Yellowstone & Grand Teton Hiking - Lodge Based

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 with new friends before heading to our hotel in the National Park. Lunch and dinner included.

Hiking: 4-5.5 miles, Elevation gain/loss: 1,207'; Transfer: 3-4 hours.

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. Next we hike through Biscuit Basin to 70-ft Mystic Falls for a dramatic view of the geyser basin below. We continue our hike 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. All meals included.

Hiking: 4.5 miles, Elevation gain/loss: 350'; Transfer: 2.5-3.5 hours.

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! Dinner on our own tonight. Breakfast and lunch included.

Hiking: 6.2-7.6 miles, Elevation gain/loss: 1300'; Transfer: 2.5-3.5 hours.

We head south today towards Grand Teton National Park, its immense granite peaks visible for miles above the plains. On the first part of our multisport day, we hop aboard our bikes and cycle to lovely Jenny Lake, carved by glaciers and the second largest lake in the park. We have time to explore the lakeshore before jumping back on our bikes and returning to our waiting vehicle. Later, we take in the 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 bear 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's a perfect spot to enjoy final views of one of America's most beautiful mountain ranges. All meals included.

Cycling: 15-18 miles; terrain: established bike trail, Elevation gain/loss: 482'; Rafting: 2.5 hour scenic float trip (Class I and II). Transfer: 4.5 - 5 hours.

Today's challenging hike to the summit of Avalanche Peak offers outstanding views of southern Yellowstone, stretching to the Tetons 50 miles away. Our trail begins in a lush fir and spruce forest and climbs steadily, passing through wildflower meadows and up talus slopes to the summit at 10,566'. We relish the stunning high country panorama that includes Yellowstone Lake, the rugged Absaroka Mountain Range and Pelican Valley, some of the premier grizzly habitat in the Lower 48. This evening, we enjoy a final delicious celebration dinner with our guides and hiking companions. All meals included.

Hiking: 5 miles, Elevation gain/loss: 2,100'; Transfer: 3-3.5 hours.

After a hearty breakfast, we bid farewell to our home away from home. On our last day in the park, 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 week. We head back to Bozeman and plan to arrive by approximately 7pm where we say our goodbyes. Breakfast and lunch included.

Hiking: 7 miles, Elevation gain/loss: 1,384'; Transfer: 3.5-4 hours.