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A hiker with a backpack overlooks a stunning landscape of a deep canyon and river while exploring a trail in Yellowstone, Montana.
Montana

Choose Your Pace: A Walk on the Wild Side in Yellowstone

Program No. 4874RJ
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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
3,749
Yellowstone National Park offers 1,200 miles of hiking, walking and backpacking trails that wind through the park’s 2.2 million acres of spectacular and mostly untouched terrain. Led by a naturalist, explore pathways that thread through Yellowstone’s matchless landscape of diverse flora, thermal features, landforms, canyons, cascades and waterways.
Best of all, you'll...
  • Absorb a spectacular and mostly untouched landscape while hiking a fragment of Yellowstone's 1,200 miles of trails.
  • Enjoy tantalizing glimpses of the Great Caldera’s infinite wonders.
  • Experience an intimate look at the park’s wildlife, habitats and geology during field trips with an expert.
General Notes
Maximum of 12 participants in a hiking group. Participants are generally divided into three groups to hike.
All Experts
Please Note:
These experts may not be available for every date of the program
The love of the outdoors and wild places brought Denise Wade to Montana in 1984. For the past 11 years, Denise has worked as a naturalist and Nordic leader for Lone Mountain Ranch. She has an avid interest in ecosystem management and has taken many trips to Alaska, Mexico, Costa Rica, Europe, and within the continental U.S. following species habitat management patterns. Denise can be found regularly hiking or cross-country skiing around Southwest Montana and Yellowstone National Park.
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.
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.
Krisy Hammond is a Nebraska native who moved to Montana over three decades ago. Having held many jobs, she has has been a naturalist in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem for most of her working life. Mainly working on horseback, Krisy has also led by van, on hikes, and in Nordic skiing and snowshoeing. She met her husband in Montana, and they have two children.
Anneliese Ripley was born and raised in the American Rockies. She has lived overseas and visited 25 countries. Educated in California and Montana, she earned advanced degrees in geology (B.A. and M.S.) and education (Ed.D.). In 1993, she and her husband, Robert Thomas, settled in Dillon, Montana, where they worked at the University of Montana Western, restored a Victorian home, raised a family, and explored the Big Sky Country. Anneliese enjoys travelling, hiking, skiing, gardening, cooking, and learning new skills.
Starr van Dalen moved to Montana over 20 years ago after serving in the U.S. Navy and has called it home ever since. When she’s not substitute teaching at the local elementary and middle school, she’s usually on an adventure. Starr is Wilderness First Aid and CPR certified and enjoys helping both adults and children safely experience Yellowstone and the surrounding areas. Starr is continually fascinated by the local unique landscapes and wildlife.
Activity Level
Outdoor: Choose Your Pace
Learn About Activity Levels
Each day, choose from 3 hiking options based on your desired level of challenge and pace, ranging from 3-7 miles (2-6 hours) per day. Program will require approximately 11 -26 miles of hiking over 4 days over paved, dirt and rocky trails and uneven terrain. Elevation gains vary and can reach up to 1700 feet depending on hike choice. Standing up to 2 hours per day. Driving up to 120 miles (4 hours with breaks) in SUVs. Elevations begin at 5,259 feet and go up to 10,243 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
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.

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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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