This September, I led my first-ever retreat — a spiritual wilderness retreat in Heart Lake, Yellowstone National Park…and to say that it was one of my top highlights of 2025 would be a radical understatement!

I've decided to make this retreat an annual event, and I already can't wait to return next year (more info on that to come!).

In this post, I want to share a day-by-day recap of what we did, what I felt and experienced, what we ate, how far we hiked…all of the highs, lows, and in-betweens from my eyes.

For those who love the concept of a trip like this but don't have any interest in ever camping/hiking/backpacking for 5 days and 4 nights, I hope this post gives you a glimpse into and a taste of the experience. And for anyone who is curious and interested in potentially joining in 2026 or a future year (and if you're tentatively interested but also intimidated and can't even fully admit to yourself that you may be interested, ummmm that's totally normal and I totally get that!), I hope that this recap gives you a helpful peek into what you might expect and if you can realistically see yourself here with us in the future!

Below are some of the daily notes taken straight from my journal (with some additional context), some of my favorite pics, and my day-by-day Rose/Bud/Thorn recap. If you're not familiar, Rose/Bud/Thorn is one of my favorite ways to reflect back on the day, especially when I'm traveling or on a retreat — the Rose is the highlight moment of the day, the Bud is something I'm looking forward to coming up, and the Thorn is the challenge or low point from the day.

I hope you enjoy this peek into my journal and my mind from this epic retreat! And as always, if you have any questions about this retreat experience, feel free to email me at chelsea@chelseajewel.com and I'll do my best to answer your questions honestly and realistically.

Pre-trip — arrival into jackson, wy

I arrived into Jackson, WY in the early afternoon (thanks to a 3:30am wakeup call since I begrudgingly had to take a connecting flight through Charlotte…Atlantans like me are usually spoiled with a plethora of flight paths, and I am always consistently shocked and outraged whenever I have to make a connecting flight within the US). Walked around and went into some shops, got a delicious, healthy salad for lunch at Healthy Being Café & Juicery, and met up with some of the other ladies who arrived early into Jackson. Overall, I like the vibe of Jackson — it's definitely a wealthy (and overpriced) resort town, but it's charming with some great restaurants, shops, and coffee shops, and you can't beat the scenery of the Grand Tetons providing the perfect backdrop.
In the evening the 5 of us met up with Dave, our wilderness guide from Big Wild Adventures, to receive our backpacks and gear, look over the route on the map, and answer any last minute questions. The nerves and excitement are always ramped up to a peak the night before we head out, so some of us got a bite to eat in town but we all headed back to our rooms pretty early to try and pack up our big ole backpacks for the first time. While this is the first spiritual retreat I've led, this is actually my third trip with Big Wild Adventures…so my nerves weren't as heightened as they've been before, but still, heading out into the wilderness, you never know what you're going to get! I tried to focus on enjoying the comforts of my cozy bed, heated room, warm shower, and working toilet for one more night before venturing out into the wild backcountry.
The night before these big wilderness retreats, I always like to do a little oracle card pull for myself. This time, I pulled 3 cards from the Kim Krans Alchemy deck: Dissolution, Earth's Heart, and The Peacock's Tail

I journaled a bit before bed about my intentions for the trip: to practice staying in presence and living from the heart — which, to me, means keeping my energy centered in my heart space (and responding from that place) instead of in my head, and trusting in whatever is present and coming up in the moment.

Day 1 [Earth]: Snake River

Total mileage hiked: 7.9 miles (these are my totals from my iphone tracker, and especially since I'm short, some of these totals might be a little bit more than what we actually hiked with packs on, just fyi)

🌹 ROSES:

Saw a little rainbow glimmer in the clouds on the car ride into Yellowstone, which felt like a good omen for our adventures ahead! 🌈✨
Dave gave us a helpful bear safety talk before we officially hit the trails…talking about bears and receiving our bear spray is always a little anxiety-inducing, but it also helps us all breathe a little easier knowing we're prepared. We all found that once we actually got into Yellowstone and into our camp, the fear was way less than it had been before coming out, probably because we were finally just in the flow of being surrendered to the trip.
Starting out the trip with what felt like a (very cold!) symbolic threshold crossing of the Snake River — leaving behind the modern world and entering into the wild heart of mother nature.
Our first campsite right next to the Snake River, getting to fall asleep to the soothing sound of rushing water after a full day of hiking and new adventure.
Everyone making it through Day 1 hike and camp setup in good spirits, rolling with the punches! 🙌💪
Our first group circle and guided meditation working with the Earth element — today I got to lead a beautiful grounding practice to help us slow down, drop into our bodies, and feel held and supported by the land, creatures, and nature spirits of Yellowstone.
Already on Day 1, I'm feeling much more grounded, clearer, and (positively) disconnected from all of the drama, technology, and normal-life pressure back home.
Awesome Day 1 meals today — turkey wraps with veggies and fresh avocado for lunch, and an asian style quinoa bowl for dinner. Dave has done a great job of making our week’s meal plan primarily vegan and gluten-free, with some options here and there to add some meat/protein for those who want it.

🌿 BUDS:

Getting to be by the lake (Heart Lake) for the next 3 upcoming nights.

🥀 THORNS:

Beth's zipper on her tent not fully working 😕
Day 1/Night 1 is always one of the hardest, I think — adjusting to the shock of wearing a heavy pack, leaving behind the connection to modern civilization, sleeping on the ground in a tent in the middle of the wilderness. LOL. It's a lot! But everyone made it through the day and the night in good spirits.
Not getting a great night of sleep, but enough to keep me functional.
Bummed about the campfire ban across Yellowstone right now because of how dry of a year it's been. Which means that after an early dinner, we're all in our tents early at night to stay warm, with less time for cozy campfire stories and socializing.

Day 2 [Water]: Heart Lake

Total mileage: 11.2 miles

🌹 ROSES:

Got out of my tent to pee around 10:30pm last night, which I really didn't want to do because it was SO cold, but when I did, I saw SO many stars and the Milky Way! I wish I could've stayed out there for a while but it was way too cold, and ya know…bears etc.
We had some epic, beautiful views today, especially while leaving and climbing a bit above the Snake River and then of some meadows and marshes as we got into the Basin Creek area.
Cacao oatmeal for breakfast. Hummus, crackers, cheese, carrots, and turkey bites for lunch. Gluten free pasta with marinara for dinner and vegan dark chocolate for dessert.
Once we got to camp and got everything set up, I led a grief ritual at the edge of the lake, where we could each individually lay down whatever heavy emotions we're carrying and offer them over to the Lake and to the Earth. We were all tired after such a long hike today, and a bit frustrated and rushed, but I think everyone appreciated the silence and space to just be by the water and feel however we felt.
I continue to feel nicely disconnected from the stuff going on in my life back home…can't tell if I'm just surrendered about it all since I'm out here, if I'm being emotionally shut down and avoidant, if I'm just over it all lol, or if I'm actually just feeling clear and focused on holding space for everyone here. In any case, it's nice not to be processing my own emotions constantly and to just have some space to BE, while feeling connected to nature and to everyone else here.

🌿 BUDS:

Getting to soak our sore muscles in the Witch Creek hot springs tomorrow!!

🥀 THORNS:

We had to start out by crossing the Snake River again first thing this AM…I already couldn't feel my toes in my shoes this AM, since it was still cold out first-thing, and then crossing in that frigid water was TOUGH.
Had a verryyy long (a tad bit too long if you ask me) hiking day to Heart Lake today. Dave said it was about 8 miles but my phone says 11.2 total 😮‍💨
I can feel myself being in my head a bit, worrying if people are having a good enough time and if I'm being a 'good enough' spiritual guide here. The silver lining is that I'm noticing it when it's happening and not letting it spiral or take over, so I'm able to witness the anxiety and fear without getting totally caught up in their stories — which was actually a major goal of mine in the first place. I continue to find it way easier to be present and not get caught in mind-spirals out here. I think it's both the support of nature (being totally immersed in and held by it) AND the disconnection from the digital/modern human worlds. It paradoxically feels much easier out in wild nature to get physically lost but stay spiritually/mentally/emotionally centered.
Tonight’s campsite is not my absolute favorite — it's a bit awkward in the small gathering/'kitchen' area and in the rocky path you have to walk up to get to the campsite area. But there's a pit toilet, which means no digging a hole to poop, which always stresses me out, so I'll take that as an overall win.

*Our courageous group of soul adventurers!*

Day 3 [Fire]: Witch Creek

Total mileage: 8.6 miles

🌹 ROSES:

Olga and Robyn getting to see a fox this morning as we left the first camp. They said it stared straight at them and then slinked away — most definitely an animal messenger for them!
Light hiking day with packs on — just 2.3 miles to get to a new campsite still on Heart Lake, and then we had a hike with just our (light as a feather) day packs on.
This camp we're at now right on Heart Lake is awesome and definitely all of our favorite. It’s spacious and flat, RIGHT ON the lake, and has a great ‘kitchen’ area with log seating areas — 5 stars in backpacking ratings!
WITCH CREEK HOT SPRINGS!!!! SO amazing and I swear helped relieve my aching feet and muscles tremendously. The water was like a perfectly-temperatured, natural jacuzzi. Was truly a Yellowstone spa day. And overall, a day and experience for the record books.

Since today was our Fire element day, we set intentions in the healing waters of the hot springs around what we were ready to release and let burn away — calling in fire's transformative power to help us shed old stories and patterns and step into new, more confident and empowered versions of ourselves.
I found an eagle feather on the shore at camp!! On my last backpacking trip in Utah, I found a hawk feather that became a powerful gift from nature, so on this trip I was specifically hoping to find an eagle feather. While hiking to camp, I had this strong feeling I was going to find one — and then I did! It felt like a beautiful synchronicity and confirmation. To me, the eagle's medicine of higher vision and leadership, appearing just as I stepped into leading my first retreat, felt like nature's way of saying: I see you. You're on the right path. 🦅✨

Some beautiful, heartfelt moments of us taking care of each other — Robyn leading us in a gentle yoga and stretching session for our sore muscles, and me getting to do mini tarot readings for everyone after our Fire group circle, offering guidance and insight for each person's journey.
Everyone's favorite dinner tonight: Butternut squash dahl bhatt with chickpeas!
Seeing the mountains across the lake change colors at sunset.

🌿 BUDS:

Looking forward to doing the Council of All Beings ceremony on top of Mt Sheridan (which we've renamed aptly to Mt Fox, because apparently Sheridan wasn't a cool dude).

🥀 THORNS:

Some minor digestion issues…
Saw some amazing stars again last night when I got up to pee, and wanted to hang and stargaze but just couldn't handle the cold.

Day 4 [Air]: mount sheridan

Total mileage: 10.8 miles

🌹 ROSES:

The breathtaking views from the summit of Mt. Sheridan/Mt. Fox (after a 10,308 foot climb up!) overlooking Heart Lake, Yellowstone Lake, and mountain peaks rolling out in every direction as far as the eye could see.
Spotting a golden eagle (!!) soaring above us and then a mountain goat plopped down (literally, we saw him climbing up a bit and then he just…plopped and lay there the entire rest of the time we were up on the mountain) on the rocky cliffs — two perfect, wild witnesses to our ceremony at the summit.
Not having to pack up and re-set camp today since we're staying at this same (amazing) camp tonight. AND getting to hike with just our super light day packs instead of our heavy, full backpacks!
Leading my first Council of All Beings ceremony at the top of Mt. Fox. This ritual, created by Joanna Macy and John Seed, invites us to step aside from our human identities and speak on behalf of another life-form, so that we can listen and give voice to the more-than-human world, while deepening our awareness of our interconnectedness with all beings. This ceremony, especially after a long uphill climb and while sitting on the summit of one of the highest peaks in Yellowstone, felt incredibly special and sacred to me — I think we all walked away feeling more connected to nature and its fellow citizens, even long after the ceremony ended.
Our second sunset at this magical campsite on Heart Lake. The energy here feels so supportive for all of us coming back more deeply into our hearts, into our bodies, and into the presence of our authentic selves.
Dave's surprise treat of Hi-Chew candies at just the right moment while making the uphill trek. I'd never tried them before, but they were the perfect burst of sweetness and energy to power me up that intense mountain climb!

🌿 BUDS:

Getting back to a bed, warm shower, and a dinner out with a glass of wine tomorrow.

🥀 THORNS:

I really struggled up that mountain today. It was an intense, long climb up. It was definitely worth it in the end, but I didn't love the process of getting up there 😂😮‍💨. I'm kind of wondering if it was partially because I ate breakfast and maybe felt weighed down by that? The gals who didn't eat breakfast seemed to fare a bit better in their climbs, so that's going to be my gameplan for next year's mountain hike.
Big blisters on both of my pinky toes that I can't seem to fully lance (ew, sorry I know, but…#camplife)

*The Heart Lake money shot! Can you see the heart?! 😍🥹💚 I miss her!*

Day 5 [Spirit]: Yellowstone geysers & Hot Springs

Total mileage: 10.9 miles

🌹 ROSES:

Our final group circle on the trail, sharing reflections and heartfelt appreciations to one another. It was beautiful and emotional, and I definitely teared up a couple times! AND then, out of nowhere, this perfect little rainbow appeared right above us as we were all sharing. We started this journey with a rainbow glimmer on Day 1 and ended with a full rainbow on Day 5 — both times even without rain…how’s that for some true Yellowstone magic and affirmation for us?! 🥹✨🌈
Spotting a few wild deer bopping around through the forest on our final hike out — our Yellowstone farewell committee.
Hearing Dave's stories about past wilderness expeditions and about Howie (the original founder of Big Wild Adventures, who I've never gotten to meet but who sounds like a true champion and kindred spirit) and his incredible dedication to preserving and fighting to protect our wild park lands.
That first long, hot shower back in civilization, followed immediately by a giant pizza and a cold, crisp beer. The simple pleasures hit different after 5 days in the backcountry!
Watching Robyn become a local celebrity for her stellar line dancing skills at the infamous Million Dollar Cowboy Bar in downtown Jackson — someone literally recognized her at the airport the next day! The perfect, hilarious way to celebrate making it through our epic adventure together.

🌿 BUDS:

Getting a hazelnut latte and a lil treat at the local bakery/coffee shop Persephone in the AM before I travel home — I’m such a sucker for a mythologically-named coffee shop!

🥀 THORNS:

We had some challenging elevation climbs today, hiking out of the Heart Lake and hot springs area — nothing like yesterday’s mountain summit, but still tough, especially with our full, heavy packs strapped back on.
I was not the biggest fan of our early wakeup call this AM, but in the end I was grateful since we were all excited for our final hike out today and since it helped us make great time to get back into Jackson in the afternoon (and gave us more time for pizza and line dancing!).
I'm already feeling sad and bittersweet about saying goodbye to our group and about leaving this sacred bubble we've been in. We've been disconnected from the "real world" and yet more deeply connected to the actual world — to the earth, to each other, to ourselves — than we've been in a long time...coming back to civilization feels both necessary and heartbreaking.

Post-Trip Integration

Before, during, and after our trip, I encouraged myself and the other retreat participants to view the retreat similarly to a plant medicine ceremony. While it wasn't a psychedelic experience, it was deeply transformative in ways that only nature can facilitate. We set our intentions, surrendered to whatever was going to come up, and trusted that the experience would meet us uniquely and exactly where we needed to be met. Being completely immersed in what I call "nature medicine" for 5 full days allowed us to unravel and unlearn ingrained ways of operating, revealing older, truer patterns underneath all that conditioning.

And while that was a beautiful, healing, expansive experience for each of us in our own ways, what was also challenging (and again, similar to integrating after a plant medicine journey) was the jolt and, honestly, the bit of a come-down of returning to modern life after getting a glimpse of that different, more connected way of being. It's jarring — like we got to taste this slower, more grounded and natural rhythm in Yellowstone, where we could actually feel our own pace and listen to our bodies, and then we had to re-enter the frazzled, disconnected speed of the "real world." I definitely experienced grief and deep longing in that transition back, as well as the fundamental struggle of all integration work after transformative experiences: How do I bring those lessons and that medicine back with me into my daily life? Even though that week in the wilderness feels SO separate and different from my day-to-day life in the "real world," how do I allow myself — who I am and how I am choosing to live my life — to become a bridge and a conduit between these seemingly polarized versions of reality?

For me and for all of us, that integration is, of course, ongoing. And that's the real work. Ironically, even though our trip was challenging and taxing in many ways — like "a purposefully uncomfortable vacation" as Beth in our group aptly described it 😂 — the work wasn't over when we made it out of Yellowstone. Actually, that moment when we reached the trailhead to return back to civilization was the moment when the work truly began. Since then, I've been reminding myself (and our group) to slow down when possible, to notice old patterns and habits before automatically slipping back into them, and to stay connected to nature and the elements through small daily rituals — touching the earth, lighting a candle, stepping outside to feel the breeze. Just like after a ceremony, the insights and shifts keep unfolding for us in unexpected ways.

And I continue to find that as the modern world around us increasingly and urgently grapples with the question of "What is real? What is reality?" (hello, Pluto in Aquarius era!) — where many branches of reality are created and bolstered by an increasingly digital life, AI, human-centric psychology, and more — my time in Yellowstone serves as an anchor into capital-R Reality. I believe that nature is always our most reliable mirror and reminder of what's real, both around us and within us. And that's exactly what this Heart Lake retreat offered: a return to nature, and in doing so, a return to our own true nature.

Ready to join us for the 2026 Heart Lake Return to Nature Retreat? Head over to chelseajewel.com/return-to-nature-retreat and fill out the interest form at the bottom of the page. Once you do, we'll schedule a short Zoom chat where I can answer all your questions about dates, pricing, logistics, and help you determine if this retreat is the right fit for your journey. This experience is for anyone craving a blend of backpacking adventure and meaningful spiritual practice in one of the most beautiful and sacred places on Earth.

2025 Return to Nature: A Day-by-Day Recap Of Our Spiritual Wilderness Retreat Through Heart Lake, Yellowstone

Pre-trip — arrival into jackson, wy

Day 1 [Earth]: Snake River

Day 2 [Water]: Heart Lake

Day 3 [Fire]: Witch Creek

Day 4 [Air]: mount sheridan

Day 5 [Spirit]: Yellowstone geysers & Hot Springs

Post-Trip Integration

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