About Trail Guides Yellowstone

Connecting People and Places
Yellowstone National Park is a unique place. It has a magnetic quality that draws you in and exposes you to the raw power and beauty of nature. It is a backpacker's paradise with over 1,000 miles of scenic trails spread over some of the most pristine wilderness in the lower 48. The featured hikes on the Trail Guides website represent some of the best of what Yellowstone has to offer, and we hope the imagery and information we provide will inspire others to throw on a pack and head off to this incredible wonderland. A place where wild animals still roam free and nature is left untouched for all to enjoy.





Brian Farrell, Owner
As an avid hiker I've logged thousands of miles on trails throughout the U.S., and after moving to Bozeman in 2002, Yellowstone National Park has been a significant part of my life for the last decade. Each time I set foot in the backcountry I come away with a greater appreciation for the beauty and diversity that exists in this incredibly wild place. I've never been disappointed by what Yellowstone has to offer and I look forward to showing you the best destinations in America's first national park.





Felix Marquez, Business Development & Photography
My earliest memory of photography is a little (filmless) Brownie box camera. At age four, I played with and pushed the shutter countless times for hours on end. I have been told that those were the best photographs I have ever taken, so I continue to shoot, hoping that someday I will come full circle.

My images of golf and tennis legends have sold worldwide and have appeared in Sports Illustrated, as well as in numerous international publications. National Geographic has also published my work. In 2008, I won its Festivals and Celebrations category. I am humbled by being included in the 40 Outstanding Award Winning Photos Around the World for 2010.

I look forward to sharing the magic of Yellowstone with you.





Cynthia Logan, Writer & Editor
As a contributing writer and editor to Trail Guides Yellowstone, Cynthia Logan brings an enthusiasm for hiking the easy ones, and a rigorous detail to written communications and public outreach. Her twenty years of professional experience with text in its many guises helps accomplish these tasks with deceptive ease.





Chris Hondorf, Yellowstone Backcountry Guide
Chris Hondorf has been guiding in the Greater Yellowstone Region for several years and he possesses a keen understanding of the park and the surrounding areas. He enjoys sharing his passion for the outdoors and nature with others and guiding in Yellowstone is an ideal way for Chris to share his knowledge of this one-of-a-kind national park. Chris is a Wilderness First Responder, lead guide, and the owner of Yellowstone Guidelines.

After receiving a Bachelor of Science from Syracuse University and SUNY Environmental Science and Forestry, he ventured to the wilds of southwest Montana. Chris and his wife Annie—a Montana native—and their daughter Nola live in the small gateway community of Livingston, MT.

Yellowstone Guidelines has been providing guided backpacking adventures in the Yellowstone region for over 20 years and they are one of only a handful of companies authorized by the National Park Service to guide in Yellowstone!





Ryan Krueger
Ryan Krueger has lived in and around the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem for over 8 years. As an avid outdoor recreation enthusiast and guide, he brings a great amount of passion and experience to this project. Whether hiking, climbing, skiing, mountain biking, or rafting, he has logged many hundreds of miles in the mountains of Montana and Wyoming. Ryan is a current Wilderness First Responder, serves on the board of several local conservation organizations, and is a "Ranch Hand" for Montana's own Mystery Ranch backpacks.

Ryan received his Undergraduate degree in Political Science from the University of Georgia, which included an internship with the National Park Service and US Attorney's office in Yellowstone National Park. Ryan lives in Bozeman and, depending on the season, you will see him out in the wilds of Montana taking on a multitude of adventures any chance he gets.



John Meyer
John grew up in the midwest building three story tree houses and catching snapping turtles. He moved to Montana in 1999 and fell in love with the mountains and the secrets they hold. John earned a degree in biology from the University of Montana-Missoula and then worked for the U.S. Forest Service as a biological technician in Montana and Alaska. After graduating with honors from Vermont Law School in 2009, he high-tailed it back to Montana to start Cottonwood Environmental Law Center, a Bozeman-based non-profit law firm and conservation organization dedicated to protecting the people, forests, water and wildlife in the West. John enjoys working in his office when he isn’t outside recreating.





Madison McClintock
Madison is a M.F.A candidate in Montana State’s Natural History & Science Filmmaking program. Although a California-native, she received her B.A. in Environmental Studies from Franklin College in Switzerland. Madison attributes her most valuable educational experiences to experiential learning and loves to immerse herself in other worlds and cultures. As a result, she is particularly interested in how filmmaking can be used as a creative medium to promote awareness about important cultural and environmental issues.





Brett Kuxhausen
Brett is a M.F.A. student at Montana State University’s Science and Natural History Filmmaking Program. Originally from southwest Iowa, Brett obtained his Bachelor’s of Science degree at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in Biological Sciences, while minoring in Chemistry and Film Studies. He spent his time there conducting research under the supervision of a top biologist and producing an independent research project on tropical fish predator and prey interactions. Combining his scientific roots with a passion for film, Brett independently produces material focused on educating and entertaining.