What to Expect on a Yellowstone Fall Photography Workshop in October

October has typically been the month that only photographers and fly fisherman remained in Yellowstone. Although visitation has been increasing over the years, October still sees only 20% of the peak monthly visitation in July. That’s the draw for me, and hopefully for you as well! It becomes MUCH easier to find the peace and quiet that Yellowstone offers when there are no crowds of people. Early mornings and late evenings can almost guarantee solitude in most areas.

Cold morning temperatures bring fog to the warm, spring fed rivers.

WEATHER

The average temperatures in the park for early October range from around 26ºF overnight and 53ºF during the day. Of course, there are big variations from those averages each year. Last year we had a big snow in late September, but October was relatively nice. Snow is certainly possible anytime after late August. You will need to come prepared for cold weather, rain, and snow. Hats, gloves, jackets, and boots may all be needed.

WILDLIFE

Yellowstone’s wildlife is still wild – nothing can be guaranteed. Still, it’s still very rare to go a full day without seeing some kind of wildlife, especially in cooler months like September and October. You never know what you might encounter, so preparation is key!

MOST LIKELY

Bison
Elk
Pronghorn
Birds of prey (bald eagle, osprey, hawk)
Waterfowl (herons, ducks, swans, geese)

POSSIBLE

Coyote
Fox
Black bear
Grizzly bear
Moose
Otter
Bighorn sheep
Deer
Wolf (long distance sightings)
Badger
Beaver
Weasels, marten
Pika, marmot

Bison herd facing an early snow storm

SAMPLE ITINERARY

DAY 1

You should be arriving on this day or the day before to ensure you don’t miss the introduction dinner. We will arrange to meet for dinner around 6PM this night to discuss plans and get to know each other. I would recommend visiting the Grizzly and Wolf Discovery Center in West Yellowstone on this day to see their animals up close and personal.

DAY 2

The day will begin around sunrise, departing from your lodging in the town of West Yellowstone. We will enter the park and travel the first 14 miles along the Madison River. Elk and bison are common here, as well as the occasional bird of prey or coyote. From here, we will make the turn onto the upper loop.

Possible locations along the way include Norris Geyser Basin, Canyon, Dunraven Pass (bears possible), Tower Falls, Lamar Valley, Mammoth Hot Springs. Wildlife to look for includes all the big mammals, including bears. Wolves inhabit much of the Lamar Valley, but there is only a small chance of viewing them.

We will break for a picnic or restaurant lunch, depending on the group’s preference.

We will likely remain in the Lamar Valley and Tower Junction area for the best light around sunset and the best wildlife opportunities. The loop will take us back to the Madison River before returning to town, although it may be dark by this point in the day.

DAY 3

The second day will begin the same along the Madison River, stopping for any wildlife sightings.This day, we will be taking the route around the lower loop. This will include the Firehole River and Upper Geyser Basin (Old Faithful area), Craig Pass, West Thumb, Yellowstone Lake, Hayden Valley, and the Yellowstone River. We will go through the Canyon-Norris area again before heading home along the Madison.

Elk are common around Yellowstone Lake, and many species may be encountered in the wildlife-rich Hayden Valley. Bears frequent the lake and canyon area, as well as anywhere in between. Dunraven Pass could be added again to the second day, if bear activity is high up there. October is when bears are in a hyperphagia stage, feeding excessively in preparation for winter hibernation.

DAY 4

The third day will return to the most productive areas encountered on the first two days. If the group is interested in learning post-processing with Adobe Lightroom, we can take some time out of the day to work on this. Having a third full day increases your chance of spotting more species of wildlife.

The last day of each workshop will be a full day, so lodging is recommended that night for departure the next day.

Grizzly bear shaking off water in the Yellowstone River

INTERESTED IN BOOKING?

Click “Book Now” to view dates and reserve your spot. Both workshops are listed on the page, and both can be booked directly online. You can also contact me via email or phone with questions (404-839-0151)

You can choose a two or three day workshop, or the longer five days option that combines these two (discount applies).

If you aren’t quite ready, click the button below to join the workshop waiting list.

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OCTOBER IMAGE GALLERY

Click here to view more images from October