A message from Great Western Expeditions
JACKSON, Wyo. – Yellowstone in July is extraordinary. But September — after 30 years of running private naturalist-guided safaris in Grand Teton and Yellowstone — is when we personally think the ecosystem is at its most spectacular. Here’s why:
The crowds thin. The wildlife doesn’t.
After Labor Day, the summer visitors head home. But the wildlife doesn’t go anywhere. September brings one of the greatest spectacles in North America: the elk rut. Bull elk are bugling across Hayden Valley at dawn — a sound that stops you mid-breath. Grizzly bears are in hyperphagia, their pre-hibernation feeding frenzy, foraging the hillsides in ways they simply aren’t visible in midsummer. Wolves are moving. The park is at full biological capacity and not many are watching.
What our guests say
“David was a sensational guide — his knowledge of the region from species spotting to identification was just stellar. He interacted with each of my family members in a very personable way, and when he wasn’t spotting or teaching he was making sure everything was always easy and good for all of us.”
Our guides
David Buth is one of our senior naturalist guides — part wildlife biologist, part tracker, part storyteller. He has spent years developing an instinct for this landscape that can’t be taught in a classroom. Our guide Vinnie Caesar brings a rare combination of deep personal knowledge of this ecosystem and a background in human connection that makes every guest feel genuinely at ease in the wild. Together, they bring years of experience observing wildlife and understanding the rhythms of this landscape. They know the areas wolves often frequent, the meadows grizzlies tend to favor at different times of year, and the subtle signs that can lead to memorable wildlife sightings.
One day or five – we have both
Our Yellowstone Signature Lower Loop with Dinner is the tour September was made for. Depart Jackson at 6 a.m., spend the full day in the park with a private naturalist guide, share a field picnic in Yellowstone, and stay for a sunset dinner during the park’s most active wildlife hour. Book at: greatwesternexpeditions.com/yellowstone
For a deeper experience, our 5-Day National Parks & Wild Western Wyoming expedition covers Yellowstone, Grand Teton, the Chief Joseph Highway, Cody, Wind River Canyon, and 3 Spear Ranch in Dubois. Your guide travels with you every day and handles every detail. Book at: greatwesternexpeditions.com/multi-day
September dates go quickly. Visit greatwesternexpeditions.com for more information.
