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A hiker in a sun hat sits on a ledge overlooking the colorful canyon walls of Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming.
Wyoming

Choose Your Pace: Hiking in Grand Teton and Yellowstone

Program No. 4937RJ
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Itinerary
While we make every effort to ensure the accuracy of our published materials, programs are typically advertised more than a year prior to their start date. Read More.
While we make every effort to ensure the accuracy of our published materials, programs are typically advertised more than a year prior to their start date. As a result, some program activities, schedules, accommodations, personnel, and other logistics occasionally change due to local conditions or circumstances. Should a major change occur, we will make every effort to alert you. For less significant changes, we will update you during orientation. Thank you for your understanding.
Duration
7 days
6 nights
What's Included
Included
17 meals ( 6B, 6L, 5D )
3 expert-led lectures
12 expert-led field trips
An experienced Group Leader
Taxes and customary gratuity
Road Scholar Assurance Plan
Jackson, WY
Choose Your Pace: Hiking in Grand Teton and Yellowstone
Aug 29 - Sep 4, 2027
Program Number 4937
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Activity Note
Campus check-in from 3:00 p.m. Remember to bring your name tag.
Afternoon:
After you check in and have your room assignment, join us at the Welcome Center to meet with program staff, get any updated information, and confirm the time and location of the Orientation session. If you arrive late, please locate your Group Leader and let them know you have arrived.
Dinner:
At the Jackson Campus of Teton Science Schools (TSS) Dining Lodge.
Evening:
Orientation. The Site Coordinator will greet everyone and lead introductions. We will review the up-to-date program schedule, discuss roles and responsibilities, logistics, safety guidelines, emergency procedures, and answer questions.

All transportation is via Teton Science School mini-vans or mini-buses. All activities will be led by a combination of Teton Science School staff, local experts, and experienced docents.

All hikes will be on official trails in Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks or the surrounding national forest land over uneven terrain with an elevation change of 500 to 1500 feet. Each day we will self-divide into groups based on personal interest for a choice of two hikes from the same trailhead. In bear country, our minimum group size for hiking is four people (including the Group Leader), so we will alter the hike options as needed to ensure we meet the minimum numbers for each hike option. The easiest hike offered each day is typically between 2 and 3 miles.

Periods in the schedule designated as “Free time” and “At leisure” offer opportunities to do what you like and make your experience even more meaningful and memorable according to your personal preferences. Program staff will be happy to offer suggestions.

Program activities, schedules, personnel, and indicated distances or times may change due to local circumstances/current conditions. In the event of changes, we will alert you as quickly as possible. Thank you for your understanding.
Activity Note
Hiking 3-6 miles with elevation gains of 400-800 feet, base elevation is 6500 ft. on rocky trails with some stone stairs.
Breakfast:
At the Teton Science Schools Dining Lodge. Make a sandwich at our lunch bar to eat during lunch on the hike.
Morning:
After a quick visit to the Teton Science Schools outfitting building to make sure everyone is prepared for the week ahead, we will drive to Grand Teton National Park for our first hike. Today’s hike will bring the group through a series of habitats at the base of the Teton mountain range. The group will have two hike options from the same trailhead, varying in pace/difficulty and adhering to “bear numbers” (no less than four people, including staff, in a hiking group). We’ll learn about the natural forces that shape this iconic mountain range and valley, as well as the human forces that have struggled to preserve it.
Lunch:
We’ll enjoy a packed field lunch in a scenic location.
Afternoon:
Upon completion of our hike, we will head to the Craig Thomas Discovery Center in Grand Teton National Park to learn more about the natural and cultural history of the park, as well as to orient ourselves around the large relief map.
Dinner:
At Teton Science Schools.
Evening:
A lecture will focus on the large mammals (namely bears, bison and wolves) that reside in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. Topics highlighted will be the reintroduction of wolves to Yellowstone, delisting of grizzly bears, human wildlife interactions, and wildlife management strategies. Also discussed will be the controversies surrounding these animals and how current decisions will affect the animals' futures.
Activity Note
Morning spent walking around the geyser basin at West Thumb boardwalks and paved trails. Afternoon will include walking and hiking in the Midway Geyser Basin; 2-5 mile hike with an elevation gain of 100-300 feet. Approximately 5 hours total riding time.
Breakfast:
At Teton Science Schools.
Morning:
Following an early morning departure, we’ll begin our three-day exploration of Yellowstone National Park, the world's first national park. As we head into the giant caldera, we will stop to see hot springs, geysers, and fumaroles at points of interest as we head to the Old Faithful Geyser Basin, home to Old Faithful as well as more than one-quarter of all of the geysers in the world!
Lunch:
Packed field lunch.
Afternoon:
In the afternoon, we will once again get boots on the ground and explore some of the trails that make Yellowstone National Park one of the most spectacular places on the planet. Choose from two hike options that explore geothermal features, and leave some of the crowds behind.
Dinner:
In the historic Old Faithful Inn Dining Room, admiring the cozy fireplace, and rustic architecture. Following dinner, we will settle into our rooms at the historic Old Faithful Inn.
Evening:
At leisure to explore the Old Faithful Village, and experience the geothermal wonders after the crowds depart, or have a quiet evening in your room. Prepare for check-out and transfer in the morning.
Activity Note
Walking around various sites of interest on boardwalks, paved trails and rocks stairs before traveling to the site of today's hike. We will hike along the Hoodoos/Terrace Mountain route, 2-5 miles, 900 feet elevation gain or loss, depending on which hike you choose. Approximately 4.5 hours total riding time.
Breakfast:
In the inn's dining room. Pack a lunch-to-go from sandwich and wrap supplies.
Morning:
We’ll check out of our rooms at Old Faithful before we start our day in beautiful Yellowstone National Park! On our way to Mammoth Hot Springs, we’ll stop to explore geothermal features and learn about these unique environments. Today, we will visit Mammoth Hot Springs, where our hike will take us through the unusual landscape and hoodoo formations surrounding Terrace Mountain.
Lunch:
Packed lunch eaten in the field.
Afternoon:
After completion of our hike, we’ll take time to explore the Mammoth Terraces, as well as the shops in the historic town of Mammoth, before heading south to Canyon Village, stopping at points of interest along the way. We’ll then check in at the Canyon Lodge before dinner.
Dinner:
At the Canyon Eatery.
Evening:
After dinner we will have a little bit of time to regroup before tonight’s evening adventure. Tonight, we can enjoy a scenic drive through the Hayden Valley with the opportunity to observe wildlife that are more active at dawn and dusk. We may see bison, bears, elk, and a variety of bird species.
Activity Note
Hiking 2-4 miles along the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone rim and surrounding area, with 500 feet of elevation gain. Trail is exposed in place along the canyon rim with some uneven and slippery footing. Approximately 4 hours total riding time.
Breakfast:
At Canyon Eatery. Pack a lunch-to-go from sandwich and wrap supplies.
Morning:
Imagine being an explorer on the Hayden Expedition of 1871, when Thomas Moran’s paintings of the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone River captured the unique beauty of the area and helped influence the creation of the world’s first national park. We’ll hike 2-5 miles through the landscape that captivated the country, including the canyon rim as well as the surrounding area. All hikes will include views of the canyon from Artist’s Point.
Lunch:
Packed lunch eaten in the field.
Afternoon:
If we haven’t already been, we will stop at the Canyon Visitor Center and take an in-depth look at the geology and geologic forces that are active in Yellowstone. On our drive back to Jackson, we’ll pass through the magnificent Hayden Valley with our eyes tuned to the large mammals that call this valley home. We will return to the Jackson Campus by late afternoon.
Dinner:
This meal has been excluded from the program cost and is on your own to enjoy what you like from the selection of restaurants in downtown Jackson. The Site Coordinator and Group Leaders will be happy to offer suggestions and give you directions, and shuttles will be provided to and from the Teton Science Schools campus.
Evening:
At leisure.
Activity Note
Hiking 2-6 miles, starting at 10,400 feet and including elevation changes of 500-1,500 feet.
Breakfast:
At Teton Science Schools.
Morning:
We’ll enjoy an expert-led introduction to alpine ecology and culture in Jackson, WY. Following this lecture, we will journey to the base of the Tetons at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort. On a clear day, the summit of Rendezvous Mountain provides participants with a fantastic view of the Jackson Hole valley. The Jackson Hole Aerial Tram climbs 4,139 feet about the valley floor to the final elevation of 10,450 feet. Glacial processes, historical meanderings of the mighty Snake River, and human settlement patterns are all seen from a bird’s-eye view. At the top, we’ll break into three groups to explore the alpine environment and the unique plants and animals found there.
Lunch:
Packed field lunch.
Afternoon:
We’ll continue hiking one of the trails at the summit of Rendezvous Mountain and will return to the valley floor via the aerial tram or the gondola, depending on the hike you choose. For those who may choose not to hike, the views from the top of the tram are worth it all the same!

Once there, we will enjoy some free time to explore the charming mountain village before returning to campus.
Dinner:
Dining Lodge Buffet. An alcoholic beverage (beer or wine) is included in this meal as part of our farewell dinner.
Evening:
Look back on your week with newly made friends and reflect on the ecological and geologic wonder, wildlife encounters, and stunning vistas you experienced this week. Prepare for check-out and departure tomorrow.
Activity Note
Walking about 1/2 mile around a museum. Participants may take the TSS shuttle bus to airport or to the town of Jackson departing at 11:30 a.m. from the National Museum of Wildlife Art. Program concludes at 11:30 a.m.
Breakfast:
At Teton Science Schools.
Morning:
After breakfast, we will spend some thoughtful time reflecting on all the fun we had throughout the week.

To complete our program, we’ll head to the National Museum of Wildlife Art to explore the museum with an experienced docent. Resting upon a dramatic cliff overlooking the National Elk Refuge, the National Museum of Wildlife Art serves to enrich and inspire the relationship between humans and nature. The museum contains approximately 5,000 works of art, with exhibitions and programs that focus on wildlife of the world. Constructed to fit seamlessly into the landscape, the building was inspired by the ruins of Slains Castle in Aberdeenshire, Scotland. .

Teton Science Schools offers shuttles departing from the museum at 11:30 a.m. to either the Jackson Hole Airport (10-minute drive) or the town of Jackson (5-minute drive). If you are returning home, safe travels. If you are staying on independently, have a wonderful time. If you are transferring to another Road Scholar program, detailed instructions are included in your Information Packet for that program. We hope you enjoy Road Scholar learning adventures and look forward to having you on rewarding programs in the future. Don’t forget to like our Facebook page and follow us on Instagram. Best wishes for all your journeys!
Lunch:
Packed lunch to-go to take on your travels
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