjoyed having us look through them to see the wolves. These had almost become extinct in the Continental US.
At the pull ins the tour guide would open the back of the van and hand out the boxes with muffins and juices. Then he made us coffee just the way we would like it, black, cream and sugar, etc. There was also hot water for tea. I drink a lot of coffee so Rest Stops are very important for me. They were available about every twenty minutes or so. This was a very casual tour and he would always stop if anyone needed to use one.
There are very few visitors in Yellowstone at this time of year and it was fabulous. We did not see any private vehicles on the road except for an SUV that had slid off the road and into a drift. Leave the driving to the pros! I drove from Bozeman Airport to Mammoth and that drive is extremely easy.
If you go on this tour then you are probably staying at Mammoth Hotel but if you are not then please make sure to go inside and see the "Map Room". It is a perfectly maintained early twentieth century room. Also walk or drive up the road to see the "Liberty Cap'. The town itself is fun for a twenty minute walk.
Getting up early for this tour and then staying for lunch in the dining room is a great way to spend the day.
Most people tipped the tour guide ten dollars per person.
Everyone meets very early in the morning when it is still dark. I am not much of a breakfast person but I have to get lots of coffee. The hotel has complimentary coffee that starts at 5:30 AM. There were seven of us including the driver. I went with my 15 year old son. He and I each got our own bench in the van. It was all very casual. I think that the tour guides name was Jason. He was very friendly. We all waited in the lobby of the hotel and then he came in and got us. We could bring coffee on the trip if we had poured it already from the lobby.
The sun came up as we drove east. The farthest we went on the trip was to the "Tower Roosevelt" area. We got about half way out there when the sun came up. It was very beautiful. It is possible to drive this yourself since the road is plowed but this was much more fun. Everyone was friendly and we were all talking about all sorts of things and then Jason would refocus the conversation on something to look at.
He would park the van whenever anyone wanted to get out and take a photo. There were no binoculars in the car so bring these if you have them. Also, these tour guides are always talking with each other and they have a good idea about where things are going on. We got lots of photos of bison. We also saw bighorn sheep. The remains of an elk that had been eaten and lots of live elk. There were also bald eagles.
One of the highlights was seeing wolves. There is an organization that tracks them and they were pulled over and had their spotting scopes out. They really enjoyed having us look through them to see the wolves. These had almost become extinct in the Continental US.
At the pull ins the tour guide would open the back of the van and hand out the boxes with muffins and juices. Then he made us coffee just the way we would like it, black, cream and sugar, etc. There was also hot water for tea. I drink a lot of coffee so Rest Stops are very important for me. They were available about every twenty minutes or so. This was a very casual tour and he would always stop if anyone needed to use one.
There are very few visitors in Yellowstone at this time of year and it was fabulous. We did not see any private vehicles on the road except for an SUV that had slid off the road and into a drift. Leave the driving to the pros! I drove from Bozeman Airport to Mammoth and that drive is extremely easy.
If you go on this tour then you are probably staying at Mammoth Hotel but if you are not then please make sure to go inside and see the "Map Room". It is a perfectly maintained early twentieth century room. Also walk or drive up the road to see the "Liberty Cap'. The town itself is fun for a twenty minute walk.
Getting up early for this tour and then staying for lunch in the dining room is a great way to spend the day.
Most people tipped the tour guide ten dollars per person.
Written February 28, 2011
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
lilacacat
Waterloo, IA146 contributions
Jun 2014 • Friends
We paid $83 per person for the Wake Up to Wildlife tour, which departed from Roosevelt Lodge. First, our tour started 15 minutes late. We are paying for the time, and the time was not made up, so we essentially lost 15 minutes. Our tour guide took us mostly to Lamar Valley, which we had driven the previous day. We saw bears, bison, coyotes, various birds, and prong horn deer. Our guide was very knowledgeable about the wildlife, and he took great care in learning everyone's name. He also ensured that people were comfortable in the vehicle. We learned that you do not need to pay to go on the tour. Just drive Lamar Valley yourself and get out at the pull outs to view the wildlife. The tour does not take you anywhere you couldn't or wouldn't go yourself. Bring your binoculars, as they will help you view the wildlife. Our tour guide was a great guy, but essentially, this tour is just one more way for the monopoly of Xanterra to rip you off.
Written July 2, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Lauri G
Moraga, CA80 contributions
Aug 2013 • Couples
We did the wakeup to wildlife tour which departed from Roosevelt Lodge where we were staying. The positive was that there were only 2 other couples on this tour, and they were great, and made the tour fun. unfortunately, our guide was Don and he was basically useless. I should have realized when the first thing he said to us when we got on the bus was, "so your job is to spot the wildlife, and tell me when you do so I can find a place to pull over. I'm just the driver" . Frankly, this was not what we were expecting when we signed up for the tour. We had our own car and could have driven around the Lamar valley ourselves looking for wildlife,, but we weren't sure we we know what to look for or where to look. He clearly meant what he said about being the driver, as he didn't talk to us for most of the 4 hours either. I did keep asking him questions about Yellowstone, about the different animals, about his own experiences in the park, favorite hikes etc. He didn't ignore me, but he just answered the specific question, with no elaboration and the saddest part was he clearly did not have any knowledge about the animals. For example, when asked how long have the mountain goats, who are not native to the park lived here, he said, "a long time" . Most of his answers were like that: "awhile" "a lot" . No real numbers or actual information about the subject at hand.
Luckily, as I said earlier, the two other couples were fun. And one woman had great eyes, and ended up spotting lots of animals for us to see. don did have a scope which he would set up for us to look more closely at the animals which was great. We ended up seeing osprey, goats, pronghorn, bison, coyote and maybe a sleeping wolf( a ranger at the site told us that was what the big dark blob was).
My advice would be to find out who your guide will be and how long he or she has been doing the job. I think if you have a good guide, the trip could be very informative. The one advantage to taking the tour, is you don't have to do the driving which is nice for the usual driver in your family.
One nice touch, Don gave us muffins and juice at a scenic stop we made about halfway through the tour.
Luckily, as I said earlier, the two other couples were fun. And one woman had great eyes, and ended up spotting lots of animals for us to see. don did have a scope which he would set up for us to look more closely at the animals which was great. We ended up seeing osprey, goats, pronghorn, bison, coyote and maybe a sleeping wolf( a ranger at the site told us that was what the big dark blob was).
My advice would be to find out who your guide will be and how long he or she has been doing the job. I think if you have a good guide, the trip could be very informative. The one advantage to taking the tour, is you don't have to do the driving which is nice for the usual driver in your family.
One nice touch, Don gave us muffins and juice at a scenic stop we made about halfway through the tour.
Written August 27, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
CatskillTraveler557
Barryville, NY45 contributions
I am staying in West Yellowstone. How long will it take to get to the pick up point by 6 am?
VLW
Kellyville, OK1,915 contributions
Approximately 1 hour, depending on weather, traffic and wildlife.
203TomK
32 contributions
Do we ride in one of the yellow buses? That is what the Xanterra rep mentioned during initial signup.
