Wyoming
Greater Yellowstone: Heart of the Continent
Program No. 2809RJ
Take a deeper look at what makes Yellowstone and Teton National Parks true national treasures as you visit geological wonders, enjoy expert lectures and learn the region’s unique story.
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Protecting the Environment
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9 days
8 nights
23 meals
8B 7L 8D
2
Museum of Wildlife Art, Snake River Scenic Raft
Jackson Lake
4
Yellowstone Geology, Continental Divide, Old Faithful
Grant, Yellowstone National Park, WY
5
In the Valley of Geysers, Old Faithful Inn
Grant, Yellowstone National Park, WY
6
Hell’s Half Acre, Yellowstone’s Grand Canyon
Canyon Village, Yellowstone National Park, WY
7
Hayden Valley, Mammoth Terraces
Canyon Village, Yellowstone National Park, WY
9
Program Concludes
Jackson, WY
At a Glance
Tribal legends, tales of mountain men and accounts of early explorers described a land unlike any other on earth — called "the heart of the continent, where hidden pulses can be seen and felt to beat." At the core of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem is Yellowstone and Teton National Parks. On this adventure, we focus on aspects of the parks that make them great — history, geology, wildlife and thermal features.
Activity Level
Keep the Pace
I like to spend much of the day exploring. Whether walking through historic neighborhoods at a moderate pace or out and about on a coach, I prefer to keep my days full. Stairs don’t bother me, and I love to keep up with the 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.
What You'll Learn
- Take a Snake River scenic float trip with exquisite views of the Teton Mountain Range and wildlife.
- Learn about fisheries and current volcanic activity happening beneath the waters of Yellowstone Lake, so large it often creates its own weather.
- Discover how cataclysmic volcanic eruptions laid the foundation for the largest concentration of geysers, hot springs, mud pots and fumaroles in the world.
Suggested Reading List
(9 books)
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.
Greater Yellowstone: Heart of the Continent
Program Number: 2809
Empire of Shadows: The Epic Story of Yellowstone National Park
Consider the history of the exploration of Yellowstone National Park through this "historical account of the origins of America's majestic national landmark." The author's well-documented history is a realistic look at people and political and economic factors; his book is sectioned into Pathfinders, Civilizers, Soldiers, Explorers and Tourists. "He casts Yellowstone's creation as the culmination of three interwoven strands of history - the passion for exploration, the violence of the Indian Wars and the 'civilizing' of the frontier and charts its course through the lives of those who sought to lay bare its mysteries."
A Ranger's Guide to Yellowstone Day Hikes
Consider wildlife etiquette and tips for hiking in bear country then choose trails by area, difficulty and distance; appreciate highlights and naturalist notes while on the trail.
Yellowstone Wolves in the Wild
Color photographs of wolves in the wild meld with current studies, biology, reintroduction, history of packs, behavior, impacts on the ecosystem and eye-witness reports from scientists and wolf watchers. Here is the HOW and WHY of returning this key predator to Yellowstone. Appendices detail the histories and social status of original packs and pack members, maps and more.
The Sibley Guide to Birds
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.
For Everything There Is A Season: The Sequence of Natural Events In The Grand Teton- Yellowstone Area.
Dr. Craighead describes and illustrates the hidden patterns he sees in the natural world. For naturalists, this book is a remarkable chronicle of the interrelationships between all living things. For anyone interested in the Teton-Yellowstone area and the entire Northern Rockies, this book opens the door to greater understanding of the natural cycles of one of America's last wild places.
Interpreting the Landscape: Recent and Ongoing Geology of Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks
Text, photography and graphics explain how both parks were formed - the product of volcanic eruptions, profound glaciation and earth movements. The authors describe 'how processes originating half way to the earth's center seem to be the primary force which created volcanic fires, glacial ice and the mountain ranges of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem.'
Decade of the Wolf, revised and updated edition: Returning the Wild to Yellowstone
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.
Mountains and Plains, The Ecology of Wyoming Landscapes
Discover landscape ecology of Wyoming through maps, photographs, text and line drawings.
Windows into the Earth: The Geologic Story of Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks
Find out about the forces that shaped and continue to shape the Greater Yellowstone-Teton region. Illustrations and driving tours of both parks help visitors enjoy and understand the Earth's creative forces in this wondrous region.
Meals
23 Meals
8 Breakfasts
7 Lunches
8 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
- Jul 10, 2023 - Jul 18, 2023
3 nights
Moran
Very well maintained, nicely furnished cabins snuggled in a pine forest, within walking distance of Jackson Lake Lodge and Lodge Dining Room.
2 nights
Yellowstone National Park
Grant Village is located on the southwestern shore of beautiful Yellowstone Lake. It is named in honor of president Ulysses S. Grant who established Yellowstone Park as America's first national park in 1872. Grant Village is made up of 6 two-story chalets, each containing 50 rooms. This complex is close to many of Yellowstone's famous attractions. Old Faithful is just a little over 20 miles away, and Grant Village is also closer to Grand Teton National Park than any of Yellowstone's other in-park lodges.
2 nights
Yellowstone National Park
The Canyon Village area offer the most central housing in Yellowstone and provide access to hiking exploration at the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone area, 1/2 mile distant. The new, Canyon Visitor Education Center interprets Yellowstone's supervolcano.
1 night
Jackson
As a unique, family owned hotel, The Lexington at Jackson Hole boasts a wide variety of finely furnished guest rooms. Our two Queen Suites & Luxury King rooms offer a spacious, modern luxury. Our courtyard rooms, completely renovated in Spring of 2012, offer a traditional space with added amenities like heated tile flooring. The Lexington at Jackson Hole Hotel & Suites has a convenient, center-of-everything location in downtown Jackson, Wyoming. Located just 1.5 blocks Jackson’s famous Town Square, guests are close to dining, shopping, entertainment, as well as wilderness adventures and outdoor recreation.