The Best of Yellowstone: From Colter's Hell to America's Hot Spot
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At a Glance
What You'll Learn
- Discover the geological reasons why Quake Lake was formed in less than a minute and why Yellowstone Lake is tilting.
- Investigate effects of the volcanic and chemical phenomena which created the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone.
- Explore hot springs, geysers, mudpots, fumaroles and their surrounding hydrothermal life zone within the geyser basins.
General Notes
Please note: This expert may not be available for every date of this program.
- 2024
- 2025
- Jun 10 - Jun 16
- Jul 15 - Jul 21
- Aug 05 - Aug 11
- Aug 19 - Aug 25
- Sep 02 - Sep 08
- Sep 16 - Sep 22
- 2024
- 2025
- Jun 10 - Jun 16
- Jul 15 - Jul 21
- Aug 05 - Aug 11
- Aug 19 - Aug 25
- Sep 02 - Sep 08
- Sep 16 - Sep 22
Activity note: Hotel check-in from 4:00 p.m.
Afternoon: Program Registration: 4:00 – 5:00 p.m. After you have your room assignment, find your Group Leader who will have a Road Scholar sign, register with the program staff, and get your welcome packet containing your up-to-date schedule that reflects any last-minute changes, and confirm when and where dinner and the Orientation session will take place. If you arrive late, please ask for your packet when you check in.
Dinner: In the hotel conference room.
Evening: 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. This program will be led by both the Group Leader and an instructor, who is an expert naturalist and will lead the educational portion of the program. Unless specified otherwise, all transportation will be provided via private motorcoach, requiring the ascending/descending of a few steps when getting on/off. Remember to bring your own water bottle. Ice water will be available in coolers on the bus during travel, from which you may fill your water bottle; disposable cups will not be available. “America the Beautiful” passes cover entrance fees at national parks and wildlife refuges for up to 4 adults. If you have one of these national park passes, please bring it with you to the program and on our field trips to benefit other members of the group. The Greater Yellowstone area is considered high desert, very dry. At high altitudes you are more susceptible to dehydration and altitude sickness. Hiking an average of 3 miles per day at elevations of up to 8,000 feet. Elevation gains can range from up to 600 feet in 1/2 mile to 1,400 feet in 3 miles. Periods in the daily 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.
Activity note: Hiking about 3 miles total throughout the day; maintained trails, asphalt paths, some uneven and rocky terrain, boardwalks. Elevations ranging from 5,800 to 8,000 feet. Walking distance does not include walking around overnight sites (e.g. to and from dining locations, restroom stops, etc.). Getting on/off motorcoach; Driving about 150 miles; about 3.5 hours.
Breakfast: At the hotel
Morning: Enjoy an introductory lecture given by our instructor. During our morning class time our instructor will put Yellowstone into perspective as we hit the road and discuss some of the geologic processes that have shaped Yellowstone's landscape through the ages. We’ll consider tectonic plate movement, the Yellowstone hot spot, and how the Park's unique ecosystem and diverse habitats are a direct result of glaciations, as well as tectonic and volcanic activity. We will check out of our hotel, meet our motorcoach, and transfer to Yellowstone Park via the beautiful Gallatin Canyon.
Lunch: Sack lunches in the park.
Afternoon: After lunch, we will board our motor coach and continue the day's discovery. Our instructor will offer commentary as we travel south through a magnificent landscape. . As we go toward Grant Village breathtaking vistas of seemingly endless countryside roll out. Upon our arrival in Grant Village, we will check into the hotel.
Dinner: At the Old Faithful Inn dining room.
Evening: At leisure.
Activity note: Walking about 3 miles total over approx. 2 hours; pavement, some boardwalks with stairs, uneven and rocky terrain with loose gravel. Driving approx. 90 miles; about 3.5 hour total.
Breakfast: At the Inn.
Morning: We'll board our motorcoach and set out for Old Faithful area via Craig Pass and West Thumb Geyser Basin. West Thumb is the largest geyser basin on the shores of Yellowstone Lake. It is speculated that its heat source is only 10,000 feet down. Thermal features here extend under the surface of the lake as well as along the shore; several underwater geysers were discovered in the early 1990s. A number of geological forces are still at work here and are affecting the active hydrothermal features. As we travel our instructor will offer onboard commentary and, when possible, we will stop to explore the nearby area on foot.
Lunch: Sack lunches in the park.
Afternoon: We will continue our exploration around Old Faithful. We will experience the colors, pungent smells of sulfur, and the hissing, bubbling, spouting and sizzling as we explore the Upper Geyser Basin. Here, the world's best known and most beloved hydrothermal feature, Old Faithful, pours forth an offering of thousands of gallons of water and billowing steam, gushing skyward with each eruption. We'll transfer back to Grant Village for dinner.
Dinner: At the Grant Village Dining room.
Evening: Evening at leisure. Be sure to prepare for check-out and transfer in the morning.
Activity note: Walking about 3 miles; paved trails, boardwalks with some stairs, rocky and uneven terrain. Driving about 40 miles split into 2 drives of approximately 20 miles each; about 2 hours total.
Breakfast: At the Grant Village Dining room.
Morning: After checking out of our hotel, We will board our motorcoach and continue our expedition toward the mighty Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone. Through our exploration, we will experience the roar of the 109-foot Upper Falls and see the mighty Lower Fall's 308-foot plunge into its Canyon depths. Our instructor will lead our examination of the canyon's geologic story of glaciers, a volcanic eruption, lava flows and huge ice dams as we have a clear view of the pinnacles towering among the canyon walls. As an early explorer wrote, "There are perhaps other canyons longer and deeper than this one, but surely none combining grandeur and immensity with peculiarity of formation and profusion of volcanic or chemical phenomena."
Lunch: Sack lunches in the park.
Afternoon: Continued exploration of the upper and lower falls and the Hayden Valley.
Dinner: At a restaurant in Canyon Village.
Evening: At leisure. Be sure to prepare for check-out and transfer in the morning.
Activity note: Hiking about 3 miles throughout the day; some inclines; paved trails, boardwalks with some stairs, rocky and uneven terrain. . Driving approx. 70 miles; about 2.5 hours total.
Breakfast: At a restaurant in Canyon Village.
Morning: After checking out of the hotel , we'll join our instructor for more exploration around the Canyon and surrounding areas. We will go up and over Dunraven pass and explore Yellowstone's "upper loop"
Lunch: Sack lunches in the park.
Afternoon: We'll board our motorcoach and begin our trek North to Gardiner. Our Journey will then lead us to Mammoth Hot Springs. As we travel our instructor will offer on board commentary and, when possible, we will stop to explore! We'll check into the hotel upon arriving in Gardiner
Dinner: At a restaurant adjacent to the hotel.
Evening: At leisure.
Activity note: Walking about 3 miles over approx. 1.5 hours; well-maintained dirt trails with some rocky and uneven terrain. Driving approx. 170 miles; about 4.5 hours with several stops.
Breakfast: At a local restaurant.
Morning: Our expedition will then head eastward to the Tower area as our naturalist discusses Yellowstone's "forests of stone" en route. Upon arrival, we’ll go on a walk with our instructor in the lead to appreciate Tower Fall and Tower Creek's graceful 132-foot plunge among volcanic pinnacles. This area is known for its black bear habitat and, while sightings cannot be guaranteed, we'll want to keep our eyes "peeled" and our binoculars handy.
Lunch: Sack lunches in the park.
Afternoon: We’ll then travel to Lamar Valley's beautiful, wide-open reaches – a fitting final destination to our week of discovery. Here is rich habitat with an abundance of wildlife including hoofed, winged, clawed, antlered and horned creatures. As we travel our instructor will provide onboard commentary to help us understand and see evidence of an ancient flood that scoured the valley. The instructor will point out the diverse vegetation of the area, which includes varieties of grasses, shrubs and trees, sagebrush covered hills, mixed forest habitat, and rich riparian areas. Stay alert and keep binoculars at the ready because we may be lucky enough to see pronghorn, elk, bison, coyotes and sandhill cranes. We’ll then set off back towards Bozeman. Check in upon arrival.
Dinner: At the hotel conference room. Share some of your favorite experiences from the program with new Road Scholar friends.
Evening: We’ll then gather for our wrap-up session and reflect on our time in Yellowstone. Afterwards, be sure to prepare for check-out and departures in the morning.
Activity note: Hotel check-out by 11:00 a.m.
Breakfast: At the hotel.
Morning: We hope you enjoy Road Scholar learning adventures and look forward to having you on rewarding programs in the future. Please join our Facebook page and share photos of your program. Visit us at www.facebook.com/rsadventures. Best wishes for all your journeys!