TRIP DETAILS   7 days   Dates: August 21-28, 2010 Arrival: Billings, MT by 5:00 pm on Saturday, August 21, 2010   Airport Code: BIL   Departure: Billings, MT after 12:00 pm on Saturday, August 28   Price: $2075   Single: $680 This is generally an optional charge. If you are traveling alone, we can match you with a roommate or you can guarantee your own room by paying the single supplement.   Extras: $138 including tax and airport transfer at the Crowne Plaza Hotel Billings for Friday night before the trip (optional).   Fitness Level: moderate   Accommodations: Lake Hotel Crowne Plaza The Historic Pollard Hotel Meals: 7 breakfasts, 5 Lunches, 4 Dinners   Includes: 7 night accommodations, double occupancy All ground transportation except airport transfers Guide & trip leader Hiking 2 rafting excursions Horseback riding Touring & sightseeing Museum and national park entrance fees Wildlife viewing Rodeo ticket Not included: airfare, guide gratuities, trip insurance, premium beverages like alcohol and soda, items of a personal nature like phone calls and laundry   Yellowstone & Grand Teton Adventure: August 21-28, 2010 Hike, Raft, Horseback Ride, and Rodeo in Montana and Wyoming Cowboy Country In Yellowstone and the areas that surround the national park, cowboy culture and life in the rural west still remains alive. Begin in Billings, Montana, your gateway to cowboy country. Then it’s on to Cody, Wyoming- famous for being the home of Buffalo Bill Cody and his Wild West show. In Cody, you’ll take a rafting trip on the Shoshone River, visit the Buffalo Bill Historic Museum, and attend the Cody night rodeo. Next you’ll venture into the unspoiled Yellowstone and Grand Teton wilderness where wildlife abounds and nature remains untouched. Marvel at the gushing geysers, thundering waterfalls, and great bison herds. Known for its geothermal activity, spectacular scenery, and variety of wildlife, Yellowstone and Grand Teton are truly the ‘crown jewels of the American park system.’ End the tour in Red Lodge, Montana, home of OutWest Global Adventures and home of a variety of outdoor recreation. During the course of the week long tour, you’ll hike alpine trails, horseback ride across a ranch, raft through rapids, and enjoy spectacular scenery. Experience Yellowstone and Brokeback Mountain Country with OutWest Global Adventures!   Highlights: Experience the Cody, Wyoming night rodeo View Old Faithful gesyer erupting over 100 feet high Hike in the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone and view Yellowstone Falls Paddle through white water on the Shoshone and Stillwater Rivers Go horseback riding on a Montana Ranch   Rusty Clark - Travel Specialist! OutWests' Director of Operations, Rusty loves everything adventure and everything outdoors. He and his partner Ron live in Red Lodge, Montana and find the serenity of nature to be their favorite place.

FULL ITINERARY:

DAY TWO.  CODY, WYOMING- RAFT, MUSEUM, AND RODEO. From Billings we drive to Cody, Wyoming, home of the famous Buffalo Bill Historical Museum. The museum has memorabilia of Bufflo Bill Cody’s Wild West Show, a gallery of western art, a Native American wing, a natural history wing, and contemporary art exhibit. That afternoon, we’ll raft on the Shoshone River.

In the evening, we’ll go to the Cody night rodeo, where we’ll see cowboys and cowgirls compete in stock events such as barrel racing, bronc riding, steer wrestling, and bull riding. Hee-haw!

DAY THREE.  YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK. From Cody, we drive up the Wapiti (Elk) Valley and through the west entrance of Yellowstone National Park. We’ll driver over a pass, along Yellowstone Lake, and through the Hayden Valley. Bisected by the lazy arcs of the Yellowstone River, the Hayden Valley is a vast expanse of fertile grassland that teems with life. This morning, we drive along the Hayden Valley in the hopes of seeing some of Yellowstone’s famous wildlife. If we are lucky, we will see bison, elk, deer, coyote, moose, and even grizzly bear.

From the rim of the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone you can view the awe-inspiring Upper and Lower Falls of the Yellowstone River. The walls of the 1,200 foot deep canyon are painted in shades of red, orange, yellow, and gold. We’ll hike to the brink of the falls and overlook the gushing water dropping over 300 feet.

For the next three evenings, we’ll be at the Lake Hotel, on the shores of Yellowstone Lake.

DAY FOUR.   GRAND TETON NATIONAL PARK.  We drive south to Grand Teton National Park where we’ll gaze at the majestic Grand Tetons. In the afternoon, we’ll take a scenic float trip down the Snake River. The lazy journey down the Snake affords incomparable views of the Tetons as well as opportunities to see elk, moose, beaver, bison, and bald eagle.

In the late afternoon, you’ll be able to wander the streets of Jackson Hole, Wyoming. Do some shopping, kickback in a saloon or relax on an outdoor patio for a drink. Chose from one of Jackson’s many restaurants- from burgers and fries to sushi, Jackson has it all!

DAY FIVE.   YELLOWSTONE SIGHTS AND OLD FAITHFUL GEYSER.  Today, we explore Yellowstone’s “lower loop.” Yellowstone National Park contains over one third of the world’s geysers and hot springs. Of course no trip to Yellowstone is complete without getting your picture taken at the Old Faithful Gesyer. That evening we’ll enjoy an outdoor picnic under the big sky.

DAY SIX.   THE BEARTOOTH HIGHWAY TO RED LODGE, MONTANA.  The day begins with a morning hike up Mount Washburn where you’ll have panoramic views of Yellowstone. Then we’ll exit the park through the northeast and pass through Cooke City, Montana.

Charles Kuralt called the Beartooth Highway “the most scenic road in America.” We’ll stop at the highway’s 10,800 foot summit to view the magnificent Beartooth Mountains. In the late afternoon, we’ll arrive in the western town of Red Lodge, Montana and check into the Pollard Hotel in downtown Red Lodge.

DAY SEVEN.   SADDLE AND PADDLE.  Grab your cowboy hats and boots and saddle up! In the morning we’ll horseback ride on a Montana ranch. In the afternoon, we’ll attack the rapids of the Stillwater River. With class II & III rapids, the Stillwater is a fun introduction to whitewater rafting. In the evening we’ll return to Red Lodge and a night on the town.

DAY EIGHT.   DEPARTURE. After a short drive to Billings, we say our farewells. Happy trails!