Arrive at the lodge any time before 4:00 pm so you have time to check in before the welcome meeting. During the meeting, you will get to know your guides and choose your activities for tomorrow. Afterwards, enjoy a group dinner in the main lodge. Spend the rest of the evening settling in and get a good night’s rest before you start your adventure!

NOTE: Each day you’ll choose one program per day and attend an evening lecture by a local expert at 7 pm. You can choose to go on a Full-Day hike (7:00 am-4:00 pm), a Morning Half-Day hike (6:00 am-11:00 am), or an Afternoon Half-Day hike (12:00 pm-4:00 pm).

Every day at 5:30 pm, you’ll get a recap of the day in the main lodge, where you’ll choose your activities for tomorrow. Enjoy a group dinner in the main lodge at 6 pm and an evening lecture by a local expert at 7 pm.

FULL DAY PROGRAM: Jasper Bench Exploration

High above the Lamar Valley, the rich environment of Jasper Bench beckons adventurers. Follow well-worn bison trails and explore off-trail as you traverse flower-filled meadows and immerse yourself in Yellowstone’s backcountry. Along the way, you might spy bison calves or pronghorn fawns, a variety of bird life, and perhaps other denizens of wild Yellowstone.

MORNING HALF-DAY PROGRAM: Wildlife Watching

Spend the morning on the Northern Range, the best place in North America to see wildlife. You may see wolves traveling to and from the den, or even get a lucky peek at the pups as they start to venture out. Some black bears and grizzlies have also emerged from their long winter sleep, and you may even see some with cubs.
*Pick up your field breakfast in the main lodge before departing.

AFTERNOON HALF-DAY PROGRAM: Mammoth Hot Springs

Spend the afternoon exploring the Mammoth Hot Springs and discover Yellowstone’s fascinating geologic and cultural history. Witness evidence of ancient seas and powerful volcanoes, explore the terraces and their constantly changing microbial life, and discover how Yellowstone’s geology dictates both the natural and cultural history of our first national park.

EVENING LECTURE: Yellowstone’s Owls

Speaker: Katy Duffy, Retired Yellowstone Park Ranger

FULL DAY PROGRAM: Art in the Park

Take a trip to the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, one of the most beautiful areas in the park. Explore the canyon rim, and take some time to capture the canyon’s amazing colors. Make a stop at the Canyon Visitor Education Center to learn about this area’s unique geology.

MORNING HALF-DAY PROGRAM: Norris Walk

Norris Geyser Basin is the oldest, hottest, and most dynamic geyser basin in the park. It is also home to the recently active Steamboat—the tallest geyser in the world! Travel to Norris to see some of the colorful pools and (hopefully!) splashing geysers.

AFTERNOON HALF-DAY PROGRAM: Indigenous Peoples in the Region

People have been living in the Yellowstone region for more than 10,000 years. The 27 tribes that are affiliated with Yellowstone have spent time living, traveling, hunting, gathering, and seeking resources on this rich landscape. Spend the afternoon visiting some of the cultural sites within Yellowstone, playing games native to Montana, and hearing stories about the indigenous peoples who have traveled this landscape for years.

EVENING LECTURE: Top 10 Misconceptions about the Yellowstone Volcano

Speaker: Mike Poland, Scientist in Charge, Yellowstone Volcano Observatory

FULL DAY PROGRAM: Wolves and Willows

Head out into Lamar Valley and the Northern Range to look for signs of wolves, beavers, and elk. Walk through the areas of recovering aspen and willow. Learn about wolf hunting behavior and its effect on prey animals, and visit a site significant to the wolf reintroduction.

MORNING HALF-DAY PROGRAM: Scenic Float on the Yellowstone River

Enjoy a scenic float along the upper Yellowstone River through Paradise Valley on flat water. You’ll get a chance to see birds such as bald eagles, osprey, kingfishers, mergansers, and various songbirds associated with cottonwoods and willows. You could also see beavers and river otters.

AFTERNOON HALF-DAY PROGRAM: Bison, Bison!

Head out to Lamar Valley to observe bison in detail and find out why they are one of the most important animals in North America. Learn about bison behavior, their history in the park, and why they are the most controversial animal in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem.

EVENING LECTURE [7 pm-8 pm]: Living on Yellowstone’s Edge

Speaker: Malou Anderson, Montana native and co-founder of the Tom Miner Basin Association

FULL DAY PROGRAM: Geysers on the Grand Tour

Travel to Old Faithful with stops along the way to visit some of the popular sites on the Grand Tour of the stagecoach era. Hear about the crazy antics early travelers and guides got up to and see thermal areas—both popular and off the beaten path. This day consists of several short walks.

MORNING HALF-DAY PROGRAM: Wildlife Watching

This is a second chance to go out to the Northern Range to look for wildlife. May is baby season, so you could see wolf puppies, bear cubs, bison babies, and maybe even some owl chicks.
*Pick up your field breakfast in the main lodge before departing.

AFTERNOON HALF-DAY PROGRAM: Hike Beaver Ponds

Hike a beautiful and varied 6-mile loop trail near Mammoth Hot Springs. Explore a sagebrush plateau, a dense forest, a pond created by beavers, and the thermal features at Palette Springs.
There’s no evening lecture on this day, but you will get a free evening to socialize or relax on your own after an incredible week!

You’ll have your breakfast in the main area of the lodge at 7:00 am and check out before 10:00 am. Even though this adventure has come to an end, there’s no need to be sad. You’ve witnessed some of Yellowstone’s most jaw-dropping landscapes and geological features as well as its varied and beautiful wildlife!