Biking, Hiking, Rafting & Kayaking in Wyoming’s Wild Preserves

The Tetons. majestic, sawtooth mountains. snowcaps above, incredible wildflowers and glacial lakes below. Truly spectacular. Yellowstone is different.

One-of-a-kind Geysers that really erupt on the hour. Turquoise hot springs with the pungent smell of sulfur. Waterfalls, wolves and bears. Buffalo and elk as common as tourists. It’s even got its own Grand Canyon. And it’s just as dramatic as the original. On this adventure, you’ll hike, explore, bike, and river raft this incredible piece of Wyoming. But don’t think for a second you’ll be able to figure it out.

Trip Overview:

• 

  Bubbling mud pots, spouting geysers and steaming vents at Yellowstone
• Pedal beneath the Teton Range's jagged peaks
• Hike to the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, the park's most dramatic feature
• White-water raft the Snake River with expert river runners
• Wondrous wildlife, from elk to eagles, osprey to otters and bison to bears
• All Meals Included
• Priced from $3,198

Location: Jackson, Wyoming

2012 Dates: June 17-22, June 24-29, July 1-6, July 8-13, July 15-20, July 22-27, July 29-Aug 3, Aug 5-10, Aug 12-17, Aug 19-24, Aug 26-31, Sept 2-7

2011 Pricing    

$3,198 per person
Single Supplement : $760
All meals included

Day 1: White water rafting

Day 2: Jenny Lake Biking Route

Day 3: Free Time in Grand Teton National Park

Day 4: Kayaking on Yellowstone Lake

Day 5: Grand Canyon Hike

Day 6: Madison Biking Route

Routes for All Abilities

Every trip is designed to appeal to a wide variety of interests and fitness levels. We know your pace may vary from one day to the next-and your traveling companion's may differ somewhat from yours. So we present a range of mileage options, and each day you decide exactly what and how much you want to do.  Your choices range from a scale of 1 to 5, with 5 being the most difficult.

Day 1

White water rafting

Meet your trip leaders at 7:45 a.m. in the lobby of The Lexington at Jackson Hole hotel in Jackson, Wyoming. Please arrive dressed for our rafting excursion and bring a daypack containing your bike clothes, rain gear, sunglasses, camera, etc. See “Arriving & Departing” for additional logistics information.

After meeting we shuttle to the Snake River to inaugurate the trip with a splash! In the hands of expert rafting guides, we maneuver through thrilling Class II and III sections of the river. It’s not only an adrenaline rush but also a great way to experience the wilderness. Upon our return to terra firma, we shuttle to our scenic picnic spot to get better acquainted over a signature Backroads spread.

After lunch your leaders fit your bike and give a brief talk on biking techniques and safety. Then you’re off pedaling quiet Fall Creek Road. The mountains of the Teton Range loom in the distance as you pass sprawling ranches and aspen groves.

Make your way to the small town of Wilson, situated at the base of 8,431-foot Teton Pass. Don’t worry—our destination is Teton Village, not the summit of the pass!

Follow the bike path along the valley floor to the elegant yet cozy Snake River Lodge & Spa. This boutique resort offers plenty of amenities, from a swimming pool and hot tubs to a full-service spa. (Spa treatments are not included in the trip price, and reservations are recommended; see “During Your Trip” in your Travel Planner for details.) After dinner at the lodge’s acclaimed Gamefish restaurant, retire to your well-appointed guest room or walk to the famous Mangy Moose Saloon for live music and local color.

Lodging: Snake River Lodge & Spa

Day 2

Jenny Lake Biking Route

Today we shuttle into Grand Teton National Park, a paradise of snow-covered sawtooth mountains, peaceful meadows, shimmering lakes and dense forests. The Teton Range includes 12 mountains over 12,000 feet, the tallest being Grand Teton at 13,770 feet. Local guides join us as we head out on level-to-rolling terrain, skirting the base of Shadow Mountain with views of the Gros Ventre Range (French for “big belly”). Notice the striking geologic features such as Sleeping Indian Mountain, and look for the Gros Ventre Slide, a scar on Sheep Mountain where 50 million cubic yards of earth plummeted down the mountain in 1925. The debris created a 225-foot-high dam across the river, forming Lower Slide Lake. It held for almost two years before part of it gave way, sending mud, rocks and water down the canyon and nearly wiping out the town of Kelly. After more than eight decades, the scar is still visible. As you ride across the spectacular valley floor, watch for bison, pronghorn and other wildlife.

Continue along a peaceful bike path to sparkling Jenny Lake, created by melting glaciers about 60,000 years ago. Don’t forget to look up once in awhile: views of the South and Middle Teton peaks, Teewinot and the majestic Grand surround you. From Jenny Lake shuttle or pedal to our home for the next two nights, Jackson Lake Lodge. In the lodge’s upper lobby, 60-foot picture windows frame the Teton’s jagged peaks—an image that is particularly breathtaking at dawn and dusk. Before dinner, take a dip in the hotel’s outdoor heated pool or sip a drink in the cocktail lounge—huckleberry margarita, anyone?

Lodging: Jackson Lake Lodge

Day 3

Free Time in Grand Teton National Park

The day is yours to explore this glorious park. Since biking isn’t an option today, you may choose to don your hiking shoes and shuttle 30 minutes to Jenny Lake, where a scenic boat ride takes you to the mouth of Cascade Canyon. The hike is an out-and-back route, allowing you to go as far as you’d like. The trail climbs steeply to Inspiration Point then continues gradually along Cascade Creek through a sea of mountain bluebells, dandelions, paintbrush and daisies. If you make it to Lake Solitude (at 9,000 feet), you’ll want to take a break and savor the views of Grand Teton and Mounts Teewinot and Owen. If you prefer to hike closer to the hotel, head to Emma Matilda Lake or Christian Pond. Both areas are popular habitats for moose and trumpeter swans, and open meadows provide unobstructed views of the Tetons and Jackson Lake. (Please note that because of park regulations, Backroads leaders are not allowed to give guided walks. If you choose to hike today, you’ll be on your own.)

We convene for dinner in the lodge’s Mural Room, where panoramic windows show off the majestic Grand Tetons.

Lodging: Jackson Lake Lodge

Day 4

Kayaking on Yellowstone Lake

Today we shuttle to Yellowstone National Park. Founded in 1872, Yellowstone holds a special place in both domestic and internationalhistory as the world’s first national park. It has since served as a model and inspiration for the establishment of national parks across the globe, encouraging the preservation of endangered wildlife and stunning natural landscapes so that they can be enjoyed for generations to come.

Yellowstone Lake—the park’s largest lake and the nation’s largest alpine lake above 7,000 feet—is a pristine setting for paddling in our sleek two-person kayaks. If you’ve never kayaked before, rest assured that our guides will give expert instruction before we set out. During our excursion, you’ll learn more about the lake’s history, including how the area recovered from devastating 1988 fires, and be able to check out an area known for its geothermal activity. As you pass a shoreline flowing with steaming water, notice how the soil’s color has been altered by its mineral content. Yellowstone Lake is prime bird-watching territory, so keep an eye out for white pelicans, waterfowl and even bald eagles. Midway through our paddle we pull ashore to stretch our legs and relax over a picnic lunch.

This afternoon, reunite with your bike and head out on a ride that hugs the lakeshore, with the Absaroka Mountains coming in and out of view. Your destination is Lake Yellowstone Hotel, a Colonial-style inn that’s been restored to its 1920s brilliance. We’re in good company: Presidents Harding and Coolidge stayed at the hotel during their visits to the park. You’ll have time to enjoy live music in the lobby before we adjourn to the dining room for a fantastic meal.

Lodging: Lake Yellowstone Hotel

Day 5

Grand Canyon Hike

This morning’s destination is one of the park’s most dramatic features: the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone. More than 20 miles long, 1,200 feet deep and 4,000 feet wide, it was formed about 10,000 years ago. Two thundering waterfalls and multicolored canyon walls make this one of the most photographed places in the park.

Exploring on foot is the best way to get a feel for the area’s grandeur and diversity. Set out on Clear Lake Trail, passing through open meadows and stands of lodgepole pine, watching for bison that occasionally graze here. The trail eventually opens to reveal your first view of the immense canyon from the south rim. Steep jagged walls of pink, yellow and orange cradle the surging Yellowstone River below. Continue to Artist Point to see impressive Lower Falls, the origin of this powerful flow of water. You may spot ospreys that build nests atop rock pinnacles protected by the canyon walls. The rest of the hike alternates between quiet secluded stretches and popular lookout points. Uncle Tom’s Trail, which drops 500 feet in a series of stairs and inclines, also offers a magnificent vista of Lower Falls. The hike concludes with a dramatic look into the canyon’s depths at aptly named Inspiration Point.

In the afternoon, shuttle to Upper Geyser Basin, home to more than 20 percent of the world’s geysers, including the granddaddy of them all, Old Faithful. It’s about 91 minutes between spectacular eruptions—the interval has lengthened over the years, in part due to earthquakes. Each performance lasts between one and five minutes, shooting 3,700 to 8,400 gallons of boiling water into the air.

Tonight’s hotel, the historic Old Faithful Inn, was built in 1904 from local lodgepole pines. Before dinner kick back with a drink on the lodge’s upstairs deck. With any luck, Old Faithful will provide the floor show!

Lodging: Old Faithful Inn

Day 6

Madison Biking Route

With still more geothermal spectacles to behold, head out on a final spin through the heart of Yellowstone. Beginning in Upper Geyser Basin, bike alongside the Firehole River to Lower Geyser Basin, stopping along the way to visit some of the park’s most fascinating natural displays, such as Great Fountain Geyser and Fountain Paint Pots, and to take in the sights, sounds and smells of this strange wonderland. The route ends at the Madison picnic area, where the Firehole, Madison and Gibbon Rivers converge. We dig into a farewell picnic before our trip ends with shuttles to West Yellowstone and Jackson. Please see “Arriving & Departing” for end-of-trip logistics.