Yellowstone Llama Trek

Welcome to Wyoming! Your adventure beings with a welcome meeting at the hotel at 4 pm to meet your trip leader and fellow hikers. Surrounded by towering mountain ranges and the Snake River, Jackson is your gateway to exploring Yellowstone National Park. If you arrive early, you could explore the historic town, walk along the community pathways with views of Tetons the whole way, check out the Jackson Hole Center for the Arts or relax by Flat Creek at the town park. After your meeting, join your group for dinner to get to know each other and build anticipation for the adventure ahead – your leader knows the best spots to go for a bite.

Step into the Yellowstone backcountry alongside your llama companions, leaving the hotel after breakfast and heading straight into wide-open fields that burst with wildflowers most of the summer. If you’d like, you can even take the lead on a llama, walking side-by-side with your four-footed partner. As the trail climbs, you’ll gain sweeping views from a high hillside overlooking Grizzly Lake. Continue through meadows often brushed with red, yellow, purple and pink flowers before descending into a quiet lodgepole pine forest. With your llama partners helping out, you’ll travel light and stay fully immersed in the wild. Follow the sound of Winter Creek to a tucked-away spot where you’ll establish a cozy backcountry basecamp surrounded by running water, tall pines and pure Yellowstone solitude.

Soak in the quiet of camp in the morning, then gear up for a solid day on the trail. Today, you’re heading up Mount Holmes, the southern end of the Gallatin Range, and the route delivers a full spectrum of mountain views. The trail starts with a gentle climb that quickly pops you above the trees. For the first couple of miles, you’ll traverse the lush southern hillside below Trilobite Point – a great stretch for spotting bears, raptors and roaming elk herds. As the trail steepens, pay attention to how the landscape changes around you – the plants, the trees, the light and the wide-open feel of each new microclimate. Nearing the summit, you’ll get renewed views of Antler Peak, Dome Mountain and others along with the glacier-fed lakes below them. At the top, you’ll find the remnants of an old fire lookout and a 360-degree sweep of the landscape – Electric Peak to the north and Tetons to the south on a clear day.

Today’s hike takes you around the foothills of Trilobite Point, giving you a totally new perspective from the Mount Holmes route. After a short wander through lush riparian zones, the trail pushes up a steady hillside that quickly opens into far-reaching views. In the burn area, the fallen trees make way for a panorama of Gardners Hole, Swan Lake Flats and Bunsen Peak – a landscape that feels wide, raw and wild. From there, you’ll slip into a dense stretch of old growth forest with a vibe straight out of the Pacific Northwest. Hidden deep inside is Trilobite Lake, tucked behind layers of forest and framed by towering peaks above. This algae-laden lake is a charming, quiet spot to see what fish or woodland critters may be around. Head back to camp for a cozy tent under tall pines, a warm meal and the simple satisfaction of settling into the backcountry for another night.

On your final morning, you’ll break down camp, have a hearty breakfast and help pack up the llamas before saying goodbye to the calm of Winter Creek. You’ll retrace your first day’s route for a fresh perspective of the landscape and another chance to spot wildlife moving through the meadows and forest. You'll share one last trail lunch with your fellow hikers before the scenic ride back to Jackson Hole. You’ll be back by 7 pm, wrapping up a journey filled with wild trails, quiet camps and the company of your llama partners. If you’re not ready to leave the mountains, chat with your booking agent ahead of time about extending your stay.