Yellowstone Alpen Guides began operating snowcoach tours in Yellowstone in 1984. We added summer tours to our repertoire in 1991. As a small company we pay close attention to detail and quality and strive to be the premier touring operation in Yellowstone and the surrounding area.

Join us as we explore this delicate ecosystem that is home to Old Faithful and two-thirds of the world’s geysers; where grizzly bears, wolves and other abundant wildlife roam freely. We cater to individuals, families with children and groups of all sizes. We have lodging and tour packages available; one call will take care of your Yellowstone vacation planning needs.

Summer tours are private and customized to meet your desires. Whether you are a first time Yellowstone visitor or are returning for your next adventure, we can help plan your itinerary. Our guides are experts in all things Yellowstone, and will show you the extraordinary things the Park has to offer. Your trip can include things like wildlife watching, a day hike to a backcountry geyser basin, a photography safari, swimming in a thermally heated river, and seeing the sites that make Yellowstone America’s grandest Park.

Winter snowcoach tours operate daily to Old Faithful and the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone. We offer the option of cross-country skiing or snowshoeing on our trips, and customized charters are also available. We provide shuttle services to guests staying at the Old Faithful Snow Lodge, and offer services to the North (Mammoth/Gardiner) and South (Jackson Hole) gates of the Park. Our snowcoaches are the classic, historical bombardiers, modernized for comfort and low emissions, made for over-snow travel.

Alpen Guides believes it is important to protect and preserve our national treasures. We generously donate to the worthy Yellowstone Park Foundation, the West Yellowstone Foundation, the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, Trout Unlimited, and many other organizations dedicated to protecting the environment.

• Are the snowcoaches heated? Yes. We also carry blankets in case anyone gets chilled.
• What days do your snowcoach tours go to the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone and to Old Faithful? We have tours every day to both destinations
• Is there a discount for taking two of your day tours? Yes, if you take two or more tours during your visit, there is a 10% discount.
• How does the Park entry fee work? We collect the Park entry fee as an agent for the National Park Service. It is $12 per person ages 17 and up, or $20 for a family living under the same roof and is good for 7 days in both Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks. Golden Eagle, Age, and Access, and National Parks passes and local passes are good for cardholder, spouse and children. You may purchase any of the these passes on the day of your tour. A photo i.d. is required.
• What do you consider a senior citizen? 62 or over.
• When is the best time to visit Yellowstone in the winter? It is nice all winter long but there are fewer visitors before Christmas and during the first three weeks in January.
• Do you have any half-day tours? Yes. You may charter a snowcoach for a four-hour tour, although we do not guarantee you will see Old Faithful erupt. The cost is $675 for a half-day charter.
• What are the opening and closing dates for the Park? The winter is December 15th through March 15th.
• We’ve heard there are lots of changes for winter use in Yellowstone. Is that true and will it affect our trip? Winter use is changing in Yellowstone and it should make for a more pleasant experience for snowcoachers. Starting in 2002-03 winter season almost all side roads and one-way scenic drives are now for snowcoaches only. Proposed changes in snowmobile numbers and types are scheduled to begin for the 2003-04 winter season. See winter use changes on our Yellowstone Page for more details.

J. Armand Bombardier patented the Bombardier Snowbus in 1939. Built in Valcourt, Quebec, these tracked vehicles were used for many things ranging from school buses, to military transport to oil exploration in the frozen north. Snowcoaches, as they have come to be known, were first brought to Yellowstone in 1955 and placed into commercial operation that winter. They have been running in Yellowstone ever since. Yellowstone Alpen Guides began operation in 1984 with two 1953 Bombardier snowcoaches that we believe were part of the original fleet from 1955. We currently operate 7 snowcoaches, the newest a youngster built in 1981! Through the years we have added soundproofing, newer engines with better exhaust, double-paned windows to avoid fogging, nice upholstery, and many other features to improve our visitor experience. We love these classic old snowcoaches and believe they are the best winter touring vehicle in the Park. The “Bombs” have the smoothest ride of all oversnow veh icles in Yellowstone, are close to the ground allowing easy entry and exit. They have two large hatches in the top that make it easy to stand up and get a quick picture or better look. Everyone gets a window and the horseshoe shaped seating provides a more intimate atmosphere for visiting with your fellow “coachers”. Take a look and we think youÍll agree, they are very COOL rigs!

Sally 1953- was purchased locally from friend and famed cowboy artist Gary Carter. Considered “Sweet Sally” by our guides, she has the smoothest ride of all.

Chip 1953- purchased locally was on the assembly line with Sally in December 1953. She was brown when bought and looked like a big buffalo “Chip”!

Kitty 1956- from Medicine Hat Alberta. When unloading at the body shop, the guy said, this is no snow cat it’s a snow Kitty.

Griz 1956- is our most recent purchase and is the only “Griz” in winter Yellowstone.

Rosebud 1965- used on a gas pipeline in Saskatchewan, it was our first Red snowcoach. Remember Citizen Cane?

Shoshone 1979- from Hudson Bay and named for the Indians once living in Yellowstone.

DeLacy 1981- from Hudson Bay, named after an early explorer/prospector; it is the newest Bombardier snowcoach in Yellowstone.

Read more about the history of snowcoaches in yellowstone on wiki