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Wyoming/Montana/Alberta

The Best of the Grand Tetons to Banff: Iconic National Parks

Program No. 20524RJ
Explore six national parks — Grand Teton, Yellowstone, Glacier, Waterton, Banff and Jasper — and discover unique waypoints like Old Faithful, Many Glacier, Lake Louise and much more!
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National ParksOn the RoadNature & Environment
Length
12 days
Rating (4.94)
Activity Level
Starts at
6,899

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Itinerary
While we make every effort to ensure the accuracy of our published materials, programs are typically advertised more than a year prior to their start date. Read More.
While we make every effort to ensure the accuracy of our published materials, programs are typically advertised more than a year prior to their start date. As a result, some program activities, schedules, accommodations, personnel, and other logistics occasionally change due to local conditions or circumstances. Should a major change occur, we will make every effort to alert you. For less significant changes, we will update you during orientation. Thank you for your understanding.
Duration
12 days
11 nights
What's Included
30 meals ( 11B, 9L, 10D )
6 expert-led lectures
17 expert-led field trips
An experienced Group Leader
11 nights of accommodations
Taxes and customary gratuity
Road Scholar Assurance Plan
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Activity Note
Hotel check-in from 3:00 PM. Remember to bring your Road Scholar nametag (sent previously). The elevation of the hotel is 6,237 feet.
Afternoon:
At the time of check-in, collect your Road Scholar Welcome Packet from the front desk. In the packet you will find information regarding program details including the location of orientation. The program orientation will begin at 4:30 PM. The Group Leader will greet everyone and lead introductions. They will review the up-to-date program schedule, discuss roles and responsibilities, logistics, safety guidelines, emergency procedures, and answer questions. There may be some light paperwork at the end of the orientation session. If you don't arrive in time for orientation, please refer to your welcome packet on how to locate the Group Leader and get caught up on any information you may have missed. Lectures and field trips will be led by local experts and a knowledgeable Group Leader. Transportation for program-related activities will be via motorcoach and Red Jammers, unless specified otherwise. Periods in the daily schedule designated as "Free time" and "At leisure" offer opportunities to do what you like and make your experience even more meaningful and memorable according to your personal preferences. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. Program activities, schedules, personnel, and indicated distance or times may change due to local circumstances/conditions. In the event of changes, we will alert you as quickly as possible. Thank you for your understanding.
Dinner:
At the hotel.
Evening:
At leisure. Continue getting to know your fellow participants, settle in, and get a good night’s sleep for the day ahead.
Activity Note
Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving about 90 miles, approximately 2.5 hours total drive time with multiple stops.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
We'll kick off our discovery of the Rocky Mountains with a natural history presentation with a local expert as they present on the fascinating geology and history of this majestic park. With snow-etched mountain peaks, lush meadows, sparkling bodies of water, and an impressive array of wildlife, Grand Teton is an unmeasurable vista for the eyes. Today we’ll be joined by a local Tetons expert who will guide us through the park, pointing out geologic features, glacial movement and unique highlights while explaining the creation of the Tetons. Our local expert will also delve into the lush flora and fauna that live just below the towering peaks.
Lunch:
At a restaurant inside the park.
Afternoon:
We'll stop at the Snake River overlook where Ansel Adams captured early, iconic photographs of the area's beauty. We'll also stop at the iconic Mormon Row, where we'll learn about the hearty homesteaders that first arrived here in the 1890s. As we make our way back to Jackson, be on the lookout for bison, moose, elk and pronghorn grazing in the sage steppe. Later, we'll have free time to explore Jackson's vibrant western downtown and the famous antler arches of the town square.
Dinner:
This meal has been excluded from the program cost and is on your own to enjoy what you like in Jackson. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions.
Evening:
At leisure. Be sure to prepare for check-out and transfer in the morning.
Activity Note
Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving about 170 miles, approximately 4.5 hours total drive time. Multiple stops are made along the route. Walking up to one mile.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
On our way to Yellowstone, we'll stop and explore the historic Jackson Lake Lodge. Built on a grand scale, this 1950's lodge has sixty-foot-high windows that perfectly frame the Teton range. As we begin our Yellowstone National Park exploration we'll first stop at the West Thumb Geyser Basin. Hydrothermal features are fragile rarities of nature. Yellowstone National Park preserves the largest collection of hydrothermal features on the planet. You'll have an unparalleled opportunity to view hot springs, geysers, mudpots, and fumaroles in a natural setting. Twin Geysers, the Abyss Pool, Black Pool, Lakeshore Geyser and Thumb Paint Pots are just a few of the amazing features we'll explore in the West Thumb caldera.
Lunch:
Boxed lunch in Yellowstone National Park.
Afternoon:
As we travel deeper into the heart of Yellowstone, keep your eyes sharpened as we pass through Hayden Valley. This lush area is a hot spot for bison, bears, and other wildlife. At the north end of Hayden lies the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone. This magnificent canyon formed after a huge volcanic eruption and subsequent lava flow. The soft rock was easily eroded by the Yellowstone River creating one of the most magical views in Yellowstone - the Lower Falls from Artist Point. Framed by the canyon walls the Yellowstone River thunders more than 308 feet over Lower Falls, creating a dynamic focal point. The canyon is also home to birds of prey such as bald eagles and osprey. Later this afternoon we'll check into Canyon Village.
Dinner:
At Canyon Eatery in Yellowstone.
Evening:
At leisure. Continue getting to know your fellow participants or explore more of the beauty of Yellowstone as you take a stroll around Canyon Village. If open, consider exploring the Canyon Village Educational Center to learn more about the dramatic landscape that surrounds you.
Activity Note
Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving about 100 miles, approximately 4.5 hours total drive time. Opportunities to step out and explore stops on boardwalks and paths, walking up to one mile.
Breakfast:
At Canyon Eatery in Yellowstone.
Morning:
Yellowstone National Park boasts one of the most extreme, rare, and fragile hydrothermal ecosystems in the world. Today we’ll be joined by a local Yellowstone expert who will educate and guide us through the history, creation, and exploration of these unique formations. Old Faithful Geyser is neither the tallest nor the most frequently erupting geyser in Yellowstone, but that doesn’t stop it from being the most iconic feature in the park. We’ll make a stop at Old Faithful and discover why it's the most popular geyser and the history behind its predictableness, as well as learn about the surrounding geyser formations.
Lunch:
At Old Faithful Cafeteria.
Afternoon:
We’ll continue to learn more about Yellowstone’s rare and fragile ecosystems as we progress through the heart of Yellowstone with our local expert guide.
Dinner:
At Canyon Eatery in Yellowstone.
Evening:
At leisure. Be sure to prepare for check-out and transfer in the morning.
Activity Note
Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving about 220 miles, approximately 4 hours total drive time. Opportunities to step out and explore stops on boardwalks and paths, walking up to one mile.
Breakfast:
At Canyon Eatery in Yellowstone.
Morning:
This morning we'll continue our exploration of Yellowstone with our Group Leader as we depart by motorcoach to Mammoth Hot Springs. Mammoth Hot Springs is a large complex of hot springs flowing down a hill of travertine. Deposits of calcium carbonate create the unique appearance of a snow terraced landscape. Boardwalks will get us up close and personal with these amazing formations. Mammoth also serves as the Park headquarters and radiates a unique history of its own. It features some of the oldest buildings in the Park, including structures from the days when the U.S. Army managed Yellowstone.
Lunch:
Boxed lunch in Yellowstone.
Afternoon:
This afternoon we'll make our way to Montana's capital city, Helena, where we'll check into our hotel. Helena will be a one-night stop along the way to our Glacier National Park destination.
Dinner:
At the hotel.
Evening:
Following dinner, we will prepare for check-out and transfer in the morning to Glacier National Park.
Activity Note
Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving about 245 miles, approximately 4.5 hours total drive time. There will be restroom stops and time to stretch your legs along the way.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
After checking out of Helena Colonial, we'll travel northeast by motorcoach to Glacier National Park with restroom stops and time to stretch our legs along the way.
Lunch:
Boxed lunch en route.
Afternoon:
This afternoon we’ll take the opportunity to stroll through the historic Glacier Park Lodge and get a feel for the architectural ingenuity of this beautiful lodge. With its massive Douglas Fir and Cedars supporting the main structure, the logs and timbers are an art-form in themselves. Following our lodge exploration, we’ll gather for a presentation from a local member of the Blackfeet Nation. We’ll learn about the local culture and its importance to Glacier National Park. After the presentation, we will board the motorcoach and drive about 1.5 hours to the Many Glacier Valley where we'll check in to Many Glacier Hotel. Many Glacier Hotel was built in 1914 by the Great Northern Railway as a destination resort for its rail tourists. The hotel sits among soaring peaks and glassy lakes.
Dinner:
At the hotel.
Evening:
At leisure. Many Glacier Hotel is a spectacular site set in one of the most scenic National Parks. It boasts amazing views, a plethora of wildlife and a relaxing atmosphere to help you wind down after a day of travel.
Activity Note
Getting on/off historic Red Jammer. Driving about 80 miles, approximately 4 hours total drive time. There will be opportunities to get out and stretch your legs as well as visit the Logan Pass Visitor Center. There will be opportunities for restroom breaks along the way. Maximum elevation of 6,647 feet.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
Free time. This morning take the opportunity to relax on the deck at Many Glacier Hotel looking over the shores of Swiftcurrent Lake. Your Group Leader will be happy to give you suggestions of activities for the morning, as there are several surrounding the historic hotel.
Lunch:
At the hotel.
Afternoon:
Glacier National Park, named for the glaciers that carved it, is the undisputed “Crown of the Continent.” Over one million wild acres crown the Continental Divide, a place where lush green parklands join towering, jagged peaks sporting some of the world’s oldest rock. Glacier has been described as one of the most intact natural ecosystems in the lower 48 states. Today, we’ll have the unique opportunity to explore the park’s diverse ecosystem by traveling the iconic Going-to-the-Sun Road via historic Red Jammer open-top buses. The Going-to-the-Sun Road is a Historic Landmark, a testament to human ingenuity, and the only road that traverses Glacier National Park. Located along the Going-to-the-Sun-Road is Logan Pass. We’ll make a stop at Logan Pass, located along the Continental Divide, where waters flow toward both the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans. Logan Pass is the highest point on the Going-to-the-Sun Road with an elevation of 6,647 feet.
Dinner:
At the hotel.
Evening:
At leisure. Be sure to prepare for check-out, transfer, and border crossing into Canada in the morning.
Activity Note
Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving about 320 miles, approximately 6 hours total drive time. Periods of standing while at museum. Walking up to 1 mile. Have passports accessible for the US-Canadian border crossing.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
After checking out of Many Glacier Hotel, we'll depart by motorcoach with the Group Leader to Waterton Lakes National Park in Canada. Be sure to have your passports accessible for the US/Canadian border crossing. Although active glaciers vacated Waterton's borders years ago, the results of ice gnawing on the landscape left lake pockets strewn through the park, one of these lakes being Upper Waterton Lake, the deepest lake in the Canadian Rockies. While in Waterton we'll visit the historic Prince of Wales Hotel. Designated a Canadian National Historic Site, the 122-foot-tall, four-story hotel took more than a year to build. Constructed by the Great Northern Railway its massive lobby with floor-to-ceiling windows frame Waterton Lake.
Lunch:
Boxed lunch en route.
Afternoon:
Next, we’ll visit Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, which bears witness to an aboriginal hunting practice that was used by native people of the North American plains for almost 6,000 years. We'll stop at this unique site and learn from museum staff about this essential piece of history. This afternoon we'll arrive at the gateway to Banff National Park in Canmore and check into the hotel. This area is the crown jewel in Canada's National Park system with its dense coniferous forest and alpine landscapes.
Dinner:
At the hotel.
Evening:
At leisure. Feel free to get settled into your room or roam around the quaint town of Canmore.
Activity Note
Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving about 35 miles, approximately 1 hour total drive time. Periods of standing and walking. Getting on/off gondola. Maximum elevation of 8,041 feet as we take the gondola up Sulphur Mountain.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
This morning we'll explore some of Banff's most historic and scenic spots with our Group Leader. Far from the wild peaks of the Canadian Rockies, Catharine Robb and Peter Whyte met at the Boston Museum School of Fine Art in 1927. She was a Boston debutante while he was a member of one of Banff's pioneer families. They married in 1930 and made Banff and the Canadian mountains their home. A studio was built one year later where they would live and paint the grandeur of their beloved mountains. This morning we'll self-explore the Whyte Museum. Next, we'll ride a Gondola up to Sulphur Mountain, at an elevation of 8,041 feet. From the observation deck, breathtaking views of Banff, Bow Valley, Cascade Mountain, Lake Minnewanka, and the Fairholme Range await you.
Lunch:
This meal has been excluded from the program cost and is on your own to enjoy what you like in Banff. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions.
Afternoon:
Take this opportunity for independent exploration of Banff. The area has several museums and local art galleries to explore.
Dinner:
At the hotel.
Evening:
At the hotel we'll be joined by a local wildlife expert and learn what makes this area so unique.
Activity Note
Getting on/off a motorcoach and snowcoach; driving about 260 miles, approximately 5 hours total drive time. Wear warm clothes and bring a coat as it is often snowing on the glacier. While the snowcoach is enclosed, there is an optional opportunity to get out and safely walk on the surface of the glacier.
Breakfast:
To-go breakfast from the hotel.
Morning:
Early departure this morning as we travel north to Jasper National Park for an all day expert-led field trip, beginning with a snowcoach excursion onto the Athabasca Glacier in the Columbia Icefields. The snowcoach journey is lead by experienced drivers who will share a wealth of fascinating information about glaciers, icefields and their impact on our environment. Passengers can safely step out onto the glacier and stand on this powerful ancient ice.
Lunch:
Boxed lunch en route.
Afternoon:
Return trip to Canmore with scenic stops along the way, including a stop at Lake Louise. As you witness the spectacular beauty of Mount Victoria reflecting in the sparkling waters of Lake Louise, you'll understand why this lake is regarded as one of the most tranquil and beautiful lakes in Canada. Overlooking the magnificent scene, Fairmont Château Lake Louise is without a doubt one of the world's most photographed hotels. This afternoon, enjoy a self-exploration of Lake Louise in all its splendor.
Dinner:
At the hotel.
Evening:
Free evening to explore more of the beautiful town of Canmore. Afterwards, be sure to prepare for check-out and transfer in the morning.
Activity Note
Getting on/off a motorcoach and snowcoach; driving about 85 miles, approximately 1.5 hours total drive time. Walking approximately 2/3 mile.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
After breakfast we'll check out of the hotel in Canmore and depart for Calgary for an expert-led field trip of the city's highlights.
Lunch:
At Heritage Park.
Afternoon:
We'll spend the afternoon at Heritage Park exploring the culture and traditions of the Plains First Nations, fur traders, missionaries and early settlers. We will get a firsthand look at the challenges that faced these groups as well as a glimpse into daily life by way of exploring the Heritage Park Historical Village. Discover how settlers learned to endure a harsh environment and also about the cultural exchange that took place which helped them to adapt and survive. You'll also have an opportunity for self exploration of the Heritage Park Historical Village. Later in the afternoon we'll check into the Sheraton Cavalier, the end destination of our Rocky Mountains exploration. We'll have time to freshen up before our final dinner together.
Dinner:
At the hotel. Share favorite experiences with new Road Scholar friends during our farewell dinner.
Evening:
At leisure. Be sure to prepare for check-out and departure in the morning.
Activity Note
Hotel check-out is 12:00 PM. This concludes our program.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
If you are returning home, safe travels. If you are staying on independently, have a wonderful time. If you are transferring to another Road Scholar program, detailed instructions are included in your Information Packet for that program. We hope you enjoy Road Scholar learning adventures and look forward to having you on rewarding programs in the future. Don’t forget to join our Facebook page and follow us on Instagram. Best wishes for all your journeys!
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