Natalie Ogbourne

Hi there! I'm Natalie.

I help people go to Yellowstone–

In Real Life & through the pages of a book.

Yellowstone hasn’t just been good for me; it’s been good to me.
Whether you visit in person or through the pages of a book, it can be good for you too.

60,000 miles.

That’s how many miles I’ve road-tripped from home to Yellowstone and back again. That’s a lot of miles over a lot of years. 

I’ve been 

  • visiting Yellowstone almost yearly since 1981.
  • helping travelers polish their Yellowstone plans since 1987. 
  • learning life lessons from Yellowstone since 1989.
  • telling Tales from the Trail as a writer & speaker since 2008.

Very soon I will be

  • releasing a Yellowstone memoir–Waking Up in the Wilderness: A Yellowstone Journey (October 21, 2024)
  • sharing more lessons from Yellowstone’s trail.

 

 

    When it comes to Yellowstone, I do a whole lot of things: Here’s the lowdown:
Favorite Yellowstone Hikes

About my forthcoming Yellowstone memoir

  • It’s for armchair travelers, outdoor adventurers, national park aficionados & Yellowstone fans alike.
  • It will be available in 2025.
  • The title reveal is coming soon.

Description:

When Natalie Ogbourne first visited Yellowstone National Park on a family vacation, she had no idea how it would change her life. This book invites you to embark on a four-decade journey through Yellowstone alongside Natalie as she navigates the fine line between solitude and isolation. You’ll encounter the inseparable delights and dangers of the park in all four seasons—hiking, canoeing, fly fishing, snowmobiling, snowshoeing, and camping along the way. As you experience the transformational power of nature, you’ll learn that what’s true on the trail is true in life and be inspired to meet challenges with resilience and perspective.

For first-person book news, click here.

 About Your Yellowstone Guide

If you’re planning a vacation to Yellowstone & intimidated by all the unknowns, let me help you! I’m a former park employee who’s been helping people plan their time in the park since 1987.

  • Click here to read information for mapping your Yellowstone adventure.
  • Click here to contact us for details about working with me, Your Yellowstone Guide.
  • Click here to subscribe to The Guide & get one of my favorite itineraries.

About Life Lessons from Yellowstone:

At home, at work, and all points between isn’t there always something to navigate? If you’re looking for a little hope for the terrain you’re traveling

  • Click here to subscribe to Field Notes: Glimpses of Goodness & Life Lessons from Yellowstone.
  • Read Tales from the Trail on the Home or Blog Page.
Be Prepared: Make Noise

A Little About Me

Hiking didn’t come naturally to me. (We grow, you know.) I love life outside but I have a hard time—and I mean a really hard time—getting out the door. I also have a hard time getting out of my head. Time on the trail helps me understand how to navigate the ups & downs, twists & turns, and flat places of everyday life by faith.

I have maybe one athletic bone in my body. One. Maybe. It divides its time between hiking and downhill skiing. 

My husband and I have been married for 31 years. He’s my favorite. We have a rapidly emptying nest. My kids are also on my favorite list.

Aside from writing, I also speak and teach to encourage others to navigate the landscape of life by faith. You can find more information about that here.

I love Yellowstone, mountains, still water and dancing streams, lilacs, daffodils, rugged skirts and ridiculous shoes, speaking, teaching, and singing.

Thanks for being here. If you’d like to hear from me about navigating life and Yellowstone, subscribe here. If you’d like work with me to map out your Yellowstone adventure, contact me here.

take heart and happy trails  ~ 

Natalie

“There is a great deal to be learned from what we see every day, if we would but consider it.” ~ Matthew Henry