Montana: Big Sky Adventure

Glacier National Park Mountain Trail Ride
Jefferson River Canoeing Yellowstone Nat'l Park

Follow historic trails forged by Lewis & Clark, mountain men and Native Americans in the magnificent wilderness of Glacier National Park and Yellowstone National Park, discovering first-hand the history, the beauty and wildlife of Big Sky Country.

		Take a private cruise on St. Mary Lake
		Explore the mountains of East Glacier by horseback
		Visit the Smokejumpers Training Center
		Get wet on a canoe trip
		Experience a sunrise wildlife "ed-venture" with
		expert wildlife biologists

Day 1: Arrive Kalispell, Montana
Day 2: "Going-to-the-Sun" in Glacier National Park
Day 3: Trail Ride into the Park
Day 4: Smokejumpers and Ranch Life
Day 5: Canoeing on the Headwaters of the Missouri River
Day 6: Sunrise Wildlife Adventure in Yellowstone
Day 7: White Water Rafting and Ranch BBQ
Day 8: Journey Home from Bozeman
 

Day 1: Arrive Kalispell, Montana
Tour begins: Grouse Mountain Lodge at 6:00 PM. Upon arrival, enjoy a transfer to your mountain lodge; logs, large stone fireplaces, and stuffed animal trophies reflect a typical woodsy Montana decor. Join us for a welcome barbecue tonight, the first stop in your Big Sky adventure. Meals D

Day 2: "Going-to-the-Sun" in Glacier Nat’l Park
Travel in "Jammers," 17-passenger historic touring cars, as you drive into a wilderness world that defies comparison on the historic "Going-to-the-Sun Road." Cross Logan Pass before enjoying a picnic and a private boat cruise in vintage craft on St. Mary’s Lake; spectacular mountain peaks, roaring waterfalls, ancient forests and an alpine glacier will surround you! Arrive at the rustic Glacier Park Lodge late this afternoon, steps away from the entrance of Glacier National Park. Located in the heart of Blackfeet Indian country, your historic hotel was built by the Great Northern Railroad at the turn of the last century and harkens back to a bygone era when the west was still young and the access was wild and limited. Meals BLD

Day 3: Trail Ride into the Park
Saddle up for an exciting morning or afternoon trail ride on the Mountains of Glacier Trail, riding through the Blackfeet Reservation past alpine meadows, aspen forests, and beaver ponds. You will have the opportunity to work with park staff on a service project today near Two Medicine

Lake, a virtually unclaimed gem of the Park, spectacular in its beauty and void of people! Meals BD

Day 4: Smokejumpers and Ranch Life
Journey along the route of the Great Northern Railroad to the shores of Flathead Lake through breathtaking Rocky Mountain scenery. En route, stop in the charming artists’ community of Big Fork and visit the Nine Pipes Museum of Early Montana; learn about the proud cultural heritage of the Flathead Indians during a fascinating interpretive demonstration, perhaps joining in a traditional dance! Continue on to the National Bison Range, home to some 390 bison; elk, deer, bear and the occasional mountain lion have also been spotted here. Meet the brave men and women trained to fight wildfires at the Smokejumpers Training Center in Missoula; watch them spring into action if the siren rings! The first school-center of its kind, this is the where smokejumpers for the entire nation are trained! Meals BL

Day 5: Canoeing on the Headwaters of the Missouri River
Travel to Grant-Kohrs National Historic Site and the Grant-Kohrs Ranch today; step back in time to the mid-1800’s to see how ranchers developed their thriving cattle industry; cattle still graze here and draft horses still work the land. Plan to get wet after your picnic lunch when you paddle a canoe on the Jefferson River, on gentle waters once traveled by Lewis & Clark; expert guides will point out animal and bird life along the way, including golden eagles who often nest in this area. Your journey continues along the Yellowstone River, one of the world’s premier fly-fishing rivers. Pass through the famous Roosevelt Arch as you enter Yellowstone National Park. Meals BLD

Day 6: Sunrise Wildlife Adventure in Yellowstone
Rise early for a sunrise wildlife "ed-venture;" the best time to see bears and wolves is between 5:00 and 7:00 AM! Travel in small groups through the best wildlife habitat in the Park with naturalists who show you how to use high-powered spotting scopes to observe animals undisturbed in their natural settings. Learn how to decipher animal tracks and discover when, where and how to best observe wildlife, gaining a deeper appreciation of their behavior, ecology and conservation; Yellowstone National Park is the only place in the lower 48 states where living symbols of the "Old American West" – wolves, grizzly bears, bison and elk – survive together in one area. The afternoon is free for you to explore the Park on your own; if you wish, join your Tauck Director for a hike to explore the wonders of Mammoth Hot Springs; this area is home to hundreds of hot springs, varying from trickles to small rivers, which build gleaming white terraces of calcium and travertine. Don your blue jeans and cowboy hats for a real western cookout tonight; travel by chuck wagon to Roosevelt Lodge where dinner is served by a roaring campfire. A sing-along and special entertainment adds to the festivities, promising a fun evening for every age. Meals BD

Day 7: White Water Rafting and Ranch BBQ
See the sights of West Yellowstone this morning as you depart Mammoth Hot Springs. Stop at picturesque Nymph Pond and Gibbons Falls, and, time permitting, take a short walk to Norris Geyser

Basin; the hottest ground in the park, it is home to Steamboat, the largest active geyser in the world, capable of climbing 400 feet with a thunderous roar! Experience the churning white waters of Gallatin River after lunch on a thrilling rafting adventure, sure to be a highlight of your journey. Discover one of Montana’s favorite ranch traditions tonight when you experience an old-fashioned hay ride to an outdoor barbecue; sing along to cowboy ballads and share tales about the Old West. Spend the night in one of the grand railroad hotels of the Rocky Mountain West; built in 1927, the historic Gallatin Gateway Inn is listed on the National Registry of Historic Places and still features the original railroad clock in its huge lobby. Meals BD

Day 8: Journey Home from Bozeman
Tour ends: Bozeman Airport in Bozeman, Montana. Two transfers to the airport are provided at 5:30 AM and 8:30 AM; earlier transfers may be arranged for an additional cost. Meals B