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.
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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
Private Tour & Lodging Package
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.
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
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.
Explore Beyond Yellowstone
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
Beartooth Pass Tours, Hikes & Backpacking: June - October
The Beartooth Mountains, border Yellowstone National Park to the northeast. Here, a spectacular landscape of wildly beautiful and dramatic peaks, deep valleys, remnant glaciers, and remote lakes exist on some of the oldest rocks on the continent. The Beartooth Mountains offer awe-inspiring views from a high-elevation winding road on the Beartooth Pass and many hiking and backpacking opportunities on trails for all levels of fitness and experience. Come explore the lakes, meadows, white bark pine forests, snowfields and glaciers with us. Wildlife is abundant in this area with populations of pika grizzly bears, black bears, mountain goats, bighorn sheep, elk, moose, and rarely seen species such as wolverine, mountain lion and lynx.
- Departures: variable from Gardiner, Mammoth, Tower Junction and Cooke City
- Duration: 6 hours to multiple days
- Price: from $780
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
River Safaris with Ken at Yellowstone Now
Embark on a most remarkable river journey on the path of Lewis & Clark with historian, naturalist, and wildlife guide, Ken Sinay. Float down the Yellowstone, Jefferson, or Madison River enjoying birds, wildlife, history, and the spirit of Montana. Relax with a gourmet picnic lunch. Take a swim, if you choose. The day is yours on this private tour designed to your preferences. An excellent experience for all ages and physical abilities — something for everyone! River Safaris are private and available for groups of up to 6 people.
- Departures: customized
- Duration: half day or full day
- Price: from $475
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.
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.
As of May 26, 2023, all Yellowstone roads have opened for the season.
Check out our reviews!
What others have to say about their experience with us....
Tour guide Cara provides a great view and education of Yellowstone. We were fortunate and had sighting of wolves, moose, bison, deer and coyote. Cara is very knowledgeable... read more with her biology degree and experience. Lunch was delicious and the hot chocolate and coffee breaks was...More
bconley8262
January 15, 2019 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, 2018johnshaftjones From the moment I contacted Cara, I knew I chose the right person to book a tour with. Cara is a biologist, communicative, knowledgable, and easy to work with. I... read more requested a call to discuss the tour and options before committing considering that my group would be large - 10 people. Cara was happy to do so. When we spoke, she gave me an overview of what she offers and explained the need for two guides, how the tour would look and the cost. She asked what animals we hoped to see so that she would have an idea of how to frame the tour. Also, due to size of the group and current affairs with the pandemic, we would have to follow Cara in her vehicle. I was sold and booked a full day wildlife/nature tour.
On the day off, we met at Zero Dark Thirty because as Cara said "that's when the animal are up". We met at 05:30 hours and Cara and her fellow biologist Garret. Cara had coffee, tea, hot chocolate for us. Nice touch. She provided two-way radios to communicate while we drove. It worked excellent, we didn't get separated, and Cara and Garret gave information about Yellowstone and the animals, as well as a little trivia as we drove to each location.
Once we made it to a location, Cara and Garret set up high powered spotting scopes to view the wildlife. We were lucky to see a grizzly bear, a pack of wolves feeding on a bison carcass, bison, bald eagles, mountain goats, baby wolves and their den, and more. Cara even grabbed photos and videos which she emailed to me.
After lunch, Garret did a bear safety training and we were off on the nature hike. The hike was great, but be prepared for a good workout - you will see some inclines! Also, as wear layers. Cara will tell you this. It's chilly in the morning and will warm up as the day progresses.
We all learned a ton from Cara and Garret. They love questions and answered them all for us. My next trip to Yellowstone, I will be calling Cara again for sure.
August 21, 2020- Travel139554 Great trip. Cara is awesome. We had a group of 8 and Cara took very good care of us. We watch 17 wolves for over an hour.... read more We saw many more animals on our trip but we requested wolves and Cara delivered. I would highly recommend using Cara services. It was our 2nd time to use her and will use her again when we come back
October 7, 2020oldracer y 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...More
July 30, 2019 I had a great day out with Audra exploring Yellowstone and all it’s surprises! She told me a lot about the animals and the nature, and showed me some amazing... read more views. We were very lucky, because we had already seen wolves and moose before 9...More
HannekeJ45
June 4, 2019 - 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, 2020divyanairss We spent a day with Cara on a guided hike of the Garnet Loop Trail in Yellowstone and she made it the most comfortable experience for us. She was available... read more for communication before, during and after the hike to answer any questions we had for her. She also took my pace into consideration and ensured we took it easy, had ample water breaks, food breaks, coordinated the trail so that we had less sun exposure which helped me to complete the entire loop along with the visit to the suspension bridge over the Yellowstone River.
Her suggestions to visit the Beartooth pass and food options along the way just made the trip so much more memorable for us. We will be calling Cara again when we are back in Yellowstone.
September 5, 2020Renai S 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 1, 2021 - wess699 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, 2022DavidJ882 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, 2021George W The best way to see Yellowstone in winter is with a guide and Cara certainly didn’t disappoint. She is extremely professional, knowledgeable, and created an incredible experience seeing wolves,... read more moose, mountain goats, etc. I would highly recommend hiring Cara as a guide whether summer or winter as you won’t be disappointed with her knowledge and experience. I look forward to coming back again in the summer with Cara as a hiking guide. Thank you Cara for a fantastic day in Yellowstone as it was truly an amazing experience.
January 1, 1970 - G8803OAjosephp 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, 2021X4001VYkarenm 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 19 wolves, elk, mountain goats, otters and mountain sheep. Lunch was warm and inside on a frigid day (I saw other tours eating off bumpers in 7 degree weather). We had a beautiful day with no concerns. I would highly recommend her.
January 3, 2020C9453DOmaryk By far this was the best nature experience I have ever had!!! Cara is an excellent guide who has patience, energy,and knowledge of where to scope out wildlife.... read more On our first day she found spots for wolf, bear, bison, pronghorn , coyote and moose viewing on the way into Lamar Valley. On the second day we headed toward Hayden Valley and watched a grizzly near Yellowstone Lake!!! She wanted us to have the best experience and went out of her way to ensure that..!!
June 8, 2021 - sarosifamily cara took our family of 6 out on an all day Yellowstone adventure exploration - rarely does one come across a guide as experienced and knowledgeable as Cara. She... read more carefullu explained the answers to all of our dumb questions with patience and expertise. She knew were the bears were located and we got to see 3 grizzlies! I would not hesitate for a second to recommend her - she was that good.
June 30, 2020Navigate802764 Cara rocked it! Our family was able to see amazing wildlife that would not have been possible without her keen knowledge and fantastic scopes. In addition, her appreciation... read more for the park and its inhabitants is deeply felt. Cara was wonderfully patient with my overly eager nature loving children. Our trip to Yellowstone would not have been the same without Cara. Oh, the lunch/brunch was also awesome. So glad we shifted out Yellowstone tour to match Cara's availability. If you can, book In Our Nature Guiding Services!
September 24, 2020ALeigh75 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 was an AWESOME wolf sighting with eight wolves, old and young, play with each other along a...More
October 18, 2019 - John D Our day started at five in the morning. By six we were watching wolves and coyotes through a magnificent telescope. It never ended. Bears, wolves, coyotes, bison, and more. Then... read more we had a magnificent brunch. More of the same in the afternoon. I do not know how Cara does it but she has an uncanny knack for sighting creatures when all that I can see is grass. I would love to do it again.
July 6, 2019Vacation820603 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 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 had planned to do 1/2day wildlife spotting and 1/2day hiking; however, the rainy and cold weather did...More
KentuckyFamilyof5
December 13, 2018 - brianrO8103HE Cara was great!!! My wife and I hired Cara as a cross country skiing guide in Yellowstone but we got so much more than that. Cara knew were... read more to find a trail with snow (which was surprisingly scarce during our trip) that matched my beginner skiing experience level, she gave great instructions, and she had a great sense of humor while helping me up when I fell. She stopped for some wildlife viewing on the way to the ski trail and we were able to see 4 moose and a coyote very clearly through her spotting scope. She even sent us pictures of the outing, including the wildlife, a day later. She was prepared with bear spray and an emergency beacon and she was very good at wearing a mask and social distancing. We even learned about some of the geology of the park and about a wolverine siting near where we skied. We left with great memories and with a new friend. Hire her. You won't regret it.
December 13, 2020DeborahGR 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, 2021ris1350 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, 2019 - carrietA3237HH Cara is the best. She was an amazing guide, well prepared and knowledgeable! She listened to what we wanted to do, and she gave us an awesome day. Best Day... read more of Our Yellowstone Trip.
April 8, 2020Buhbabe We spent two full days with Cara looking for wildlife. As all the other reviews have stated, she provides an outstanding experience. She comes with high-powered scopes that... read more enable one to see animals that are almost invisible to the naked eye and difficult to spot with normal binoculars. I will not repeat all of the praise that others have documented in these reviews, but rather I will emphasize that Cara will give an experience that cannot be duplicated on your own. She knows where to go to see the animals, she is able to locate them when they are invisible to those without her knowledge, and you will see animals that you would not see on your own. In addition, she is a delight to work with. There is a reason that all of her reviews are outstanding-she is that good. You will be happy if you choose to spend a day or two, or even more, with her.
September 24, 2020Voyager35635681148 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 - epodowd We spent the day with Cara and it was easliy the best day of our 5-day trip. We got to watch a grizzly eat an elk that had... read more been drowned by a bear 5 days before. And then a second bear tried to approach but that was a no go for the first bear. It was nature at its best and we got to witness it. Totally unforgettable. Cara's equipment was indispensable (images so sharp and clear!) in helping us to see this up close and personal. We also saw tons of saw elk and bison. And lots of other birds, ducks, etc. But definitely the highlight was that bear sighting. Totally worth the money. Thanks Cara!
October 7, 2020 Picked up before daybreak, our guide Audra was on time and ready to show us Yellowstone in ways we could not have imagined. As the tour began, both my... read more wife and I wondered separately and silently, whether we could have done without the private guide...More
eric s
January 3, 2019 My husband, 14 yro son and I traveled to Yellowstone in Dec 2018. We hired Cara as our guide for 2 days; the first day I went cross-country skiing with... read more her in the morning and then we met my husband and son in the afternoon...More
Indygirl575
January 5, 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 hikes, overnight 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.
Biologist 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!
Naturalist Guide: Elizabeth Mordensky
Elizabeth has two main passions in life: Art and the Outdoors. Naturally these two loves have come together, driving her to create art that might inspire others to appreciate our wild animals and wild spaces. Through vibrantly textured oil finger paintings, she brings energy and life into her wildlife compositions, encouraging viewers to take a second look. She wants the viewer to feel connected to the animals, as if they were standing there before them, as she has done so many times.
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.
