CALDERA | ITINERARY Yellowstone Hiking Adventure Caldera Trip Style Duration Multi-Activity 6 Days ACTIVE 2 Hiking Wildlife Waterfall Geyser Hot Springs Bozeman - Bozeman This Yellowstone tour allows you to leave the city behind and explore nature in its purest form. Our expert guides have intimate knowledge of the park as well as the insider access to give you a national park experience unlike any other. Hike unpopulated backcountry trails, geyser basin boardwalks and lakeside lookouts. Seek out roaring waterfalls flowing through deep, V-shaped canyons. Ride horses high into the Absaroka Mountains alongside fourth generation Montana cowboys. Learn both sides of the bison migration and wolf re-introduction controversies shaping today’s Yellowstone, and why Chico is a favorite haunt of Hollywood celebrities. Explore Yellowstone’s fascinating geothermal features like geysers and mudpots while taking in the sights, sounds and smells of a geyser basin close up. Highlights Hike Secluded backcountry trails Geyser Basin boardwalks and mountaintop lookouts, watching for grizzlies, moose, bison, wolves, and eagles Horseback ride Saddle up for a gentle horseback ride up Pine Creek into the Absaroka Mountains Learn both sides of the bison migration and wolf re-introduction controversies shaping today’s Yellowstone ecosystem Explore Chico Hot Springs, a favorite haunt of Hollywood celebrities and locals alike Plus.. Ziplining activeadventures.com 1 CALDERA | ITINERARY Here’s What’s Included; We’ve Got You Covered. All guiding services All activities Two experienced guides per trip. Having two guides If you’d like a mix of hikes, history, waterfalls and more, allows for much greater flexibility, meaning you’re able this trip is for you! When you’re not hiking, you’ll be to go at your own pace. exploring geysers or enjoying a relax soak in hot srpings at a stunningly located lodge. All accommodations A range of hotels, lodges and inns. The locations are All transport chosen for their history and amazing scenery. When you’re not travelling under your own steam, there will be comfortable air-conditioned vans to stretch your All meals legs. Breakfast, lunch and dinner on all days, except where indicated on the itinerary (breakfast on day 1, dinner on day 4 and lunch/dinner on day 6). Itinerary Day 1 Visit Gallatin Canyon, hike to Upper Geyser Basin & Old Faithful We’ll start your trip once we meet in Bozeman and take a drive to the town of Big Sky in Montana. Our adventure will begin with a thrilling zipline tour with 3 zips and 3 adventure bridges, you’ll soar 800 feet over the Gallatin River. After lunch, we’ll make our way to the west entrance of Yellowstone National Park. We’ll begin with a walk alongside bubbling hot springs leading to the boardwalks around Upper Geyser Basin. The area is full of pools, springs and geysers and we’ll hopefully manage to catch an eruption of the famous Old Faithful geyser. After a picnic lunch, we’ll continue exploration of this area including walks around Geyser Hill before heading to Old Faithful Inn, our home for the night, and we’ll have a chance to watch Old Faithful erupt under the stars. Old Faithful Inn or Old Faithful Snow Lodge (Lunch, Dinner) Artemisia to Upper Geyser Basin Boardwalk Hiking Distance: 3.3 kilometres (2.1 miles), 1-2 hours Elevation Gain: 25 metres (82 feet) Elevation Loss: 25 metres (82 feet) Day 2 Hike Upper Geyser Basin, explore Lake Yellowstone After a hearty breakfast we’ll start the day with a hike through the Upper Geyser Basin to Observation Point, from here we’ll have amazing panorama views of the geysers below. We’ll enjoy a tasty guide-prepared picnic lunch before embarking on another extraordinary hike. This hike will take us to Storm Point where you will encounter open meadows, shaded lodgepole pine forests, and lakefront trail. The rocky area near Storm Point is home to a large colony of yellow- bellied marmots! After we return on the same trail we’ll make our way to the north of the National Park where the rustic accommodations allow for the opportunity to step back from technology and embrace lodging in the country’s oldest national park. Canyon Lodge (All meals) Observation Point Hiking Distance: 3.6 kilometres (2.2 miles) 1 hour Elevation Gain: 80 metres (262 feet) Elevation Loss: 80 metres (262 feet) Storm Point Hiking Distance: 3.7 kilometres (2.3 miles) 1-2 hours Elevation Gain: 25 metres (82 feet) Elevation Loss: 25 metres (82 feet) activeadventures.com 2 CALDERA | ITINERARY Day 3 Hike Grand Canyon of Yellowstone This morning we’ll check out the Yellowstone River’s Upper Falls where the water flows powerfully over the brink. From there we can appreciate the waterfall’s power and spend time here. We’ll set off on a hike on the Wapiti Trail - this hike will bring us to the rim of the 10,000-year-old, 1,000-foot deep Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone River. As we carefully make our way along the canyon wall, at every bend the pinks, yellows, reds, and oranges of the rock appear all the more bright as you walk to the grand finale of Artist Point, the most spectacular viewpoint of the Lower Falls of the Yellowstone River. We’ll enjoy lunch here before maing our way down Uncle Tom’s trail. Our accommodation tonight was named after the steaming limestone terraces just above the main building. Elk routinely graze outside the hotel around the parade grounds of what was once Fort Yellowstone. Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel & Cabins (All meals) Upper Falls Hiking Distance: 0.5 kilometres (0.3 miles) Wapiti Trail Hiking Distance: 4 kilometres (2.5 miles), 1.5-2 hours Elevation Gain: metres ( feet) Elevation Loss: metres ( feet) Day 4 Explore Lamar Valley, enjoy Mammoth Hot Springs Today we’ll wake early to catch the sunrise and prime wildlife viewing in Lamar Valley. Located in the northeastern corner of the park, the Lamar Valley, along the Lamar River, is often called America’s Serengeti for its large and easy-to-see populations of large animals. After the sunrise we’ll set off on a beautiful hike on the scenic Beaver Ponds trail. The trail loops through an open area on the side of a mountain, were a great view of Gardner Canyon can be seen and trail takes us to the Beaver Ponds. The trail gains over 350 feet in elevation and rambles through sagebrush meadows and stands of trees with the ponds approximately half-way around the loop. We’ll enjoy a packed lunch on the trail and head back down the same way we came. This afternoon, we’ll take in the nearby Hoodoos and explore the Mammoth Hot Springs’ white, orange and yellow travertine terraces. The evening is then yours to explore and enjoy on your own. Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel & Cabins (Breakfast, Lunch) Beaver Ponds Hiking Distance: 9.7 kilometres (6 miles), 3-4 hours Elevation Gain: 233 metres (764 feet) Elevation Loss: 233 metres (764 feet) Day 5 Hike Mammoth Terraces, horseback ride the Absaroka Mountains Our day will start with a short morning hike in the backcountry behind the Mammoth Terraces with lunch at a nice picnic spot. After lunch we’ll drive through Paradise Valley to the Flying Diamond Ranch. The Flying Diamond Ranch is a fifth generation family owned and operated commercial cattle ranch located in eastern Colorado. Here we’ll saddle up for an unforgettable horseback ride into the Absaroka Mountains alongside the fifth generation ranchers. Afterwards we’ll head to the historic Chico Hot Springs Resort, this resort is located in the heart of Paradise Valley, nestled in the foothills of the breathtaking Absaroka Mountain Range. Here we can soak in the rejuvenating mineral waters before gathering in the resort’s dining room for a celebratory gourmet dinner in one of Montana’s finest restaurants. Chico Hot Springs Resort (All meals) Mammoth Terraces Hiking Distance: 3.2 kilometres (2 miles), 1-2 hours Elevation Gain: 116 metres (380 feet) Elevation Loss: 15 metres (50 feet) activeadventures.com 3 CALDERA | ITINERARY Day 6 Chico Hot Springs, farewell! After a sleep-in and leisurely morning at the resort, we’ll take a stroll through the gardens or you can opt for a scenic hike to Trout Pond before heading back to either the hotel or the airport. This is the end of your trip and we’ll leave you refreshed and invigorated from the good food, exercise, rest, and great times you’ll have had with us! (Breakfast) Trout Pond Hiking Distance: 5.8 kilometres (3.6 miles), 1-2 hours activeadventures.com 4 CALDERA | ITINERARY Useful Info No Forced Single Supplement Most other travel companies charge all solo travellers a single supplement fee. We don’t! When it comes to accommodation, our trip fares are based on a twin-share rate, which means we’ll match you up with another person of the same gender to share a room with. If there’s no one suitable to share with, there’s no forced single supplement! Having said that, if you specifically request your own room, you can opt to pay the additional single supplement fee. PLEASE NOTE: If you book within 90 days and you’re a Forced single, you’ll be required to pay for your own room. Group Size This trip has a maximum of 12 guests for the adult only departures and a 18 guests for the family departures, plus two experienced guides. Trip Start On the first day of the trip we can pick you up from The Element at 8am or from the Best Western GranTree at 8.15am, please meet in the hotel lobby(s).