Welcome to 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.
Yellowstone Road Status: We are happy to report that the new North Entrance road from Gardiner MT into Yellowstone is completed! Best of all: the high-country road dazzles with breathtaking views and lots of wildlife such as bison, elk, pronghorn and bighorn sheep hanging out nearby. The Park Service has thoughtfully added a few extra turnouts so that the views and the animals can be viewed safely amongst the curves. This road is open to regular vehicles, year-round to provide access to Mammoth WY and all the way through Yellowstone's northern range to Silver Gate and Cooke City Montana. As such, we are very excited to welcome our visitors again to the historic entrance to Yellowstone and look forward to seeing you all as soon as you can get here!
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.
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.
Private Winter Tours and Lodging
Choose the winter 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 only available to In Our Nature clients this winter. 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.
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
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
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
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
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)
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.
Availability & Booking
Book using the form below or contact us at 406-579-3838 or info@in-our-nature.com for more information.
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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 hikes, overnight backpacking trips, cross-country skiing & snowshoeing, or make your own custom adventure.
In Our Nature Guiding Services LLC is an an equal opportunity provider and Authorized Permittee of Yellowstone National Park. We operate under Special Use Permits in Shoshone and Gallatin National Forests.
We live and operate in Yellowstone National Park, or as the Apsaalooke refer to it, Land of Steam. This is a traditional shared homeland for dozens of Nations for at least 13,000 years including the Blackfeet, Shoshone, Salish, Kootenai, Pend d’Orielle, Nez Perce, and Northern Cheyenne. The Sheepeaters-Shoshone were known to live in what is now the park year-round. We honor, with gratitude, the land itself and the people who have stewarded it throughout the generations.
Check out our reviews!
What others have to say about their experience with us....
- Katherinethegreat200
Angela was amazing. She taught us how to take night photos. This was the highlight of our trip. Unbelievably beautiful experience.
March 28, 2022ris1350 Cara was a wonderful guide! She provided coffee, hot cocoa, and muffins to start our day. After some awesome animal watching she provided quite a brunch spread followed... read more by more animal watching. Cara was extremely knowledgeable and passionate about the animals in Yellowstone. She was also excellent with our 7 year old. We ended up seeing grizzlies, black bears, and a brief wolf spotting. Money well spent!
August 12, 2019krystys2020 Our adult family of four spent a marvelous Christmas Eve day with Cara touring Yellowstone on a wildlife viewing tour. She picked us up first thing in the morning with... read more hot chocolate, coffee and breakfast goodies. From there we entered the park and encountered bison, coyote's, elk, mountain goats, long horn sheep and a badger! It was a beautiful snowy day as Cara drove up through the park stopping to view wildlife and set up four scopes for us to view animals if they were at a distance. We were all very impressed with her knowledge and capability. She provided a nourishing lunch for both meat eaters and vegetarians in Cooke City (warmth! an indoor toilet!) It was a wonderful experience for all of us and I highly recommend her as both guide and educator. Don't hesitate to book this dedicated guide!
January 4, 2020 - dec38647 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 our family of 4. Very knowledgeable about all things Yellowstone --wildlife, wildflowers, park history, etc. We would never have been able to see all we did without Cara as our guide. She provided spotting scopes and binoculars for each of us, an amazing brunch spread, and such knowledgeable commentary. It was such a wonderful experience. In Lamar Valley, we saw -- and heard -- a whole pack of wolves howling, watching as another wolf then came in from the distance to join the rest of the pack. Alongside the wolves the valley was filled with bison, pronghorn, elk, and even a grizzly munching on some flowers. It was so amazing to see all of these animals coexisting in their habitat. That day we also saw three more black bears right next to the road, which we were able to observe from the car for quite a while, along with mountain goats, big horn sheep, coyotes, and countless other animals big and small. The day also included a hike to Trout Lake, which is just a breathtaking, perfect short hike to a beautiful lake surrounded by mountains with, when we were there, an explosion of wildflowers in bloom everywhere. While there, we also saw cutthroat trout swimming upstream to spawn -- so much fun! Throughout, Cara was attuned to our interests, and had such knowledgeable answers to all of our questions. She knew every safe pullout and turnaround spot to ensure we were able to get a closer look at the bears and other animals that came close to the road, and somehow managed to find the specks in the distance and ensured that they came alive to us through the scope as wolves or a grizzly or big horn sheep, etc. She really showed us the best of Lamar Valley. It was a highlight of our trip to Yellowstone.
August 5, 2020mikehoward6993 Amazing wildlife spotting with Audra who made the whole day enjoyable.We had great views of Grizzlies, Wloves, Coyotes etc and plenty of birds including Sandhill Cranes, White Pelicans and numerous... read more birds of prey. Audra was very knowledgeable regarding both the wildlife and history of the park. We all agreed that this was the highlight of our holiday. Would definitely recommend.
August 7, 2019wess699 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 in the back country. Both Cara and Cody were excellent guides. We have already booked for a return trip in the summer!
March 15, 2022 - I’m a nature lover from way back and am doing my once in a lifetime trip to US national parks. So in going to Yellowstone I really wanted to have... read more the best chance of seeing bears and wolves and to learn what I could about...More 555phowe
May 21, 2019 Great tour. Cara was awesome, fun to hang out with on the full day tour and very knowledgeable about the land and animals. We saw piles of animals, including all... read more of the various hooved animals in the park, coyotes, wolves, mountain goats on high cliff...More kullen_6
December 20, 2018paper45 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 learned the benefit of a top notice guide. Cara proved to be the best any of us had ever used. Her back ground of being a biologist was perfect. Her knowledge of the animals and their habits was uncanny. We saw everything and more than any of us had thought possible. Don't spend all that money to get to Yellowstone and not spend a bit more for the experience you will have with Cara. Bonus Cara just sent us the pictures and Videos she shot through the spotting scopes, while we were with her. More
July 30, 2019 - MtnGorillas What an AMAZING day we had out in the Serengeti of North America! Our guide, Cara, was absolutely super! Her passion and knowledge of the area and the... read more wildlife was excellent! We had such a fun time going from one location where wildlife was spotted and on to the next. It was really exciting and we saw so many animals...the wolves were astounding to watch...they really “cooperated” for our wildlife viewing pleasure, it was a real highlight! I would highly recommend Cara as a guide. You will not be disappointed...she was such an interesting, fun and professional guide - we cannot wait to come back again!
July 19, 2020Nelsonk25 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 we could see two black wolf pups and two grizzlies within one scope, took us to places that are still off limits for the general public because of the flood, got us to see a grizzly and her two cubs in addition to eagles and a bison herd.
August 7, 2022Vacation820603 Without Cara our trip would have been a BUST! Cara was instrumental in making our trip a 10 out of 10. Her knowledge of the wildlife, environment, and... read more local business was extremely helpful and insightful. Cara is obviously very connected in the guiding community which helped in locating the rare sites that we would NEVER have seen on our own, plus her banana bread is heavenly! A few days after our trip, we received videos that my son and I never could have taken - we have watched for hours! I would put booking her and or her company at the very top of your planning list and schedule your other activities at Yellowstone around your time with In Our Nature Guiding Services, you will not be disappointed.
April 12, 2021 - I highly, highly recommend Cara for an unbelievable tour of Yellowstone. We saw wolves eating bison (she knew of the wolf packs in the area, which ones have survived,... read more they're numbered), unusual beautiful birds migrating and stopping at Yellowstone, pronghorn, osprey nesting, a fox, several...More BostonLynne
May 9, 2019Voyager35635681148 We had a wildlife tour with Cara - we did the half day. It was phenomenal. We saw so many amazing animals and she even got it on video... read more and sent it to us! The lunch was great. I am positive we would have otherwise driven around the park aimlessly looking for crowds at hope of seeing an animal. A thousand percent recommend! I honestly feel like they could charge way more so it is a great deal. Thank you again!
August 14, 2020 After reading the reviews on TripAdvisor my wife and I had high expectations of our day with Cara viewing wildlife on our first trip to Yellowstone. The omens were good... read more - the booking process was smooth; Cara emailed information on what to expect and even...More thejacks100
October 9, 2018 - Krysta C To say that our time with Cara exceeded our expectations would be an understatement. My new husband and I spent our honeymoon in Montana. We wanted to spend a few... read more days in the park skiing and snowshoeing but did not want to do so without a guide. My husband spoke to Cara and ended up booking a wildlife watching trip the first day (and boy were we glad that we did!) and a cross country skiing trip the following day. The stars must have been aligned, because we managed to see wolves, bison, elk, big horned sheep, moose, coyotes, and even a mountain lion! The following day, we had the perfect cross country skiing trip up to see the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone as well as some beautiful waterfalls.
Cara was unbelievably knowledgable about the park, wildlife and so much more. She was friendly, responsive, and went above and beyond to ensure that we had an amazing time. We would recommend her without an hesitation and will certainly be exploring with her again when we make our return visit to Yellowstone!
January 3, 2020DavidJ882 Excellent guide,superbly equipped,knew the place and the wildlife very well.
Cara personifies why a professional guide is needed for spotting wildlife in Yellowstone.Although I'm an experienced wildlife biologist and guide... read more myself,you absolutely need someone of Cara's capabilities and knowledge of the area and it's wildlife to get the best out of a Yellowstone visit.For bears and wolves especially,knowing where they are likely to be and having the right equipment (quality spotting scopes) is essential.Otherwise only luck will get you sightings.Very enjoyable trip with many good experiences. Well done Cara!
May 26, 2021DeborahGR We had the best afternoon with Mike! He took us on a gorgeous trail where we only encountered 5 other people in 4 hours. We learned about the geology, topography,... read more flora, and fauna — and got to listen to some amazing elk bugling! After four hours and about 7-8 miles, we were exhausted and yet still invigorated. Don’t miss this experience!
September 1, 2021 - 656gerrys Cara was all we could have asked for in a nature guide in Yellowstone. Very knowledgeable on everything from the history, geology and animals of the area. What... read more we also liked was we were never lectured on this information, she just shared it with enthusiasm like it was the first time she was telling it. Each day and each guest was clearly a fresh start for Cara that she looked forward to. The thrill of finding any animal was very apparent and she did find us many more then we would have found wandering around the massive area on our own. We will be going back for a different part of the winter season and look forward to having Cara guide us again through an area she clearly loves.
November 15, 2020GustheFus Highly recommend In Our Nature Guiding Service! We went out for a day with Cara in early April, so only a portion of the park was open, but Cara’s expertise... read more helped us see Bison, elk, eagles, a pack of wolves, a moose, a bear, coyotes eating from an elk carcass...it was amazing. Cara has years of experience and a helpful network of other spotters that will help you to see so many more animals than you would on your own. When you only have one chance to see the animals, it’s worth it to hire an expert.
April 23, 2021G8803OAjosephp 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 Mike for two days, to Tower and Mammoth Hot Springs. Both snowshoe trips were very enjoyable. Mike has an incredible depth of knowledge about the geology and the wildlife of Yellowstone.
I did a third day on my own, on Blacktail (stunning) but would not have wanted to go out on my own prior to an orientation from Mike.
You can tell that these folks really want you to have a good experience.
The only downside is that cross country skiing looks like a hell of a lot of fun. Wish I knew how to do it.
March 9, 2021 - VacationBeachBum Our family had an amazing experience touring Lamar Valley with Nancy. Our group included our three children (ages 6, 9, and 11), my wife, and my parents. ... read more Nancy was very knowledgeable and patient with our group; providing a great deal of information about the wildlife. She set up 5 spotting scopes at each stop. We were able to see a lot of large animals including a wolf, a grizzly bear and cubs, black bears, bison, elk, pronghorn, big horn sheep, and mountain goats. She provide coffee, hot chocolate, and lunch. Our group really enjoyed our time touring Lamar Valley with Nancy and highly recommend In Our Nature to anyone interested in seeing and learning about Yellowstone wildlife. …
July 6, 2021Renaii777 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 see the wolves and she did everything possible to find them and we did. It was amazing! She is very professional and you can tell she really cares about the wildlife and wildlife conservation. We did a hike around a lake after it snowed and it was beautiful! She educated me on some of the edible plants and I even tried some. I love the outdoors and wildlife and all around it was the best experience!
December 29, 2021dandP3306ZC 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 booking a trip.
April 5, 2022 - CKNC11 Cara's wildlife tour is a day NOT to skip in your plans to visit Yellowstone. We viewed the famous Junction Butte wolf pack, elk, pronghorn, bison, eagles, osprey, magpie... read more and mountain goats. Lunch was wonderful. Covid precautions were followed. This one day was my favorite, on a 3 week trip to see 5 parks.
September 28, 2020Glenda S On our trip we were very lucky to see a grizzly bear, a black bear, wolf cubs interacting with bison and mountain goats. This wasn't just down to luck but... read more due to Cara's extensive knowledge of the Lamar Valley and its wildlife and her network...More
November 16, 2019Sharon R There were 15 of us taking the guided hike with Audra. We had a great time learning about the different birds and animals. The scenery was great and... read more we had a great day of hiking. I would recommend them to anyone.
Sharon
July 7, 2019 - nluke19 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 understanding of animal behavior really stood out.
Activities were done by vehicle and on foot. We watched a plethora of wildlife, including bison, elk, mountain goats, bighorn sheep, moose, coyotes, wolves, and foxes, among others. She was immensely valuable for being able to easily spot animals in far-away valleys or atop snowy peaks that I otherwise would've missed on my own.
My only regret is not requesting her guiding services for more days.
December 17, 2020Climber37165216272 Kody Marr was a wonderful guide. He picked a hike that was exactly what we were looking for- deep snow and not many people. He is very knowledgeable about the... read more park. It was a great trip and I would recommend Kody and Our Nature Guiding Services.
February 15, 2022 My wife and I recently hired In Our Nature for a day long tour of Yellowstone. It was our first visit to the park so the goal was to use... read more our time wisely. The booking process was seamless and we were contacted promptly to work...More 672JoeP
October 9, 2018
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: Claire Lacey
Born and raised in Alaska, Claire developed a passion for wildlife ecology and environmental studies leading her to Montana in 2017 for the opportunity to study the wolves of Yellowstone National Park. Her curiosity prompted a three year, self-directed undergraduate research project, which she finished in 2020 while earning her Bachelor of Science in Fish & Wildlife Ecology and Management from Montana State University. She has spent hundreds of hours watching wolves and studying their interactions with each other and with other species in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. Claire continues to follow her passion by inviting clients to share the same incredible experiences in Yellowstone that captivated her during her research.
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.