Yellowstone & Grand Tetons Multisport
Family Biking, Walking & Kayaking in the Wyoming Wilderness
For unparalleled beauty and wilderness, Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks shine in scenic splendor. As two of the country’s most well-known parklands, these glorious examples of Wyoming’s varied and rugged landscape never fail to inspire travelers of all ages. With its steaming fumaroles, thundering geysers and bubbling pools, Yellowstone is a geological treasure. And rising in great jagged waves, the Tetons display nothing less than staggering grandeur amid a tableau of alpine lakes, soaring peaks and valleys teeming with wildlife. Come along with Backroads to an extraordinary setting that invites exploration by bike, foot and kayak.
- Marvel at Yellowstone’s extraordinary geysers, including the granddaddy of them all, Old Faithful
- Pedal beneath the Teton Range, passing weathered barns and grazing horses
- The Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, with its multicolored walls and thundering waterfalls
- As you kayak across Yellowstone Lake, look for white pelicans, waterfowl or even a bald eagle
- Breathe in fresh mountain air while kicking back with your family under a vast Wyoming sky
The Day-to-Day Itinerary
Day 1 Bubbling mud pots, spouting geysers and steaming vents in Yellowstone
Pedal through the heart of the park along the Firehole River, taking in the sights, sounds - and smells! - of this strange wonderland
Kids will love seeing the fumaroles of Biscuit Basin and legendary Old Faithful Geyser up close.
Day 2 Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, the park's most dramatic feature, where waterfalls cascade over pastel-colored cliffs
A leisurely walk through alpine meadows and stands of lodgepole pines along the canyon rim provides breathtaking vistas deep into the gorge.
Day 3 Breathe in fresh mountain air while kicking back with your family under a vast Wyoming sky
Local guides take us on a flat-water kayaking trip across Yellowstone Lake, providing insight on the region's history and geology as we paddle.
Day 4 Eagles and bison and bears, oh my!
Explore Grand Teton National Park, a paradise of bluebell-strewn meadows, shimmering lakes, thick woodland and sawtooth mountains
Hike through conifer forests and aspen groves near the shore of Emma Matilda Lake or giddyup on an optional horseback ride.
Days 5-6 Pedal beneath the Teton Range, passing weathered barns and grazing horses
Ride to the old-west town of Jackson Hole
Traffic up ahead - watch for roaming bison!
Our comfortable campground lies in view of the jagged Teton peaks
Spin to glacier-carved Jenny Lake and hop aboard a boat for a different perspective of this awe-inspiring landscape.
Adult Route Rating What's this?
- Premiere Inns: These lodgings possess both elegance and authentic regional flair.
- Casual Inns: These lodgings are comfortable and appropriate to the area with such characteristics as authenticity, scenic settings and proximity to our activities.
- Deluxe Family Camping: We set up the tents (and take them down), handle every camp chore and perform culinary magic.
Other Trips You Might Like:
Yosemite Multisport Canadian Rockies Multisport Redwood National Park MultisportOther National Park Trips
Look at what other guests are saying about this trip!
The Yellowstone/Grand Teton trip was nothing short of fabulous. I had expected the parks, wildlife, and activities to be outstanding...what I didn't anticipate were the phenomenal guides! Each one of them could hold an intellectual conversation about the history of the park, mating habits of a particular species with the adults then switch gears in a heartbeat and organize a game of "Zip-Zap" with 13 kids! They had endless energy, were fun-loving, humorous, considerate, and possessed excellent communication/ organizational skills...not to mention superior intellect. In addition, I didn't realize how much fun we would have getting to know the other families. It was a superb crowd. As a final testament to how much our ENTIRE family enjoyed our Backroads experience...as we departed we were all teary eyed saying good-bye to our fellow travelers and Backroads guides, but our daughters cried for two solid hours after we left because they were so sad it had to end! What an experience...THANK YOU BACKROADS!!- Phoenix, AZ More about this Trip All Guest Reviews
For 32 years, Backroads has been perfecting the art of active travel. We are the tour experts. To see all our multisport tours click here. For our selection of award-winning biking tours click here. For our selection of award-winning walking and hiking tours click here.
Yellowstone & Grand Tetons Multisport
Deluxe Camping
Madison Campground
Yellowstone National Park (1 night) Camp close to the junction of the Gibbon, Madison and Firehole Rivers.
Grant Village Campground
Yellowstone Lake (2 nights) Your tent is a short walk from the shore of Yellowstone Lake.
Colter Bay Campground
Grand Teton National Park (2 nights) The stunning Teton range provides the backdrop at our wooded campsite near Jackson Lake.
Yellowstone & Grand Tetons Multisport
Routes For All Abilities
Every Backroads 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.
| Activity Level | Average Time | Biking Average | Walking Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2-3 hours | 10-20 miles | 2-5 miles |
| 2 | 2-4 hours | 21-30 miles | 5-7 miles |
| 3 | 3-5 hours | 31-40 miles | 7-9 miles |
| 4 | 4-6 hours | 41-55 miles | 9-11 miles |
| 5 | 5-7+ hours | 56-75+ miles | 11-13+ miles |
Kid-Friendly Routes
The route options below are for adults and older kids with more biking experience who are up for longer rides or hikes. For all other kids (and adults who choose), we make it easy to do even less than the shortest option mentioned below, usually by taking a short lift in one of our support vehicles. We are here to make sure everyone has a great time so there's no need for you to worry about whether your child will be able to "keep up."
Daily Mileage Options & Cumulative Elevation Gain
Day 1
- Levels 1 to 3
3 Route Options Available
- Biking 9, 16, 35 miles
- 100 - 800 feet elevation gain
Day 2
- Levels 1 to 4
3 Route Options Available
- Walking 4.1, 7.4, 9.2 miles
- 500 - 1200 feet elevation gain
Day 3
- Level 1
1 Route Option Available
- Biking 15 miles
- 700 feet elevation gain
- Kayaking 4 hours
Day 4
- Levels 1 to 5
Several Route Options Available
- Hiking 3 - 15 miles
- 0 - 1000 feet elevation gain
Day 5
- Levels 1 to 3
4 Route Options Available
- Biking 15, 22, 28, 37 miles
- 0 - 500 feet elevation gain
Day 6
- Levels 1 to 2
3 Route Options Available
- Biking 9, 21 miles
- 200 feet elevation gain
- Hiking 1 mile
- 500 feet elevation gain