Premium Walking & Hiking in Yellowstone

This active hiking trip requires a good level of fitness, due to the varied terrain and potentially hot temperatures. Walking times vary between 3 and 6 hours a day, but the rewards are worth every step. Use of hiking poles and a daypack is included.

Summer temperatures can be very hot, especially on trails that have little or no shade. It’s essential to use sun protection, wear layers to combat the heat and drink plenty of water. Please consider the time of the year you wish to travel and your suitability to that season.

Some trails will require unexpected maintenance throughout the year, requiring closure of the trail. If that is the case you’ll take an alternative trail with similar features, distances and elevation where possible.

To get to the best hiking trails in the region you’ll cover a lot of distance on this trip, but all in the comfort of our private vehicle.

On our final day there is no accommodation included, but a transfer back to Bozeman is included on that day.

Your itinerary order can change depending on temporary access restrictions, weather events, lodging availability and guest ability or injury.

1. Your adventure begins with an early morning pickup and transfer on Day 1 in Bozeman. Please see the Special information on Day 1 of this itinerary for more details. You are expected to arrive back into Bozeman in the afternoon of Day 5 (around 7pm).

2. There is no accommodation included on the last day in Yellowstone or Bozeman, however we can request any additional nights should you need them.

3. A single supplement is available if you’d prefer not to share a room on this trip. The single supplement applies to all nights on your trip and is subject to availability. Please speak to your booking agent for further information.

4. We are not able to book airport shuttle service for North America trips. North America has convenient taxi and rideshare options from all airports, as well as public transport systems in major hub cities. Please check the joining and finishing point instructions listed in the Essential Trip Information.

5. This trip is operated in conjunction with Wildland Trekking, a wholly owned Intrepid company and Intrepid's US hiking experts. You will see both brand's logos on this trip.

6. Our expert leaders are certified Yellowstone hiking guides and wilderness-certified first responders, and carry all necessary equipment including first aid kit, bear safety equipment, and 24/7 communications devices (InReach or Sat phone)

LUGGAGE RESTRICTIONS

All luggage is carried in trailers or inside the vehicle so please don't bring more than one medium-sized bag, backpack or suitcase (20kg maximum) per person. Your suitcase/rucksack may get some rough handling, so make sure it's a tough one. A small daypack and camera may also be carried inside the vehicle.

As well as your underwear, toothbrush and other items you always need to pack for travel, below are some items that you specifically need for this trip.

Our thorough packing list considers diverse weather conditions, but we suggest refining it based on the weather forecast 10 days before departure. Before your trip, our guides will reach out to review the list with you, addressing any questions. For newly purchased items, we suggest you keep receipts and tags attached until use, as our guides can provide real-time advice on their necessity. This approach ensures that you are well-equipped for your adventure, no matter what conditions you may encounter.

INCLUDED GEAR

We provide all group gear which includes the following:
- Deuter or Osprey backpacks
- Leki trekking poles
- Company-issued first-aid kit
- Emergency communication device(s)
- Bear spray cannisters (where applicable)

ESSENTIAL ITEMS YOU NEED TO BRING

- Trekking clothing: A mixture covering lightweight clothing and some warm layers is recommended. Your activities will take place in the outdoors, where weather may change quickly. Lightweight, comfortable, and quick drying clothes for the activities are best. Laundry facilities may not be available on every day basis, so make sure you have a few cycles of clothes.
- Hiking boots with a good grip, ankle support and waterproof membrane that are comfortable to walk for an entire day
- Comfortable shoes for shorter beach walks or evenings spend around accommodation/campsite
- Sport sandals
- Light jacket, fleece and base layers
- Wind and waterproof jacket
- Breathable, non-cotton hiking t-shirts
- Long hiking pants or zip-offs
- Nylon hiking shorts
- Water bottle or bladder: you will need water during activities and it’s best to avoid buying unnecessary plastic.
- Sun protection: sunscreen, sunglasses, sunhat or bandana
- Torch/flashlight/headtorch
- Toiletries
- Walking Poles if you would prefer to use your own
- Quick Dry Towel

RECOMMENDED ITEMS YOU SHOULD CONSIDER BRINGING

- Personal medical kit. A larger kit will be on hand with your leader, but we recommend you carry items such as mild pain killers, antihistamine tablets and any personal medication you may need
- Ear plugs & eye mask
- Camera with spare batteries/power bank: You will have access to power to recharge your electrical items daily
- Travel eco-friendly wipes/hand sanitizer

OPTIONAL ITEMS

- Swimwear
- A good book, a journal and music player

VALUABLES

Please try to avoid bringing unnecessary valuables. It’s also recommended to bring a copy of all important documents e.g. air tickets, passport, vaccination certificate, etc. and keep the copies separate from the originals. While not valid, a photocopy makes it very much easier to obtain replacements if necessary.

If you need some further tips for packing, you can always check out our ultimate packing list.
https://www.intrepidtravel.com/packing-list

HYDRATION SYSTEM

Please bring your own hydration system of2 or 3 liters capacity, either water bottles or bladder/hose system and an additional water bottle to refill along the way., https://www.intrepidtravel.com/packing-list

You’re in for a walking trip and a good level of fitness is essential. Please read through the trip notes carefully to ensure that this trip is the right trip for you.

If you’re already a regular exerciser, it might be an idea to up your game a little. Run those extra laps, or take few longer walks, ideally with a day pack on your back. If you’re not exercising so regularly (2-3 times a week), it’s important to start in the weeks leading up to your departure (4-6 weeks prior at least). Your best choice would be to start walking regularly 2-3 times a week including at least one longer walk (up to 15 km). It’s important to not only walk on flat surface, so if you cannot access a hilly terrain easily, walking up and down the stairs is a good replacement. Top that up with some general fitness exercises and any other cardio related classes and you will see a huge progress in your fitness levels.

This trip involves hiking from 5.5 to 7 miles (9 to 11 km) per day with a total trip distance of 30 miles (48 km). The maximum daily elevation gain/loss is 1400 feet (427 m), and the maximum elevation at the summit of Mt Wasburn is 10,219 ft. Please check the trip itinerary for more details.

We hike on well-maintained trails on this trip. Some people may find the starting elevation and elevation gain on Day 2's ascent of Mount Washburn to be quite strenuous, especially if they live close to sea level. You can expect moderate distances and difficulty levels throughout this tour.

This trip involves hiking uphill or downhill with a 8-12 lb (3.5-5.5 kg) backpack for 5-7 hours while maintaining balance and footing on lightly rugged terrain.

Canyon Lodge & Cabins, 41 Clover Lane, Yellowstone National Park, 82190, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, Phone: +1 (02)92965707

Canyon Lodge is a large, historic national park hotel spread over 5 'lodges', and is among the most popular accommodation in Yellowstone. Ideally situated on the east side of the park near the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone River and Upper and Lower Falls, it puts you right in the heart of action. The hotel is a LEED Certified lodge, ensuring a stay that supports environmental sustainability.

Alternate Joining Point

Intrepid provides a free shuttle from nearby Bozeman, with an early morning pickup (approx. 7am) from a pre-arranged central location in Bozeman on Day 1. See Day 1 of the trip itinerary for more details. Bozeman has an airport served by United, Delta, Horizon Air, Northwest, Skywest, Allegiant Air and Frontier Airlines. There is no regular shuttle service from the Bozeman Airport to a downtown location but taxis are readily available.

If you plan to self-drive, Canyon Lodge has a dedicated carpark however it is subject to additional fees - please contact the hotel directly to arrange this. Please note the road into the Yellowstone National Park are usually very congested in peak travel times such as national holidays, school holiday, etc. so we strongly recommend allowing extra driving time during these periods.

Old Faithful Inn, 3200 Old Faithful Inn Rd, Yellowstone National Park, 82190, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

Alternate Finish Point

Breakfasts included: 5

Lunches included: 5

Dinners included: 4

Being a Northern mountain environment, Yellowstone is prone to sudden temperature and weather shifts. This is an exciting aspect of being in Yellowstone. On the Spring/Fall Trekking Adventure in June, snow is a slight possibility, and the rest of the summer you’re likely to get rained on at least once during your trip.

While we always endeavour to provide the best possible holiday experience, due to the nature of travel and the areas we visit sometimes things can and do go wrong. Should any issue occur while you are on your trip, it is imperative that you discuss this with your group leader or local representative straight away so that they can do their best to rectify the problem and save any potential negative impact on the rest of your trip.

We recognise that there may be times when your group leader or local representative may not be able to resolve a situation to your satisfaction - if this is the case, please ask the group leader or local representative to speak to their direct manager.

You may also choose to provide details in your online feedback, which we ask you to complete within 30 days of the end of your trip. Please do be aware that it is very difficult for us to provide any practical help after the trip is completed, so informing us while still travelling will give us the opportunity to resolve the issue in real-time.

For general contact details please use the following page: https://www.intrepidtravel.com/contact-us

In case of a genuine crisis or emergency, you can reach our local office on the numbers below:

POLICE AND AMBULANCE
In case of an emergency, local authorities can be contacted by calling 911 – this is the toll free phone number for the police, fire department and the ambulance in the USA and Canada. In case of doubt, call the operator on 0.

Intrepid local operator: Available for phone call on +1 435-231-9696

Due to the complex booking situation of accommodation inside the National Park we use 3 different high quality hotels/lodges for the last 2 nights of this trip. Our accommodation options are the Old Faithful Inn and Old Faithful Snow Lodge in Old Faithful village, and the Grant Village hotel close to the shores of Yellowstone Lake. The hotels vary by departure so please check with your booking agent if you'd like to confirm which hotel you will be staying in. Regardless of which hotel is on your specific departure you will always spend both nights there rather than having to swap hotels for a single night.

AIRPORT TRANSFERS IN THE USA & CANADA
We recommend taxis and rideshare services like Lyft and Uber when traveling to and from hotels in the USA and Canada. These services are widely available across North America, offering convenient and accessible transportation options. Private transfers in North America incur high costs and present an increased risk of missed connections due to their fixed schedules. In contrast, taxis and rideshares offer both cost-effectiveness and flexibility, ensuring a smoother journey. With transparent pricing, GPS tracking, and on-demand availability, we believe that taxis and rideshare apps not only offer a reliable alternative to private transfers but also provide a secure, trustworthy, and budget-friendly transportation option for our customers.