Breakfast & Bears - Paradise Valley

Wildlife Watching Without the Crowds

Did you know that grizzly bears are connoisseurs of caraway? Well they are. They have it for breakfast. And we will have breakfast with them – at a safe and respectful distance, of course! Grizzly bears have occupied wild places for millennia. They probably have occupied the imagination of humans as long as we've co-existed. Grizzlies are iconic symbols of a healthy, wild ecosystem: a place where the many components of life balance in order to maintain a sustainable whole. Grizzly bears are impressive beings that evolved in an environment that shaped them to have an intelligent mind. Join us on this exciting outing that combines a one-of-a-kind viewing opportunity of wild grizzly bears feasting, as well as thought-provoking discussions about the bears' fight for their place on the planet as Earth itself struggles for survival. This area is accessible from Gardiner, Emigrant, Pray and Paradise Valley. That's right: this unique tour takes place just outside of Yellowstone National Park, away from busy roads and crowds, in an area where mountains and ranch lands meet. You will watch the bears getting on with their day - at a respectful distance with the guidance and expert interpretation of our biologist guides. Although not absolutely guaranteed, we have extremely high success rates seein wild grizzlies in this area. Our highest-quality Swarovski and Vortex spotting scopes give you the best view of wildlife from a safe distance. We also provide binoculars. Bears are not the only wildlife that can be viewed on this tour. Most of the wildlife found in Yellowstone can also be found here. Moose, deer and elk live here in substantial numbers, with wolves, coyotes, bighorn sheep, mountain goats, elusive bobcats and mountain lions and many small mammas, as well. Birding here is wonderful, with mature stands of aspens; complex, mature riparian willows; forests and meadows. These diverse of habitats support more than 75 bird species including sandhill cranes, bald and golden eagles, kestrels, northern flickers, meadowlarks, mountain bluebirds and spotted nighthawks. We can enjoy a hike of the area after breakfast and explore the landscape beyond Yellowstone, all part of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. Discussions on this tour include, but are not limited to, subjects such as protection of grizzly bears through the Endangered Species Act, wildlife ecology principles, creative cooperation with local ranchers living closely with predators, responsible tourism and more. This program is made possible through our relationship with the National Forest Service and local ranching families. We can also enhance your knowledge of Yellowstone's natural history, ecology, scientific studies, and conservation efforts. As guides, we get excited about all kinds of observations, so let us know if you have a particular interest.

Part of the proceeds from this tour will be donated to the Tom Miner Basin Association

Biologist Guide

We love using our expert local ecological knowledge to help you see and learn about the wildlife you are interested in. We'll teach you about many incredible aspects of Yellowstone and help you stay safe while you go wild!

Comfortable Vehicle

Wildlife watching is most successful from viewpoints, overlooks and short trails. Using a vehicle helps us cover many miles, so we can see more of the animals you're interested in. Short hikes can be included upon request.

Brunch Picnic

Tastey breakfast, hot drinks, and water refills are included. Please bring your own water bottle.

Amazing Optics

Plenty of high-quality scopes and binoculars are provided, so you won't miss out on the action!

Family Friendly + Accessible

Tours can be adapted to accommodate all ages and abilities. Please let us know at the time of booking if you have specific needs or disabilities.

Weather and Elevation

Weather varies A LOT! We can have 60 degree (F) temperature changes in a day. Bring clothing layers. Yellowstone has a dry, high-elevation climate. BYO water bottle and drink plenty of water to have your best day. We provide water for refills in the field.

Meeting Locations & Start Times

Gardiner MT
Departure: 45 mins before sunrise (between 5:00 AM and 6:15 AM).
Emigrant, Pray, Chico or Sage Lodge
Departure time: 30 minutes before dawn (5:15 AM to 6:30 AM).

Tour Pricing

Breakfast & Bears
including one guest
$650/day
  • + $60 per person
  • Duration: 5-6 hours
  • All tours are private
  • Transportation included
  • Please contact us directly for groups larger than 6
Breakfast & Bears + Hike
including one guest
$780/day
  • + $60 per person
  • Duration: 7-8 hours
  • All tours are private
  • Transportation included
  • Please contact us directly for groups larger than 6

Reviews

Thank you Cara for making this day with you the highlight of our trip. Despite the rain (and a little snow!) - we were amazed at your ability to spot wildlife - some just a speck in the distance - amazing! Your scopes and equipment allowed us to see up close grizzlies, elk, coyotes, moose...for Boston folks we were just in awe of you! I seriously cannot more highly recommend this wildlife tour.
Sheila A.
October 2020
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 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 elk. And lots of other birds, ducks, etc. But definitely the highlight was that bear sighting. Totally worth the money. Thanks Cara!
Angie
September 2020
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 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. 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 bears, elk, bald eagles, mountain goats, 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 Paradise Valley, I will be calling Cara again for sure.
johnshaftjones
August 2020

$650/day + $50/person + $130 for hike

What's Not Included

Gratuity

Payment Options

We will gladly accept online payment by credit card or by check if mailed in advance.

Have a Question?

Feel free to reach out and we're happy to answer any questions you may have.

Book your Breakfast & Bears Excursion today!

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