Yellowstone & the Rockies

Day 1

EN ROUTE TO DENVER, COLORADO

Our western walking adventure in the fabled Rocky Mountains begins in Denver, Colorado. Because travelers will be arriving throughout the day, the only group activity planned is a Get Acquainted Reception this evening.

Day 2

DAY 2: DENVER – CHEYENNE, WYOMING (B,D)
Denver Capital Walk – 10 km, rated 1

Our first Rocky Mountain walk explores the treasures of Denver including the stunning state capitol, Golda Meir's family home, the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, and the lovely city gardens. We follow the Rockies north to Cheyenne, where you'll have time to explore this western capital before we rendezvous this evening for dinner.

Day 3

CHEYENNE – GERING, NEBRASKA (B)
Cheyenne Historic Old West Walk – 10 km, rated 2

Cheyenne is another western capital with a wild past not altogether obscured by its march into the 21st century. After perusing the past in Cheyenne, we'll continue north to Fort Laramie National Historic Site and Register Rock, two fascinating historic sites that allow us to connect with the Oregon Trail pilgrimage and the army's role in settling the West.

Day 4

GERING – CUSTER, SOUTH DAKOTA (B)
Scottsbluff Oregon Trail Walk - 10 km, rated 2+

Now a national monument, 800-foot high Scottsbluff was a major landmark for pioneers on the Oregon Trail. Our route explores the monument, allowing us to walk in the footsteps of westward bound settlers. South Dakota's Custer State Park contains one of the largest herds of buffalo and a host of other large mammals – a mesmerizing diversion on our drive into the Black Hills of South Dakota.

Day 5

ACTIVITIES FROM CUSTER (B)
Crazy Horse Memorial Walk - 10 km, rated 4+

The Ziolkowski family has been sculpting this mountain of granite since Korczak Ziolkowski accepted Chief Standing Bear's invitation to immortalize Chief Crazy Horse in 1948. The memorial worksite is open to the public for this walk only one weekend each year. Nearby Mount Rushmore will inspire us with its tribute to Presidents Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln, and Theodore Roosevelt.

Day 6

CUSTER – BUFFALO, WYOMING (B)
Devil's Tower National Monument Walk – 10 km, rated 3

Devil's Tower looms above the surrounding hills like a 1,000- foot tall tree stump, making it difficult to get lost on this excellent nature walk. We'll spend the evening in Buffalo, site of the infamous Bozeman Trail that generated years of Wild West strife with the Sioux, Cheyenne, and Arapaho.

Day 7

BUFFALO – CODY, WYOMING (B,D)
Buffalo Bozeman Trail & Cattle Wars Walk – 11 km, rated 2

This morning's pleasant trail passes Fort McKinney, linked to another era of Wild West upheaval called the Johnson County Cattle War. Our coach then takes us through the rugged and breathtaking scenery of the Big Horn Mountains into the fun western town of Cody, named for the legendary Buffalo Bill Cody. Tonight's lodgings are at Buffalo Bill's Irma Hotel, listed on the National Register of Historic Places and famous for the 1902 cherrywood bar in the restaurant, where we'll have dinner together this evening.

Day 8

CODY – OLD FAITHFUL, WYOMING (B)

The town of Cody was founded by the famous scout, Pony Express rider, and showman, William “Buffalo Bill” F. Cody. We'll explore the excellent Buffalo Bill Historical Center before continuing on to Yellowstone National Park, where we'll spend the night at the Old Faithful Lodge, a sprawling wooden complex with rustic cabins and outstanding close-up views of Old Faithful, probably the most famous geyser on the planet.

Day 9

OLD FAITHFUL – JACKSON, WYOMING (B)
Old Faithful Geysers and Hot Pools Walk – 10 km, rated 2

Established in 1872, Yellowstone National Park is the oldest, most renowned, and one of the most spectacular national parks in the world. Our walk features Old Faithful, Morning Glory Pool, and a host of other geysers, fumaroles, and hot springs (one of our all-time favorite walks!). The afternoon will be spent visiting Mammoth Hot Springs, Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, and other natural wonders of the park.

Day 10

ACTIVITIES FROM JACKSON (B,D)
Grand Teton Panoramas Walk – 10 km, rated 2

Early risers may opt for an unforgettable hot air balloon ride (not included) for a bird's eye view of this alpine splendor - OR - an unforgettable float trip by raft (not included) down a placid stretch of the scenic Snake River. Later today, our walk navigates country roads through mountain meadows with continual views of the spectacular Teton Range. The western flavor of Jackson Hole is a fitting prelude to our evening at the Bar J Chuckwagon Ranch where a buckaroo dinner precedes some of the best cowboy music (and humor) the West has to offer.

Day 11

JACKSON – VERNAL, UTAH (B)
Red Canyon Flaming Gorge Walk – 5 km, rated 3

From Jackson, we head south through the Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area and across the border into Utah’s Red Canyon. Our nature trail here offers spectacular views down into the Red Canyon, and an amazing variety of colorful wild flowers!

Day 12

VERNAL – STEAMBOAT SPRINGS, COLORADO (B)
Steamboat Springs Walk - 10 km, rated 3

Dinosaur National Monument straddles the border between Utah and Colorado and contains in a single sandstone cliff one of the world's highest concentrations of dinosaur bones. After marveling at these links to the past, we'll press on to Steamboat Springs in the idyllic Yampa River Valley. This afternoon's walk offers a lovely blend of city parks, wetlands, and riverside walking on the Yampa River Trail.

Day 13

STEAMBOAT SPRINGS – ESTES PARK, COLORADO (B)

From Steamboat Springs, we'll enjoy a day of scenic driving into Rocky Mountain National Park on Trail Ridge Road, reaching elevations as high as 12,000 feet. We arrive in Estes Park late this afternoon anticipating our final walk tomorrow in this spectacular corner of the Rocky Mountains!

Day 14

ACTIVITIES IN ESTES PARK (B,D)
Rocky Mountain National Park Walk - 10 km, rated 3+

Rocky Mountain National Park represents the grandest of American mountain scenery with valley floors 8,000 feet above sea level and 78 named peaks above 12,000 feet. Our walk today connects us with this sublime cathedral of nature with ample time to revel in the grandeur. You'll have the late afternoon free to explore downtown Estes Park before we rendezvous tonight for a special Farewell Dinner.

Day 15

ESTES PARK – DENVER INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT (B)

Arriving at Denver International Airport late this morning, we'll say farewell to our walking friends and return home with a new appreciation for the history, culture, and scenery of this Wild West Rocky Mountain region of America the Beautiful.