Compare Choose Your Pace: A Walk on the Wild Side in Yellowstone by Road Scholar

Day 1 Check-In, Registration, Welcome Dinner, Orientation Gardiner, MT

Hotel check-in from 2:00 p.m.

Program Registration: 4:00-5:00 p.m. After you have your room assignment, come over to the Road Scholar table to register with the program staff, get any updated information, and confirm the time and location of the Orientation session. If you arrive late, please locate your Group Leader and let them know you have arrived.

Orientation. The Group Leader will greet everyone and lead introductions. We will review the up-to-date program schedule, discuss roles and responsibilities, logistics, safety guidelines, emergency procedures, and answer questions. The program is staffed with our Group Leader and an instructor who is an expert naturalist and who will lead the educational portion of the program. Transportation for field trips will be via SUVs unless specified otherwise. This allows for small hiking groups and easier access to trail heads. We will have a choice of hikes each day to suit everyone’s abilities and interests. Hikes may vary based on current conditions and will be finalized and described by the instructor the night before. The Greater Yellowstone area is considered high desert, very dry. At high altitudes, you are more susceptible to dehydration and altitude sickness. Bring your own water bottle. Ice water will be available during travel, from which you may fill your water bottle; disposable cups will not be available. Periods in the schedule designated as “Free time” and “At leisure” offer opportunities to do what you like and make your experience even more meaningful and memorable according to your personal preferences. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. Program activities, schedules, personnel, and indicated distances or times may change due to local circumstances/conditions. In the event of changes, we will alert you as quickly as possible. Thank you for your understanding. Continue getting to know your fellow Road Scholars, settle in, and get a good night’s rest for the day ahead.

At a local restaurant.

Day 2 “Wonderland” Learning Session / Mammoth area hike Gardiner, MT

Getting in/out of SUVs; driving about 30 miles throughout the day, approximately 1 hour riding time. Choice of 3 hikes: 1) Slower paced 3 mile hike; elevation gain/loss of 350 feet. 2) Medium paced 4-5 mile hike; elevation gain/loss 350 feet. 3) Faster paced 6-7 mile hike; elevation gain/loss of up to 1,000 feet. All hikes/walks on dirt and rocky trails with uneven terrain. Hikes subject to change based on current conditions.

We will gather for an introductory presentation that will give us an overview of the Greater Yellowstone area. Known for its geothermal activity and diverse ecosystems, Yellowstone spans 2.2 million acres of valleys, canyons, rivers, lakes and mountain ranges. Sometimes called “Wonderland,” the park is home to the highest concentration of wildlife in the lower 48 states. It is at the core of one of the last undisturbed ecosystems in the Earth’s temperate zone. Mid-morning, our instructor will describe today’s three hiking choices. Our daily hikes with expert commentary will involve direct, personal exploration of life zones such as marshland, high desert, forest, hydrothermal, and grasslands. We will divide into small groups according to hike choices and hop into SUVs for our first hiking field trip. We’ll ride into Yellowstone National Park to our first destination. As we enter the Mammoth District, we’ll right away notice the Mammoth Hot Springs that are the main attraction of this area. These features are quite different from thermal areas elsewhere in the park. Travertine formations grow much more rapidly than sinter formations due to the softer nature of limestone. As hot water rises through limestone, large quantities of rock are dissolved by the hot water, and a white chalky mineral is deposited on the surface. Mammoth Hot Springs are a surficial expression of the deep volcanic forces at work in Yellowstone. All three hikes will be in and around this area and will help determine comfort levels as we cover rocky terrain amid high elevations.

We will continue our hikes immersed in the Yellowstone ecosystem and become more familiar with its various life zones. We’ll learn how their geologic bones — together with elevation and weather — evolved into vibrant habitats populated by the flora and fauna present today. For those up to the challenge, there will be an elective walk down several hundred stairs that lead over the large complex of hot springs on a hill of travertine terraces.

At leisure. Enjoy the camaraderie of fellow Road Scholars and views from the back patio that overlooks the Yellowstone River.

In our meeting room a short walk from the hotel.

On the trail, we’ll have sack lunches.

At a local restaurant.

Day 3 Yellowstone's Northern Range Gardiner, MT

Getting in/out of SUVs; driving about 80 miles, approximately 2 hours riding time. Choice of 3 hikes: 1) Slower paced 2.5 mile hike; elevation gain/loss of 160 feet. 2) The other two groups will undertake more difficult hikes of about 6 miles; 1,343 feet elevation gain. All hikes/walks on dirt and rocky trails with uneven terrain. Hikes subject to change based on current conditions.

We will set out early for our next hiking field trip into Yellowstone National Park’s Northern Range. It includes the Lamar Valley, often called America’s Serengeti for its large and easy-to-see populations of large animals; and Mount Washburn, a prominent mountain peak in the park, elevation 10,243 feet. We will have a choice of three hikes with different levels of difficulty according to personal interest and ability. Our instructor will describe all three choices — based on current conditions — as we hike along a portion of Yellowstone’s spectacular and mostly untouched 2.2 million acres that offer a lifetime of discovery and 1,200 miles of hiking trails.

We’ll continue hiking with our instructors leading the way as we learn more about this amazing “wonderland.”

Returning to Gardiner, take advantage of prime wildlife viewing time. To enhance your appreciation, watch through binoculars and spotting scopes.

At a local restaurant.

On the trail, we’ll have sack lunches.

At the Canyon Cafeteria, we will have vouchers provided.

Day 4 Hike in the heart of Yellowstone, Old Faithful Gardiner, MT

Getting in/out of SUVs; driving about 120 miles, approximately 4 hours riding time. Choice of 3 hikes: 1) Slower paced 3-4 mile hike on paved trail around Geyser Hill. 2) Medium paced 4-5 mile hike. 3) Faster paced 6-7 mile hike. Medium paced and faster paced hikes will be on some paved trails and some dirt/rocky trails with uneven terrain that could also include elevation gain of 160 feet. Hikes subject to change based on current conditions.

We’ll set out early and ride into the heart of Yellowstone National Park, home to the most famous geyser in the world: Old Faithful. We will have a choice of three hikes with different levels of difficulty according to personal interest and ability. Our instructor will describe all three hikes that will be based on current conditions. We will hike in the Upper Geyser Basin, home to the largest numbers of fragile features found in the park. Within one square mile there are at least 150 of these hydrothermal wonders.

Our hikes will continue with time to see some of the many thermal features in the Upper Geyser Basin and to watch Old Faithful erupt, a Yellowstone tradition. The park’s wildlife and scenery might be as well-known today, but it was the unique thermal features that inspired the establishment of Yellowstone as the world’s first national park in 1872.

Returning to Gardiner, take advantage of prime wildlife viewing time.

At a local restaurant.

In the Park, we’ll have sack lunches.

At Old Faithful Cafeteria in the heart of Yellowstone, we’ll have vouchers provided.

Day 5 Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone Gardiner, MT

Getting in/out of SUVs; driving about 120 miles, approximately 4 hours riding time. Choice of 3 hikes: 1) Slower paced 3 mile hike. 2) Medium paced 5 mile hike. 3) Faster paced 6 mile hike. All hikes on dirt/rocky trails with uneven terrain; some areas along Canyon rim, wide and safe with not much exposure. Hikes subject to change based on current conditions.

We will again have a choice of different levels of hikes based on abilities and interest. Our instructor will provide descriptions of all three hiking options offered. Today our journey will be to the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone. We will hike amid the geologic splendor and ambiance of the canyon. All hiking group will stop at the Upper Falls where the mighty river roars and plunges 109 feet, and at the iconic Artist Point to appreciate the classic view of massive 308 foot Lower Falls. Our naturalist’s ongoing interpretation while hiking will provide meaningful insights into the mysteries of Yellowstone and its continuing drama.

We will continue our hiking adventure as Yellowstone’s grand landscape unfolds at every bend in the road and on the trail.

We will walk to our meeting room for a final presentation by our instructor with time for Q&A. We’ll review the hiking adventures in our program and all that makes Yellowstone one of the most dramatic environments on the planet. Returning to the hotel, prepare for check-out and departure in the morning. Independent shuttle arrangements.

At a local restaurant.

In the Park, we’ll have sack lunches.

We will walk block to a restaurant. Share favorite experiences with new Road Scholar friends during our farewell dinner.

Day 6 Program Concludes Gardiner, MT

Independent shuttle arrangements. Hotel check-out 11:00 a.m.

If you are returning home, safe travels. If you are staying on independently, have a wonderful time. If you are transferring to another Road Scholar program, detailed instructions are included in your Information Packet for that program. We hope you enjoy Road Scholar learning adventures and look forward to having you on rewarding programs in the future. Don’t forget to join our Facebook page and follow us on Instagram. Best wishes for all your journeys!

At a local restaurant. This concludes our program.