DAY 1

WELCOME & ORIENTATION

The program starts with an evening orientation. Participants will get to know one another and be introduced to the program. Throughout the evening, the itinerary and seminar key concepts will be discussed, as well as what to expect to pack for the field each day.

DAY 2

The Yellowstone Caldera:
Paricipants will meet in the classroom at the Lamar Buffalo Ranch after breakfast for a short overview and discussion of the plans for the day. The field day will begin with an overview of the Precambrian history of North America at the Lamar Canyon. Participants will continue to The Narrows and Tower Fall, where we will see and discuss the Cenozoic Absaroka volcanic rocks and several spectacular lava flows that were extruded downstream valleys that flowed out of the calderas that form the Yellowstone Plateau volcanic field. From Tower Fall, participants will climb the northern margin of the Yellowstone caldera, which is the youngest of the three calderas that make up the Yellowstone Plateau volcanic field, forming only about 639,000 years ago. A stop for lunch and an overview discussion of the Yellowstone caldera will take place.

DAY 3

Outside of the Yellowstone Caldera:
Participants will begin the day by driving to Mammoth Hot Springs, one of the most spectacular travertine hot springs in the world. Along the way, several stops will be made to view volcanic flows outside of the Yellowstone caldera and a petrified tree. After a stop for lunch and ice cream in Mammoth, class will walk to an overview spot to see a spectacular angular unconformity (period of uplift and erosion) between Cretaceous sedimentary rocks and the overlying Huckleberry Ridge Tuff. From Mammoth, we will continue south, stopping at the Golden Gate to see the Huckleberry Ridge Tuff up close, the obsidian deposit at Obsidian Cliffs, and eventually Norris Geyser Basin, where participants will walk through one of the hottest and most active geyser basins in the world.

DAY 4

Beartooth Country:
Class will leave the Lamar Buffalo Ranch and head northeast towards Cooke City, Montana. The first stop will be an overview of the Lamar Valley to discuss the tectonic origins of this drainage and see the evidence for active uplift along the frontal edge of the Yellowstone hot spot. The course will continue to Soda Butte, the eastern-most thermal feature in the park. At Silver Gate, Montana, participants will stop at the geologically famous and enigmatic Heart Mountain Detachment, a mega landslide that occurred during the height of the Absaroka volcanic field around 50 million years ago. After a quick stop in Cooke City, class will head up to Beartooth Pass, where we will discuss the origin of the flat surface of the Beartooth Plateau and view numerous alpine glacial features and tundra flora. It is truly the top of the world. From the pass participants will work back to the Lamar Buffalo Ranch with geology stops to look at Beartooth Butte, a gorgeous remnant of Paleozoic sedimentary rock resting atop the Precambrian basement rocks, and an overview spot to look at glacial features in the Clarks Fork Valley and surrounding mountains.

DAY 5

CHECK OUT & DEPARTURE

Dates & Times: The program begins at 7:00 PM on Wednesday, June 25, 2025 and goes through 5:00 PM on Saturday, June 28, 2025.

Lodging Check-in & Check-out: Lodging check-in begins at 4:00 p.m. on Wednesday, June 25, 2025, and lodging check-out is at 9:00 a.m. on Sunday, June 29, 2025.

Meals: This course is not catered. Participants will need to bring their own food; lunch should be able to travel in the field.

ACTIVITY LEVEL 1

• Be prepared to hike up to 1 mile per day, comfortably, through relatively flat terrain on maintained trails.
• 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.

EQUIPMENT SPECIFIC TO THIS COURSE:

Suggested Packing List located in General Information document under the ‘Whom to Contact’ tab.

• Hand lens – optional

RECOMMENDED READINGS

• Fritz, W.H., and Thomas, R.C., 2011, Roadside Geology of Yellowstone Country, 2nd edition: Mountain Press Publishing, Missoula, MT, 328 p.

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

Program itinerary, health forms, payment, and general program 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

If running late for a program, please contact 406-641-2185.

General Information: For general information about the facilities, preparation for classes, what to expect, cancellation policies, and more, please see the Lamar-Based Field Seminars – General Information document.

Cancellation Policy: Review our Cancellation & Refund Policies here.