In Yellowstone and the Tetons, the West is still wild. Geysers gush. Mud pots bubble. Old Faithful shoots skyward. Spectacular sawtooth peaks reach to the open sky. Bison and moose graze amid lodgepole pines. Osprey camp out atop awesome pinnacles. Meadows burst with mountain bluebells and paintbrush. Glacial lakes draw trumpeter swans. And we're getting wild, too! Hiking, biking, kayaking, white-water rafting and more. Two national parks. Wild scenery. Wild life. Wild activities. Wild fun.
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 fascinating 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 Eagles and bison and bears, oh my!
Local guides take us on a flat-water kayaking trip across Yellowstone Lake.
Day 4 Breathe in fresh mountain air while kicking back with your family under a vast Wyoming sky
Explore Grand Teton National Park, a paradise of bluebell-strewn meadows, shimmering lakes, thick forests and sawtooth mountains Perhaps you'll opt for a horseback ride, scenic boat cruise or a fishing excursion.
Days 5-6 Splash down the Snake River on an exhilarating rafting trip
Pedal beneath the spine of the Teton Range as we follow the valley floor Traffic up ahead - watch for roaming bison! Ready to get wet? Paddle thrilling Class II and III rapids with expert river runners.
Trip Highlights
- Bubbling mud pots, spouting geysers and steaming vents at Yellowstone
- Bike beneath the Teton Range's sawtooth mountains amid shimmering lakes and dense forests
- The Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, with its multicolored walls and thundering waterfalls
- Splash down the Snake River on an exhilarating rafting trip
- Eagles and bison and bears, oh my!
Casual Inns
Old Faithful Inn (1 night): Built in 1904 with a grand lobby seven stories high, "a spectacular log-and-shingle château that captures the moment the West went from wild to Baroque," reports Travel + Leisure.
Lake Yellowstone Hotel (1 night): On the National Register of Historic Places, this classic park hotel, completed in 1891, sits along the shore of the lake.
Jackson Lake Lodge (2 nights): Situated in the heart of Grand Teton National Park, with 60-foot picture windows for savoring views of the Teton peaks and the roaming moose, elk and bison. (pool)
Snake River Lodge & Spa (1 night): This upscale western-style lodge with plentiful amenities is a Travel + Leisure World's Best award winner. (pool, spa)
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.
| Daily Route Options | |||||||||||
| Day | Activity | EASYGOING | ACTIVE | AVID | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Level 4 | Level 5 | |||||||
| miles | feet gain | miles | feet gain | miles | feet gain | miles | feet gain | miles | feet gain | ||
| 1 | Biking | 9* | 300 | ||||||||
| Biking | 16 | 600 | |||||||||
| 2 | Walking | 4.1* | 500 | 7.4* | 500 | 9.2* | 1200 | ||||
| 3 | Kayaking | On Yellowstone Lake (3 - 4 hours) | |||||||||
| 4 | Other | Optional hiking (4 - 14 miles), canoeing, boat cruise, fishing, horseback riding or rock climbing | |||||||||
| 5 | Biking | 15* | 0 | 24* | 0 | 31* | 300 | 42 | 500 | ||
| 6 | Rafting | On the Snake River (2 hours) | |||||||||
To make for the most comfortable ride to this particular trip, we've outfitted our titanium road bike with slightly wider tires. You'll appreciate this on those stretches of the route with hard-packed dirt (approximately 5% dirt and 95% paved).
* Includes a shuttle
2013 Dates & Pricing*
FAMILY TRIPS
- 6/2-7 Price: $3098 pp dbl. occ., (+ $750 for sgl. occ.)
- 6/9-14 Price: $3198 pp dbl. occ., (+ $750 for sgl. occ.)
- 6/16-21 Price: $3198 pp dbl. occ., (+ $750 for sgl. occ.)
- 6/23-28 Price: $3198 pp dbl. occ., (+ $750 for sgl. occ.)
- 6/30-7/5 Price: $3198 pp dbl. occ., (+ $750 for sgl. occ.)
- 7/4-9 Price: $3198 pp dbl. occ., (+ $750 for sgl. occ.)
- 7/7-12 Price: $3198 pp dbl. occ., (+ $750 for sgl. occ.)
- 7/14-19 Price: $3198 pp dbl. occ., (+ $750 for sgl. occ.)
- 7/18-23 Price: $2998 pp dbl. occ., (+ $750 for sgl. occ.)
- 7/21-26 Price: $3198 pp dbl. occ., (+ $750 for sgl. occ.)
- 7/25-30 Price: $3198 pp dbl. occ., (+ $750 for sgl. occ.)
- 7/28-8/2 Price: $3198 pp dbl. occ., (+ $750 for sgl. occ.)
- 8/1-6 Price: $3098 pp dbl. occ., (+ $750 for sgl. occ.)
- 8/4-9 Price: $3198 pp dbl. occ., (+ $750 for sgl. occ.)
- 8/8-13 Price: $3198 pp dbl. occ., (+ $750 for sgl. occ.)
- 8/11-16 Price: $3198 pp dbl. occ., (+ $750 for sgl. occ.)
- 8/15-20 Price: $2998 pp dbl. occ., (+ $750 for sgl. occ.)
- 8/18-23 Price: $3198 pp dbl. occ., (+ $750 for sgl. occ.)
- 8/22-27 Price: $2998 pp dbl. occ., (+ $750 for sgl. occ.)
*Prices may change. Once you book your trip, your price is guaranteed.
Recommended Kids Ages
Minimum Ages:
- Recommended minimum age for the trip: 6 years
- Minimum age restriction to ride own bike: 7 years
- Minimum age restriction to kayak and raft: 6 years
General Info on Minimum Ages:
We strongly encourage families to join our Family Trips, designed with kid- and adult-friendly features. Please note that we have a minimum age requirement of 1 year for all Inn trips and 2 years for all Camping trips. Other than that, we do not restrict trips to a minimum age except in the rare case of a hotel age restriction. We do, however, recommend minimum ages based on the following criteria:- 12+ amount of cultural appreciation, difficulty of activities, routes
- 9+ difficulty of activities/activity age restrictions, routes
- 6+ several longer dinners, routes are difficult for pulling a Burley and therefore not appropriate for younger children, difficulty of activities/activity age restrictions
Guest Trip Reviews
It was the best family trip we have EVER taken! We and our kids had a fabulous time, met some great friends, and we all thoroughly enjoyed our trip leaders, who were exceptional! It was like the last day of summer camp when we had to say good-bye, with tears and hugs. Within six days we had all become close friends with each other, not wanting to say good-bye. This is the best experience I could ask for. We've already started planning our next Backroads trip!- Fort Wayne, IN
Fun, fun, fun! We met wonderful people and learned a ton too. It was our first Backroads trip, and now we plan to take at least one per year for the rest of our lives. The leaders were incredible...fun, educated, and accommodating to our every need. They went way beyond the call of duty every single day. It was the best trip we've ever had!- San Luis Obispo, CA
This trip was beyond my best of times. For family time and excellence of experience from all of us - Thank you Backroads for making it possible. Our special guides were wonderful. The new friends that we made, children and adults, were awesome. I am 61 years old and have looked at Backroads brochures for 25-30 years. Our guides made this trip so enjoyable. I will praise your company to all the people I meet. My grand daughters will have the best possible memories of our time together in Yellowstone and the Tetons. Way to go Backroads! Thank you.- Troutman, NC
We had a wonderful time and came back with great memories. My wife and I have told my children that we are spending their inheritance so they might as well come along and enjoy. We are trying to do something of this nature every 2 years both to enjoy an active vacation at beautiful locations, and also to build relationships and common memories for my family.- Roseburg, OR
Hands down the best vacation we have ever had! It's already a logistical nightmare trying to please a whole family; planning, packing, etc. Backroads took so much of these worries out so I could sit back, relax and enjoy the ride. Thank You, thank you, thank you! I knew that this was going to be a great trip. I had some minor trepidation because of the price and my husband was not all that happy about it, but since I paid he couldn't complain too much. He was convinced we would not spend this again for a vacation. At the end of the trip, he's 100% turned around and is ready to go on another trip because it was truly a priceless adventure.- Tampa, FL
We had a fantastic trip. Everything was meticulously planned and executed. We didn't have to do anything other than enjoy the riding, rafting, hiking, kayaking, and beautiful scenery. Couldn't have asked for more. Even better, all four of our kids also had a wonderful time.- Needham, MA
The best part about this multisport family trip is that the children learn independence while they are with a group of family and friends that they can depend on while camping. Each member was challenged in an individual way each day and we were supported every step of the way. We had a fun time meeting new families and watching our children play with each other. We became closer as a family and that made me feel that was the best result of the trip.- The Woodlands, TX
We have been on three backroads trips and think there is no way the next trip can beat the prior trip. Somehow you do it!- Gibsonia, PA
This trip...the first with my daughter was awesome! Our leaders were the best. The food was fantastic and ordering off the menu was such a great thing. Isabella and I had so much fun and the activities were just the right level for an almost seven year old. One thing you can't know in advance is the interactions between the different folks taking the trip, but we all hit it off and the parents and kids became like one big happy family. I can't wait to take the next family trip.- Syosset, NY