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A group of people stand on a wooden boardwalk in Montana, observing thick steam rising from a Yellowstone National Park hot spring.
Montana

Yellowstone’s Great Outdoors With Your Grandchild

Program No. 17306RJ
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Program
At a Glance
Duration
6 days
Program Begins
Gardiner, MT
Program Concludes
Gardiner, MT
Group Type
Small Group
Meals
14 ( 5B, 4L, 5D )
Activity Level
From
3,549 /Adult
2,449 /Child
Tie up your hiking boots, hop on horseback and climb into a whitewater raft to explore America’s first national park on foot, horse and water. With your grandchild by your side, take part in hands-on explorations of Yellowstone National Park in streamside habitats and forested mountains. Find out how the plants, animals, bugs, fish, water and weather patterns all work together to create this fascinating ecosystem. Plus, visit Old Faithful — the world’s most famous geyser — to investigate hissing fumaroles, steaming geysers, sulfurous mudpots and bubbling hot springs.
Best of all, you'll...
  • Experience the exciting Class II and Class III rapids of the Yellowstone River on a rafting excursion, and enjoy a picnic lunch along the river.
  • Make trailside discoveries in the high country as you ride horses together, and end the ride with a cowboy cookout.
  • Set up camp along the river as you take in a Montana sunset and sleep under a star-filled night sky.
Activity Level
Outdoor: Spirited
Learn About Activity Levels
Walking and hiking up to 3 miles per day over maintained trails, asphalt paths, rocky trails, and boardwalks with stairs. Standing up to 2 hours per day. Program will require approximately 10 miles of walking over 5 days. Must be able to get in an out of raft and whitewater raft for 7 miles on Class II/III waters with no back support. Horseback trail riding for 1 hour. Optional horseback trail riding for 1 hour. Participants must meet height and weight requirements for optional trail riding activities. Stairs at accommodations with no elevator. Must be able to handle your own luggage. Accommodation includes one night camping in wall tents with no indoor bathroom. Coach buses are used for transportation and require up to 100 miles (2 hours) of driving time at once. Elevations begin at 5,200 feet and go up to 7,700 feet. Must be physically capable of participating in all planned program activities.
General Notes
Program is for grandchildren ages 9-12. For a comparable family adventure for all generations, check out "Yellowstone: A Great Outdoor Adventure With Your Family" (#20977).
All Experts
Please Note:
These experts may not be available for every date of the program
Rick was raised in Wyoming and moved to Montana after college to work for the Bozeman Chronicle. His career includes working as a newspaper reporter, magazine editor, web developer and IT Manager. He has a degree in Journalism from the University of Wyoming and a Master’s degree in photography. He lives in Helena with his wife and is an avid bicycle rider and enjoys hiking, cross-country skiing, camping, and travel. When he is not Group Leading, Rick enjoys adventuring with Road Scholar as a participant.
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.
Rhiana Peck grew up on the northern edge of Yellowstone Park. She studied and lived in India and Turkey, earning a degree in sociology and anthropology from Earlham College. She relocated back to the northern edge of the park in 2020. Winter finds her driving a snowcoach in Yellowstone’s interior based at Old Faithful, interpreting the landscape for travelers. Summer finds her based in Gardiner. Rhiana is a Certified Interpretive Guide (CIG) with the National Association for Interpretation (NAI) and is a Wilderness First Responder.
Activity Level
Outdoor: Spirited
Walking and hiking up to 3 miles per day over maintained trails, asphalt paths, rocky trails, and boardwalks with stairs. Standing up to 2 hours per day. Program will require approximately 10 miles of walking over 5 days. Must be able to get in an out of raft and whitewater raft for 7 miles on Class II/III waters with no back support. Horseback trail riding for 1 hour. Optional horseback trail riding for 1 hour. Participants must meet height and weight requirements for optional trail riding activities. Stairs at accommodations with no elevator. Must be able to handle your own luggage. Accommodation includes one night camping in wall tents with no indoor bathroom. Coach buses are used for transportation and require up to 100 miles (2 hours) of driving time at once. Elevations begin at 5,200 feet and go up to 7,700 feet. Must be physically capable of participating in all planned program activities.
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
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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.

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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.

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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.

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Sustainable Travel

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

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