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Montana

Winter Ventures in Yellowstone Country

Program No. 16839RJ
Learn how to snowmobile, snowshoe and ski, discover unique wildlife and visit Old Faithful, fumaroles and bubbling hot springs as you explore the wonders of Yellowstone in winter.
Program
At a Glance
Duration
6 days
Program Begins
West Yellowstone, MT
Program Concludes
West Yellowstone, MT
Group Type
Small Group
Meals
14 ( 5B, 4L, 5D )
Activity Level
Venture into Yellowstone Country for winter's sparkling whiteness, steaming thermals and ice-rimmed rivers. Ride a snowcoach to the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone and encounter eons of geologic processes. Learn to ride a snowmobile on park roads, view diverse habitats and observe bison, waterfowl, bald eagles and coyotes. Experience churning geothermal activity at Old Faithful and Fountain Paint Pots, discover animal tracks and analyze sign and learn winter sports and skills on informative, naturalist-led adventures.
Best of all, you'll...
  • Take a snowmobile excursion into sulfur-scented geyser basins showcasing Old Faithful's steaming glory, plopping mudpots, fumaroles and sizzling hot springs.
  • Ride a snowcoach to the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, where you’re met with sheer, painted walls and the ice-columned majesty of Lower Falls.
  • Try over-the-snow ventures on cross-country skis and snowshoes, revealing a landscape locked in winter's frozen embrace.
General Notes
Small group size; max of 14 participants.
All Experts
Please Note:
These experts may not be available for every date of the program
Raised and educated in the Finger Lakes region of New York, Leslie Stoltz now lives in Big Sky, Montana, surrounded by the wild places that she loves. Her decade of work for the National Park Service in Yellowstone and Glacier National Parks in the areas of research and education provided a wonderful foundation for her career as a teacher and park expert. Since the early 1990s, Leslie has worked for a variety of companies and non-profit organizations, teaching classes and leading trips in national parks and wild areas throughout the American West. Farther afield, she has led educational trips to Nepal, Bhutan, Tanzania, Botswana, Ecuador, and Mexico. Leslie also runs a non-profit with a mission to keep kids connected to the outdoors though scholarship opportunities for outdoor learning experiences.
Born in southern Idaho, but raised in Texas, Fred Haas has always enjoyed the outdoors. With a degree in forestry from Texas A&M, Fred headed out west to work with the U.S. Forest Service. Fred's 33 years of public land management included roles in reforestation, timber sale administration, grazing management, road and trail maintenance, special use permit administration, landownership adjustments, recreation and wilderness management. In retirement Fred enjoys hiking, camping, volunteering, and woodworking.
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.
Shauna Baron holds a B.S. in Biology and a M.S. in Science Education. She has more than 25 years of experience as an outdoor educator, studying large and small carnivores throughout the U.S., including wolves, bears, fishers, and bobcats. Shauna saw her first wild wolf while volunteering for the Yellowstone Wolf Project in 1996 and has since worked as a naturalist in Yellowstone National Park, developing outdoor educational classes for the Yellowstone Institute. She specializes in programs for disabled veterans, inner-city youth, and autistic groups.
Heidi Schwandt's upbringing on cattle ranches in Southwestern Montana gave her the freedom to explore the woods and mountains. A short stint with the Forest Service on a trail maintenance crew solidified her love of hiking. Heidi has been instructing Alpine skiing for more than a decade, including a women-only skiing program she piloted at her local mountain. Two decades as a 4-H volunteer have showcased her passion for connecting with people and inspiring them to learn by doing.
Activity Level
Outdoor: Spirited
Snow shoeing and X-Country Skiing up to 4 miles (3-4 hours) on primarily maintained snow packed trails. Snowmobiling on snow packed park roads. One day travel 8 hours by Snow Coach with frequent stops. Elevations of 6,666–7,800 feet.
Small Group (13 to 24)
Love to learn and explore in a small-group setting? These adventures offer small, personal experiences with groups of 13 to 24 participants.
Suggested Books and Resources
View Full List
You can also find many of the books we recommend at the Road Scholar store on bookshop.org, a website that supports local bookstores.
HAVE QUESTIONS?
Prefer to enroll or inquire by phone?
We can help. Give us a call, and we can answer all of your questions!
Call 800-454-5768
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Peace of Mind

We want your Road Scholar learning adventure to be something to look forward to—not worry about. That’s why we go to the ends of the earth to give you peace of mind, from the moment you enroll until the day you return home.

Assurance Plan

Road Scholar is committed to the well-being of every participant, whether on a program in the United States or abroad. That’s why all participants are covered under our Road Scholar Assurance Plan, which provides 24-hour assistance in the event of an emergency during your program, as well as insurance for emergency medical evacuation.

Want to Protect Your Investment?

Road Scholar is pleased to offer its Trip Protection Plan as a way to protect your program investment. You may purchase this optional trip protection plan when enrolling in your program.

Sustainable Travel

We offset a portion of the emissions created by your travel. Read about our commitment to a more sustainable planet.