Welcome to Trip Reports, where we invite real families to share their stories of adventuring with their kids. Today's report comes from Devin Dwyer from the Tetons in Wyoming. Have a story you want to share? Email us at hello@morrisonoutdoors.com !
Our llama packing adventures started in the summer of 2023 when we read about Wynfromere Farms from an article in our local magazine.
We connected with Paul, the owner, and met up for llama packing training, which included a visit to his farm to meet the llamas. The next day, we headed out for a half-day picnic adventure with the llamas. After completing the training, we were then eligible to ‘rent’ the llamas for backcountry trips. Paul does work with 4H, and some of his students have worked over the years to ‘train’ the llamas to be ridden. This gave us the confidence and accessibility we needed to travel into the backcountry with our kids.
At the time, we had a 2.5-year-old and a 2-month-old. We decided the following summer would be the best time to head into the backcountry.
For our first trip, we opted to head into the Bechler region of Yellowstone National Park. I had never been to this area before, but my husband had and reported that it was relatively flat and beautiful, with the bonus of some hot springs!
We recruited our good friends who don’t have children yet to join us on this first trip. This was our first backcountry trip with kids, our youngest's first camping experience, and the first time we took pack animals into the backcountry. The Bechler requires permits, which our friend acquired in the spring.
Previously a lightweight backpacker, packing for this trip was a luxury. We rented 3 llamas, 1 of which would be ridden by our oldest, and 2 that could carry 60lbs each.
We showed up at the Bechler Ranger Station on a Friday afternoon and checked in with the ranger. He asked to speak with the Chief Llama Handler, which we thought was hilarious, and ultimately I took on that role. We watched a video on the park and Leave No Trace ethics while Tim and the girls started loading up the llamas.
We got a late start that first day, but that was fine. We had a relatively flat 5 miles to get to our first site. The wildflowers were beautiful, and our oldest was a champ riding on a llama the entire time. We had a couple of mishaps, like I dropped my phone out of my pack while simultaneously a bear crossed right in front of the llamas. Fun fact: llamas make a very unique, distinct noise when predators are around.
We rolled into camp right as the mosquitoes were rolling out on the evening. We covered up and set up our tents, collected water for ourselves and the llamas, and started dinner. With the help of our friends, we were able to get the girls settled into bed while they hung our bear bags. Another perk to the pack animals is that their paniers acted as bear bags, so we just loaded and hung those.
The next morning, the mosquitoes were still swarming. The Bechler is a low-lying, marshy area, so we weren’t too surprised. We woke up, had breakfast, and packed up the llamas.
Day two consisted of a lot of river crossings and a lot of bugs! We made it to a junction where we decided to hike up to Dunanda Falls and the nearby hot springs. Along the way, we passed some beautiful campsites that were closed for revegetation, but we made note of them for future trips.
We finally reached Dunanda Falls, and it was stunning! The hike down to the falls is steep and loose, so we took turns shuttling the kids while leaving the llamas tied up at the top.
After enjoying the falls, we retraced our steps to the original trail split and continued on toward camp. This next stretch was mostly flat and passed through what would have been marshland just a month earlier. As dusk settled in, the bugs worsened, but we kept moving because walking through a cloud of mosquitoes is still better than standing still.
We crossed a large field, splashed through a bit more water, and made it to a beautiful campsite next to a creek. Once again, we made dinner, tethered the llamas, and settled in for the evening.
That night, the winds were whipping, but thankfully, the kids didn’t notice and slept right through it.
The next morning was our final hike out. We woke up to what seemed like fewer bugs, maybe thanks to the wind, and had breakfast. The day began with a suspension bridge and a river crossing with the llamas, which was a beautiful way to start.
Even though it was our shortest hiking day, it seemed to drag on. Maybe it was the heat, or maybe it was because our toddler kept asking, “How much further?” from her perch atop Freddie Freckles the llama.
We made it back to the parking lot, found some shade, devoured snacks, and loaded up the llamas.
On the drive home, I felt such a wave of emotion over what we had just accomplished with two young children: three days, two nights, and 16 miles with two kiddos and three llamas. There were minimal (if any) tears, and everyone had so much fun!
I’m constantly in awe of our kids’ childhood and the incredible experiences they’re exposed to, but even more than that, I’m impressed by their positive attitudes and go-with-the-flow demeanor.
Shortly after this trip, we set out on another llama adventure. For the 2025 season, we already have three trips planned, this time with 3 kiddos in tow.
Reflecting Back:
Trekking with friends who don’t have kids made a big difference! It helped in so many ways, including giving us the flexibility to change camp. On our second trip, those friends weren’t able to come, so we stayed at the same campsite for two nights and day-hiked instead, which also worked out well.
The luxury of using llamas is that they can carry up to 60 lbs. Our friends mostly carried their own gear, while the llamas carried our food, tent, sleeping bags, and other essentials.
The girls slept in Morrison Outdoors bags, which kept them cozy and warm at night. During the day, they wore sun shirts and Iksplor merino layers to stay cool, dry, and protected from the sun. I ended up packing several changes of clothes for my 1-year-old because, after most dinners, she was messy enough that we had to bear-bag her clothes. Also, I found that sliced olives and canned chicken make great kid snacks on the trail!
Trip Highs: Sharing this experience for the first time with the kids in a new, magical place.
Trip Lows: THE BUGS!!!
Devin Dwyer is a mother of three young girls, raising her family in the Tetons with a love for skiing, dirt trails, and wild places. She shares practical tips and honest moments from life outdoors with kids, whether it’s navigating a powder day with toddlers in tow or packing gear for a muddy hike or backcountry llama trip. Devin believes in taking kids along for every adventure and offers real-life insight on the gear that makes it possible. Her content encourages families to embrace the elements, get outside year-round, and find connection through shared time in nature.
Follow along on Instagram @_devindwyer or reach out at hello@devin-dwyer.com
