Backpack into Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks and the Jedediah Smith Wilderness
Book by June 1, 2013 and get 10% off selected trips.
Feel the stress of everyday life melt away as you hike through the peaceful mountains with us.
Rendezvous Backcountry Tours offers wilderness backpacking trips to suit all abilities and interests. Reserve one of our trips listed below or request custom dates to suit your schedule. Our trips are available after the winter snows have melted away so you can enjoy wildflower displays in July and August or autumn colors in early fall.
Let Rendezvous Backcountry Tours take care of all of the details, including preparing the meals and providing all necessary equipment, so you can fully enjoy your time in the mountains. You only need to bring your personal clothing items and leave the rest to us. By carrying the group gear and food, we will keep your backpack as light as possible so that you can have more energy to enjoy the hiking. When we arrive to camp each afternoon, we prepare all the meals and tend to camp logistics while you relax and take in the scenery.
With over 20 years of mountain experience, your guides Jeff and Diane know how to make you feel comfortable and relaxed in the mountains. We are professional mountain guides who focus on your safety and education. Each day you'll learn new things about the ecosystem that you are exploring, enhancing your experience and understanding of the natural history of the Tetons. You'll learn about Leave No Trace backpacking and how to camp safely in bear country. We pride ourselves on providing quality, tasty, nutritious meals and top-notch equipment. Visit the Meet Us page to view our credentials and hear what others have said about our tours.
2013 Backpacking Trips
Yellowstone National Park
Hiking Bechler to Old Faithful
This is our newest trip.
Join us for this trip of a lifetime!
Dates: TBA
(Rated moderate to easy with the use of horses to carry the loads)
Hike through the beauty of the southwestern Bechler region of Yellowstone National Park with its hot springs, geysers and wildlife. We'll travel 33 miles over four days through some of the most remote wilderness in the nation. We'll explore various ecosystems including pine forests, remnants of the mammoth 1988 fires, marshes and geothermal areas. We'll ford streams on foot, pick berries, watch the eruption of Lone Star Geyser, and soak in natural hot springs along the way.
With the support of Kevin and Deb Little of Dry Ridge Outfitters, you will be able to hike with just a light day pack while horses carry our gear. Hiking averages 8-9 miles per day, mostly on flat ground with a few big hills. While you hike and learn about the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, Kevin and Deb will be setting up camp and cooking true western-style meals in Dutch ovens around the campfire. Our trek finishes at Old Faithful, where we'll see the famous geyser erupt and admire the historic Old Faithful Inn before our return to Teton Valley, Idaho.
Day 1: Depart Driggs, Idaho for Yellowstone. After a scenic 1.5 hour drive, to the Bechler ranger station, we will begin our 6.5 mile hike through Bechler Meadows. Our first night's camp is near Boundary Creek, where a short hike leads to the 150-ft Dunanda Falls. The waterfall is spectacular, but what makes it even more special are the hot spring pools located in the river just below the falls. The experience of soaking in these hot springs near the thundering falls is like no other.
Day 2: Leave the meadows and hike 10 miles up canyon along the Bechler River. Elevation gain is moderate as you enjoy the beautiful fall foliage colors and several river crossings. That afternoon, soak in the "Mr. Bubbles" hot spring, a very large hot pool famous for its small geyser that erupts from the middle of the pool.
Day 3: This will be our easiest hiking day as we will walk approximately 5 miles. In the morning, we will take time to have a leisurely soak in the hot springs at Three Rivers. Afterward, we will slowly gain altitude, camping near the Continental Divide at Douglas Knob (9D3).
Day 4: This may be our most challenging day with an 11.7 mile walk. We will cross the Continental Divide, hike through a geothermal area of hot pots, bubbly streams and colorful cauldrons toward Lone Star Geyser. If the timing is right, you may like to take a side trail to see this backcountry geyser erupt - a sight few who visit Yellowstone ever see! From the Lone Star area, a four-mile hike leads us through areas burned in the 1988 fires to Old Faithful and the Upper Geyser Basin. If everyone is up for it, we will visit Old Faithful to see the geyser erupt before your transportation back to Teton Valley, Idaho.
Mileage/Route:
Bechler Ranger Station to 9A0 - 6.6 miles
Hike to Dunanda Falls from 9A0 campsite - total of 3 miles
9AO to 9BO - 10 miles
9B0 to 9D3 - 5 miles
9D3 to Old Faithful - 11.7 miles
Total: 36.3 miles
Cost: $1050/person plus tax
Includes sure-footed horses carrying all of your gear to/from camp each day, four days guided hiking, three nights tent camping, all camping equipment including sleeping bag and pad, all meals starting with lunch day one through lunch day four, and transportation to/from Yellowstone.
Two-Day Wilderness Loop near Jackson Hole
(Rated Moderate)
One of our most popular trips! Perfect for those new to the sport or short on time. This two day, one night backpack loop hike is catered to your activity level and perfect for a private getaway in the mountains. With close proximity to Jackson Hole, this trip is an easy addition to any week-long vacation to the Teton-Yellowstone area.
On Day 1: With the gear already pre-organized, you simply need to move your personal clothing into the backpack we provide. We'll hike 3 miles with 1,800 feet of elevation gain to our base camp in a subalpine meadow. Time and weather permitting, we hike to the summit of a 10,000 foot peak where we'll find amazing views of the surrounding mountains. After a hearty dinner, we'll enjoy the campfire and fall sleep in our tents to the sounds of a nearby babbling brook.
On Day 2: After breakfast, we hike less than 1/2 a mile to a 9,100 foot pass with great photo opportunities. We'll then descend two miles into scenic Moose Creek where we hike five miles to a different trailhead. We provide a return shuttle back to the original trailhead, arriving approximately between 3-4 pm.
Cost: $495/person plus 3% forest tax. Family rate: $1440/group up to 4 persons plus 3% forest tax. Includes two days guided backpacking, all backpacking equipment, all meals and return shuttle back to trailhead.
Three-Day Wilderness Adventure
July 16-18
July 30 - Aug 1
(Rated Moderate)
Spend 3 days covering the spectacular backcountry terrain of the northern Tetons on this fantastic loop hike.
On Day 1: We hike 6 miles gaining 2,000 feet of elevation as we hike up and over a broad ridge with great views of the surrounding peaks. We'll camp on our first night near a clear mountain stream, where you can fall asleep to the sounds of a babbling brook.
On Day 2: We gain 1,600 feet of elevation over six miles as we hike onto the Teton Crest Trail. You'll hike over snow, rock and through meadows of wildflowers with great views of the Grand Teton. We camp that night by an alpine lake. Ample time is allowed for swimming, relaxing next to the cascading waterfall and exploring the alpine environs.
On Day 3: After breakfast and watching the sunrise over the lake, we'll descend five miles back to the trailhead through meadows of wildflowers with fantastic views of Idaho, Montana, and Yellowstone National Park.
Cost: $695 plus 3% forest tax. Includes all equipment, all meals, guides/porters and transport to/from Driggs, Idaho.
Three-Day Grand Teton National Park: The Alpine Wildflower Circuit
Aug 6-8
(Rated moderately strenuous/challenging)
Join us for this three day loop hike in the southern Tetons during the peak alpine wildflower displays.
On Day 1: We hike 8 miles into the wilderness. Our initial climb is 2,000 feet over three miles to Mesquite Divide (9,132') with great views of the Grand Tetons. From there, we continue hiking on the scenic Teton Crest Trail at elevations around 9,000 feet to our camp near a babbling brook at 8,500 feet.
On Day 2: We ascend into Grand Teton National Park, where we will hike 7 miles to our camp at the base of Fossil Peak. We hike on the Teton Crest Trail. En route, we will pass Marion Lake, with options to swim, photograph or lounge in the sun by the lake shore. That evening will be spent sleeping at 9,000 feet at the headwaters of Fox Creek in the wilderness.
On Day 3: We spend a full day hiking as we descend 9 miles into the remote and rugged Fox Creek drainage. We provide a shuttle back to the original trailhead, arriving approximately between 3-4 pm.
Cost: $695 plus 3% forest tax. Includes all equipment, all meals, guides/porters and return shuttle.
We Provide
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- Sleeping bag, backpack, ground pad & tent
- 3 hearty and healthy meals a day plus snacks
- Certified guides equipped with mapping skills, first-aid certification, and knowledge of the natural and cultural history of the area. Guides will also provide instruction on how to have a safe and enjoyable adventure in the mountains.
- "Leave No Trace" low-impact camping
- A detailed clothing & equipment list
Yurt Rental Only
You can rent the yurt for your family or friends and supply your own meals. Yurt rental rates:
$115/couple plus tax
$144/family up to 4 plus tax
$180/group up to 6 persons plus tax
We require a two night minimum stay or an additional $50 cleaning fee for a one-night rental. Includes exclusive use of the yurt. Please inquire.
All trips are subject to a 3% Forest Service user fee.