ESSENTIAL YELLOWSTONE

DATES: Summer 2025, see below

PRICING: See below

LOCATION: Canyon

GROUP SIZE: 14

ACTIVITY LEVEL: 2

PROGRAM INFORMATION

The Essential Yellowstone Lodging & Learning package is a four-day experience designed for those who want an introduction to the park’s most popular attractions. You will stay 4 nights at the Canyon Lodge located near the breathtaking Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone. Each day, you will be led by a Yellowstone Forever field educator who handles all the logistics while providing quality educational interpretation of the area. We will spend a day exploring each of Yellowstone’s most popular features, including geyser gazing at Old Faithful, exploring beautiful Yellowstone Lake, discussing the colorful Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, and wildlife watching on Yellowstone’s Northern Range.

Each day the group will venture out with a Yellowstone Forever educator to learn about and explore a region of the park, while incorporating short, scenic hikes throughout the program. We’ll leave early to beat the crowds and increase the odds of seeing charismatic megafauna that are most active at dawn.

Most sightings of wildlife occur at a distance; the field educator will provide high-powered spotting scopes and binoculars for group use. However, participants are encouraged to bring additional scopes and binoculars if they have them.

Session Start Dates:

2025

June – 6/2, 6/9, 6/16, 6/23, 6/30

July – 7/7, 7/14, 7/21, 7/28

August – 8/4, 8/11, 8/18, 8/25

September – 9/1

DAY 1

WELCOME & ORIENTATION

Participants are welcome to check into the Canyon Lodge beginning at 4:00 p.m. After checking in, guests will meet a Yellowstone Forever field educator for an orientation. Education staff will go over the program itinerary, discuss clothing and equipment needed for daily outings, and answer any questions participants may have.

7:00 p.m. Meet at Dunraven Lodge Lobby for orientation

Confirm specific meeting location with front desk staff during registration.

DAY 2 

YELLOWSTONE LAKE, HAYDEN VALLEY, & GRAND CANYON OF THE YELLOWSTONE

We will explore Hayden Valley in search of wildlife while we make our way down to Yellowstone Lake. Here you’ll have time to relax, reflect, and take in the panoramic views of the largest, high elevation lake in North America. Later, the group will make its way back toward the canyon where participants will enjoy breathtaking views of the colorful canyon and its magnificent waterfalls.

6:30 a.m. – 8:00 a.m. Breakfast at Canyon Eatery

8:00 a.m. Depart Canyon Lodge

  • Wildlife viewing in Hayden Valley
  • Exploration of Yellowstone Lake
  • Deli lunch in the field
  • Sightseeing along the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone

4:00 p.m. Return to Canyon Lodge

DAY 3

WILDLIFE WATCHING IN LAMAR VALLEY

We will head out early for wildlife watching in Yellowstone’s Lamar Valley and over Dunraven Pass. We will travel along Yellowstone’s northern range in search of charismatic megafauna. Stops will vary based on where the most likely wildlife sightings are to be found. If time allows, we will hike in search of tracks and sign while discussing ecology, behavior, recent research, and management.

6:30 a.m. Depart Canyon Lodge

  • Hot beverages and box breakfast in the field
  • Morning wildlife watching in Lamar Valley
  • Deli lunch in the field
  • Exploration of tracks and sign

3:00 p.m. Return to Canyon Lodge

DAY 4

OLD FAITHFUL & YELLOWSTONE’S MANY THERMAL FEATURES

Today we’ll head to the Old Faithful area and surrounding geyser basins to explore a myriad of captivating thermal features. The Yellowstone Forever field educator will introduce you to the exciting geology of the Yellowstone volcano and underground magma chamber. You’ll learn how geysers, hot springs, mud pots, and fumaroles are formed. We’ll delve into the science behind the vivid colors surrounding the hot springs, the microscopic life found in them, and applications in modern science and technology.

6:30 a.m. – 8:00 a.m. Breakfast at Canyon Eatery

8:00 a.m. Depart Canyon Lodge

  • Explore Old Faithful and surrounding areas on boardwalks and trails
  • Deli lunch in the field

4:30 p.m. Return to Canyon Lodge

DAY 5

CHECK OUT & DEPARTURE

Dates & Times: The program begins at 7:00 p.m. on Monday and goes through 4:30 p.m. on Thursday.

Lodging:

  • 4 nights lodging at Canyon Lodge – Deluxe Rooms
  • Lodging check-in begins at 4:00 p.m. on Monday, Day 1
  • Lodging check-out is at 9:00 a.m. on Friday, Day 5

Most meals, to include:

  • 3 breakfasts (1 breakfast to-go and 2 dine-in breakfasts at Canyon Eatery)
  • 3 lunches to-go

Transportation: In-park transportation via a 14-passenger minibus or transit van

Exceptional educational programming with a Yellowstone Forever field educator

A Nalgene water bottle (gift item) 

High-powered scopes and binoculars

Field equipment (as needed)

ACTIVITY LEVEL 2

  • Be prepared to hike up to 3 miles per day, comfortably, with elevation gains up to 600 feet. Some off-trail hiking possible.
  • For more information about our activity levels, please visit our Activity Level webpage here.
  • Most activities will take place at elevations between 7,200 to 8,000 feet. Participants residing at lower elevations may want to arrive a day early to adjust to the altitude.
  • To learn more about how specific medical conditions can be affected by Yellowstone’s environment and our activities, please visit our site page on health information.
  • All field activities will be conducted as a group. If members of the group cannot participate in the day’s activities, they need to let the educator know in advance.
  • To participate in this program, each participant must fill out and sign a health questionnaire and assumption of risk waiver. These forms must be completed and returned at least 30 days prior to the program start date.

Whom to Contact: For any questions, concerns, or additional information, please contact the following:

  • Reservations, lodging, food, and payment questions, please contact Yellowstone National Park Lodges at [email protected] or 307-344-7311
  • Program itinerary, health forms, and activity questions please contact Yellowstone Forever at [email protected] or 406-848-2400 extension 3
  • Road updates, park conditions, and general park information, please contact Yellowstone National Park Service at https://www.nps.gov/yell/contacts.htm
  • To review the cancellation policy for this program, please visit our webpage which outlines cancellation policies by program type here.

TESTIMONIALS

“I don’t know how it could have been better! Abbey was engaging, informative, a wealth of knowledge, interesting, able to explain things in layman’s terms so I could understand. She pivoted well when weather required it. She also took an interest in what we were interested in, and followed up with us along the way making sure our needs were met. It was a terrific experience!” – Jan, MI

“This was our first visit to YNP, so seeing everything that we were able to was so magnificent! We can’t wait to return!” – Glenn & Alyce, CA

“Sam was a great storyteller and made things come alive – my family learned a lot from him! His enthusiasm for wildlife was contagious. He not only took us on trails that we wouldn’t have gone on by ourselves, but also gave us an appreciation for Yellowstone that we wouldn’t have had without him. Kudos to Sam for helping us fulfill our list of animal viewing as well!” – Philip, MI

“Everything was awesome!” – Melody, SC

“Brittany was phenomenal. Yellowstone is visually stunning, but Brittany brought it to life. I didn’t just visit, but became connected to it because of what she taught us.” – Kathy, WV

“Nancy was superb in providing interesting content relevant to a varied audience and committed to meeting each participants’ areas of interest/questions.” – Joe & Maggie, IA

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YF Institute | Field Educator

Yellowstone Forever field educators are among the best experts in Yellowstone. Educational staff are passionate professionals with significant training who are dedicating their careers to this vital work. They live in the Yellowstone ecosystem, they work and train alongside park researchers and educators, and thus can provide accurate and exciting behind-the-scenes perspectives on the park’s natural and cultural history. They know where to go and when, and they handle all the details to make the experience as enjoyable as possible.