the wild side wildlife tours & treks-day tours

We just returned from a wonderful four day tour with The Wild Side --and I can't recommend this group more highly. Owners Nathan Varley and Linda Thurston, both Ph.D. wildlife biologists, were part of the original team that reintroduced wolves back into Yellowstone in the mid-90's, and they know the entire Yellowstone ecosystem like the back of their hands. We also spent three days with their colleague, MacNeil Lyons, who, in addition to his life as a wolf and wildlife guide, is also an accomplished wildlife photographer and writer – he knew just how to catch the best viewing of the wolves, as we followed one across a mountain ridge in the direction of a howling pack member. All three -- Nathan, Linda and MacNeil, are supremely knowledgeable about the variants of Yellowstone life that makes it tick – they essentially gave us a Master Class on Yellowstone wildlife and wolf behavior. We learned everything from how important the wolves are to the ecosystem, to their behavior relative to the elk, the bison, and other prey animals, to the signals that indicate wildlife was near – excitement of eagles and ravens flying toward a carcass, for example. We used the latest technology in spotting scopes so we could see everything up close. I also loved that they were all extremely sensitive to the animals –understood not to approach too fast, and to keep distances that wouldn’t spook them into changing their behavior. In addition to several wolves, we saw a mama moose with her calf, numerous elk, an otter popping in and out of the icy river, three big horned sheep (i.e., rams) scaling down a vertical cliff, eagles and ravens, a couple of coyotes, herds of prong horned deer and tons of bison, which literally stop traffic as they make their way from one side of the road to the other. This trip was worth every penny to meet and learn from these dedicated and passionate wildlife professionals and to see these families of animals living wild and free.My husband and I loved the tour so much that we are talking about going back in September for a private tour to see the elk rut and the other wildlife that haven’t yet begun to hibernate for the winter.

traveled through park in Oct so we didn't have large crowds everywhere, spent 3 full day so we were able to take our time and enjoy the abundance of wildlife.

This was absolutely a fun and great experience! It was very easy to set up the tour with Michael through email. Our guide Amil (sp?) was very knowledgable and took us to some great spots. We spent about 7 hours in Yellowstone, the scopes were provided so there's no need to rent them in town. We got very lucky on the day we went, there was a lot of wildlife activity so the day went by very quickly. We were able to see 2 wolf packs (lamar valley and junction butte packs), a bison herd, grizzly bear, eagle, elk, pronghorn antelope and a black bear with 3 cubs. It was also great to hang out with other wolf enthusiasts, everyone helps each other out if there's a sighting. Also if you do this, don't bring your own food. They go all out with snacks, drinks, and lunch so you won't be hungry! All in all, great company and a must if you're heading to Yellowstone!

Our guide MacNeil has a great knowledge of and passion for the wildlife of Yellowstone and surrounds. We spent two days with MacNeil and saw several wolves on a bison carcass, distant grizzly bears, moose, elk, white tailed deer, mule deer, bison, golden eagles, bighorn sheep, mountain goats, trumpeter swans, and numerous raptors and other birds.MacNeil kept us supplied with coffee and snacks which we needed as we started out before dawn to maximise our chances of spotting wildlife. We would highly recommend this guide service to anyone who has a real interest in wildlife and wants to optimise their chances of seeing some of the harder to find inhabitants of Yellowstone.

From my first conversations and emails with Michael at Wild Side, to the culmination - our day of touring with our guide Email - this is a first rate organization. We were able to arrange a tour for just my husband and myself. And while our fondest wish was to see wolves in the wilds of Yellowstone, unfortunately none were seen that day...despite constant radio communication with other guides and associates ( who also did not see any ) and our guide using all his tracking skill and knowledge regarding location and habits. However, we saw grizzlies, coyotes, and of course myriad bison, elk and pronghorn. Emil was a wealth of information about Yellowstone and all its creatures...be they land, air or water inhabitants. His knowledge was openly shared and impressive. Lots of questions asked and answered. Wild Side also provided a plentiful nutritious breakfast and plenty of hot and cold drinks. In short, it was a grand day, despite the wolves "lack of cooperation" and we highly recommend this wonderful organization of knowledgeable biologists, wolftrackers, former park rangers, and lovers of Yellowstone! When we return to Yellowstone, we will definitely use The Wild Side again.

We took a day long tour with Quinn as our guide. It was my husband and two sons (12 & 10) as well as a close friend and her 10 year old son. We had a few landmarks on our must do list which we did on our own, but animals were a top priority for me and not just the bison and elk you see everywhere. I can honestly say, and I think we all agree, this was the best day of the trip. With the scopes Quinn brought along and his knowledge of where to set them up, we saw a wolf pack with 5 or 6 wolves just lying around and romping in the distance. That was first thing in the morning. I felt happy and satisfied to have seen the one animal I mostly wanted to see but our day was far from over. We also saw a pronghorn (one of the fastest animals on land), coyote (stalking the pronghorn), a black bear, tons of bison, bull elk, mountain goats (extremely hard to spot- again, used the scopes), and other animals. We went in search of grizzlies but didn't see any. We still had fun looking and learning about their habitats and where or look for them as well as what to do and what not to do if we ever came upon one in the wild. Then, we were all surprised when as we came close to the time that we thought would be the end of our wonderful tour, Quinn asked if we'd like to take a little hike. Of course we did and after walking across a field full of sagebrush and boulders, we came upon a skeleton of a bull elk. It was so cool watching the kids ask a million questions and I loved seeing them get a a mini science lesson without even realizing it. We also saw an long abandoned wolf den and other animal bones that had been drug into a pile by wolves. More lessons followed when the kids began matching the bones to see how many different types of animals were there. Quinn was very knowledgeable and really seemed to enjoy all or their questions and even their silliness. This was a wonderful way to end our tour. We also appreciated Quinn having not only a breakfast with plenty of variety, but plenty of snacks and a variety of drinks so no one had a problem finding stuff to eat. If you're on the fence because of cost, I'd honestly say this would have been worth canceling our other tour (rafting) and maybe even cutting our trip a bit short to squeeze the cost in because we saw so much more than during our days of touring alone. Luckily we were able to share the cost with our friend so we didn't have to do that. Thank you Quinn and The Wild Side for this awesome experience!

Booked a one day guided tour...really wanted to see wolves...unbelievably we saw wolves and grizzly bear, elk, bison, bald eagle, golden eagle and so much more. Our guide was MacNeil and his knowledge if all aspects of the park was fantastic... Can't recommend enough...just FANTASTIC!!

We have just returned from the most amazing day out in Yellowstone Park. MacNeil (our guide) enthralled us with the most interesting facts and stories about the park and its Wolves. If you are looking to make the most of your time at Yellowstone, learn about the park and it's amazing wildlife as well as pretty much "guarantee" to see the fabulous animals it has to offer ... You must book these guys. We had the delight of seeing 3 Grizzly, 2 Alpha Wolves, Bald & Golden Eagles, feeding Pelicans and more Elk and Bison than we could count. Came away with the best memories and great photos to show our friends and family.

My husband and I recently had the opportunity to join guide, Quinn, for the Wolf Tracker experience. What an incredible way to spend a morning! While we had seen several animals during our drives through Yellowstone, this was a completely different way to experience the park and all of its wildlife. Quinn helped us spot: 3 different wolf packs (1 with pups), 2 grizzlies (1 with a cub), a black bear with cubs, antelope, big horn sheep, mountain goats, falcon chicks in their nest, and bison crossing one of the rivers. We would never have been able to see these amazing creatures without Quinn for two reasons - we would not have known exactly where to look and even our good binoculars would not have been powerful enough to see the wolves and grizzlies (he estimated they were approx. 2.5mi away). At each stop, our guide quickly set up powerful scopes for each of us, so we wouldn't miss even the smallest movement of the animals.This experience was so impressive and powerful because we were able to observe wildlife in their natural habitat and see how graceful/majestic they really are - and Quinn's seemingly endless knowledge of the entire ecosystem of Yellowstone and his passion for nature. I highly recommend the Wolf Tracker if you would like to experience the Yellowstone Park that few ever see!

We set out at 5:00 am in search of the wildlife in Yellowstone and we certainly had a fun filled, wild and satisfying day thanks to Quinn and Bonnie. Before we settled in we were watching a grizzly bear enjoy the remnants of a bison carcass. As the day went on we saw Black bear, wolf, bighorn sheep, mountain goats, enough bison to feed an army, pronghorn, elk, deer, marmot, a peregrine falcon and her 3 babies, bald eagles and maybe a few things I can't remember. At each stop, scopes were immediately set up for us to see each of the animals. Snacks and drinks were plentiful and answers to our questions were always satisfying. All in all, a great day that I highly recommend. If only we saw a moose.

I just returned from Yellowstone and what an experience. This is my 4th trip, and by far the most wonderful because of Linda and Nathan and The Wild Side/Wolftracker.com group. It does not get much better to start the trip with the howling of the wolves in yellowstone, followed by many sightings of the wolves, Grizzly Bear, Black Bear, and the list goes on. Linda and Nathan are extremely educated on the wolves of yellowstone, and the love of the animals soon become your love as well. We also had the luck of spending time with another Naturalist that just joined up with them, named Emil, who is the expert in large cats. The education these folks have are amazing, and the experience is beyond expectation. You do not just see the Wolves and other wildlife, you leave with a piece of yellowstone in your heart because of these wonderful people. I am already thinking about a trip next year. Oh, and the last wonderful news as if this was not enough, the evenings are filled with fantastic meals from a regional chef along with local naturalist and photographers to share the evening with! Could not recommend them highly enough!!

After a very early pickup at our hotel we were driven to Yellowstone NP. The wildlife we saw in 7 hours was fantastic. Our guide MacNiel was very informative and knew where the best places were to spot the animals. Our main aim was to see wolves in the wild and we saw 3! Also a fox, coyote, bears, bison elk etc. Macneil gave us tips on what to look for when trying to spot various animals. The scopes and binoculars were great quality and allowed you to see the animals very closely. A nice touch was when Macniel used my iphone to take photos via the scope and also the photos he emailed to us that were taken via his telephoto lens. This day was quite expensive BUT it was worth every penny!!!! Would recommend doing this on the first day of your visit to Yellowstone.

Our guide MacNeill picked us up bright and early for what would be an amazing day! Coming from Australia, we had all kinds of questions about the area and the wildlife, and MacNeill answered them all in a way that showed his passion and knowledge for this beautiful area. We learnt so much! And then there were the wildlife sightings, well! We were fortunate enough to view 20 bears, both Black and Grizzly, as well as Elk, Bison, Pronghorn, Bighorn, Peregrine falcons in the nest, Bald Eagles, Osprey and so much breathtaking scenery. The wolves eluded us this day, although this company has a great success rate, but we knew this could happen. Wolves are notoriously elusive and mysterious so they just remain an enigma for us! But honestly it was such a wonderful day and I would recommend this to anyone visiting Yellowstone!

This was my second trip to Yellowstone this year, and I had a great time with a fabulous bunch of people. Wild Side owners and biologists Nathan and Linda, along with guide MacNeil, put together the perfect program. Not only was it fun, but I learned so much. The evening speakers were terrific, and my eyes were opened not only to the plight of the wolves (which I already knew about), but also the bison. Mornings started early (6 a.m. pick-up at our hotel) for the greatest chances of spotting wolves and grizzly bears, but nobody minded. We were all there to see wolves, so we were more than willing to do whatever was necessary. Unfortunately, we saw wolves only once, through a spotting scope, but we had personal encounters with bison, hawks, an egret, big horn sheep, a coyote and prong horn antelope, all at a safe distance, of course. The trip was extremely well organized, the food was good (dinners were catered by a local chef and were amazing) and bathroom stops well-planned. Breakfast most days was on the road inside the park to maximize the time spent searching for wildlife. Nathan and Linda were in frequent touch with various wolf- and bear-spotters, as well as rangers, who kept us up to date with the latest sightings.If you don't mind modest accommodations, long days and tromping through the mud to see an abandoned wolf den or a buffalo skeleton, this is the trip for you! Bring your sense of adventure, and you will have an amazing time. To top it off, this is the most affordable trip I have taken, and worth every penny.

I had a special plan for surprising my wife on our anniversary to go wolf watching in Yellowstone. Wild Side made it a wonderful trip. Our guide Linda picked us up right on time at our lodging. She had hot coffee and coco ready in the suburban! :) As well as lots of tasty treats for breakfast. We were off to a great start. As a wildlife biologist Linda was full of information and could easily provide the answers to our questions as well as all the background on the park and the wildlife programs. She was so nice and we were all fast friends. This was a private tour but was the same price or less than the group tours I had researched in preparation for our trip. We were immediately seeing wildlife and having a great time. I was skeptical that we would need a guide it is Yellowstone after all. It was soon evident it was worth the money. Yellowstone is massive and knowing where and when is critical. With the use of radio telemetry and radio communications we were able to find out where the wolves were most likely to be. WE SAW WOLVES!! It was amazing. We saw a wolf elk confrontation at one site then a wolf pack at another. I was thrilled to watch the wolf behavior and have an expert narrate the interaction. Linda also took us to see big horn sheep and then mountain goats. The equipment was great she even had a huge polar explorer coat for my wife who gets cold easy. It made the trip much more comfortable for her. We were sad to leave the park and out new friend.