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Montana

Yellowstone: The Great Caldera

Program No. 13845RJ
Yellowstone is both the world at its most primordial and the world at its most sublime. Come explore the park’s many natural wonders on the learning adventure of a lifetime.

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Prefer to enroll or inquire by phone? 800-454-5768
Select your type of room
Price will update based on selection
Prices displayed below are based on per person,doubleoccupancy.
DATES & starting prices
PRICES
May 13 - May 18, 2024
Starting at
2,799
Filling Fast!
May 27 - Jun 1, 2024
Starting at
2,799
Aug 19 - Aug 24, 2024
Starting at
2,799
Sep 9 - Sep 14, 2024
Starting at
2,799
DATES & starting prices
PRICES
May 13 - May 18, 2024
Starting at
3,639
May 27 - Jun 1, 2024
Starting at
3,639
Aug 19 - Aug 24, 2024
Starting at
3,639
Sep 9 - Sep 14, 2024
Starting at
3,639

At a Glance

Yellowstone's cast of thousands includes bears, wolves, volcanoes, thermal features, winter range, flora, fire and history. Understand their vital roles in a magnificent ecosystem. Naturalist leads discussion and provides interpretation during four full days in the field for exploration of diverse habitats and steaming geyser basins.
Activity Level
Keep the Pace
Walking up to two miles total throughout each day on varied terrain; Getting on and off motorcoach multiple times daily; Travel times vary within the park. Elevations of 5,260-9,000 feet.
Small Group
Small Group
Love to learn and explore in a small-group setting? These adventures offer small, personal experiences with groups of 13 to 24 participants.

Best of all, you’ll…

  • Enjoy four full days in Yellowstone exploring pristine rivers, waterfalls, beautiful vistas and wildlife.
  • Meet exploration and survey parties and learn about current issues and evolving philosophy.
  • Visit the Yellowstone National Park Heritage and Research Center, which houses a collection of 5.3 million items.

General Notes

Please note that accommodations and program length vary by date. Please check the Dates and Prices, Itinerary and Meals and Lodging Tabs for more information.
Featured Expert
All Experts
Profile Image
Zack Baker
Zack Baker attended high school in Livingston, Montana, 52 miles north of Yellowstone. His love for the park started while snowshoeing and observing wildlife. At Montana State University in Bozeman, he earned a B.S. in plant science, but it was Yellowstone’s mammals that grabbed his interest. He led private wildlife watching, hiking, and photography trips, and drove snowcoaches in the winter. He joined up with Road Scholar in 2017 and is now the Program Director for Road Scholar at the University of Montana Western.

Please note: This expert may not be available for every date of this program.

Profile Image of Zack Baker
Zack Baker View biography
Zack Baker attended high school in Livingston, Montana, 52 miles north of Yellowstone. His love for the park started while snowshoeing and observing wildlife. At Montana State University in Bozeman, he earned a B.S. in plant science, but it was Yellowstone’s mammals that grabbed his interest. He led private wildlife watching, hiking, and photography trips, and drove snowcoaches in the winter. He joined up with Road Scholar in 2017 and is now the Program Director for Road Scholar at the University of Montana Western.
Visit the Road Scholar Bookshop
You can find many of the books we recommend at the Road Scholar store on bookshop.org, a website that supports local bookstores.
Scorched Earth: How the Fires of Yellowstone Changed America
by Rocky Barker
The Yellowstone fires brought to the forefront longstanding conflict over whether federal land management should go with immediate fire suppression procedures or the ‘let it burn’ philosophy. The author, who experienced the Yellowstone fires of 1988 as an environmental reporter there, reviews US wildlands fire history by highlighting wildlands fire management. Discussion of this history and the history of federal lands management considers how these policies shaped the protection of public lands in the US today. Further explained are the details behind the creation of Yellowstone National Park and the role the US Army played in ‘protecting Yellowstone and shaping public lands in the West.’
The Sibley Guide to Birds
by David Allen Sibley
Sibley, a talented painter, offers this wonderful, data-packed color guide with range maps and detailed descriptions of songs and calls. This book is perfect for field trips with short walks and may be too heavy for some to take to the field in which case it can await back in the car.
National Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Wildflowers: Western Region
by Richard Spellenberg
This revised edition presents more than 940 full-color images showing western North American wildflowers in their natural habitats. The guide sports a waterproof, washable cover meant to be thrown into a pack and has a checklist/lifelist for those who like to keep track of identifications. The book is a good learning tool as its entries are color and shape sorted so that one may appreciate floral characteristics other than color. The identifier may compare flowers grown in the west to those grown in other areas of the country.
Roadside Geology of Yellowstone Country
by William Fritz & Robert Thomas
Updated, classic roadside geology book for the Yellowstone Region explains current geological theories.
After the Fires: The Ecology of Change in Yellowstone National Park
by Linda Wallace, Editor
The ravaging fires of 1988 caused many scientists to predict long-term devastation which did not come to pass. This scientific summary by wildlife biologists, ecosystem and forest scientists and landscape ecologists discusses the many things that changed and did not change in the Yellowstone area. Realize the role of fire in the ecosystem and the resiliency of nature.
To Save the Wild Bison: Life on the Edge in Yellowstone
by Mary Ann Franke
The author brings clarity and revelation to one of Yellowstone's most complex struggles by tracing the history of bison and humans into the 19th century and further into the national parks era. Here's discussion of bison management and park policy - the battle over brucellosis, snowmobiles and groomed winter roads, desires of Native Americans, bison and predators.
Wolf Land
by Carter Niemeyer (author) Jenny Niemeyer (Editor)
Carter Niemeyer has followed wolves – and captured many – since he helped reintroduce them in the Northern Rockies in the mid-1990s. In his second memoir, Wolf Land, he takes us across the rugged West as he tracks wolves, shares in their lives, and seeks middle ground for these iconic animals, both on the land and in our hearts. Carter Niemeyer is an Iowa native and a recognized expert on wolves, livestock depredation, and trapping. He is the retired Idaho wolf manager for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Niemeyer wrote his first memoir, Wolfer, in 2010.
Decade of the Wolf, revised and updated edition: Returning the Wild to Yellowstone
by Douglas W. Smith and Gary Ferguson
Research and storytelling meld to document wolf recovery in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. Wolf biologist, Smith, and nature writer, Ferguson, provide an inside look at the Yellowstone Wolf Recovery Project ten years after the controversial decision was made by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services to reintroduce wolves into the park. Smith, wolf project leader who has worked with the Yellowstone Wolf Project since its inception, has studied wolves for 25 years. Ferguson, whose writing largely arises from intimate experiences, followed through the seasons, the first 14 wolves released into Yellowstone National Park. Their collaboration offers hard facts and 'impressionistic portraits of individual wolves that reveal their epic lives full of struggle and conquest.' Here is the history of the return of the top predator to Yellowstone.
Restoring a Presence: American Indians and Yellowstone National Park
by Peter Nabokov and Lawrence Loendorf
This first comprehensive account of Indians in and around Yellowstone corrects more than a century of ignorance. Detailed here is Yellowstone's native peoples and their story of a long engagement with a remarkable landscape.
Meals
14 Meals
5 Breakfasts
4 Lunches
5 Dinners
The following choices may be available when requested in advance: Vegetarian, Gluten Free
Lodging
Lodgings may differ by date. Select a date to see the lodgings specific to that date.
Display
Sep 09, 2024 - Sep 14, 2024
  • Sep 09, 2024 - Sep 14, 2024
  • May 13, 2024 - May 18, 2024
  • May 27, 2024 - Jun 01, 2024
  • Aug 19, 2024 - Aug 24, 2024
  • Sep 09, 2024 - Sep 14, 2024
2 nights
Bozeman
Located less than seven miles from Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport, the Springhill Suites Bozeman is ideal for adventurers exploring Yellowstone or corporate travelers visiting Oracle, Workiva, or Montana State University. Not an ordinary Springhill Suites, we're a custom Bozeman hotel that features studios with a divided living and sleep area, workspace, pantry with microwave and mini-fridge, sofa sleeper, plush bedding, and a 50" flat-screen TV with streaming capabilities. Start your day with a free breakfast, enjoy a dip in the indoor pool, get a workout at the fitness center, grab a drink at our bar, or stay connected with free WiFi. Business travelers love our flexible meeting space ideal for small gatherings. We're minutes from Historic Downtown, which is full of local flavor, dining, shopping, and nightlife. Renowned for its hunting, fly fishing, skiing, mountain biking, and impressive wildlife, Bozeman offers unlimited activities for outdoor lovers
2 nights
West Yellowstone
A stay at Gray Wolf Inn & Suites places you in the heart of West Yellowstone, within a 15-minute walk of Yellowstone Park West Entrance and Yellowstone National Park. This hotel is 0.1 mi (0.1 km) from Grizzly and Wolf Discovery Center and 0.1 mi (0.2 km) from Gallatin National Forest. Be sure to enjoy recreational amenities, including an indoor pool, a spa tub, and a 24-hour fitness center. Additional features at this hotel include complimentary wireless Internet access, ski storage, and a fireplace in the lobby. Make yourself at home in one of the 102 air-conditioned rooms featuring refrigerators and microwaves. Complimentary wireless Internet access keeps you connected, and cable programming is available for your entertainment. Bathrooms have shower/tub combinations and hair dryers. Conveniences include desks and coffee/tea makers, as well as phones with free local calls.
1 night
Gardiner
Lodgings are located on Gardiner's main street, Park Street, on Yellowstone's northern boundary. Yellowstone's northwest entrance at Roosevelt Arch is three blocks from motel. The Gardiner entrance was dedicated in 1903 by Theodore Roosevelt. Remember, you are experiencing the atmosphere of a small, rural community and meal options are naturally limited. Meals served at local restaurants.
2 nights
Bozeman
Located less than seven miles from Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport, the Springhill Suites Bozeman is ideal for adventurers exploring Yellowstone or corporate travelers visiting Oracle, Workiva, or Montana State University. Not an ordinary Springhill Suites, we're a custom Bozeman hotel that features studios with a divided living and sleep area, workspace, pantry with microwave and mini-fridge, sofa sleeper, plush bedding, and a 50" flat-screen TV with streaming capabilities. Start your day with a free breakfast, enjoy a dip in the indoor pool, get a workout at the fitness center, grab a drink at our bar, or stay connected with free WiFi. Business travelers love our flexible meeting space ideal for small gatherings. We're minutes from Historic Downtown, which is full of local flavor, dining, shopping, and nightlife. Renowned for its hunting, fly fishing, skiing, mountain biking, and impressive wildlife, Bozeman offers unlimited activities for outdoor lovers
2 nights
West Yellowstone
A stay at Gray Wolf Inn & Suites places you in the heart of West Yellowstone, within a 15-minute walk of Yellowstone Park West Entrance and Yellowstone National Park. This hotel is 0.1 mi (0.1 km) from Grizzly and Wolf Discovery Center and 0.1 mi (0.2 km) from Gallatin National Forest. Be sure to enjoy recreational amenities, including an indoor pool, a spa tub, and a 24-hour fitness center. Additional features at this hotel include complimentary wireless Internet access, ski storage, and a fireplace in the lobby. Make yourself at home in one of the 102 air-conditioned rooms featuring refrigerators and microwaves. Complimentary wireless Internet access keeps you connected, and cable programming is available for your entertainment. Bathrooms have shower/tub combinations and hair dryers. Conveniences include desks and coffee/tea makers, as well as phones with free local calls.
1 night
Gardiner
Lodgings are located on Gardiner's main street, Park Street, on Yellowstone's northern boundary. Yellowstone's northwest entrance at Roosevelt Arch is three blocks from motel. The Gardiner entrance was dedicated in 1903 by Theodore Roosevelt. Remember, you are experiencing the atmosphere of a small, rural community and meal options are naturally limited. Meals served at local restaurants.
2 nights
Bozeman
Located less than seven miles from Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport, the Springhill Suites Bozeman is ideal for adventurers exploring Yellowstone or corporate travelers visiting Oracle, Workiva, or Montana State University. Not an ordinary Springhill Suites, we're a custom Bozeman hotel that features studios with a divided living and sleep area, workspace, pantry with microwave and mini-fridge, sofa sleeper, plush bedding, and a 50" flat-screen TV with streaming capabilities. Start your day with a free breakfast, enjoy a dip in the indoor pool, get a workout at the fitness center, grab a drink at our bar, or stay connected with free WiFi. Business travelers love our flexible meeting space ideal for small gatherings. We're minutes from Historic Downtown, which is full of local flavor, dining, shopping, and nightlife. Renowned for its hunting, fly fishing, skiing, mountain biking, and impressive wildlife, Bozeman offers unlimited activities for outdoor lovers
2 nights
West Yellowstone
A stay at Gray Wolf Inn & Suites places you in the heart of West Yellowstone, within a 15-minute walk of Yellowstone Park West Entrance and Yellowstone National Park. This hotel is 0.1 mi (0.1 km) from Grizzly and Wolf Discovery Center and 0.1 mi (0.2 km) from Gallatin National Forest. Be sure to enjoy recreational amenities, including an indoor pool, a spa tub, and a 24-hour fitness center. Additional features at this hotel include complimentary wireless Internet access, ski storage, and a fireplace in the lobby. Make yourself at home in one of the 102 air-conditioned rooms featuring refrigerators and microwaves. Complimentary wireless Internet access keeps you connected, and cable programming is available for your entertainment. Bathrooms have shower/tub combinations and hair dryers. Conveniences include desks and coffee/tea makers, as well as phones with free local calls.
1 night
Gardiner
Lodgings are located on Gardiner's main street, Park Street, on Yellowstone's northern boundary. Yellowstone's northwest entrance at Roosevelt Arch is three blocks from motel. The Gardiner entrance was dedicated in 1903 by Theodore Roosevelt. Remember, you are experiencing the atmosphere of a small, rural community and meal options are naturally limited. Meals served at local restaurants.
2 nights
Bozeman
Located less than seven miles from Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport, the Springhill Suites Bozeman is ideal for adventurers exploring Yellowstone or corporate travelers visiting Oracle, Workiva, or Montana State University. Not an ordinary Springhill Suites, we're a custom Bozeman hotel that features studios with a divided living and sleep area, workspace, pantry with microwave and mini-fridge, sofa sleeper, plush bedding, and a 50" flat-screen TV with streaming capabilities. Start your day with a free breakfast, enjoy a dip in the indoor pool, get a workout at the fitness center, grab a drink at our bar, or stay connected with free WiFi. Business travelers love our flexible meeting space ideal for small gatherings. We're minutes from Historic Downtown, which is full of local flavor, dining, shopping, and nightlife. Renowned for its hunting, fly fishing, skiing, mountain biking, and impressive wildlife, Bozeman offers unlimited activities for outdoor lovers
2 nights
West Yellowstone
A stay at Gray Wolf Inn & Suites places you in the heart of West Yellowstone, within a 15-minute walk of Yellowstone Park West Entrance and Yellowstone National Park. This hotel is 0.1 mi (0.1 km) from Grizzly and Wolf Discovery Center and 0.1 mi (0.2 km) from Gallatin National Forest. Be sure to enjoy recreational amenities, including an indoor pool, a spa tub, and a 24-hour fitness center. Additional features at this hotel include complimentary wireless Internet access, ski storage, and a fireplace in the lobby. Make yourself at home in one of the 102 air-conditioned rooms featuring refrigerators and microwaves. Complimentary wireless Internet access keeps you connected, and cable programming is available for your entertainment. Bathrooms have shower/tub combinations and hair dryers. Conveniences include desks and coffee/tea makers, as well as phones with free local calls.
1 night
Gardiner
Lodgings are located on Gardiner's main street, Park Street, on Yellowstone's northern boundary. Yellowstone's northwest entrance at Roosevelt Arch is three blocks from motel. The Gardiner entrance was dedicated in 1903 by Theodore Roosevelt. Remember, you are experiencing the atmosphere of a small, rural community and meal options are naturally limited. Meals served at local restaurants.





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