Winter Yellowstone, Grand Teton & Utah Mighty 5
Address
Jackson, WY
GPS
43.479965, -110.761815
This is a 9 day Winter Yellowstone, Grand Teton & Utah Mighty 5 tour. Immerse yourself in the icy splendors of America’s West with a local guide who knows the region inside out. Private tours for 2-8 guests will visit seven (7) world-famous national parks and two (2) state park locations during this 9-day tour.
Yellowstone, Grand Teton, Arches, Canyonland, Monument Valley, Bryce Canyon, and Zion are all included in this tour package. Antelope Island and Dead Horse Point are also included. Explore the world’s most famous slot canyons, such as Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Bend, with a camera in hand. Explore Monument Valley’s stunning wild west scenery.
Local guides can take you on Snow Coaches, snowshoeing tours, and sleigh rides through a herd of elk. They can also take you on an unforgettable Navarro Jeep tour and give you the chance to fly over some of the most stunning scenery in the country. The best way to make this trip complete is to soak in the world-famous hot springs pools that are naturally fed.
Winter Yellowstone, Grand Teton & Utah Mighty 5
Highlights
- Yellowstone National Park
- Grand Teton
- Salt Lake City
- Lake Powell
- Bryce Canyon
- Grand Canyon West Rim
- Skywalk
- Las Vegas
- Solvang
- Silicon Valley
- San Francisco City
Itinerary
Day 1 – Salt Lake City and Idaho Falls
Temple Square
Temple Square is often seen as the capital of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, also known as the Mormons. This historic region contains the world-famous Salt Lake City Temple, Tabernacle, and Beehive House, all important sights that must be seen!
Utah State Capitol
Modeled after the US Capitol Building in Washington DC, the Utah State Capitol Building is both stunning and beautiful. This building is the house of government for all of Utah, containing the chambers and offices of the Utah State Legislature, the offices of the Governor, and of the Attorney General. Admission included Modeled after the US Capitol Building in Washington DC, the Utah State Capitol Building is both stunning and beautiful.
Antelope Island State Park
Antelope Island is a quite different experience than you expected. This island is full of wildlife, and is found in the midst of the Great Salt Lake– a large body of saltwater often compared with the Dead Sea. On a still day, the sky reflects off of the lake, offering a stark contrast with the desert mountains of Utah. Learn the science behind the lake that is up to ten times as salty as the ocean.
Hill Aerospace Museum
Hill Aerospace Museum is a comprehensive Air Force History museum with 100 U.S. Air Force aircraft. Bullets, space vehicles, and various cultural relics are also on display. It is also a great place to learn about Air Force History, including World War II and the Korean War.
Idaho Falls
After visiting at least one of the aforementioned places, we’ll drive 3 hours north to Idaho Falls, Idaho. Upon arriving, we’ll drop you off at a local hotel, letting you rest before the next day’s adventure.
Day 2 – Idaho Falls, Grand Teton National Park, Jackson Hole, and West Yellowstone
Idaho Falls
In the morning, your tour guide will come to pick you up from your hotel and take you to see Idaho Falls. This town is known for its large man-made waterfall that spans the length of the city. These pristine and sparkling waters provide the perfect backdrop for personal or family photos!
Grand Teton National Park
After leaving Idaho Falls, your tour guide will take you to Jackson Hole, a quaint Western town in Wyoming known for its artwork and cowboys. We’ll immediately continue north to Grand Teton National Park. During the winter months, this area comes to life as the destination of thousands of migrating animals escaping the cold north. As such, this is the best location to see wildlife such as moose, wolves, coyotes, bighorn sheep, mule deer, and bison!
National Elk Refuge
We’ll eventually return to Jackson Hole for a warm, late lunch and shopping if interested. Following lunch, we’ll depart for a sleigh ride that’ll take you straight through a herd of wild elk, estimated to be over 5,000 strong! Don’t forget to bring your camera!
West Yellowstone
Next, we’ll travel to West Yellowstone, a small town immediately west of Yellowstone National Park. Along the way, we’ll cross over the continental divide, the boundary between two great river systems. One of these river systems flows into the Pacific Ocean, the other flows into the Gulf of Mexico.
After arriving in West Yellowstone, you’ll be able to eat dinner and then explore the town’s many gift shops. Finally, we’ll drop you off at your hotel, giving you time to rest and prepare before the next day’s journey.
Day 3 – Yellowstone River, Mammoth Hot Springs, Big Sky, and West Yellowstone
Yellowstone River
In the morning, your tour guide will come to pick you up from your hotel and take you to Mammoth Hot Springs near the north entrance of Yellowstone National Park. To get there, we’ll drive along the Yellowstone River corridor west of Yellowstone.
You’ll have many opportunities along the way to take pictures of both the landscape and local animals, such as bald eagles, golden eagles, bison, pronghorn antelope, elk, white-tailed deer, and even coyotes!
Mammoth Hot Springs
After a quick lunch in Gardner, you’ll continue onwards towards Mammoth Hot Springs. Since parts of Yellowstone are closed to vehicle traffic during the winter, your tour guide may take you the rest of the way using snowshoes, a truly unique experience. Compared to other Hot Springs in the park, Mammoth Hot Springs is massive with its white chalky terraces, colorful pools, hissing steam vents, and cascading water.
Big Sky
Following Mammoth Hot Springs, we will travel to Big Sky, which is known for its vast, pure skies and its white, sweeping snow slopes. When the sun goes down, this region becomes the perfect place to see the stars, unpolluted by bright city lights.
West Yellowstone
Next, you’ll return to West Yellowstone for a warm dinner at one of the many restaurants in the area. I’d suggest a hearty rack of ribs or some succulent brisket at a local BBQ restaurant. Finally, we’ll drop you off at your hotel, allowing you to rest up before the next day’s adventures!
Day 4 – Yellowstone: Old Faithful & Fountain Paint Pots
Yellowstone National Park
In the morning, your tour guide will come to pick you up from your hotel and take you to see the most famous landmark in Yellowstone: Old Faithful! To get to the geyser, you’ll ride one of Yellowstone’s comfortable snow coaches.
Along the way, the snow-coach may stop at Fountain Paint Pots, a unique thermal feature. After arriving at Old Faithful Snow Lodge, you’ll either go out to watch the geyser erupt, depending on the predicted eruption time, or We’ll enjoy a packed lunch on the trail.
Day 5 – West Yellowstone, World Famous Lava Hot Springs Resort, (alt. Provo/Price, Utah)
Lava Hot Springs
In the morning, your tour guide will come to pick you up from your hotel in West Yellowstone and take you directly to Lava Hot Springs. Relax in World Famous Natural Hot Springs! Geothermal Hot Springs range from 102˚ to 112˚, providing warm water from deep below the Earth’s surface.
The minerals in these waters also provide health benefits, nourishing the skin as you soak in them. We’ll have lunch near the Lava Hot Springs resort. Depending on time constraints, your tour guide will either take you to a hotel near Lava Hot Springs or a hotel in Provo or Price, Utah. Before dropping you off to relax, you’ll have the chance to eat at a local restaurant of your choosing.
Day 6 – Arches National Park, Canyonlands National Park, Dead Horse Point State Park, and Moab
Dead Horse Point State Park
In the morning, your tour guide will come to pick you up from your hotel and take you to Dead Horse Point State Park. Located only a few miles from Canyonlands National Park, Dead Horse Point State Park offers a unique view of the Colorado River 2,000 feet below. While driving around, your tour guide will tell you the interesting story of how this park got its name.
Canyonlands National Park
Next, we will drive over to the adjacent Canyonlands National Park. This park is made up of three distinct regions: The Island in the Sky, the Needles, and The Maze. We will be touring the Island in the Sky region, which is situated far above the Colorado River, on top of the Colorado Plateau. From this vantage point, we will see deep into the virtually untouched canyons below, giving us a glimpse into the ancient past.
Arches National Park
Following Canyonlands National Park, we’ll travel to Arches National Park. With more than 2,000 arches, Arches National Park has the densest concentration of natural sandstone arches in the world! With only a short hike, many world-famous arches can be seen in all their glory, including the landscape arch, the delicate arch, and the double arch. Without a doubt, this is one national park you do not want to miss!
Moab
Afterward, your tour guide will take you to Moab, Utah to eat dinner and explore the town. Located between Arches National Park and Canyonlands National Park, Moab is seen as the gateway to many of Utah’s greatest natural landscapes.
This popular town has it all: river rafting, hiking, rock climbing, helicopter tours, horseback riding, and even skydiving! You’ll love your stay here just as much as the parks themselves! Finally, you’ll be dropped off at your hotel so you can rest and relax before the next big day!
Cataract Canyon
Cataract Canyon is a 46-mile-long canyon of the Colorado River located within Canyonlands National Park and Glen Canyon National Recreation Area in southern Utah.
Day 7 – Monument Valley and Four Corners National Monument
Monument Valley
In the morning, your tour guide will come to pick you up from your hotel and take you to Monument Valley. Composed of vast buttes that tower over 1,000 feet in the sky, Monument Valley is the perfect place to stretch your legs – there’s even an option to take a Navajo Jeep ride!
These buttes have made appearances in many movies, the most famous of which is the running scene in Forrest Gump. Around this time, you may also have the chance to eat a packed lunch on the trail and rest up.
Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument
If time permits, your tour guide will take you to see the Four Corners National Monument. This monument is the only place in America where four states converge: Arizona, New Mexico, Utah, and Colorado. Since this park is found within the Navajo Nation, this is also a great place to buy locally made Native American jewelry and other souvenirs to bring home. At the end of the day, your tour guide will drive you back to the Monument Valley area where you can check into your hotel and rest.
Day 8 – Antelope Canyon, Horseshoe Bend, Lake Powell, Kanab, and Bryce Canyon National Park
Antelope Canyon
In the morning, your tour guide will come to pick you up from your hotel and take you to Antelope Canyon. With the help of a knowledgeable Navajo guide, you’ll be able to explore this incredible region well known for its picture-perfect landscapes. In fact, this region in Antelope Canyon is one of the top ten photography locations in the world!
Horseshoe Bend
Following the hike, you’ll be taken to Page, Arizona for a quick bite to eat at a local eatery. While in Southern Utah, there’s no better way to experience the American Southwest than from the air! you’ll have an opportunity to go on an amazing flightseeing adventure that features fantastic bird’s-eye views of some of the country’s most striking scenery!
Destinations include Lake Powell, Rainbow Bridge, Horseshoe Bend, and Reflection Canyon! This one-hour trip in a Cessna airplane is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!
Kanab
From there, your guide will drive you towards Kanab, Utah, passing by the Colorado River and the Grand Canyon Dam along the way. You’ll stop briefly to see Moqui Cave, a cave-turned-museum that has many interesting artifacts on display.
Bryce Canyon National Park
The last stop on the day’s itinerary is Bryce Canyon National Park. From its beautiful pink and white cliffs to its thousands of hoodoos, Bryce Canyon National Park is sure to leave a powerful impression on you. This park features many incredible viewpoints that are easily accessible and provide excellent locations to take photographs.
For the more adventurous, your tour guide will take you down into the canyon along the Navajo-Queen’s Garden Trail, passing right next to incredible rock formations that have taken thousands of years to shape. At the end of the day, your guide will take you to the nearby town of Bryce Canyon for dinner. After dinner, you’ll be dropped off at your hotel, giving you time to rest and prepare for the next day’s journey.
Day 9 – Zion National Park & Departure
Zion National Park
In the morning, your tour guide will come to pick you up from your hotel and take you to Zion National Park: one of the most beautiful National Parks in all of Utah! Zion National Park will surely take your breath away as you drive through gorgeous wind-sculpted canyons and hike along incredible trails.
This park has something for everyone: for those who want to remain in the car, you will love the intricate patterns found on Checkerboard Mesa and Weeping Rock. For those who want to do a little hiking, you will enjoy the stunning views from the Canyon Overlook Trail and the Riverside Walk. For those who are experienced hikers, you will appreciate the thrill of hiking along the Narrows and Angel’s Landing.
St. George
Around lunch, we’ll either eat at a nearby restaurant or have a packed lunch. After confirming departure times, your tour guide will begin to head to the airport of your choice (Las Vegas, St. George, or Salt Lake City). If flying out of St. George or Las Vegas, your guide will deliver you to any destination in the St. George area.
Both airports offer daily flights to other major airports in the US. If flying out of Salt Lake City, your guide will take you north along the Wasatch Fault line, arriving in Salt Lake City around 6 PM. Your guide could either take you directly to the airport or drop you off at a hotel. The next day, the hotel shuttle should be able to take you directly to Salt Lake City Airport for departure.
