Women’s Plein Air Retreat
July 2027
JOIN US IN WYOMING
July 5th - 8th, 2027
This retreat will launch this month to our waitlists first
We are excited to welcome guests back for our Wilderness Plein Air Painting Retreat, led by artist Kathy Wipfler. This four day, three night retreat invites artists of all experience levels to step away from their everyday routines and find inspiration in the beautiful landscapes of the Greater Yellowstone area.
Based at our backcountry Bed and Breakfast, just five minutes from Yellowstone National Park, guests will travel by horseback to scenic painting locations overlooking meadows, creeks, and mountains. Kathy will provide guidance and instruction throughout the retreat, while allowing plenty of time for guests to work independently and enjoy their surroundings.
Accommodations include comfortable double occupancy canvas wall tents, freshly prepared meals, and evenings spent gathering around the fire after a day of painting and exploring. A full day guided van tour of Yellowstone National Park with Teton Wilderness Tours is also included.
Pricing and FAQs can be found further down this page
What to Expect
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Guided rides through the greater Yellowstone area
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Gentle horses- each guest is paired up with one of our horses based on their experience level
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Painting Instruction and guidance by Kathy Wipfler
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Comfortable accommodation in our rustic wall tents (Double occupancy)
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Nourishing meals and snacks throughout the retreat
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Attentive staff- our wranglers and guides have extensive experience and knowledge of the area
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Breakfast in our cook tent - It's a great spot for a late night card game too!
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Western style dinners around the fire
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Real beds + warm bedding
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Scenic locations to relax and paint
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A full day van tour with Teton Wilderness Tours
Key Information & FAQ
Please feel free to give us a call or send over an email with any questions:
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The all inclusive price is $3,420 per person and includes all taxes and gratuity.
Installment Schedule of 25% deposit, followed by auto drafts at 150 days, 90 days and 30 days prior, each installment is non-refundable . Please reach out to us with any questions! -
Plein air painting instruction with artist Kathy Wipfler
Guided horseback rides to scenic painting locations
A full day guided van tour of Yellowstone National Park with Teton Wilderness Tours
Three nights at our backcountry Bed and Breakfast in comfortable double occupancy canvas wall tents
All meals freshly prepared at camp
Time for independent painting and exploring
Evenings spent gathering around the campfire
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Our basecamp is located about an hour and twenty minutes from Jackson. We are based in the Bridger Teton National Forest, about five minutes from the South Entrance of Yellowstone National Park. We’re right between Yellowstone and Grand Teton, which makes it easy to access both parks while staying in a more quiet, backcountry setting.
There is a gas station and convenience store at Flagg Ranch about four minutes by car from our camp. Colter Bay is 30 minutes from us.
We’ll send detailed directions and arrival info ahead of your trip, and you’re always welcome to give us a call if you have questions getting here.
Here is a link to our location, you can find us on Google & Apple Maps: https://maps.app.goo.gl/kvi5Frv8VUDnqLNN8?g_st=ic
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We do not provide airport transportation directly, but we’re happy to recommend a reliable shuttle service to get you to and from our basecamp. If you’re renting a car, we also have parking available at camp. Give us a call and we can walk you through the best options based on your travel plans.
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Our weight limit for riding is 250 lbs or less. This is for the safety of our horses and guests. We do make case by case exceptions.
(Please contact us)
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Bears do live in this area, but it’s not something you need to be worried about. Our camp is set up with bear safety in mind, and our crew is trained and experienced in operating in bear country. We handle all food storage properly and keep a clean camp, which is the biggest factor in preventing issues.
It is extremely rare to see a bear near our camp, and when you’re out riding or exploring, your guide will walk you through what to do to stay safe. We’ll also explain all bear safety protocols when you arrive so you feel comfortable and prepared.
We have bear spray on site that can be borrowed by our guests during their stay.
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Yes, we get a lot of solo travelers. Our camp is family run and all meals are communal, so it’s a very welcoming atmosphere. We make sure our guests feel like a part of camp right away.
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Yes! Please make a note on your reservation.
We do our best to accommodate dietary restrictions with advance notice. All meals are prepared fresh at camp, and we can adjust menus for needs like vegetarian, gluten free, and allergies. Let us know when you book or give us a call ahead of your trip so we can plan accordingly!
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Because we are located on U.S. Forest Service land, we are off grid and there are limitations to the facilities we can have. We do not have traditional plumbed restrooms. At our Bedroll & Breakfast, guests have access to a clean, private outhouse as well as a hand washing station. It’s rustic, but comfortable, well maintained, and kept very clean. Please contact us if you have any questions about this.
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Tents are double occupancy, so you will share your tent with another woman attending the retreat. It’s all part of the experience and a great way to get to know the other women in the group!
If you’re attending with a friend and would like to share a tent, just let us know and we’ll do our best to make sure you’re paired together.
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Expect to spend several hours in the saddle at a time. We’ll take breaks along the way, but this is backcountry riding over varied terrain.
We can accommodate a range of riding levels, however some previous experience is highly recommended. If you’re a complete beginner, we encourage you to get some time in the saddle through lessons or trail rides before your trip. A little experience beforehand can help you feel more comfortable and confident and get the most out of your time here. Please call us with any questions!
Before we head out on the trail, we’ll pair you with a horse based on your riding experience, comfort level, and personality. Our horses know this country well, and riding with them lets us take you into places you simply can’t experience from the road. You’ll ride through remote backcountry, cover varied terrain, and experience the Greater Yellowstone Area from a perspective few visitors ever get to see.
The Heart Behind Our Retreats
We believe that the opportunity to experience horses, learn horsemanship, and explore the wilderness shouldn’t be limited to those who grew up around it. There’s so much value in these experiences, and we love being able to share them with women from all walks of life.
Our retreats are about creating a welcoming space to try something new, build confidence, connect with other women, and experience a way of life that might otherwise feel out of reach. Whether you’ve spent your whole life in the saddle or have never been on a horse, we want you to feel that you belong here.
More than anything, we host these events because we believe that time spent with good people, good horses, and in beautiful places can have a lasting impact.
Meet Kathy Wipfler
Kathy is a highly skilled artist and horsewoman whose work captures the landscapes of the American West, along with the horses, wildlife, and people who live and work there. Her paintings are grounded in real experience, shaped by decades spent riding, painting from life, and learning directly from the land.
She moved to Jackson, Wyoming in 1980 to focus on painting from life and was mentored by influential Western artists including John Clymer, Conrad Schwiering, Hollis Williford, William Reese, and Skip Whitcomb. Over the years, her close connections with local homesteading families and working cowboys have deeply informed her understanding of western life.
Kathy’s work is held in the permanent collections of major Western art museums, including the National Museum of Wildlife Art and the Whitney Museum of Western Art.
For over 70 years, Wilderness Trails Outfitters has been a family run operation, welcoming guests into the heart of the Greater Yellowstone backcountry.
Nestled in the peaceful meadows of Sheffield Creek, our camp is surrounded by towering forests, rugged mountain ridges, and wide-open skies. Guests enjoy comfortable canvas wall tents, freshly prepared meals, and the opportunity to experience a quieter way of life surrounded by wilderness.
Our crew is at the heart of everything we do. From our guides and wranglers to our cooks and camp staff, each member of our team plays an important role in making every guest’s experience special. With years of backcountry experience, a genuine love for the outdoors, and a shared dedication to our horses and guests, our crew brings camp to life. They’re the friendly faces around the dinner table, the helping hands on the trail, and the people who make a stay with us so memorable.
About Wilderness Trails Outfitters
Guest Testimonials
“From the very first day, the staff and guides created such a welcoming and adventurous environment. Riding horses through Yellowstone and the stunning Bridger Wilderness was unforgettable - the views were breathtaking, and it felt like stepping into another world.Beyond the scenery, what made this trip so special were the people I met along the way. The camaraderie, laughter, and shared adventure created connections I'll treasure forever.”
— Arlyne, Cowgirl Camp 2025“Wilderness Trails runs a fantastic operation. I'm an active equestrian with many years of experience and was looking for something other than the typical nose-to-tail tourist rides. I found Wilderness Trails via another social media site's equestrian sub and was very glad I did! This is the outfitter I will absolutely return to on my next trip to Teton.”
— Laurel R., 2025“What an amazing amazing place and wonderful wonderful people! Alison and her team made mums dream of a lifetime come true - riding through the mountains and some! They made us feel like part of their beautiful family and couldn’t do enough to make our whole trip unforgettable. Great horses for all abilities, very knowledgeable horsemen and women, delicious food and fantastic riding country. Just perfection. Thank you!”
— Raja, 2024