In Our Nature Guiding Services

Expertly Guided Wildlife Watching Tours and Hikes in Yellowstone and Gallatin National Forest

Yellowstone is the world’s first national park, with 2.2 million acres (1 million ha) of incredible wildness, abundant wildlife, geothermal wonders, and fascinating history. It is surrounded by additional 1.8 million acres of wild, rugged lands in the Gallatin National Forest. This huge intact ecosystem has an incredible variety of landscapes and activities for you to enjoy. Whether you want world-class wildlife viewing opportunities, a beautiful day hike, a few nights in the backcountry, make the most of your visit on a private tour with In Our Nature Guiding Services. One of our local wildlife biologists or naturalists will craft your day to your personal interests.

Availability & Booking

Book using the form below or contact us at 406-579-3838 or info@in-our-nature.com for more information.

Wildlife Watching

Yellowstone Wolf & Wildlife Watching Tours: year-round

Join one of our Biologists on a Wolf & Wildlife Watching tour in Yellowstone's intact ecosystem with premium spotting scopes. Our expert local ecological knowledge will help you see the wildlife you're interested in. This is the best place in the world to see wild wolves and the best place in the lower 48 states to see grizzly bears. Tours are private and offered year-round. Max 6 guests.

  • Departures: from 7 am (earlier in summer)
  • Duration: approx. hours
  • Price: from $780                                                      

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Breakfast & Bears - Outside Yellowstone: August - November

Join one of our Biologist Guides on a Wildlife Watching or Birding Tour on stunning ranch and Gallatin National Forest lands (with or without hiking). Safely watch and learn about grizzlies, moose and a host of other animals through premium spotting scopes. Enjoy a delicious picnic breakfast. Learn about sustainable ranching practices and wildlife coexistence strategies that make ranchers successful on the edge of Yellowstone. A beautiful hike with views and geological features is optional.

  • Departures: from 5:30 am
  • Duration: 5 to 7 hours
  • Price: from $650

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Private Tours and Lodging

Choose the guided activities and tours you would like to do and stay at Wanderlust Haven, an ideally located, beautiful two bedroom, two bathroom house in Gardiner with amazing views! Wanderlust Haven is available to In Our Nature clients exclusively.  We are so excited to get to offer this to amazing package to make your visit extra special!  Transfers to & from Bozeman or Mammoth can be arranged.

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Day Hiking: April - October

Yellowstone Guided Day Hikes: May - October

Yellowstone has over 900 miles (1,450 km) of trails in a variety of habitats, from lush pine forests to stark thermal basins, from steep mountain treks to casual strolls along boardwalks. Take a closer look by getting off the beaten path and onto a trail with a biologist or naturalist guide to show you what you would miss on your own. Hikes are private, max 10 guests.

  • Departures: from 7 am
  • Duration: 6 to 10 hours
  • Price: from $700

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Guided Day Hikes Outside Yellowstone: April - November

Explore around Gardiner, Emigrant, Pray or Paradise Valley in the Gallatin National Forest OUTSIDE of Yellowstone. Join us for a day hike in beautiful reaches of Gallatin National Forest - start times, duration and difficulty are all flexible. We can take you on an easy stroll to a waterfall or up into stunning high country with views you'll hope remain in your memory for all time. In Our Nature Guiding Services is an authorized permittee of the Gallatin National Forest. Guided day hikes are private and available for groups of up to 10 people.

  • Departures: from 7 am
  • Duration: variable
  • Price: from $450

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Llama Day Hikes

Llama hikes are among the many incredible adventures available in Yellowstone OR Paradise Valley and Gardiner area, on Yellowstone's fringe. You're lucky to have multiple ways to join Susi from Yellowstone Llamas, who can answer all of your questions about the llamas. Susi also has in-depth knowledge of Yellowstone National Park and the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, its wildlife, history, and geology.

 

  • Departures: depend on location and duration booked
  • Price: from $300 per person (min. 4)

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Backpacking in Yellowstone & Surrounds: May - October, 2023

Backpacking & Backcountry Cabin Trips

 

Get off the beaten path and enjoy parts of the park others rarely see on a Yellowstone backpacking trip. We offer fully custom, private backpacking trips throughout Yellowstone with a duration and difficulty level just for you. Backpacking is a great way to recharge your body and mind, meet your own challenges, or just relax and ponder the wonders in front of you.

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Winter Yellowstone Adventures

Wolf & Wildlife Watching Tours in Yellowstone

Join us for an experience-of-a-lifetime Winter Wildlife Watching Tour in Yellowstone's fascinating intact ecosystem. Our local, expert Biologist Guides will find the wildlife you are interested in and interpret animal behavior. Yellowstone is the best place in the world to see wild wolves, especially in the winter. Our premium spotting scopes will give you the extra edge to enjoy unforgettable close-ups views. We often see otters, moose, red fox, bighorn sheep and herds of bison, elk and pronghorn as well.

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Snowshoeing and Cross Country Skiing in Yellowstone

Snowshoe and Cross-Country Ski Tours

Yellowstone is a winter wonderland! Come indulge in winter's splendor: explore varied terrain, follow & identify fresh animal tracks, and take in stellar views of Yellowstone's northern range. We will access different routes depending on your abilities, snow conditions, and the weather.  Snowshoeing and Cross-country Skiing tours are offered December - March.

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Yellowstone Road Status

We are happy to report that the new North Entrance road from Gardiner MT into Yellowstone is completed! Year-round access from Gardiner, MT to Mammoth WY and across northern Yellowstone NP to Cooke City & Silver Gate has been restored as of late October, 2022, after record breaking floods damaged roads in June of 2022.

On April 21, 2023, the road from Mammoth to Norris, Canyon, West Yellowstone and Old Faithful opened for the season.

On May 5, 2023, the road from Canyon to Lake and Fishing Bridge to the East Entrance (Sylvan Pass) is scheduled to open.

Southern roads connecting Lake and Old Faithful to the South Entrance are scheduled to open on May 12, 2023

Dunraven Pass (between Canyon and Tower Falls) and Beartooth Pass (to the NE of Yellowstone NP) are scheduled to open on May 26, 2023.

All road opening dates are planned, but could change due to weather and unsafe driving conditions. Please travel safely and remember that snow can fall in the high country in any month of the year.

Check out our reviews!

What others have to say about their experience with us....

  • star rating  Our guide, Audra, spent two days with us in the Lamar Valley in Yellowstone. Her goal was to find us a wolf sighting. What she ended up finding... read more

    ALeigh75
    October 18, 2019

    star rating  My favorite part of the experience was the time and patience Cara took to teach me about wolves and bison, and other wildlife in the park. I wanted to... read more

    Renai S
    December 1, 2021

    star rating  This was our first trip to Yellowstone National Park and we did our best to find a good guide for our trip.

    Cara's website attracted me since she... read more

    416mehrdads
    January 31, 2020
  • star rating  5+ stars for Cara and Ashea!! Knowledgeable, sweet, funny, kind, excellent (can’t find enough adjectives)! They went above and beyond for our all-day tour! They provided snacks, hot drinks and... read more

    Mammagreen
    January 20, 2020

    star rating  Hired Audra from In Our Nature for a full day guided tour of Yellowstone National Park in late October. She was very personable and knowledgeable about the animals and... read more

    avatar thumb dar3150
    November 7, 2018

    star rating  Ben and Hannah were amazing guides for our family of 10. We spent 10 hours in the park together and had an amazing day of education and wildlife viewing.

    BrookeF296
    October 16, 2022
  • star rating  From the time that we booked Cara, we were excited with her excellent communication with us in order to learn more about what we were interested in for Yellowstone. ... read more

    AugustusTheTraveler
    August 21, 2020

    star rating  Another great day spent with Cara in Yellowstone! It is my second time seeing the park with her and her tours are worth every penny. We saw many adult wolves... read more

    malsno
    August 18, 2020

    star rating  ABSOLUTELY LOVED our wildlife guide, CARA, with In Our Nature. She was amazing with the boys, great personality, funny, smart and just neat! She made it possible so... read more

    Nelsonk25
    August 7, 2022
  • star rating  Michael took us on a great tour in the Lake area with a friendly pre-dawn pickup at our RV campsite. We told him we were interested in wildlife but did... read more

    Lou_per
    August 17, 2021

    star rating  My wife and I had an excellent snoeshoe trip with Cara! We got to see amazing views and learned so much from Cara. Can't wait to go again! Highly recommend... read more

    dandP3306ZC
    April 5, 2022

    star rating  We met Cara at near the West Entrance for a modified tour due to the flooding challenges in the North. She greeted us with fresh coffee and hot chocolate... read more

    gregrcamp
    July 30, 2022
  • star rating  June 10, 2021

    From 5:45am until about 2:15pm, Jim and I were spellbound by up close and personal (via scopes) sightings of Lamar Valley wolves, badgers, bison, pronghorn, viewings... read more

    Carla46998
    June 19, 2021

    star rating  Because of the date uncertainty for Yellowstone's opening of its northeastern entrance and our scheduled itinerary, my husband and I had to cancel our guided tour with In Our Nature.... read more

    Carla46998
    May 15, 2020

    star rating  We were lucky to spend an entire day with Cara last June on our first ever trip to Yellowstone. Book early as she is in high demand! We... read more

    avatar thumb KentuckyFamilyof5
    December 13, 2018
  • star rating  Cara is amazing! This is our second year of snowshoeing in the park and will definitely be back! She is thoughtful, knowledgeable, and great fun! We truly recommend her as... read more

    Pamela D
    March 1, 2021

    star rating  We were so fortunate to book with Cara for our private wildlife tour! She was a wonderful guide in every way, and the 8 1/2 hour day flew by for... read more

    dec38647
    August 5, 2020

    star rating  My wife and I along with our 2 kids spent the Christmas break over at Yellowstone National Park. One of the days we were there we did a half-day snowshoeing... read more

    avatar thumb smanikoth
    January 27, 2019
  • star rating  We booked In Our Nature Guides for two tours: a 6 mile hike in Yellowstone and the early morning nature viewing. The hike was excellent. Nancy, our guide,... read more

    Matt P
    September 24, 2020

    star rating  We LOVED this! Booked the Snow Sampler for our first morning in Gardiner/Yellowstone. Met our guide, Matt Herger, promptly at 9:30am, He was great - got us... read more

    Terri C
    February 23, 2021

    star rating  Claire was a knowledgeable very professional guide. She was also very considerate of our wants and needs. We spent one day with her and saw 2 packs of wolves, a... read more

    maryellap2022
    March 3, 2022
  • star rating  We had a fantastic time in Yellowstone courtesy of In Our Nature Guiding services. We actually spent two days with them: one watching wolves and wildlife and one snoeshoeing... read more

    wess699
    March 15, 2022

    star rating  It was almost as if Cara made appointments with all the animals! She knew just where to take us to see the wildlife of Yellowstone. And she was fun and... read more

    sharon c
    July 11, 2021

    star rating  July 8th 2019. Our group of 4 adults booked Cara 2-3 months in advance,,( after reading her reviews ) We have traveled all over the world together. In Africa we... read more

    paper45
    July 30, 2019
  • star rating  Seeing Yellowstone in the Winter for the first time in its self was fantastic. But having Cara McGrady as a biologist, guide, and fellow nature worshiper was worth the cost.... read more

    rodgerjr
    January 19, 2020

    star rating  My 12-year old daughter and I were looking for an experience of a lifetime while visiting Yellowstone. One of these was an opportunity to see lots of wildlife while... read more

    Mark H
    August 26, 2019

    star rating  Cara is very knowledgeable making our trip beautiful and educational. She worked extremely hard to make sure we had a fabulous experience----which we did. We saw 4 moose,... read more

    X4001VYkarenm
    January 3, 2020
  • star rating  Cara guided my girlfriend and me around Yellowstone National Park and its surrounding areas for three days in November 2020, and it was exceptional. Her knowledge of the region and... read more

    nluke19
    December 17, 2020

    star rating  It was a pleasure setting up my tour with Cara. She gave tips not just on the snowshoe excursion but my visit in general.

    I went out with... read more

    G8803OAjosephp
    March 9, 2021

    star rating  We had a wonderful day spent with Audra. Her knowledge of Yellowstone and the animals that inhabit it is vast and she loves sharing that with her clients. We had... read more

    graham p
    October 20, 2019

About Us

In Our Nature Guiding Services is a small, woman-owned, community-minded, sustainable business operating in Yellowstone National Park, founded in 2015 by Cara McGary. She settled in the tiny town of Gardiner at Yellowstone's northern gateway with a vision to create personalized, educational and fun tours for visitors from all over the world, while committing to sustainability and a respectful way of life on the edge of a wild and fragile ecosystem. Today, In Our Nature is a successful custom tour provider offering exceptional wildlife watching tours, day hikes, multi-day backpacking trips, cross-country skiing and snowshoeing, as well as custom adventures in the Greater Yellowstone ecosystem. Our team of experienced local biologists, naturalists and environmental educators is looking forward to guiding you through Yellowstone and providing you with exciting journeys and unforgettable nature experiences.

We operate year-round out of Yellowstone's north entrance in Gardiner, Montana. No matter where you're staying in or around Yellowstone, we can meet you at a central location for our tour. Choose from wildlife watching trips, day hikesovernight backpacking trips, cross-country skiing & snowshoeing, or make your own custom adventure.

Meet Our Team

Owner: Cara McGary MS Biology

On a winter visit to Yellowstone, Cara was smitten by the wonder of this "American Serengeti". As a result, she decided that she wanted to spend her life helping others develop and feed their fascinations with the natural world in Yellowstone. Cara is a qualified biologist (B.S. Aquatic Biology and M.S. Biology). Before settling in Gardiner MT, she worked extensively in the forests of Redwood National Park, the outback of Western Australia, and the jungles of Papua New Guinea. When not in Yellowstone, she likes to explore places where there are likely good tidepools or snorkeling.

Naturalist Guide: Ben Buescher

Ben developed his passion for wildlife visiting and working as an educator for the zoo in his hometown of Saint Louis, Missouri. He later moved to Fort Collins to earn his bachelor’s degree in Wildlife Biology at Colorado State University where opportunities opened up for him to study in South Africa, Baja California, and CSU’s satellite campus in the Rocky Mountains. At school, he worked as a technician for an acoustic ecology lab where his love for communicating and weaving together the stories of ecosystems blossomed. After graduating, he spent a year as a park ranger and educator for the national wildlife refuge system in Kauai. Landing in Bozeman following his move back to the mainland, Ben is now excited for the opportunity to work as a guide in Yellowstone, using his background in conservation biology and environmental education to share the world-renowned stories of Yellowstone National Park with our guests.

Biologist Guide: Hannah Beroske

After earning her bachelor’s degree in wildlife sciences, Hannah quickly ventured west to Yellowstone National Park where the wildlife is abundant. She fell in love with the Park’s natural wonders and surrounding forests. With 5 years’ experience as a wildlife research technician, she has worked with many animals such as wolves, cougars, birds, and more. She spends most of her time exploring and appreciating everything that nature has to offer. Hannah finds joy in sharing her passions with guests and hopes to facilitate a memorable experience and inspire action. She is especially eager to work with young minds that are ready to learn and have fun!

Snowshoe & Ski Guide: Kody Marr

Kody first visited Gradiner, MT back in 2016 while on a 10-day backcountry fly fishing adventure and once he laid eyes on this stunning small town he was hooked, he moved out of his home state of Colorado the following summer and hasn't left since. Kody learned to ski about the same time he was potty trained as he grew up in a ski bum family with his mom being a member of the US Ski Team through his childhood. He now spends his time guiding fly fishing trips during the summer months and guiding over snow activities during the winter months. When Kody isn't in the field you may find him scouting the local mountains for wildlife or traveling the Rockies looking for exotic trout species.