Yellowstone & Grand Teton: Iconic Trails of the American West

Our trip begins in Bozeman, Montana. We rendezvous for orientation at 9am, then set off on the two-hour drive to Yellowstone National Park. Our first stop on our adventure is Mammoth Hot Springs. We drop by the visitor center, watch for the resident elk herd and get our initial glimpse of some of the park’s fascinating thermal features. After our guide-prepared picnic lunch, we start our warmup hike directly from the visitor center. After our hike, we transfer to enjoy dinner in Gardiner. | Overnight: Yellowstone Big Rock Inn or Similar - Gardiner | Drive Time: 3 hrs| Hiking: 4–5.5 miles, Elevation gain/loss: 1,207'

Meals:  L,D

Yellowstone is home to more than 50 species of mammals including black and grizzly bears, bison, elk, pronghorn, moose and wolf. The park draws wildlife lovers from all over the world hoping to catch a glimpse of these majestic creatures. We set out on a wildlife-viewing drive at dawn this morning, aiming to reach beautiful and remote Lamar Valley when the animals are most active. Additional dawn or dusk wildlife drives can be scheduled based on participants’ interest. After our wildlife adventure, we spend the day exploring the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone. We hike the canyon rim and enjoy views of the Yellowstone River far below. We also visit one of Yellowstone’s marquee overlooks, Artist Point, and will admire the falls from a number of sublime vantage points. A quintessential day in Yellowstone! | Overnight: Yellowstone Big Rock Inn or Similar - Gardiner | Drive time: 3 hrs | Hiking: 6.2–7.6 miles, Elevation gain/loss: 1300'

Meals:  B,L,D

No visit to Yellowstone would be complete without exploring the park’s fantastic geothermal features. Still considered an active volcano, reminders of Yellowstone’s violent geological past abound. We start today with a visit to the spectacular Grand Prismatic Spring, the largest hot spring in the nation. The spring's brilliant rings of brown, yellow, blue, green and orange are caused by microbes that live at the edges of the mineral-rich water. We continue to Upper Geyser Basin to explore the many additional geysers, hot springs and fumaroles there and our afternoon culminates as we witness the iconic eruption of Old Faithful. Dinner on our own tonight. | Overnight: Kelly Inn Inn or similar, West Yellowstone | Drive time: 3 hrs | Hiking: 4.5 miles, Elevation gain/loss: 350'

Meals:  B,L

After a hearty breakfast, we hike to the summit of Mount Washburn (10,223 ft) for 360-degree views of Yellowstone National Park spread out at our feet. While we hike, keep an eye out for the chance to see some bighorn sheep, as they like to frequent the area to graze in the meadows. At the summit, we enjoy views of and the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone and on the clearest of days we even have the chance to see as far as the Teton Range. The wide trail’s gradual ascent to the fire lookout atop the mountain makes it a great hike to top off our Yellowstone visit. After our hike, we return to West Yellowstone before an early departure toward Grand Teton National Park the following morning. | Overnight: Kelly Inn or similar, West Yellowstone. | Drive Time: 3.5 hrs. | Hiking: 7 miles, Elevation gain/loss: 1,384'.

Meals:  B,L,D

We head south today toward Grand Teton National Park, its immense granite peaks visible for miles above the plains. Once in the park, we set out on a self-guided hike around Jenny Lake, a glacially carved lake framed by some of the most iconic peaks in the Teton Range. There is time to enjoy the lakeshore, take in the mountain views, and explore the area at your own pace before returning to our waiting vehicle. Later, we take in spectacular views of the South, Middle, and Grand Teton, as well as Mount Moran, during a scenic rafting trip down the Snake River. In addition to the awe-inspiring Teton panoramas, we watch for bald eagles, beavers, moose, and bears along the riverbanks as we float by. Our time in the Tetons ends with a tasty dinner at Signal Mountain Lodge overlooking Jackson Lake. It is a perfect spot to enjoy final views of one of America’s most beautiful mountain ranges. | Overnight: 49er Inn or similar, Jackson | Rafting: 2.5 hour scenic float trip (Class I and II) | Drive Time : 3.5 hrs.

Meals:  B,L,D

Enjoy a leisurely final morning in Jackson, soaking up the relaxed mountain-town atmosphere before our journey comes to a close. We then take one last scenic drive through the wide-open beauty of Jackson Hole to historic Mormon Row, where weathered barns and homesteads sit beneath the towering Teton Range. It is a fitting final glimpse of this remarkable landscape before a 1pm drop-off at Jackson Hole Airport.

Meals:  B,L