Itinerary

 *Drive time to destinations

Sat, June 29        Leave Cushing, 7:30 AM.
                                Picnic lunch after we cross into NE.
*(10 hours 47 minutes) Drive to Alliance, Nebraska, Alliance Hotel and Suites( Switch to Mountain Time)                               
Dinner ??? Pizza may be the best option and Carhenge
Sun, June 30       (2 hours, 5 minutes) Drive to Wind Cave
Natural Entrance Tours 9:20, 10:00, 11:00, 12:00, 1:00                                               
Picnic area near Visitor Center
Fairgrounds Tour 9:40, 10:20, 11:40, 12:40, 1:40, 2:20  (Leave by 3-4)                
                                (30 minutes) Custer, SD, Shady Rest Motel
Eat dinner in Custer with Betty’s friend Camille
(30 minutes) Mt. Rushmore Evening program (9:00PM Check time)         (Dinner is also available at Carvers Café at Rushmore until 9:00PM)
                                (30 minutes) Back to Custer, SD and Shady Rest
Mon, July 1         (5 minutes) Crazy Horse Memorial (opens 8:00AM)                                         
(30 minutes)Mt. Rushmore                                                                                                    
                                (2 hours, 34 minutes)Mill Inn, Sheridan, WY
Tues, July 2         (1 hour 3 min) Little Big Horn National Monument                                            $10 per car
                                (3 hours 26 min) Gardiner, MT Shop for groceries for Yellowstone Institute course
                                Check into the Yellowstone Overlook Field Campus between 4 and 6.
7 p.m. Introduction to Lamar Buffalo Ranch and course specifics
Lecture I: Northern Range Wildlife—Who’s Here and Why?
Wed, July 3         7 a.m. Morning wildlife watching
Field based lecture/hike: importance of cutthroat trout in Yellowstone
12 p.m. Lunch in the field
1 p.m. Lecture II: Mammals of Yellowstone—Both Large and Small
3 p.m. Field based lecture: animal tracks and signs
5-5:30 p.m. Return to Gardiner
6:30 p.m. Optional evening wildlife watching
Thurs, July 4       (Mr. Hancock’s Birthday)
Bring breakfast and lunch
6 a.m. Early morning wildlife watching—sunrise is the best time
9 a.m. Lecture III: Birds of Yellowstone
Wildlife watching Mount Washburn area: raptors, large mammals, insect infestations and the importance of white bark pine—pack a lunch
3 p.m. Lecture IV: Reptiles and Amphibians of Yellowstone
4 p.m. Return to Gardiner
6-8 p.m. Optional evening wildlife watching around the Mammoth area
Fri, July 5              6 a.m. Early morning wildlife watching—pack a lunch and snacks
Late morning field trip/hike(s) to northwest corner of the park looking for pika, raptors, bighorn sheep, reptiles, and amphibians
Field based lecture: management of controversial and/or threatened species
2 p.m. Return to Gardiner, wrap up discussion and overview
4 p.m. Say our farewells and leave with great memories!
Early or later dinner at Canyon Lodge if we want to see the falls 1st
Hike to the brink of the falls at the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone (park on the north side of the river)
Hike to Inspiration Point (park on the south side of the river)
Reservations at Grant Lodge on the West Thumb of Yellowstone for the next three nights.
Sat, July 6            Thermal Features Geyser Basins
                                (17 miles)Grant to Old Faithful Visitor Center
                                Visitor’s Center and Old Faithful, Lobby of Old Faithful Inn
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Check everything below for updated 2013 information
Sun, July 7           Free day … really!!
West Thumb Hike Options:
9:30 AM Scenic Lake Overlook • (June 17 to Sep 3) Ascend through meadows, forests and past thermal features to reach a picturesque view of Yellowstone Lake surrounded by the Absaroka Mountains. Meet at the Lake Overlook Trailhead in West Thumb Geyser Basin parking lot. Moderate 2-miles. 2 hours
Or
10:30 AM Hot Water Wilderness • (June 3 to Sep 3) Take a stroll along the beautiful shores of Yellowstone Lake while exploring the origins of glittering geysers, belching mud pots, and emerald hot springs in West Thumb’s dynamic geyser basin. Meet at the West Thumb Information Station. Roundtrip distance is ¾ mile. Easy.  Accessible with assistance 1-½ hours
Dinner at ???
Mon, July 8         (1 hour) Colter Bay Visitor Center
                                On our own in the Colter Bay area (lots of trail, lots of options)
Or
Swan Lake Hike- Hike through forest and wetland communities and learn about the plants and animals living in the park. Offered daily at 1 p.m., lasts 3 hours, distance 3 miles, difficulty easy.
Our Changing Park - Join a ranger for a vista of the Teton Range and learn how contemporary issues such as climate change are affecting the view. Offered at 4 p.m for 20 minutes on Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, Friday.
Dinner at the Ranch House or drive over to Jackson Lake Lodge
Colter Bay Village Cabins 3 nights
 Tues, July 9        (28 miles/37 minutes) Craig Thomas Discovery & Visitor Center
Explore the Preserve Hike - Open your senses and immerse yourself in the pristine setting of the Preserve. Join a ranger at 9:30 am for a three mile hike lasting 2.5 hours along the Lake Creek Trail through forest and meadows to the shore of Phelps Lake offering dramatic views of the Teton Range. Reservations recommended (307) 739-3654. Group size 10.
Or
Map Chat - Join a ranger around the raised-relief map in the Craig Thomas Discovery & Visitor Center in Moose hear about the stories behind the scenery. Learn about the wildlife that calls this place home and the forces that shaped this landscape during a 30 minute presentation at 11 a.m. Topics vary. Offered daily.
Wed, July 10       (11.5mi/17 minutes)Jenny Lake Visitor Center
Explore Jenny Lake - Explore Grand Teton National Park by joining a ranger on a hike around the south end of Jenny Lake. Meet the ranger at the flagpole in front of the Jenny Lake Visitor Center at 9:30 am 6.5 miles round-trip. Easy to moderate. Access: Trail head at East Shore Boat Dock.
Or
Jenny Lake Loop Trail-This trail circumnavigates the lake, following the shore. You can cut it in half by taking the Jenny Lake Boat Shuttle from the East Shore Boat Dock to the West Shore Boat Dock. The unblemished lake, which is 2.5 miles long, is in an idyllic setting at the foot of the mountain range, so it presents excellent views throughout the summer. Keep in mind that Jenny Lake is one of the most popular spots in the park; to avoid the crowds, travel early or late in the day. The trails to Hidden Falls, Inspiration Point, and the Moose Ponds branch off of this trail on the southwest shore of the lake. The trails to String and Leigh lakes branch off of this trail on the northern shore of Jenny Lake. 6.5 miles round-trip. Easy to moderate. Access: Trail head at East Shore Boat Dock.
Read more: http://www.frommers.com/destinations/grandtetonnationalpark/2120026143.html#ixzz2QSCjFhIB
Thur, July 11       (7 hours 31 minutes) Ft. Collins, CO (Make reservations)
Fri, July 12           (10 hours) Drive home

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