Experience the thrill and beauty of Old Faithful with your family in a fun-filled adventure to Yellowstone, the world's first national park. Yellowstone is a land of mountains, lakes and geysers that is sure to get the attention of even the most indifferent child. During the day, your family will paddle 24-foot Voyageur canoes on Lewis Lake or fish for cutthroat trout on Yellowstone Lake. When not on the water you could be hiking in Dunraven Pass and the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone, known for its yellow-banded bluffs and 50 species of wildflowers. At night you will swap jokes, stories and s'mores with your new friends around the campfire. Introduce your family to the fascinating animals, bubbling pools and other unique features of Yellowstone National Park with Wilderness Inquiry.
Sample Itinerary
DAY 1: Your trip starts at Grant Village in Yellowstone National Park late in the afternoon. Set up camp and get to know your trip mates over supper. Share your expectations for the upcoming days while enjoying s'mores by the fire. You have several options for activities in Yellowstone National Park. Your trip leaders will share those options with you daily.
DAY 2: After a hearty camp breakfast, take off for a sightseeing tour of Yellowstone. Stop along the way to hike to Norris Geyser Basin and experience the beauty of Old Faithful.
DAY 3: Practice canoe skills at the west thumb of Yellowstone Lake and paddle along the western shore looking for moose and osprey. Paddle up to Geyser Basin for lunch. Return to Grant Village by dinner time.
DAY 4: After breakfast, head to Lewis Lake for a day of paddling. The group will have time to fish and explore the lake shores.
DAY 5: Travel to the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone and explore trails to the upper and lower falls. After lunch, hike into Dunraven Pass. Return to base camp at Grant Village by supper time.
DAY 6: Take one last hike this morning after breakfast, then pack up camp and eat lunch. The trip officially ends in the early afternoon after lunch. If you use WI's van transportation you will take a spectacular drive through the Beartooth Mountains on our way back to Billings, MT. There are opportunities to stop for souvenirs and at other points of interest along the way. You can expect to return to Billings in the evening.
Travel, Terrain, Etc...
TERRAIN/ROUTE CHOICES: Yellowstone National Park has a wide variety of flora, ranging from near-desert vegetation around the north entrance to sub-alpine meadows and forests on Mt. Washburn. Lodge pole pines cover 60% of the park. The shores of Yellowstone Lake are heavily forested, with wide campsites that are accommodating and accessible. Burn areas from the 1988 fire are distinguished by new growth and a variety of wildflowers. Yellowstone National Park offers a wide range of route options from very easy to difficult.
TYPE OF TRAVEL: On paddling days you will travel in 24-foot cedar strip canoes, which hold 8-10 paddlers. They are safe and stable boats that are great for exploring the lakes in Yellowstone. WI vans are used to travel from site to site on non-paddling days.
WEATHER: Due to high elevations, temperatures in the summer months fluctuate from 25 F to 90 F. It is usually quite sunny and warm but be prepared for everything, including a rain shower or two.
LODGING/BATHROOM FACILITIES: This is a camping trip. At night, you will sleep in tents. Typically, there are 3 people per 4 person tent (other arrangements can be made). Bathroom facilities at the campground have flush toilets and running water. While paddling or hiking, bathroom facilities consist of a foldable commode chair or an outhouse. There will be an opportunity for a hot shower 1 or 2 times during the trip, however there is a fee.
GROUP SIZE: The group size ranges from 15 to 20 participants, plus 2 or more Wilderness Inquiry staff. Each group consists of people of various ages, backgrounds and abilities, including people with disabilities.
CAMP CHORES: Our trips are cooperative in nature. WI staff will assist you in whatever areas you need, however most people pitch in where they can. Part of the adventure involves learning about daily camp activities.
EQUIPMENT AND CLOTHING: If you are new to outdoor activities, you need not spend a lot of money on gear. Wilderness Inquiry will provide all necessary canoeing and camping equipment. All you need to provide is your personal gear, such as clothing and a sleeping bag. A detailed equipment list will be sent to you upon confirmation of your participation. If you need to borrow personal gear, that can usually be arranged.
LEVEL OF DIFFICULTY: No previous experience is needed to complete this trip. This trip is recommended for families with children age 6 and older.
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Wilderness Inquiry is proud to serve Caribou Coffee on all our trips. Great food, great coffee, and great company are just some of the ingredients that make Wilderness Inquiry trips special.
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The natural wonders of Yellowstone National Park have awed generations of explorers, including members of late 19th century scientific expeditions. Through a series of lectures devoted to the discoveries of these expeditions, the public became informed of this pristine wilderness and an effort to preserve these natural wonders was initiated. A national conservation and preservation movement began with the Yellowstone National Park Act of 1872, which was created to preserve the watershed of the Yellowstone River. During an era of resource exploitation, the geologic wonders and scenic beauty of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem (GYE) inspired people to preserve and protect lands instead of exploiting them. Yellowstone is the world's first designated national park.
The geologic features of the GYE have attracted visitors from all over the World. Mountain building processes, including volcanic, uplift, and faulting, have created mountains, basins and calderas. Melting glaciers created fast flowing rivers which carved deep canyons. Yellowstone is also well known for its 10,000 thermal features, including geysers, hot springs, mudpots and fumaroles. In addition to the geology and breathtaking scenery of the region, Yellowstone is also a wildlife haven.
The GYE has the largest concentration of free-roaming wildlife in the contiguous states. Herds of bison migrate into the valleys to graze. The back country is home to over 50 other mammals, including: wolves, bears, mule deer, bighorn sheep, moose, elk and pronghorn. Nearly 300 species of birds have also been observed in Yellowstone. The large concentration of wildlife is largely attributed to the vastness of this pristine environment.
Yellowstone National Park encompasses over 2.2 million acres - larger than both Delaware and Rhode Island combined. Most visitors tend to stay near the roads and the few developed areas. This is the reason your experience with Wilderness Inquiry will be unique. Although we'll take in some of the more popular attractions, we'll venture from the roads and trails as we paddle on Yellowstone Lake.
Formed in a caldera, Yellowstone Lake is 390 feet deep and is the largest lake in North America above 7,000'. Lake and Cutthroat trout have the run of the lake, as they're at the top of the food chain which originates near hot vents on the lake bottom. The warm water from the vents supports bacteria which feeds on the released sulfur and forms the base of the food chain. You don't have to tote a rod and reel to appreciate the world renown trout fishing in Yellowstone. Thousands of people every year flock to bridges that pass over crystal clear waters just to view the colorful trout. Fishing Bridge, near the outlet of Yellowstone Lake, is a popular spot to watch fish.
Yellowstone offers a truly unique environment. Exploring its back country and solitude is just the ticket for fully appreciating its diversity of wildlife and geologic drama. Come join us.
For more information, visit these links:
National Park Service - Official Yellowstone National Park Website
The Total Yellowstone Page
Yellowstone Net
YellowstoneNationalPark.com
American Park Network - Yellowstone
Greater Yellowstone Coalition
Yellowstone in Wikipedia
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