Yellowstone Winter Photo Tours and Workshops

I am an Authorized Permittee of the National Parks.

Join us for a winter photo tour and workshop in Yellowstone, where you will capture the park’s stunning, snow-covered landscapes and wildlife in its quiet winter season. Explore Yellowstone aboard a private snow coach and van, accessing areas few others can reach. This is a prime time to photograph dramatic thermal features like bubbling mud pots, geysers, and waterfalls like the Lower Falls in the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone.

Wildlife is the heart of this winter workshop, and the majority of our time is dedicated to finding and photographing Yellowstone’s iconic animals. That said, the park’s winter landscapes are absolutely spectacular, and we take full advantage of the dramatic steam, snow, and light when conditions align.

Winter brings abundant wildlife to the park, with herds of bison covered in frost and wildlife drawn to the valleys, rivers, and geyser basins. We will look for frost-covered bison, elk, coyotes, moose, foxes, bighorn sheep, river otters, bobcats, and more. Bird photography opportunities are also plentiful, including sightings of trumpeter swans, bald and golden eagles, and the elusive Great Gray Owl.

Lamar Valley, known as one of the best spots to photograph wolves, is a highlight. The valley’s diverse habitats and conservation efforts make it a prime location for observing wolves and other wildlife. Don’t miss this chance to capture Yellowstone’s winter wonderland in its full glory.

Private Van:
We will have our own private van and explore the incredible Lamar Valley. This is one of the best places in the world to photograph wolves and other wildlife.

Private Snow Coach:
We will travel by private snow coach to explore Yellowstone’s geothermal wonders, including the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone, Old Faithful, erupting geysers, vibrant pools, mud pots, rivers, waterfalls, and fumaroles. Along the way, we’ll look for wildlife drawn to the warmth of these thermal areas.

Not all snow coaches are the same. We use modern, efficient models designed for comfort. While these heated vehicles can hold 13 people, we limit our tours to 5-6 participants to ensure ample space for gear. Our modern snowcoaches offer panoramic views, better fuel efficiency, faster speeds, quieter rides, and more space, providing a superior experience compared to older models. This allows more time to explore and capture stunning wildlife and landscapes. We cover more territory with the faster snow coaches.

Dates:

January 5-13, 2027 (2 spaces left)

Getting There:
Airport: Bozeman, Montana (BZN)

The tour begins and ends in Bozeman, Montana. The hotel offers a free shuttle between the Bozeman airport and hotel, and transportation is provided throughout the tour. At the end of the tour, optional drop-off is available at the airport or hotel. No rental car is needed.

Itinerary:
Each day is shaped around the best light and the strongest wildlife opportunities, and we’ll be out on location from sunrise to sunset. By splitting our stay between Gardiner and the iconic Old Faithful Snow Lodge, we truly get the best of both worlds with easy access to Lamar Valley’s premier wildlife habitat and the rare experience of being based deep inside Yellowstone’s winter interior.

Staying in Gardiner positions us perfectly for early‑morning wildlife along the Northern Range and the rich habitat just outside the park. Nights at Old Faithful Snow Lodge place us right in the heart of Yellowstone’s geothermal landscape, giving us effortless access to sunrise steam, great wildlife, frosted forests, and unique winter scenes that are only possible from inside the park.

We travel by private van in the Lamar Valley and by snow coach into Yellowstone’s interior, giving us access to dramatically different regions and photographic opportunities throughout the week.

Day 1: Arrive at Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport (BZN) and take the free hotel shuttle to our Bozeman hotel which has a great restaurant on site. We will meet at 4:00 pm for an introductory session covering safety, current wildlife conditions, and plans for the week. John will give a presentation on photographing winter wildlife and landscapes, followed by a group dinner.

Day 2: In the morning, we depart by private van and travel south toward Yellowstone. Along the way, we explore Paradise Valley and Yellowstone stopping to photograph winter scenery and wildlife. Possible sightings include bald and golden eagles, river otters, pronghorn, and bighorn sheep. We continue photographing through sunset before arriving in Gardiner.

Day 3: We spend a full day exploring Lamar Valley, one of Yellowstone’s most reliable areas for winter wildlife viewing, along with select locations just outside the park. The open terrain makes it easier to locate wildlife, and we search for species active during the winter months, including wolves, bison, foxes, and coyotes. There will also be opportunities for winter landscape photography as we follow changing light, weather, and wildlife activity throughout the day. Overnight in Gardiner.

Day 4: Travel by snowcoach into the heart of Yellowstone to the historic Old Faithful Snow Lodge. Along the way, we’ll photograph steaming geyser basins, winter landscapes, and watch for frost covered wildlife. After dinner, you’ll have the option to enjoy night photography under Yellowstone’s dark skies or relax by the outdoor firepit.

Days 5 & 6: We venture deep into Yellowstone’s interior by snowcoach, exploring iconic winter locations such as Hayden Valley, the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, and the park’s geothermal areas. These days offer some of the most dramatic scenery of the entire trip with vast snow-covered valleys, steaming thermal features, frozen waterfalls, wildlife, and towering canyon walls draped in ice.

Each night, we return to the Old Faithful Snow Lodge, a warm and quiet base surrounded by Yellowstone’s winter landscape.

Day 7: We spend the day traveling deep into Yellowstone by snow coach, focusing on photography as winter conditions transform the landscape. Steam rises from thermal areas, open meadows are covered in snow, and frost-covered trees catch the low sun. Along the way, we will photograph the park’s legendary wildlife possibilities include bison, foxes, and coyotes moving through the winter landscape.

We stay out through sunset and blue hour, photographing Yellowstone as the park grows quieter and the colors begin to fade. Afterward, we return to Gardiner, wrapping up our final day in Yellowstone’s interior.

Day 8: On our final full day, we return to Lamar Valley, with additional time along the road toward Cooke City. This second visit allows us to revisit productive areas and adjust our plans based on the wildlife activity we’ve seen throughout the trip. The open valleys and views of the Absaroka Range provide beautiful opportunities for both wildlife and landscape photography.

We end the trip with a relaxed group dinner, a chance to review images, share stories, and look back on our time in Yellowstone.

Day 9: Departure day. We check out of the hotel and travel by private van back to Bozeman Airport. We plan to arrive at the airport around 1:00 pm for afternoon flights.

Small Group. Private Transportation. More Flexibility.
We travel by private van and snowcoach designed for wildlife photography. This allows us to explore different areas of Yellowstone, respond to changing conditions, and spend more time where the best opportunities happen. Traveling with a small group creates a quieter experience in the field, which is especially important when photographing wildlife.

Skill and Fitness Level Requirements:

• Anyone with an interest in photography from beginner to professional. The participants should have a love of nature and enjoy the company of other people in a small group setting.

• There will be several brief walks, sometimes across slippery terrain. The majority of these walks will be less than a mile.

• Participants should be in good health and self-sufficient.

• The snowcoach ride can be bumpy, so it is not advisable for anyone with back or joint problems.

Price:
$7995 per person
Deposit: $1000
Balance Due: 6 months before start date

Payment:
Payment can be made by check to Slonina Photography. We also accept credit cards through our online shopping cart.

Cancellation Policy

Price Includes:

• Hotels are included, featuring 3 nights at the historic Old Faithful Snow Lodge inside Yellowstone National Park. Lodging is double occupancy. If you prefer your own private room (single occupancy), it is an additional $395. Please select the Single Room option on the shopping cart.

• Private snowcoach and driver

• Private van tour and driver at Lamar and surrounding areas

• Professional Instruction on photography, wildlife and the natural world

• Transportation (no need to rent a car)

Not Included:

• Snacks, dinner, and drinks. Participants will cover their own food expenses, but we’ll make stops for snacks and drinks throughout the day. We’ll also explore a variety of restaurants outside the park.

• Air travel is not included.

• Tips for the drivers

What you will learn:

Our goal is not only to help you create beautiful images and have fun, but to teach practical skills and techniques you can use long after the tour to continue improving your photography.

Click here to see Testimonials.

About Us:
John Slonina (leader)
John Slonina is a professional nature photographer with several decades of experience photographing wildlife and landscapes throughout North America. He has spent years photographing and leading workshops in Yellowstone, sharing his knowledge of the park’s wildlife, animal behavior, and changing conditions. John’s understanding of the natural world helps participants anticipate moments in the field while improving their photography skills and creating stronger images.

Jenny Bowlden (co-leader)
Jenny Bowlden is a professional nature photographer with over 20 years of experience photographing wildlife and landscapes throughout North America. She has returned to Yellowstone many times to photograph and teach workshops, developing a deep appreciation for the park’s wildlife, landscapes, and changing conditions. Jenny enjoys helping participants improve their compositions, understand light, anticipate wildlife behavior, and make the most of every opportunity in the field.

We hope you can join us! If you have any questions, please contact us.