Road Scholar : Home
On the Road: Mount Rushmore, Yellowstone, Grand Tetons and Other Gems of South Dakota and Wyoming

Program Number: 20297RJ
Start and End Dates:
6/22/2013 - 6/30/2013; 7/20/2013 - 7/28/2013; 8/17/2013 - 8/25/2013; 8/24/2013 - 9/1/2013; 9/7/2013 - 9/15/2013;
Duration: 8 nights
Location: Rapid City, South Dakota
Price starting at: $1,699.00 - Price may vary based on date, departure city
Program Type: On the Road; National Parks Activity Level: t (see description)
Meals: 20; 8 Breakfasts, 7 Lunches, 5 Dinners    
Meal Options: Vegetarian    

Travel from the beautiful Black Hills of Western South Dakota to Wyoming's parks and monuments as you explore the historical, cultural and geological aspects of this exceptional adventure. Enrich your appreciation of wildflowers, trees and wildlife as you wind your way through the Big Horn Mountains, Shell Canyon, mountain lakes and grassy plains. Be mesmerized by natural and manmade wonders including Mount Rushmore, Crazy Horse Memorial, Custer State Park and the Mammoth Site in South Dakota. Experience the mystique of Devils Tower Monument, visit Buffalo Bill Historical Center in Cody, Wyoming, then witness ongoing thermal features of Yellowstone National Park — including Old Faithful Geyser, the world's best-known geyser. Hear the roar of waterfalls and see the vivid colors of the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, and experience the majestic, jagged mountains of Grand Teton National Park and Jackson Hole.




Highlights

• At Mount Rushmore, walk the half-mile Presidential Trail and discover why the four presidents were selected, see how the mountain was carved and learn about sculptor Gutzon Borglum.
• Experience the Buffalo Bill Historical Center in Cody, Wyo., the oldest and most comprehensive museum of the West that has grown from a log cabin in 1927 to a seven-acre building valued at $143 million today.
• In Yellowstone National Park, explore the iconic Lake Hotel, the waterfalls at the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone and travel through Hayden Valley and hope to see herds of bison and other wildlife.



Activity Particulars

Walking 1-2 miles a day. Getting in and out of motorcoach frequently.



For a shorter version of this program, please see “On the Road: South Dakota’s Black Hills and Wyoming’s Yellowstone and Tetons” (#1932).




Date Specific Information

6-22-2013, 7-20-2013, 8-17-2013, 8-24-2013, 9-7-2013

Enjoy the latest in hearing technology — listening devices — on this date.



Itinerary Summary

Arrival Rapid City, S.D., 2 nights; Cody, Wyo., 1 night; Yellowstone National Park, 2 nights; Grand Teton National Park, 1 night; Casper, 1 night; Rapid City, departure.



Coordinated by South Dakota and Regional Traveling Studies.




Rapid City

Founded by gold prospectors in 1876, this center for commerce, culture and education for the high plains region also boasts rich Old West history and a premier location near major Black Hills and Wyoming attractions, including Mount Rushmore and Crazy Horse National monuments, as well as Wind Cave National Park.



Black Hills (South Dakota)

The legendary Black Hills extend across several states on the Great Plains, covering the rolling mountains with lush pines. Home to the Mt. Rushmore and Crazy Horse memorials, they host historic national parks, abundant wildlife and recreational trails.
Accommodations
Comfortable motels, historic hotels in Yellowstone.

Road Scholar Instructors
These instructors are participating on at least one date of this program. Please note that changes may occur.
Marilyn Hovland
Marilyn Hovland is the director of South Dakota/Regional Traveling Studies, a not-for-profit educational organization based in Rapid City, South Dakota. Previously, she served as the senior project coordinator for Harvard University and South Dakota Cancer Research Project, and taught business and hospitality classes at National American University. Marilyn has planned, coordinated and instructed Road Scholar programs since 1999, and enjoys sharing her storytelling talents with participants.
 
Meals and Lodgings
   Howard Johnson Express Inn & Suites
  Rapid City, South Dakota 2 nights
   Irma Hotel
  Cody, WY 1 night
   Lake Hotel Cabins
  Lake Yellowstone Area YNP 1 night
   Old Faithful Inn Complex--West Wing or Yellowstone National Park SnowLodge
  Old Faithful Area Yellowstone National Park 1 night
   Jackson Lake Lodge
  Jackson Hole Valley Wyoming 1 night
   Hampton Inn & Suites Casper
  Casper, WY 1 night
   Howard Johnson Express Inn & Suites
  Rapid City, South Dakota 1 night
 Howard Johnson Express Inn & Suites
Type: Hotel
  Description: This 2002 Rapid City hotel is located four to six blocks from downtown Rapid City with easy access off I-90, Exit 57, Exit 1C (from east or west) or from highway 79 and Mount Rushmore Road coming from the South. The hotel is only a block from the Rushmore Plaza Civic Center and three blocks from the two sections of the Berlin Wall.
  Contact info: 950 North Street
Rapid City, SD 57701 USA
phone: 888-578-4657 xor6057374656
web: www.hojorapidcity.com
  Room amenities: All rooms feature high-speed Internet access, voice mail, in-room coffee, hair dryers, iron/boards and expanded cable with HBO/Showtime.
  Facility amenities: There is an indoor swimming pool, hot tub, exercise room, guest laundry and continental breakfast starting at 6:00 am. There is not a restaurant at the hotel, snacks are available to purchase or walk three blocks to the nearest restaurant/dining facility. There is a computer available in the lobby for people staying at the hotel. If you have your own computer, wi-fi service is available also, your own service provided (from cell towers) will work in Rapid City.
  Smoking allowed: No
  Elevators available: Yes
  Additional nights prior: Prices vary from $85 to $139. Contact hotel directly for pre and post room costs, call 800-446-4656 or 605-737-4656.
  Check in time: 3:00 PM
  Additional nights after: Prices vary from $85 to $139. Contact hotel directly for pre and post room costs, call 800-446-4656 or 605-737-4656.
  Check out time: 12:00 PM

 Irma Hotel
Type: Hotel
  Description: The Irma Hotel is a landmark in Cody, Wyoming. It was built by William F. "Buffalo Bill" Cody, the city's co-founder and namesake who named it after his daughter Irma Cody. A focal point is a famous back bar made of cherry that was a gift given by Queen Victoria to Buffalo Bill. The Irma opened with a party on November 18, 1902, to which Cody invited the press and dignitaries from as far away as Boston. The hotel quickly became the social center of Cody. In the meantime, Buffalo Bill was under pressure from creditors and was forced to sign over the hotel to his wife Louisa in 1913, who was at that time on bad terms with him. After Cody's death in 1917 the hotel was foreclosed upon and sold to Barney Link. Before the end of the year Link's estate sold the property back to Louisa, who kept it until she died in 1925. The new owners, Henry and Pearl Newell, gradually expanded the hotel, building an annex around 1930 on the west side to accommodate automobile-borne visitors. After her husband's death in 1940, Pearl Newell operated the hotel until her own death in 1965. She left the hotel's extensive collection of Buffalo Bill memorabilia to the Buffalo Bill Historical Center, and stipulated that proceeds from the estate be used as an endowment for the museum. The Irma Hotel is still open for business as both a hotel and restaurant. It is included on the National Register of Historic Places, listed in 1973. It is located on the Main Street of Cody.
  Contact info: 1192 Sheridan Avenue
Cody, WY 82414 USA
phone: 307-587-4221
web: www.irmahotel.com
  Room amenities: TV, alarm clock and telephone. Iron and ironing board available upon request.
  Facility amenities: Lounge and restaurant located in Hotel. Excellent burgers and steaks. Wi-fi is available only in certain locations within the hotel, most often in the small lobby area. Your own provider, if it is via cell phone towers, will work in Cody.
  Smoking allowed: No
  Bathroom: Tub shower combo. Some of the tubs have a deep tub.

 Lake Hotel Cabins
Type: Cabin
  Description: The Lake Hotel Cabins are right next door to the Lake Hotel and just a short distance from Yellowstone Lake. This is a great place to enjoy the natural quietness and beauty of the area. The hotel solarium is a great place to relax and enjoy the view of the Lake. Visit with the artist in residence in the hotel lobby and browse in the gift shop or learn about the history of the area and the hotel while on a guided tour with Park personnel. Yellowstone Lake is the largest body of water in Yellowstone National Park. The lake is 7,732 feet above sea level and covers 136 square miles with 110 miles of shoreline. The average depth of the lake is 139 feet, its deepest spot is at least 390 feet. It is the largest freshwater lake above 7,000 feet in North America. Native Americans lived in this region at least 11,000 years ago. The first white person to see the lake was trapper John Colter around 1806. From 1820 to 1840, the fur trading era, many trapping parties traveled through the Lake region. The lake drains north from it's only outlet, the Yellowstone River. Fishing for Cutthroat trout is catch and release only while Lake Trout fish must be killed since they are a predator of the Cutthroat trout. Recreational boating is allowed on the lake. In 1891, a hotel was built facing Yellowstone Lake. The original Lake Hotel was a plain clapboarded Colonial Revival structure with two large Ionic porticoes facing the Lake built for the Northern Pacific Railroad. In 1903, Robert Reamer (architect of the Old Faithful Inn built in 1903) remodeled the hotel and in 1928 a two-story west wing was added. The entire hotel was extensively renovated from 1894 to 1990. The entire Lake complex includes: Lake Hotel, comfortable cabins, an annex building, dining lodge, medical clinic, hospital, general store, park ranger building, and post office.
  Contact info: 1 Yellowstone National Park
Yellowstone Lake Area, WY 82190 USA
phone: 307-344-7901
web: www.nps.gov/yell/
  Room amenities: Private bath with shower. No air conditioning, radio or TV, or alarm clocks in YNP. All rooms in YNP are non-smoking. There is a $150 fine for smoking in any of the rooms. There is a coffee maker in each room.
  Facility amenities: Adjacent to the Historic Lake Hotel; dining room; gift shop; and just a short walk to Yellowstone Lake. All hotel rooms in Yellowstone National Park are non-smoking. There is NO cell phone or Internet service available within the Yellowstone Lake area. Non of the facilities within the park have air-conditioning or TVs.
  Smoking allowed: No
  Bathroom: Tub/shower only.

 Old Faithful Inn Complex--West Wing
Type: Hotel
  Description: As a national historic landmark, Old Faithful Inn is the most requested lodging facility in the park. The rustic-style lodge, with log and wood shingle exterior is located adjacent to the world famous Old Faithful Geyser. The original part of the Inn, known as the "Old House" was completed in 1904 and includes an immense lobby with a huge stone fireplace. Robert Reamer was the architect. The East and West Wings were added in the teens and the twenties, with many rooms having been remodeled in recent years. Guest accommodations include rooms with private and shared baths. Additionally, a full service restaurant, deli, bar, gift store and interpretive tours are available at the Inn. Please note that all park accommodations are non-smoking and reflecting the natural surroundings of Yellowstone; televisions, radios, air conditioning, and Internet service is not available. Wheelchair accessible accommodations are available on a limited basis. Old Faithful Geyser is just a short walk from the West Wing. Enjoy a walk around the Old Faithful area including a visit to Old Faithful Inn, Old Faithful Lodge, the Visitor's Center, numerous walking trails and of course watch for animals. Check the Park Times Newspaper for activities and events related to your overnight stay.
  Contact info: 1 Yellowstone
Yellowstone National Park, WY 82190 USA
phone: 307-344-7901
web: www.nps.gov.yell/
  Room amenities: No air conditioning, radio, TV, or alarm clocks in any of YNP properties. All rooms are non-smoking and there is a $150 fee for anyone smoking in the rooms. Each room does have a telephone, fan, coffee maker and extra blankets.
  Facility amenities: Elevator to all but one floor--one flight of stairs; four floors total; the West Wing is attached to the Historic Inn; short distance to dining room and gift shops. Cell phone service is limited at the Old Faithful area. Wi-fi is not available. If you have your own Internet service provider through cell towers, you may have limited service. No air conditioning or TVs in any of the lodging facilities within the park.
  Smoking allowed: No
  Elevators available: Yes

 Yellowstone National Park SnowLodge
Type: Lodge
  Description: SnowLodge is the newest property in the Old Faithful Complex area. The main building is made of wooden log columns with a cedar shingle roof on top. Some of the lodge's wood was recycled from the same mill that provided lumber for the famous Old Faithful Inn in 1904. It has 134 spacious lodge style rooms with western-style furnishings and casually elegant decor. A full-service dining room, bar, the renowned "Geyser Grill" and gift shop are located in the lodge. Enjoy the ambiance and warmth of the stone fireplace in the lobby. The SnowLodge is across the street from the Visitor's Center, that opened in 2010, and Old Faithful Geyser.
  Contact info: Old Faithful Complex Area
Yellowstone National Park, WY 82190 USA
phone: 307-344-7901
web: www.nps.gov/yell/
  Room amenities: Room amenities include: Hair dryer, portable fan, iron & ironing board, coffee maker and an alarm clock.
  Facility amenities: Premium hotel style rooms with private bathrooms. Large lobby features a stone fireplace. Also in the facility is a bar, full restaurant, grill for light menu and gift shop.
  Smoking allowed: No
  Elevators available: Yes

 Jackson Lake Lodge
Type: Other
  Description: First designating the Teton Range and 7 southerly Piedmont lakes as a National Park in 1929, Grand Teton National Park would struggle for 21 more years before adding an additional 200,000 plus acres to form the Park we enjoy today. With the enlargement of the Park in 1950, the publicity surrounding the successful conservation of Jackson Hole attracted many more visitors. More than 587,000 visitors came to the new Park in 1951 and there were not enough facilities to accommodate them. Feeling somewhat responsible for bringing so many visitors to the Park, John D. Rockefeller, Jr. was asked what could he do about the situation, he responded “I supposed I ought to build a hotel”. Early on, with a picnic lunch in hand, John D. Rockefeller, Jr. would often hike to the top of Moose Hill and gaze out upon the Willows and the towering Teton Range. Legend has it that this view influenced the location where he would eventually build Jackson Lake Lodge. Constructed in 1955, near what is now called “Lunch Tree Hill”, the Lodge is a tribute to the vision and the lasting memories that one special moment can create. Jackson Lake Lodge was designated a National Historic Landmark in 2003. Designed by Gilbert Stanley Underwood, who previously had designed the Ahwahnee, Bryce Canon, and North Rim Grand Canyon lodges, Jackson Lake Lodge combines some elements of these earlier rustic style buildings with the modern International style. This breakthrough opened the way for many modernistic visitor centers and accommodations in National Parks built under the Mission 66 initiative to accommodate major increases in visitation after WWII. The integrity of the Jackson Lake Lodge and its associated buildings, the exceptional importance of the integrated modern/rustic architectural design of the building, and its association Gilbert Stanley Underwood, contribute to its exceptional national significance under National Historic Landmark criteria.
  Contact info: Grand Teton National Park P.O. Box 240
Moran, WY 83013 USA
phone: 307-543-3052
web: www.gtlc.com
  Room amenities: The cottages have up-to-date comfortable beds, tub/shower combination, ironing board/iron, telephone, coffee makers and ceiling fans. There is an outside porch light for when you come back to your cottage after dark. You can enjoy the outdoors sitting in one of the wooden patio chairs in front of your cottage. No TV or AC in the National Parks Lodging facilities.
  Facility amenities: Imagine looking out the 60-foot panoramic window from the Lodge to a wide expanse of fields surrounding a blue mountain lake, with moose, elk, bison and sometimes bear and wolves, wandering close by. Then rising above this scene is one of the most photographed mountain ranges in the world--the Grand Teton Range. All of it so close, you feel like you can touch it. This is the thrill you can expect from the historical Jackson Lake Lodge in Grand Teton National Park. Visit the Mural Dining Room to learn about the biography of Carl Roters and see his mural painting throughout the dining room depicting early life among the Wyoming trappers and Native Americans. Walking trails and viewing terrace just outside the Lodge Lobby. There is a business center with computers available in the Lodge. The Lodge offers several choices for meals including the more formal dining room with an entire glass wall opening up to the willow flats to the horizon where it meets an uncluttered view of Mount Moran and the Grand Teton Range, for the Mural Room-reservations are required; Blue Heron Lounge offering quick lunches and little plates; the Coffee Cart within the lobby; and the Pioneer Grill with a less formal setting offering breakfast, lunch and dinner in a classic 1950s-style sit-down service and take-out service. Grand Teton Lodge Company is one of the "Eco-centers" of the National Parks. There is an activities desk to help with reservations during your free time/own cost (float trip, boat ride, cookout, horseback riding and poolside BBQ). Retail shops ranging from postcards, newspapers, sundry items, clothing, pottery, jewelry and many other souvenirs offer something for everyone. The outdoor heated swimming pool is a nice way to relax after a busy day. Visiting Jackson Lake Lodge perhaps will be an inspiring experience of a lifetime for our guests. It definitely will create lasting memories that only one special moment can create.
  Smoking allowed: No

 Hampton Inn & Suites Casper
Type: Hotel
  Description: Newer property in the north part of Casper. Across the parking lot from the Hilton Garden Hotel (this property has a lounge).
  Contact info: 1100 N. Poplar Road
Casper, WY 82601 USA
phone: 307-235-6668
web: HamptonInnCasper.com
  Room amenities: Air conditioning, alarm radio, curved shower road, duvet covers, non-allergenic pillows, handicap room by request, non-smoking, 32 LCD TV; TV Cable, workstation, coffee maker, hairdryer, iron/ironing board, surge protected desk outlets, telephone, and night light.
  Facility amenities: Self coin laundry; audible alarm system; controlled access corridors, double locking doors, electronic locks, electronic smoke detector, safety deposit box, wide angle door viewer, fitness room, and indoor pool. Hot continental breakfast. Hotel has a business center with wi-fi connection, also in sleeping rooms. If you have your own Internet service, most carriers have service in the area.
  Smoking allowed: No
  Elevators available: Yes


Travel Details
  Start of Program:
Meet your Road Scholar Director in the hotel hospitality room at 4:30 pm. You will be staying at Howard Johnson Express Inn & Suites that night.
  End of Program:
Ends after continental breakfast at hotel. Check out by 12:00 noon. You will be staying at Howard Johnson Express Inn & Suites the night before.
  Required documents:
The Road Scholar Health & Safety Form is required.
  Parking availability:
Parking available at no charge in hotel parking lot-at owner's risk. Hotel and SDRTS does not assume responsibility for vehicles in parking lot.
Transportation
To Start of Program
  Location:  Rapid City, South Dakota
  Nearest city or town:  Sturgis, South Dakota
  Nearest highway: Interstate 90
  Nearest airport:  Rapid City Regional Airport (RAP)
  From End of Program
  Location: Rapid City, South Dakota
    (Additional transportation information same as above)
Travel Details
 

To hotel in Rapid City

 

From Airport

 
 

Service:

 

Commercial Van/Shuttle
Airport Express Shuttle
phone: 800-357-9998 xor6053999999

 

Per Person/One Way:

 

Hotel pays for shuttle from airport to hotel.
Prices are subject to change.
 

Travel Time:

 

20 to 30 minutes one way. 
 

Distance:

 

Approximately 7 miles.
   

Advanced reservations are suggested but not required from the airport to the hotel. The hotel will give the shuttle driver a voucher for your fare to and from the airport. A tip for the driver is NOT included. You should tip the driver individually.
 

From hotel in Rapid City

 

To Airport

 
 

Service:

 

Commercial Van/Shuttle
Airport Express Shuttle
phone: 800-357-9998 xor6053999999
Advanced Reservations Required

 

Per Person/One Way:

 

Hotel pays for shuttle.
Prices are subject to change.
 

Travel Time:

 

20 to 30 minutes one way. 
 

Distance:

 

Approximately 7 to 8 miles
   

Advanced reservations are required returning to the airport from the hotel. Contact the front desk staff to make the return reservation for you. The hotel will give the shuttle driver a voucher for your fare back to the airport. A tip for the shuttle driver is NOT included. You should tip the driver individually.
 
Driving Directions
  I-90 either coming East or West and from Highway 79 from the South to Rapid City, S.D. For the groups staying at the Howard Johnson Express Inn & Suites: Take Exit 57 to Exit 1C. Howard Johnson Express Inn & Suites is located on the left. When coming to Rapid City from the South via Highway 79, turn left at Catron Blvd (truck bypass) to Mount Rushmore Road and follow this street all the way through town until North Street, turn left, one block to the hotel.
Elevation Note: Elevations range from 3,400 feet in Rapid City to 7,731 feet in YNP.
The prices listed for commercial services and facilities that are not included in the program cost, such as airport shuttles or extra nights lodging, are subject to change without notice. Since Road Scholar cannot guarantee the accuracy of these prices, we strongly suggest contacting the companies directly for the most up-to-date information.


Daily Schedule

Day 1: Independent arrivals to hotel. Viewing two sections of the Berlin Wall/The Journey Museum, Dinner and Orientation.
(Saturday, August 24)

Note: Tonight's activity includes riding in the motorcoach a few blocks to view a couple of sections of the Berlin Wall and then walking through The Journey Museum.
   
 Arrive To: Meet in hotel's designated room for Road Scholar Welcome at 4:30 p.m. At 4:45 p.m. coach to the Journey Museum. If your arrival time to the hotel is between 4:45 p.m. and 6:30 p.m., ask the airport shuttle to take you directly to the Journey Museum instead of the hotel. If your arrival time is after 6:30 p.m.; have the shuttle driver take you directly to the hotel; you will miss dinner and orientation. The hotel does not have a restaurant.
 Dinner: Visit The Journey Museum, dinner at the museum 6:30 p.m., orientation to follow. The Journey Museum takes you on an incredible trek through time, from the violent upheaval that formed the mystical Black Hills over 2.5 billion years ago to the continuing saga of the Western Frontier. The museum brings together four major prehistoric and historic collections to tell the complete story of the Western Great Plains - from the perspective of the Lakota people and the pioneers who shaped its past, to the scientists who now study it. Discover where dinosaurs lie buried beneath the prairie soil, learn why the Sioux called their sacred Black Hills the “Center of the Universe” and experience the hardships of the homesteaders as they settled the formidable wilderness. When your journey is complete, you will fully understand the legacy of the land and its people. You may take pictures in this museum except for one section of the Sioux Indian Exhibits. There are signs that indicate where the exceptions are located.
   
Accommodations: Howard Johnson Express Inn & Suites
Meals Included: Dinner

Day 2: Breakfast/Mount Rushmore and Crazy Horse Memorial./Custer State Park and The Mammoth Site./Catered Dinner
(Sunday, August 25)

Note: Today's itinerary requires multiple times of getting on and off the coach and walking to and from the different location sites.
   
 Breakfast: Breakfast is at the hotel hospitality room.
 Morning: Mount Rushmore National Memorial: The majestic 60-foot faces of four U.S. presidents gaze out over South Dakota’s Black Hills. Recognized worldwide, they stand as a symbol of American democracy. This national treasure tells the story of the United States’ rich history, rugged determination and lasting achievement. From the Grandview Terrace, the views are spectacular of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln. Walk the half-mile Presidential Trail that loops along the base of the mountain. Discover why the four presidents were selected, see how the mountain was carved and learn about sculptor Gutzon Borglum and the workers who brought Mount Rushmore to life.

Crazy Horse Memorial: A fifth granite face has emerged in the Black Hills. The colossal Crazy Horse mountain carving is now in progress. Crazy Horse is the largest sculptural undertaking ever – on a scale with the Egyptian pyramids. When completed, it will tower 563 feet high, 641 feet long and be carved in the round. Watch history in the making as drilling and blasting continue on the rest of the sculpture.

In 1939, Lakota Chief Henry Standing Bear invited sculptor Korczak Ziolkowski to carve an Indian memorial in the Black Hills. Though Korczak died in 1982, the sculptor’s wife and family continue the non-profit project.
 Lunch: Lunch at Custer State Park.
 Afternoon: After lunch, travel to The Mammoth Site. Discover the Mammoths and experience America’s greatest Ice Age Treasure at the Mammoth Site in Hot Springs, SD. The Mammoth site, with a 36,000 square foot visitor center, is an in-situ (bones left as found) Ice Age museum containing the largest concentration of Columbian and Woolly Mammoths found in their primary context in the world. Imagine walking the edges of a 26,000-year-old sinkhole where mammoths, bears, loins, and wolves once walked. The Muller Exhibit Hall features fascinating exhibits: a full-sized Columbian mammoth replica, a walk-in bone shelter, and skeletons of now-extinct carnivores; the giant short-faced bear and the American lion. Get a glimpse of the scientific work conducted downstairs in the state of the art lab. The Mammoth Site has been featured on Discovery Channel, CBS and NBC Evening News, Today Show, BBC Television programs, and in many magazines, including National Geographic. The site has co-hosted international symposiums and conferences, as well as published scientific Quaternary research books.

Travel through Custer State Park which covers 71,000 acres, making it one of the largest state parks in the nation. From its northern sector, in the shadow of 7,242-foot-high Harney Peak, to the forest, meadows and prairies of its southeast corner, Custer State Park offers a splendid route featuring pigtail bridges, granite tunnels that frame the faces of Mount Rushmore and curves that wind along a road that experts said couldn't be built. Watch for bison, one of the largest publicly owned bison herds in the country numbering between 1,000 to 1,200, pronghorn or antelope, mule and whitetail deer, burros, coyotes, wild turkeys, elk, mountain goats, bighorn sheep and golden eagles.
 Dinner: Catered dinner at the hotel.
 Evening: Free time to enjoy the pool or hot tub or just relax and get ready for tomorrow's trip to Wyoming.
   
Accommodations: Howard Johnson Express Inn & Suites
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 3: Travel the wide-open spaces of Wyoming, cross the Bighorn Mountains, wind through Shell Canyon and Falls before arriving in Cody, Wyoming.
(Monday, August 26)

Note: Motorcoach travel today with multiple times of getting on and off the coach with limited amount of walking.
   
 Breakfast: Continental breakfast at hotel.
 Morning: Depart Rapid City in early morning. Travel through the wide open spaces of Wyoming to Sheridan for a lunch break. On-board subjects include the history of the state, economic topics including the oil and coal industry of Wyoming, animals, and the people that live in the wide-open lands.
 Lunch: Sack lunch in Sheridan, WY.
 Afternoon: After lunch: Cross the Big Horn Mountains and wind our way through the beautiful canyon and Shell Falls before arriving in Cody, WY in the late afternoon. The Bighorn Mountains and the Bighorn National Forest in north-central Wyoming may approximate New York's Long Island in size, but the comparisons stop right there. The names given to the forest's landforms tell you all you need to know: canyons called Devil and Crazy Woman, peaks dubbed Black Tooth and Cloud. This is a wild, high, rugged place. Deep canyons formed by powerful thrust faults penetrate both the eastern and western edges of the forest. Jagged peaks jut to 13,000-feet and above. Forests of lodgepole and ponderosa pine mantle the lower reaches. For such a remote location, Bighorn has seen an out sized share of American history played out within its borders.

Some of America's most famous pioneers explored this mountain wilderness including Jim Bridger, Lewis and Clark, and Buffalo Bill. It is land held sacred by the Cheyenne, Crow, Sioux, Arapaho, and Eastern Cheyenne Indians~a land of spilled blood on which Native Americans fought some of their most desperate battles against the U.S. military.

Shell Creek forces its way between the 3-billion year-old granite walls of Shell Canyon in a noisy, 120-foot plunge to another, lower level of the canyon floor. You can feel the earth shake under your feet as you absorb the sight, scent and sound. The interpretive center is maintained by the U.S. Forest Service. Follow the "interpretive trail" that introduces you to the geology and current flora and fauna.
 Dinner: Dinner this evening is not included to allow individual time and choices for evening activities.
 Evening: Optional evening activities and times will be discussed in detail before arrival in Cody. You may want to attend the Cody Nightly Rodeo at your own cost (June through Labor Day weekend); watch the free Wild West Shoot-out in front of the Irma Hotel at 6:00 p.m. or just walk around town. The Dan Miller Music Revue show starts at 8:00 p.m. (directly across the street from the Irma Hotel). The admission for this show is an included cost of the program. The show features songs of the Old West, cowboy poetry and logic, a bit of gospel and a bit of country. It is just an all around great inspiring and uplifting show.
   
Accommodations: Irma Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 4: Visit the Buffalo Bill Historical Center, Short stop at the Buffalo Bill Dam & Visitor's Center before traveling into Yellowstone National Park via the East Entrance. Activities in Yellowstone National Park include: Watching for animals and thermal features, and a tour of Lake Hotel.
(Tuesday, August 27)

Note: Morning walking is around in the Buffalo Bill Museum and at the Buffalo Bill Dam. Motorcoach travel into Yellowstone National Park with numerous times of getting on and off the coach throughout the day with short (1 block distance) to longer amount of walking (1/4 to 1/2 mile on board walks) and additional walking on sidewalks to visitor's centers, museums and dining areas.
   
 Breakfast: Extensive buffet breakfast at the Irma Hotel Dining Room.
 Morning: Visit the Buffalo Bill Historical Center (BBHC). The museum was founded in 1917 to preserve the legacy and vision of Col. William F. Cody. The BBHC is the oldest and most comprehensive museum of the West.

Some facts: William F. "Buffalo Bill" Cody (1846-1917) was the most widely known American of his time; Buffalo bill founded Cody, Wyoming, which is located 50 miles east of Yellowstone National Park; and Buffalo bill saw the potential for tourism in the West and in the Yellowstone region.

The BBHC has extensive artifact collections housed in a world-class facility. The Center has grown from a log cabin in 1927 or a seven-acre building valued at $143 million today. The collections contain over 34,977 artifacts, 20,000 books, and 260,000 photo archives. The Center has five separate museums and a research library. The Whitney Gallery of Western art - established in 1958 and dedicated in 1959; the Buffalo bill Museum - established in 1927, dedicated in 1969; the Plains Indian Museum, 1969; Cody firearms Museum-dedicated in 1976 as Winchester Museum; the Draper Museum of Natural History - dedicated in 2002; and the Harold McCracken Research Library, dedicated in 1980.

Short stop at the Buffalo Bill Dam and Visitor's Center before traveling the scenic route through Wapiti Valley into Yellowstone National Park via the East entrance.
 Lunch: Sack Lunch as we travel into Yellowstone.
 Afternoon: Continue traveling to the Yellowstone Lake area within the park and watch for animals such as bison, elk, deer, once-in-a-while bear and birds such as osprey, eagles, Canada Geese, and pelicans. Arrive mid to late afternoon at Lake Hotel area.

Take a tour of the Lake Hotel with the staff historian and guide.

The Lake Hotel is built on a site long known as a meeting place for Indians, trappers and mountain men. The Lake Hotel was ready to serve guests in 1891. At that time, it was not particularly distinctive, resembling other railroad hotels financed by the Northern Pacific Railroad.

In 1903, the architect of the Old Faithful Inn, Robert Reamer, masterminded the renovation of the hotel, designing the iconic columns, extending the roof in three places and adding the 15 false balconies, which prompted it to be known for years as the “Lake Colonial Hotel.” A number of further changes by 1929, including the addition of the dining room, porte-cochere (portico), and sunroom as well as the refurbishing of the interior created the gracious landmark we see today.

By the 1970s, the Hotel had fallen into serious disrepair. In 1981, the National Park Service and the park concessionaire embarked on a ten-year project to restore the Lake Hotel in appearance to its days of glory of the 1920s. The work was finished for the hotel’s centennial in 1991. The Hotel was placed on the National Register of Historic Places that year.
 Dinner: Dinner at the Lake Hotel Lodge Cafeteria.
 Evening: Overnight at the Lake Hotel Cabins. This is known as the quiet corner of Yellowstone Park. Enjoy listening to music in the Lake Hotel lobby area (from 6 to 9 p.m.), take a walk along the lake or just relax and let the sounds of nature speak to you.
   
Accommodations: Lake Hotel Cabins
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 5: Travel the lower loop of Yellowstone National Park/Hayden Valley/Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone/Fountain Paint Pots/Old Faithful Geyser
(Wednesday, August 28)

Note: Motorcoach travel through Yellowstone National Park with numerous times of getting on and off the coach throughout the day with short (1 block distance) to longer amount of walking (1/4 to 1/2 mile on board walks) and additional walking on sidewalks to visitor's centers, museums and dining areas.
   
 Breakfast: Enjoy breakfast in the elegant dining room at Lake Hotel.
 Morning: Numerous stops in Yellowstone include: Mud Volcano, Hayden Valley, Fountain Paint Pots, Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, Upper and Lower Falls, and LeHardy Rapids.

Yellowstone National Park is known for the most geysers in the world. About 2 million years ago, then 1.2 million years ago and again 640,000 years ago, huge volcanic eruptions occurred here. The park’s present central portion collapsed, forming a 30-by-45 mile caldera, or basin. The magmatic heat powering those eruptions still today powers the park’s geysers, hot springs, fumaroles and mud pots.

The waterfalls at the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone highlight the boundaries of lava flows and thermal areas. Travel through Hayden Valley and hope to see herds of Bison, stop at the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone carved by the churning waters of the Yellowstone River.
 Lunch: Sack Lunch.
 Afternoon: Stop at the new visitor's center at Canyon; follow the Gibbon and Firehole Rivers to the Fountain Paint pots and visit the Old Faithful Geyser area. Old Faithful Geyser is the world’s best-known geyser. Its eruption intervals have varied from 40 to 126 minutes.

Arrive at Old Faithful complex in late afternoon. The overnight lodging will either be in the Old Faithful Inn West Wing or the newer property The SnowLodge. Both are within a 1/2 block from Old Faithful Geyser.
 Dinner: You may choose to have dinner (on your own) at the Old Faithful Lodge Cafeteria, Snowlodge (no reservations needed) or Snowlodge Geyser Grill (no reservations needed). If you want dinner reservations at Old Faithful Inn, you will need to call months in advance and no earlier than 5:30 p.m.
 Evening: Free time to just relax after a long but wonderful day. Visit the new Discovery Center, watch Old Faithful Geyser erupt, take a walk on one of the numerous boardwalks, listen to a Ranger talk or just relax in the Old Faithful Lobby.
   
Accommodations: Old Faithful Inn Complex--West Wing or Yellowstone National Park SnowLodge
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 6: Grand Teton National Park: Scenic Drive/Park Visitor's Center/Stay at Premier location within the park/Free Time/Optional Activities
(Thursday, August 29)

Note: Travel to Grand Teton National Park with limited on and off the coach before arrival to Jackson Lake Lodge-premier location within the park. Free afternoon to explore individual options.
   
 Breakfast: Extensive buffet breakfast at Old Faithful Inn or Snowlodge.
 Morning: Travel from Yellowstone National Park through the south gate to Teton National Park. Located at the heart of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, the Rockefeller Parkway connects Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks. The late conservationist and philanthropist John D. Rockefeller, Jr. made significant contributions to several national parks including Grand Teton, Acadia, Great Smoky Mountains, and Virgin Islands.

Grand Teton National Park is located in northwestern Wyoming, the park preserves a spectacular landscape rich with majestic mountains, pristine lakes and extraordinary wildlife. The abrupt vertical rise of the jagged Teton Range contrasts with the horizontal sage-covered valley and glacial lakes at their base, creating world-renowned scenery that attracts nearly four million visitors per year.

"Jackson Hole" as it's often called, refers to the whole area which is a 50 miles long valley surrounded by the majestic Teton mountains and "Jackson" refers to the town which is the county seat of Teton County, Wyoming and the only incorporated municipality in the county. Jackson is a popular tourism destination because of its proximity to Yellowstone & Grand Teton National Parks, its unmatched scenic beauty, the world-class skiing, and its western character.
 Lunch: Lunch at Jackson Lake Lodge.
 Afternoon: Continue traveling along the scenic loop road of the Tetons. Enjoy the breathtaking beauty of the mountains at several picture stops and Jenny Lake overlook before the final stop of the day at Craig Thomas Visitor Discovery Center for an overview of the history, culture and geology of the Tetons..

Arrive back at the Lodge at 3:45 p.m.

Free time after 4:00 p.m.: For those not wanting to partake in optional activities, you will have time to relax at the Lodge; take a walk; watch for animals and birds; or just relax. There is a shuttle, extra charge, that goes into the town of Jackson~one hour driving time each way~check with activities desk for information.

Because travel time may vary due to road construction, weather or animal viewing both in Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks, DO NOT schedule any of your optional activities before 4:00 p.m. (this includes any transportation provided by the Lodge to the starting point of your optional activity). Call 800-628-9988 or 307-543-3100 or go to www.gtlc.com to inquire about times, cost, and to make your reservations and pay for your optional activities: Scenic Snake River Float Trips; Dinner & Scenic Snake River Float Trip; Jackson Lake Cruise; Horseback Riding; & Guided Fly Fishing. These are very popular activities so you need to make your reservation ASAP before arrival to secure a time or it becomes “space available” upon arrival.

THE DINNER FLOAT TRIP HAS BEEN VERY POPULAR WITH PAST PARTICIPANTS.
 Dinner: Dinner is on your own tonight. Choices for dining at the Lodge include: The Mural Room (fine dining & reservations are required call 307-543-3082); Pioneer Grill; Blue Heron Bar & Lounge; Pool BBQ including live music (only June and July program); or inquire about a Dinner/Scenic Float Trip on the Snake River or a dinner/scenic boat trip.
 Evening: Evening free to take a walk, swim in the outdoor pool (June, July and August), watch for wildlife, or just relax in the Grand Lobby of the Lodge.
   
Accommodations: Jackson Lake Lodge
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 7: Depart Grand Teton National Park; cross the Wind River Range and Indian Reservation; learn about the Oregon Trail and visit either the the reconstructed Fort Caspar Museum in Casper, WY or the National Historic Trails Interpretive Center.
(Friday, August 30)

Note: Motorcoach travel across the mountains and the Wind Range to Casper. In and out of the coach several times and walking at the Fort and/or the National Historic Trails Interpretive Center.
   
 Breakfast: Elegant Breakfast Buffet served in the Mural Dining Room beginning at 7:00 a.m.
 Morning: Depart Jackson Lake Lodge for Casper. Travel through the Wind River Range that stretches more than 100 miles in western Wyoming and contains 35 named peaks over 13,000 feet in elevation. Gannett Peak, Wyoming's highest, is in the Wind River Range. Seven of the largest glaciers in the Rocky Mountains are located in the Wind River Range. There are no roads in the wilderness, and mechanized vehicles are not allowed. The Wind River Range encompasses an area of 2.25 million acres and forms a triple divide for three major western watersheds: the Columbia River, the Colorado River, and the Missouri.

The 428,000-acre Bridger Wilderness area is part of the western slopes of the Wind River Range. It is named after famous mountain man Jim Bridger, who lived in this area during the early 1800s. The Wind River Range has over 1,300 lakes and hundreds of miles of streams and numerous hiking trails. Native Americans, mountain men, traders, emigrants, and the U.S. Army all visited or lived in the Casper area – the Upper Platte Crossing – during the mid-1800s.

The North Platte River valley was the pathway for the Oregon/California/Mormon Pioneer/Pony Express trail corridor and transcontinental telegraph line. Wyoming was home to the Shoshone, Crow, Lakota, Cheyenne, Arapaho, and Utes in the 1840s when wagon after wagon of west-bound emigrants followed the North Platte to this area, crossed the river, and continued west along the Sweetwater River to South Pass.
 Lunch: Sack lunch along the way.

Late Afternoon arrival in Casper, WY: Visit either The National Historic Trails Interpretive Center OR Fort Caspar.

NATIONAL HISTORIC TRAILS INTERPRETIVE CENTER

Who were they? The facility’s theatre showcases composite characters traveling the trails: Native Americans, explorers and mountain men, emigrants and Pony Express riders. These diorama figures represent Native cultures and the thousands of people who emigrated west.

There’s a lot to learn! The Trails Center features seven exhibit galleries. Ways of the People: Listen to tribal stories and learn about Native American Culture. The U.S. Looks West: Discover the routes and significance of missionaries, explorers and mountain men. Many people, including Narcissa Whitman, Jim Bridger and John C. Fremont, paved the way for the emigrants who followed. The Oregon Trail: Ponder the decisions faced by emigrants along and feel the sway and jolt of a wagon fording the North Platte River at our virtual river crossing experience. The Mormon Trail: Hear the epic story of the Martin Handcart Company and learn more of why Mormons settled in the Great Salt Lake Valley. The California Trail: Learn about the perils and prosperity of the gold fever days! The Pony Express Trail: Experience the excitement of the brave young riders and learn more about the transportation and communication industries of the 1860s. The Trails Today: Discover more about America’s public lands, state and national historic sites and the many recreational opportunities available.
 Afternoon: FORT CASPAR:

Mormon Ferry: In 1847, Brigham Young led the Mormons from Winter Quarters in present-day Nebraska to their new home in the Great Salt Lake Valley. The Pioneer Party arrived at present-day Fort Caspar Museum on June 12. Faced with a flooding North Platte, Young commissioned the construction of a ferry boat to ensure a safe river crossing. The completed ferry consisted of cottonwood dugout canoes, planking for a deck, two oars, and a rudder. Other trains of emigrants contracted with the ferrymen to carry them across.

On June 19, Brigham Young named nine men to remain and operate the ferry while the rest of the party continued the journey west. Through the 1852 season, Mormon men returned to the Casper area to operate the ferry business. Eventually utilizing a rope and pulley system, the Mormon ferry could float a loaded wagon across the river in just 5 minutes. Because of the heavy emigrant traffic, other ferry businesses operated in the Casper area as well.

Guinard Bridge: The first permanent occupation at what is now the Museum was in 1859 when Louis Guinard built a bridge and trading post. Guinard’s post also became an Overland Stage Company stage stop from 1859-1862 and a Pony Express relay station in 1860-1861. The completion of the transcontinental telegraph line in October 1861 added a Pacific Telegraph Company office to the site.
 Afternoon: In response to the 1864 Sand Creek Massacre of Black Kettle’s Cheyenne by Colonel Chivington’s militia in Colorado, Plains tribes increased raids along the trails. In July 1865, Lakota, Cheyenne, and Arapaho gathered to attack Platte Bridge Station. On July 26, Lieutenant Caspar Collins led a small detachment from Platte Bridge Station to escort an army supply train traveling from Sweetwater Station. Less than a mile from the bridge, Collins’ men were ambushed and had to fight their way back to the fort. Five soldiers including Collins were killed in the Battle of Platte Bridge. Sergeant Custard and 24 men with the supply wagons were attacked later that day five miles west of the fort. Three soldiers survived the Battle of Red Buttes.

A new fort of 20 buildings for 400-500 men was started in 1865. By Special Order 49 dated November 21, 1865, Major General John Pope changed the name of Platte Bridge Station to Fort Caspar, misspelling the fallen lieutenant’s name. Pope chose the lieutenant's first name because there already was a Fort Collins in Colorado named for his father.

A factor in the decline of Fort Caspar was the construction of the Union Pacific Railroad and the telegraph line. That soon spelled the end of organized migration along the Oregon/California/Mormon Pioneer Trail corridor. As a result, the army began to establish new military installations to protect the railroad route across southern Wyoming. Orders were issued to abandon Fort Caspar on October 19, 1867, troops and “all useful materials,” including buildings, were transferred to Fort Fetterman.

Homesteaders and ranchers arrived in the Casper area by the late 1870s, and the grounds of Fort Caspar became part of the CY Ranch. In 1936, Casper citizens and the Works Progress Administration reconstructed Platte Bridge Station using sketches made by Caspar Collins and others in the 1860s. Reconstructions of the Mormon ferry and a section of the Guinard bridge are part of the site.
 Dinner: Enjoy dinner tonight in local Casper restaurant.
 Evening: Rest of evening free to relax, swim in hotel pool or take a walk.
   
Accommodations: Hampton Inn & Suites Casper
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 8: Travel across Wyoming's wide-open spaces from Casper to Gillette/see oil and natural gas development areas/Devils Tower/Return to Rapid City, South Dakota
(Saturday, August 31)

Note: Travel across Wyoming's ranch country and along side of oil and gas fields. Tower walk at Devils Tower is 1.3 miles on paved path.
   
 Breakfast: Continental breakfast at hotel.
 Morning: Today, your journey from Casper, Wyoming back to Rapid City, South Dakota will take you through oil and gas fields, coal mines and ranch country. The coal industry of Wyoming reached production of over 467.4 million tons in Wyoming in 2008. Over 400 coal-related jobs were created just in this part of the country.

The Salt Creek Oil Field north of Casper was at one time the largest light crude oil field in the world and historically one of the most important petroleum deposits in Wyoming. Follow the history of the area and learn how the present day operations have extended the life of the field. What did the “Teapot Dome” scandal have to do with this part of Wyoming you’re traveling through? Learn all about the scandal during the 1920s involving the U.S. Secretary of the Interior, governmental lands, contracts, kickbacks, the investigation and the outcome.

Watch for various kinds of animals while traveling across the wide-open spaces of Wyoming. How many jackrabbits, deer, pronghorn and coyotes can you spot amongst the miles and miles of Artemisia Tridentata Nutt or commonly called Wyoming Big Sagebrush? You will be able to relate to the song, Lonesome Cowboy, and what it means to the cowboy rancher to tend their sheep and cattle in this part of the state and also have their nearest neighbor be up to twenty miles away.
 Lunch: Sack lunch along the way.
 Afternoon: Continue traveling to Devils Tower. The National Park Information best describes Devils Tower this way: “In 1906, President Theodore Roosevelt proclaimed Devils Tower the first national monument under the new Antiquities Act. About 60 million years ago molten magma was forced into sedimentary rocks above it and cooled underground. As it cooled it contracted and fractured into columns. An earlier flow formed Little Missouri Buttes. Over millions of years, erosion of the sedimentary rock exposed Devils Tower and accentuated Little Missouri Buttes.

The Tower rises 867 feet from the base and stands 1,267 feet above the river and 5, 112 feet above sea level. The area of its tear-drop shaped top is 1.5 acres and the diameter of its base is 1,000 feet.” At Devils Tower Visitor Center, you will learn about the geological story of the Tower, the Indian Legend, the human phase of the story, and about the different kinds of birds, animals, trees and plants that thrive in the area. You will have a chance to walk the paved Tower Trail (1.3 miles) around the base of the Tower (walk is optional). Seeing the Tower up close, you may be reminded of Steven Spielberg’s 1977 science fiction movie “Close Encounters of the Third Kind” and Devils Tower.

The last segment of the week's journey takes us from Devils Tower back to South Dakota and our hotel in Rapid City.
 Dinner: Enjoy a catered dinner at the hotel meeting room with all your new Road Scholar Friends. This is the time for you to bring your poems, songs, skits, readings or whatever you want to share with the group. A farewell fun night! Program ends with dinner and overnight stay.
   
Accommodations: Howard Johnson Express Inn & Suites
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 9: Independent Departures from Rapid City.
(Sunday, September 1)

Note: Independent departures from hotel. Continental breakfast at the hotel included.
   
 Depart From: You may depart the hotel at any time you wish until hotel check-out time at 12:00 noon. If you need a later check-out time, contact the hotel directly to make arrangements.
 Breakfast: Continental breakfast at the hotel begins at 6:00 a.m.
   
Meals Included: Breakfast

Free Time Opportunities
  
  Rapid City, South Dakota Rapid City SD
There is very limited free time in Rapid City during the program dates. After dinner, enjoy soaking in the hot tub or swim in the hotel's pool, visit with other participants in the meeting room, take a walk or just relax in your room and get organized for another exciting day. Contact South Dakota Traveling Studies with specific questions at 605-348-1996.

If you come early or stay later, Rapid City has numerous historic places to visit including Stave Kirk or Chapel in the Hills; The Journey Museum; Prairie Edge (an American Indian Store) which is just like a museum and the South Dakota School of Mines Geology Museum. Visit a local Black Hills Gold Jewelry manufacturing company. Take a stroll downtown and visit the Oldest Hotel in town, Alex Johnson Hotel, and marvel at the life size presidential statues on each of the downtown street corners.

There is a trolley system that provides transportation around the downtown area and to some of the major attractions. Check the website (www.rapidride.org) for stops, times and seasonal hours of operation. For additional information, visit www.rapidride.org
  Casper, WY Casper WY
Free time after dinner: Swim in the indoor hotel pool, exercise in the fitness room, take a walk or invite fellow participants to join you in a game of cards in the hotel lobby OR just relax in your room and watch your favorite sports or show on TV. For additional information, visit www.casperwy.gov
  Jackson Hole Valley Wyoming Jackson Lake Lodge
Dinner is on your own tonight. Choices for dining at the Lodge include: The Mural Room (fine dining & reservations are required call 307-543-3082); Pioneer Grill; Blue Heron Bar & Lounge; Pool BBQ including live music (only June and July program). Inquire about a scenic or dinner/scenic float trip on the Snake River (transportation to float trip and float trip/dinner is included from the Lodge). Or ask about a scenic or dinner/scenic boat trip on Jackson Lake leaving from Colter Bay Marina. You will need to check with the activities desk for information if there is transportation to Colter Bay (where the BOAT rides are). For those wanting to go into the town of Jackson, ask about the schedule, amount of time in town and the cost. Call 307-543-3052 for reservations and information. Evening free to take a walk, swim in the outdoor pool (June, July and August), watch for wildlife, or just relax in the Grand Lobby of the Lodge. For additional information, visit www.gtlc.com
  Lake Yellowstone Area YNP Lake Yellowstone Area
Learn about the history of the area and the hotel while on a guided tour with Park personnel; take a walk to the Lake; relax in the solarium that looks out over the Lake; visit with the artist in residence and browse through the gift shop. For additional information, visit www.npsgov/yell/ or www.travelyellowstone.com
  Old Faithful Area Yellowstone National Park Old Faithful Area
Watch Old Faithful Geyser; take a stroll on the boardwalk to see more geysers and thermal features; learn about the immediate area's geology, plants, animals and the Park's history at the Visitor's Center; attend the National Park Evening Program; and take a self-tour of Old Faithful Inn. For additional information, visit www.npsgov/yell/ or www.travelyellowstone.com
  Cody, WY Cody, WY
The Buffalo Bill Historical Center is open until 8:00 p.m. if you wish to stay longer than the allotted group time. Watch the free re-enactment of a wild-west shoot-out that takes place at 6:00 p.m. right in front of the Irma Hotel. Attend the Cody Nite Rodeo (8:00 to 10:00 p.m. June 1 through August 31) - own cost. Relax and unwind at the professionally produced Dan Miller Music Show across the street from the Irma Hotel (cost included with program). Or walk the main street of Cody and window shop in the many art galleries, antique shops and western theme stores. For additional information, visit www.cityofcody-wy.gov and www.bbhc.org
Important information about your itinerary: Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy and completeness of the information featured on this website. Itineraries are based on our best information at this time. Circumstances beyond our control may require us to adjust itineraries or other details. We regret any inconvenience this may cause and appreciate your understanding. Information will be sent to you from your Program Provider approximately three weeks prior to the program start date. The prices listed for commercial services and facilities that are not included in the program cost, such as airport shuttles or extra nights lodging, are subject to change without notice. Since Road Scholar cannot guarantee the accuracy of these prices, we strongly suggest contacting the companies directly for the most up-to-date information.

Suggested Reading List


Black Elk Speaks


Author: John Neihardt


Description: This book gives the reader a good background of the Northern Plains Indian Culture and Religion.



Crazy Horse & Custer: The Parallel Lives of Two American Warriors.


Author: Ambrose, Stephen E.


Description: The book describes the parallel lives of Crazy Horse and Custer. An interesting account that traces the activities of the two men through the years prior to their meeting at the Battle of the Little Big Horn in 1876.



Geology of Grand Teton National Park: How the Mountains Came to Be


Author: Charles Craighead


Description: Chapters include: The Greater Landscape How the Tetons and Jackson Hole Came to Be; The Yellowstone Hotspot Ice Age; Glaciers and Water Continued Shaping of the Land; Rock Types in the Park; Precious Minerals, Gems, and Interesting Rocks; Major Peaks of the Teton Range; Major Geologic Features of the Park; Geology and Life special Sites for Observation; Fold-Out Map of the Tetons; and Photos by award-winning photographer Henry H. Holdsworth.



History of Grand Teton National Park


Author: Charles Craighead


Description: The story of the people and culture that first shaped Jackson Hole is encompassed in this great guide. From American Indians to the first person to climb the Grand Teton, this guide has essentials you'll enjoy knowing. With historic photos and correlating map, you can't go wrong if you want to know about people and places in Grand Teton and Jackson Hole. Beautiful photos by nature photographer Henry Holdsworth.



Lost Bird Of Wounded Knee


Author: Renee Sansom Flood


Description: Tells the life story of an Indian baby girl found under her mother's frozen body after the Wounded Knee Massacre (1890) in present day Pine Ridge Indian Reservation South Dakota.



Roadside Geology of the Yellowstone Country


Author: William J. Fritz


Description: Informative travel companion about roadside terrain and geology with photos, diagrams and glossary. This is more in-depth than most books written about the geology of the Yellowstone region.



Roadside History of Yellowstone National Park


Author: Winfred Blevins


Description: The "Roadside History' series charts a course to the present through carefully selected and thoroughly researched stories relating what we see today with what happened before. Through vivid anecdotes, old photographs, and maps, the "Roadside History" guides provide entertaining insight into the states and/or regions they describe. The history of Yellowstone Park is rich with tales of the diverse people who have visited this natural wonderland along with a "road log" approach that helps place modern travelers in the past.



Six Wars At A Time


Author: Audrey and Howard Shaff


Description: The life and times of Gutzon Borglum, the sculptor of Mount Rushmore.



Standing Witness: Devils Tower National Monument, A History


Author: Jeanne Rogers


The Carving of Mount Rushmore


Author: Rex Alan Smith


Description: This work tells the story of the spectacular artistic and engineering project of carving the American presidents' portraits on Mount Rushmore. It describes how it was conceived and carried out. The author was brought up in sight of Mount Rushmore and witnessed the work in progress.



Windows Into the Earth: The Geologic Story of Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks


Author: Robert B. Smith, Lee J. Siegel


Description: Millions of years ago, the North American continent was dragged over the world's largest continental hotspot, a huge column of hot and molten rock rising from the Earth's interior that traced a 50-mile wide, 500-mile-long path northeastward across Idaho. Generating cataclysmic volcanic eruptions and large earthquakes, the hotspot helped life the Yellowstone Plateau to more than 7,000 feet and pushed the northern Rockies to new heights, forming unusually large glaciers to carve the landscape. It also created the jewel of the U.S. national park system: Yellowstone. Meanwhile, forces stretching apart the western U.S. created the mountainous glory of Grand Teton National Park. These two parks, with their majestic mountains, dazzling geysers, and picturesque hot springs, are windows into the Earth's interior, revealing the violent power of the dynamic processes within. Smith and Siegel offer expert guidance through this awe-inspiring terrain, bringing to life the grandeur of these geologic phenomena as they reveal the forces that have shaped-and continue to shape-the greater Yellowstone-Teton region. Over seventy illustrations-including iffy-two in full color-illuminate the breathtaking beauty of the landscape, while two final chapters provide driving tours of the parks to help visitors enjoy and understand the regions wonders. Fascinating and informative, this book affords us a striking new perspective on Earth's creative forces.





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