Yellowstone & the Grand Tetons

September 18-25  |  Guided $240/person

Register

What to Expect

DAY 1 – OLD FAITHFUL & GEYSER BASINS

6:30 AM – Breakfast (Headwaters Lodge & Cabins)

Fuel + hydration focus
Encourage light packing (layers, water, snacks)

7:30 AM – Morning Briefing

Day overview
geothermal safety (stay on boardwalks)
group split explanation

👉 Keep this tight: 10–12 minutes max

7:45 AM – Departure

🚐 Travel

Drive Time: ~1 hr 15 min

9:00 AM – Arrive Old Faithful Area

9:15 AM – Both Groups Begin.

Midday Hiking Windows
Group A – Scenic (3–4 miles)
Old Faithful
Upper Geyser Basin boardwalks
Castle Geyser
Morning Glory Pool

Estimated Finish: 11:45 AM

Group B – Extended (6–7 miles)

```
All Group A highlights
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Observation Point
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Biscuit Basin
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Estimated Finish: 12:30 PM

🥪 Lunch

12:00 – 1:15 PM – Flexible Lunch Window

Options:

Picnic sack lunch (fastest, best flow)
Old Faithful Lodge Cafeteria

1:15 – 4:15 PM – Guided Free Exploration Block

Options that I suggest (not required):

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catch another eruption
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visitor center
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short boardwalk loops
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photography time
```

👉 I'll remain visible / lightly guiding

4:15 PM – Regroup at Visitor Area

4:30 PM – Early Dinner at Old Faithful Inn Dining Room.

🚐 Return

6:15 PM – Depart Old Faithful

7:30 PM – Arrive Headwaters Lodge

Evening Experience

8:00 PM – After-Hours Gathering (RV Campsite – TBD)

Structured lightly:

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drinks / snacks
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“highlight of the day” share
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storytelling
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What to expect

DAY 2 – MOUNT WASHBURN / MAMMOTH

🌅 Morning

6:30 AM – Breakfast (Headwaters Lodge & Cabins)

Emphasize fueling (this is a bigger day)

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Encourage extra water + trail snacks
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7:30 AM – Morning Briefing

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Clear group split logistics
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Driving routes + meeting points
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safety (exposure, elevation, wildlife)
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👉 Be VERY clear here—this is a split-day operation

7:45 AM – Departure

🚐 Travel Split (Important)

Group A – Mammoth / Gardiner

Drive Time: ~1 hr 40 min
Arrival: ~9:25 AM

Group B – Mount Washburn (Dunraven Pass)

Drive Time: ~2 hr 20 min
Arrival: ~10:05 AM

🌄 Morning Activities

Group A – Scenic / Cultural Day

9:30 AM – Begin Mammoth Hot Springs Exploration

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Lower + Upper Terraces
```
```
Boardwalk loops (~1.5 miles)
```

Estimated Finish: 11:00 AM

🚐 Transition to Gardiner

11:00 AM – Depart for Gardiner
Drive: ~15 minutes

11:15 AM – Arrive Gardiner

🍽️ Group A Lunch + Exploration

11:30 AM – 1:30 PM – Lunch + Town Stroll (Gardiner)

Options:

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local cafés
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Yellowstone River walk
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Arch + historic areas
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👉 This is a relaxed cultural window

Group B – Mount Washburn (Strenuous)

10:15 AM – Begin Hike (Dunraven Pass)

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7.0 miles RT
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~1,700 ft gain
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steady climb, exposed
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🥪 Trail Lunch

~12:45–1:15 PM – Summit Lunch Break

👉 This is a highlight moment:

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panoramic views
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group bonding
```

3:00 PM – Estimated Finish

Group A

1:45 PM – Depart Gardiner for Roosevelt Lodge
Drive Time: ~45 minutes

Arrival: ~2:30 PM

🔁 Afternoon Convergence Plan (Critical)

Group B

3:00 PM – Depart Dunraven Pass

Drive Time: ~30 minutes

Arrival: ~3:30 PM

🍽️ Dinner

4:30 PM – Dinner at Roosevelt Lodge Dining Room

👉 Excellent choice:

```
western atmosphere
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```
fits the geography perfectly
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relaxed but memorable
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🚐 Evening Return

5:45 PM – Depart Roosevelt Lodge

Drive Time: ~2 hr 30 min

Arrival: ~8:15 PM – Headwaters Lodge & Cabins

🌌 Evening

No Formal After-Hours Social

Optional: Stargazing (Self-Guided)

```
low-key
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no structure required
```

What to expect

DAY 3 – GRAND CANYON OF YELLOWSTONE

🌅 Morning

6:30 AM – Breakfast (Headwaters Lodge & Cabins)

Hydrate + fuel (moderate-to-challenging day)

Reinforce layers (cool morning, warmer mid-day)

7:30 AM – Morning Briefing

Canyon overview (Upper vs Lower Falls, North vs South Rim)

```
group split logistics
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```
safety (edges, footing, elevation gain)
```

👉 Keep this crisp and confident

7:45 AM – Departure

🚐 Travel

Drive Time: ~1 hr 25 min

Split Arrival

Group A (South Rim): Upper Falls Viewpoints Lot

Group B (North Rim): Brink of Upper Falls Lot

Arrival: ~9:10 AM
Start Time: ~9:20 AM

🌄 Morning Hikes

Group A – Scenic Canyon Highlights (South Rim)

Route:

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Upper Falls viewpoints
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South Rim trail
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Artist Point
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return
```

Distance: ~3.0 miles
Elevation Gain: ~270 ft

Estimated Finish: 11:45 AM

👉 This route delivers:

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classic postcard views
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manageable effort
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strong early payoff
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Group B – Full North Rim Experience (More Demanding):

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Brink of Upper Falls
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Red Rock Point (optional descent)
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Lookout Point
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Grand View
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Inspiration Point
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Distance: ~6.7 miles depending on extensions
Elevation Gain: ~850 ft

Trail Lunch: ~12:45–1:15 PM (overlook location)

Estimated Finish: ~3:00 PM

🥪 Midday Flow

Group A

12:00 – 1:15 PM – Lunch at Canyon Village (Fountain & Grill)

👉 Good choice:

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efficient
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flexible
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keeps momentum
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After Lunch

1:15 – 3:30 PM – Light Exploration Window

Options:

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Visitor Center
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short rim walks
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relax/reset
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👉 Keep it optional, not over-programmed

Group B

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On trail until ~3:00 PM
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Summit/overlook lunch already built in
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🔁 Convergence Plan

Group A

3:45 PM – Transition to Dinner Area / Regroup

👉 Keeps things clean + prevents drift

Group B

3:00 PM – Finish hike

3:00 – 4:00 PM – Recovery + Visitor Center / short walk

👉 This buffer is important:

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hydration
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reset
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no rushed dinner
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🍽️ Dinner

4:30 PM – Dinner at Canyon Eatery

👉 Perfect choice for this day:

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easy
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no wait chaos
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accommodates tired hikers
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🚐 Return

5:45 PM – Depart Canyon Village

Drive Time: ~1 hr 30 min

Arrival: ~7:15 PM – Headwaters Lodge & Cabins

🔥 Evening

8:00 PM – After-Hours Social (RV Campsite – TBD)

Keep it lighter than Day 1:

```
relaxed vibe
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```
recap the canyon experience
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optional participation
```

What to expect

DAY 4 – Lamar Valley / Tower Falls

🌅 Morning

6:30 AM – Breakfast (Headwaters Lodge & Cabins)

Emphasize layers (this is often the coolest morning)
Pack sack lunch + extra water

7:30 AM – Morning Briefing

Wildlife awareness (bison distance, wolves if lucky)
Bear safety (carry, spacing, awareness)
expectations: slower, observational day

This is not a “rush” day—it’s a watch and experience day

7:45 AM – Departure

Drive Time: ~2 hours for Group A; 2:30 hours for Group B

Group A → Tower Fall Trailhead
Group B → Lamar River Trailhead

Arrival Window: 9:45 AM Group A – 10:15 AM Group B

Group A – Tower Fall + Lost Lake Loop

10:15 AM – Tower Fall Visit

short walk
~20–30 minutes

👉 Quick but iconic stop

10:45 AM – Drive to Roosevelt Area (~10 min)

🥾 Lost Lake Loop

11:00 AM – Begin Hike

4.5 miles ~725 ft gain forested, peaceful
🥪 Lunch

~12:30 PM – Lunch at Lost Lake

2:30 PM – Finish Hike

Group B – Lamar Valley (Wildlife + Open Terrain)

10:15 AM – Begin Lamar River Trail

7 miles out & back ~600 ft gain
wide valley, wildlife corridors
🥪 Trail Lunch

~12:45 PM – Lunch on Trail (scenic stop)

3:45 PM – Finish Hike

🔁 Convergence Plan

Group A

2:45 – 4:00 PM – Flexible Exploration Window

Options:
Roosevelt area relaxation
short meadow walks
wildlife spotting nearby
rest / recovery

Group B

3:45 PM – Depart Lamar Valley

Drive Time: ~25 minutes

Arrival: ~4:10 PM at Roosevelt Lodge

🍽️ Dinner

4:30 PM – Dinner at Roosevelt Lodge Dining Room

👉 Perfect repeat location:

familiar
warm, western feel
no decision fatigue

🚐 Return

5:45 PM – Depart Roosevelt Lodge

Drive Time: ~2 hr 10 min

Arrival: ~8:00 PM – Headwaters Lodge & Cabins

🌌 Evening

No After-Hours Social

Optional Stargazing

What to expect

DAY 5 - Jenny Lake & Hidden Falls

🌅 Morning

6:30 AM – Breakfast (Headwaters Lodge & Cabins)

lighter tone than previous days
still hydrate (sun exposure increases here)

7:30 AM – Morning Briefing

explain ferry logistics clearly
set expectations: busier, more people, but iconic
reinforce regroup timing

👉 Tone shift:
This is a beauty + experience day, not a grind

7:45 AM – Departure

🚐 Travel

Drive Time: ~55 minutes

Arrival: ~8:40–8:45 AM
Park / organize / prep: ~15 minutes

Group A – Ferry + Hidden Falls / Inspiration Point

9:00–9:30 AM – Ferry Queue + Boarding Window

👉 Key instruction:

“You take the first available boat—no waiting for perfect timing”

🚶‍♂️ Hike

~9:30–10:50 AM – Hidden Falls + Inspiration Point Loop
~2 miles ~550 ft gain

👉 This is a highlight:
waterfall power
overlook payoff
🚤 Return Ferry

~11:00–12:00 PM – Return Window
12:00–1:00 PM – Lunch Window

Options:
café near Jenny Lake
sack lunch lakeside

Group B – Jenny Lake Loop (Full Experience)

9:00 AM – Begin Hike

8.4 miles ~800 ft gain
includes Hidden Falls + Inspiration Point
🥪 Trail Lunch

~12:30–1:00 PM – On Trail (lakeside or canyon stretch)

~3:00 PM – Finish Hike

🔁 Convergence Plan

Group A

1:00 – 3:00 PM – Relaxed Exploration Window

Options:
lakeshore time
photography
short walks
rest

Group B  3:00 PM – Finish + recovery water regroup light reset

🍽️ Dinner

Colter Bay Area

4:00 PM – Drive to Colter Bay (~25–30 min)
Arrival: ~4:30 PM

Dinner Options:
Ranch House
Cafe Court Pizzeria
Other Colter Bay dining options

👉 Casual, scenic, flexible

🚐 Return

6:00 PM – Depart Colter Bay

Drive Time: ~45 minutes

Arrival: ~6:45 PM – Headwaters Lodge & Cabins

🔥 Evening (Bring the energy back)

7:15 PM – After-Hours Social (RV Campsite)

👉 This is a GREAT night for it:

```
Tetons backdrop
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lower fatigue than Yellowstone days
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Yellowstone & the Grand Tetons

What to Expect

DAY 1 – OLD FAITHFUL & GEYSER BASINS

What to expect

DAY 2 – MOUNT WASHBURN / MAMMOTH

What to expect

DAY 3 – GRAND CANYON OF YELLOWSTONE

What to expect

DAY 4 – Lamar Valley / Tower Falls

What to expect

DAY 5 - Jenny Lake & Hidden Falls

Location

Seattle, WA 98107

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