Our snowshoe tour assembles in Jackson, WY early morning of Day 1, and we’ll van shuttle past the National Elk Refuge and through Grand Teton National Park to Flagg Ranch along the John D. Rockefeller Memorial Parkway. Here is where we will organize our snowshoe equipment, have our first lesson, and take a shake down walk along the Snake River. From the ranch at the end of the plowed road, we board our luxury snowcoach for the 40 mile trip into Yellowstone National Park to the Old Faithful complex. Our home for all 4 nights is in the private cabins of the Snowlodge, nestled in the winter wonderland of the Upper Geyser Basin.
Day 2 starts with a hot breakfast at the Obsidian dining room before catching another snowcoach for the short drive to the Biscuit Basin area. Our snowshoe route starts along the boardwalk past deep opal pools, bubbling mud pots and steaming hot springs. Leaving the boardwalk, we follow a trail up the gentle Little Firehole River valley to view Mystic Falls, frozen in time. We return to Biscuit Basin, then continue along the Firehole River past a dozen thermal features, where we will undoubtedly view bison, nuzzling the snowdrift to uncover tasty tufts of grass.
Each afternoon we will return early enough to wander the geysers, peruse the gift shop or take a rest in your cozy cabin.
On Day 3, we again board a short shuttle in the opposite direction up to Kepler Cascades. We follow the Firehole River along a wide trail through the forest whose picturesque scenes are worthy of a Robert Frost image. Our destination is the Lone Star Geyser. The rare geyserite cone is interesting enough, but if we are lucky to catch an eruption, we’ll see water and hot sulphur steam shoot out of the cone up to 40 feet in the air. Like yesterday, we return by foot all the way back to the Snowlodge. This time our route goes downhill through lodgepole pine to intersect the Mallard Lake Trail, and crosses the Firehole River on a footbridge.
Day 4 is a combination of two hikes. The morning’s energetic route is along a secret loop behind the complex where we will likely be breaking trail the entire way, through the quiet, unbroken forest, over a hill and along a small creek. You will feel worlds away from the stresses of everyday life, and be transported to a place of tranquility and serenity. Lunch can be taken in the warmth of the lodge, or your cabin. For the afternoon we plan a walk up to Observation Point, for a sweeping vista of the Geyser Basin, and perhaps a unique view of an Old Faithful eruption. The nearby Visitor Center offers a wealth of information and learning opportunities for a perfect end to the day’s activities.
Our departure from the Old Faithful area on Day 5 brings us back to Flagg Ranch. But we are not done yet. As we return to Jackson, the towering peaks of the Tetons rise in our view and lure us into their magic. Along Colter Bay, we can explore a loop trail through the flat shoreline of Jackson Lake, where wildlife scamper and the vast landscape views open before us. From there it is just a short drive back to the bustling tourist town of Jackson and the end to our Yellowstone Showshoe Tour.
