Arrival in Bozeman; Mammoth Hot Spring Terraces; 1-2 miles, easy

From the meeting point in Bozeman, you set out on the scenic drive to Yellowstone National Park. Heading south from Livingston, Montana, you follow the path of the Yellowstone River through Paradise Valley and continue on through the North Entrance of the park. En route, you stop for a warm-up walk among the Mammoth Terraces—the uniquely colorful and steamy tiers for which this area is named. Underground magma heats groundwater that flows through limestone as it rises to the earth’s surface. The limestone is then re-deposited as travertine, building terraces brilliantly colored by bacteria thriving in the hot water. You may see elk, which are attracted to these steamy terraces. A short, easy walk allows you to stretch your legs as you stroll near these beautiful formations.

Fully deserving its many superlatives, Yellowstone is the world’s first national park, established in 1872 by President Ulysses S. Grant, and a UNESCO World Heritage site. With over 2,200,000 acres of forests, lakes, rivers, and canyons, it is of course known for its geothermal activity and contains half of the world’s total geothermal features.

By late afternoon you reach your hotel, one of the few log hotels still standing in the U.S. An example of the “National Park Rustic” style, the Old Faithful Inn was built in 1903-1904 using local lodge pole pine and rhyolite stone. This evening you enjoy dinner in the historic log cabin ambience of the lodge’s dining room.

Old Faithful; 6 miles, easy

This morning after breakfast you depart on foot directly from the inn and tour the Upper Geyser Basin, the largest concentration of geysers on the planet. Starting on the boardwalks, you leave the crowds behind as you follow the path to Biscuit Basin. Early settlers named the basin after the biscuit-shaped “sinter mounds” formed by deposits of minerals precipitated out of water. Sinter also forms the scalloped edges around hot pools, ornate cones around geysers, and terraces which form the basin’s numerous runoff channels. Crossing the bridge over the Firehole River, you travel through a regenerating lodge pole pine forest to Mystic Falls where the river tumbles 70 feet down the rhyolite cliffs of the Madison Plateau—the perfect spot for a picnic. Nearby thermal features produce steam along the flanks of the river’s edge. Your route travels a more remote part of the Upper Geyser Basin as it leads you back to the park’s largest and best-known geyser, Old Faithful. As its name implies, Old Faithful is famous for the regularity and frequency of its 100- to 185-foot eruptions.

Returning to the inn on foot, you have time to relax before dinner and perhaps enjoy a drink on the porch while viewing another show from the geysers.

Lone Star Geyser; 5.4 miles, easy

In addition to a walk to the Lone Star Geyser, today is a transfer day as you move from within the park’s boundaries in Wyoming to a guest ranch in Montana. After breakfast at the inn, you drive about four miles to the trailhead of Lone Star Geyser. An easy walk on an old road closed many years ago along the Firehole River, you pass through forests of pine, fir, and spruce and several grassy meadows. Where the road ends, Lone Star Geyser comes into view—resembling a candle that has burned almost to its base. One of Yellowstone’s largest cones at 12 feet, this geyser predictably erupts at 3-hour intervals lasting 30 minutes and spewing a water and steam plume 30–50 feet high. A nearby logbook records the last eruption so you know how long your wait may be. Return is by the same service road.

By late afternoon you reach your home for the next three nights, a guest ranch just outside the west entrance of Yellowstone Park near West Yellowstone, a mountain town located at 6,666 feet. Situated on two hundred acres on the South Fork of the Madison River, you can unwind in plush Western-style comfort, surrounded by breathtaking views. You may enjoy a cocktail by the fire in the ranch’s Great Room before proceeding to a dinner in its fine dining room and grill.

Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone; 5 miles, easy to moderate

Returning into Yellowstone National Park, the walk begins through lush forests and blooming meadows before arriving at the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone. This 1,200-foot deep chasm reflects the bright red, yellow, and orange colors of volcanic rhyolite, hydrothermally altered and cooled some 600,000 years ago. In fact, the name Yellowstone is thought to come from a translation of native Minnetaree “Rock Yellow River” by 18th-century French trappers as “roche jaune,” and by later American trappers into its English name. Approximately 24 miles in total length, you follow a trail along the canyon’s rim above the rushing Yellowstone River and surrounding scenery. The route continues on to a lunch spot overlooking the spectacular Hayden Valley, famous for its congregations of big game. This valley, actually an old lake bed formed by glaciers in the last ice age, is home to swans, great blue herons, Canada geese, elk, deer, bison, and occasionally, wolves, grizzly, and black bear.

Once back at the ranch, there is time to unwind in your spacious room and perhaps in the outdoor hot tub (or in your room’s jetted spa tub). You gather again for dinner in the ranch’s dining room where you may enjoy a steak grilled to perfection, accompanied by a Cabernet from the extensive wine list.

Mt. Washburn; 6 miles, moderate, 1,405-foot elevation gain

An ample breakfast fuels you for the spectacular walk to the summit of Mt. Washburn, the remnants of an ancient volcano and presiding at 10,264 feet over the entire Greater Yellowstone ecosystem, with views extending to the Grand Tetons, 75 miles to the south. Part of the Washburn Range, one of two mountain ranges entirely located within the national park, the peak was named in honor of the 19thcentury expedition leader, Henry Washburn. Both a stagecoach and a wagon road in the past, the wide trail provides clear views of seven different mountain ranges, including the Beartooth, Absaroka, and the snow-capped Spanish Peaks. In July and August, the slopes are awash in blossoming wildflowers and grasses, a colorful palette of lupine, aster, buttercups, alpine harebell, forget-me-nots, and light-green, silvery sage. Reaching the rocky summit, your efforts are rewarded with spectacular views and a welcome picnic lunch. You descend by the same wide trail, returning by late afternoon to the ranch to relax before dinner. This evening you enjoy a final feast in the dining room, celebrating the day’s hike, and your adventures in one of American’s classic national parks.

Fir Ridge; 4-6 miles, easy; transfer to Bozeman

Today you drive a short distance to the start of the walk along Fir Ridge. Following a gently rolling trail through expansive meadows filled with wildflowers, a stand of majestic Douglas fir, and scattered aspen groves, you enjoy clear views of the Gallatin Mountain Range. You travel through the wintering range of elk, and are likely to see falcons and other raptors. You may even spot an elusive wolf, or hear its reverberating howl.

Afterward you drive directly to Bozeman (approximately 2 hours) for a lively lunch at a favorite local watering hole. Your guides will offer a drop-off at the Bozeman Airport as well as downtown Bozeman.