Self-Guided Audio Tour Bundle: US Rockies & Plains

Self-Guided Audio Tour Bundle: US Rockies & Plains

By GuideAlong (GyPSy Guide)

Free cancellation available

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Free cancellation available
16d
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Overview

Download GuideAlong’s self-guided audio tour bundle for the US Rockies & Plains, featuring 15 tours including Yellowstone & Grand Teton, Glacier, Rocky Mountain, Mesa Verde, Theodore Roosevelt, Black Hills, scenic drives, and Yellowstone walks at Old Faithful, Grand Prismatic, and West Thumb.

Discover geysers, peaks, wildlife, history, and wide-open landscapes with GPS-triggered stories that play automatically offline, making it easy to explore by car and on foot.

Enjoy the freedom to explore offline at your own pace, spending more time at places that interest you and bypassing any that don’t.

Stories, tips, and directions play automatically based on your location
Travel at your own pace
Tour offline using GPS. No cell service or WiFi is needed
Suggested itineraries for half, full, or multi-day use
No time limits or expiry, and free updates
Like having a tour guide along for the drive

Purchase one tour per vehicle.

Activity location

Bears Tooth
- 59068, Carbon County, Montana, United States

Meeting/Redemption Point

Yellowstone National Park
- United States

Multiple meeting/redemption points available, see location information for full list

Check availability

Self-Guided Audio Tour Bundle: US Rockies & Plains in English

16d
Opening hours: Tue 6:00am-9:00pm
English

Travelers

Language options: English

Price details

$99.99 x 1 Traveler$99.99

Total

What's included, what's not

Support: Toll-free phone, chat, and email
Easy To Use: Pre-download and tour offline
One-Time Purchase: No time or date use limit or expiry
Includes an app based self-guided experience, so you do not need any in-person guide.
Trip Planners: In-app, web, and PDF
Flexible Routes: Suggested itineraries or create your own
Location-Based: Stories, tips & directions that autoplay
Audio Tour: 2060+ Audio Points
Entry Fees, National Park Passes, Reservations

Know before you book

Suitable for all physical fitness levels
How to Access: After booking you’ll receive an email and text with instructions (search “Download Audio Tour”). Click the link in the email/text to sign in with your preferred Apple or Google account and redeem your voucher code ahead of time.
Download The GuideAlong App: Download the free app over WiFi or cellular data and sign in with the same Apple or Google account.
Download The Tour: Download the tour in the GuideAlong app under 'My Tours' over WiFi or cellular data.
Start The Tour: Open the tour in the GuideAlong app to preview the start locations, tour route and trip planner, or start the tour.
Location-Based Stories: Audio commentary plays automatically as you drive using your phone’s GPS chip. Wherever you are and whichever direction you’re going, you’ll hear the best stories and tips.
Flexible Travel Date: Tours are a one-time purchase with no expiry or date/time limit. If your plans change to a different day, there’s no need to change your travel date.
Tour at Your Leisure: With GuideAlong, you control the pace. Start, stop, and resume the tour any day, anytime, adapting it to your schedule.
Driving Tours: Group Savings: One purchase covers everyone in the vehicle, making it a cost-effective way to explore.
Works Offline: No internet or cell service is required once the audio tour is downloaded to your phone, so you can relax and tour offline.
Bring A Charger: Pack a USB/C car charger for charging and easy sound connectivity, and make sure your device is fully charged.
Technical Support: The GuideAlong support team is available daily by toll-free phone, online chat, and email.
The app’s audio will play through your car’s Apple CarPlay and Android Auto display, while the app’s map will display on your phone. You can connect your phone to the car via Bluetooth to listen to the commentary through the car stereo.

Activity itinerary

Day 1: Beartooth Highway

6 stops
Meals: Not included
Accommodation: Not included

Beartooth Highway

As the audio guides play commentary based on your gps location, you can create your own itinerary along the tour route to match your interests and schedule. Or you can use our trip planners for our suggestions on half, full, or multi-day itineraries.

Bears Tooth

No surprise that this jagged, tooth-like rock has provided this amazing drive with its name, and the whole mountain range in fact. It is a translation from that same descriptive name given by the Crow People. Sitting at 11,915 feet we'll enjoy excellent views across to it as we drive between the West Summit Overlook and the top of some pretty impressive switchbacks. There isn't a good sign, so we'll be sure to let you know the best place to see the Bear's Tooth.

Clay Butte Fire Lookout Tower

The Clay Butte Lookout is home to a now disused fire tower, so you know it is going to have some of the very best expansive views. It requires driving 3 miles on an unpaved, but well-maintained spur road to access and is suitable for most regular passenger vehicles. A small visitor center operated by volunteers is found at the site in July and August.

Island Lake

This beautiful alpine lake is the location and setting off point for a host of activities including the most sought after campground on the drive. If we only stop for one lake on our drive - this should be the one. Hiking trails at the lake allow you to go as far as you feel energetic for and you'll enjoy pristine views. We recommend the Beartooth High Lakes Trail which follows the western shore of the lake. More committed backcountry folk set out from this location too. Boating and fishing are permitted on the lake and the Top of the World Resort has canoes and other gear available for rent.

Rock Creek Vista

On a drive with excellent views around every corner, the Vista Point Observation Site is notable place to stop. A short trail leads to a platform overlooking Rock Creek Valley with its U-shaped canyon carved by ice that was once a half mile thick. This is a stop not to be skipped.

Beartooth Pass

Every mountain drive has a highest point, and the Beartooth's is at the West Summit Overlook, topping out at 10,947 feet. A short, unpaved road takes just that little bit higher to make sure we squeeze out the best view possible. Even in the summer, weather and wind can be pretty fierce - but it can also be lovely and warm and still too. Just be prepared for anything!

Day 2: Big Sky Drive

6 stops
Meals: Not included
Accommodation: Not included

West Yellowstone Visitor Information Center

This center is a gateway to Yellowstone National Park, providing maps, guides, and information on local wildlife, trails, and park activities. It's an essential stop for visitors looking to explore the park's vast wilderness.

Madison River

Flowing through Yellowstone and Montana, the Madison River is renowned for its fly fishing, scenic beauty, and diverse wildlife. It’s a popular spot for anglers, floaters, and nature lovers, offering tranquil views and rich fishing opportunities.

Gallatin Range

The Gallatin Range, part of the Rocky Mountains, spans southern Montana and northern Wyoming. It’s known for its rugged peaks, scenic trails, and abundant wildlife, making it a favorite destination for outdoor enthusiasts and nature photographers.

Gallatin River

The Gallatin River is a blue-ribbon trout stream flowing through Gallatin Canyon. It’s a paradise for fly fishing, white-water rafting, and kayaking, offering thrilling rapids, serene stretches, and beautiful surroundings.

Gallatin National Forest

Covering over 2 million acres, this forest offers diverse ecosystems, including alpine meadows, dense forests, and rushing rivers. It’s a haven for hiking, camping, wildlife viewing, and winter sports, with trails leading to remote and stunning wilderness areas.

Cinnamon Mountain

A prominent peak near Big Sky, Cinnamon Mountain offers challenging hikes with rewarding panoramic views of the surrounding ranges. The trail to the summit winds through dense forests and alpine meadows, providing a taste of Montana’s rugged beauty.

Day 3: Black Canyon of the Gunnison

6 stops
Meals: Not included
Accommodation: Not included

Chasm View Trail

Chasm View and Painted Wall View are two remarkable overlooks within a national park. Chasm View offers a steep, brief trail leading to stunning views of rock climbers on the north wall of the canyon.

Pulpit Rock Overlook

Pulpit Point Overlook at Black Canyon of the Gunnison is aptly named for its distinctive rock formation that extends over the canyon rim, reminiscent of a church pulpit.

Sunset View

Sunset View is an exceptional overlook known for its breathtaking sunset vistas, making it a favorite spot for photographers.

Gunnison Point

Gunnison Point is a premier viewpoint, offering one of the closest and most striking views of the deep, narrow canyon. A short walk from the visitor center, this overlook provides a panoramic perspective of the Gunnison River as it carves through ancient rock.

Cross Fissures View

Located across from the infamous Narrows, where Kolb and Pelton met disaster, this spot offers a unique historical perspective. The area features a half-mile loop, taking about 15 minutes to complete.

Tomichi Point

Tomichi Point at Black Canyon of the Gunnison offers the first dramatic glimpse of the canyon's depth and grandeur to visitors entering the park.

Day 4: Black Hills

20 stops
Meals: Not included
Accommodation: Not included

The Black Hills

As the audio guides play commentary based on your gps location, you can create your own itinerary along the tour route(s) to match your interests and schedule. Or you can use our trip planners for our suggestions on half, full or multi day itineraries.

Mount Rushmore National Memorial

The most famous and recognizable memorial celebrating the nationhood of the USA must be the 4 presidential faces that look out from Mount Rushmore. Though you will have seen it many times depicted on TV, movies and photos, there is no equivalent to seeing it with your own eyes and feeling the scale and depth of the sculpture.

Custer State Park

Take a leisurely drive through an enormous area of natural habitat of rolling prairie hills with open grasslands and some pine forest. Though the drive is officially only 18-miles long, expect to spend at least 1 hour, but if you enjoy spotting wildlife, its easy to spend 3 or more hours watching. Also explore some of the side roads that branch off the main route.

Devils Tower National Monument

Devils Tower was always a place of intrigue and fascination since it became the nation's first National Monument. For a multitude of generations before that, and continuing to this day, Native Americans celebrate the site for its spiritual importance. The Tower was thrust into pop culture in the 1970's sci-fi classic as the geographical star of Close Encounters of the Third Kind.

Badlands National Park

Western South Dakota delivers a wide variety of spectacular landscapes ranging from the prairies grassland and rock formations of the Badlands National Park, through to the mountains, canyons and forests of the Black Hills for you to explore.

Crazy Horse Memorial

In 1948, Sioux Chief Henry Standing Bear approached a Polish sculptor about creating another larger than life sculpture on Thunderhead Mountain - this time celebrating Sioux and other Northern Plains native groups through a depiction of Crazy Horse.

Keystone

Once a mining boom town, Keystone today is the nearest community to Mount Rushmore. It is filled with hotels, restaurants, cafes and stores to find your perfect Mount Rushmore souvenir.

Rapid City

The hub of the three best scenic drives in this part of South Dakota is Rapid City and it is the ideal place to base your accommodations, and to do some exploring in this lively town.

Sylvan Lake

Located along route 87, Sylvan Lake is described as the Jewel of Custer State Park. If time allows, it's very worthwhile to allocate 45 minutes or so to enjoy the relatively easy 1.1 mile trail around the lake. The combination of grassy shores, still lake water and granite formations rising from the water are truly scenic. For more dedicated and prepared hikers, this is also the starting point for the Black Elk Peak trail, a 7 mile loop that rises 1100 feet to South Dakota's highest point.

Iron Mountain Road

The final 45 minute approach of the recommended direction to Mount Rushmore follows the amazing Iron Mountain Road. We'll encounter tunnels, pigtail bridges, superb lookouts and 314 curves. It is a scenic delight! The most magical moment of the drive is the view through the Scovel Tunnel where 4 presidential faces greet you at the other end, like a postcard.

Bridal Veil Falls

This 60 foot, narrow, wispy spray of water sits right beside the road in Spearfish Canyon. It's easy to capture that perfect photo right from the viewing platform.

Deadwood

One of the most famous wild-west towns in the entire country - Deadwood became legendary for it's gold rush boom and the multitude of characters who we recognize to this day.

Roughlock Falls State Nature Area

From the tiny ex-sawmill town of Savoy on the Spearfish Canyon Road, Roughlock Falls is an easy and popular spot to visit with an attractive waterfall easily accessed by boardwalk. Extend your visit with a 1 mile stream-side walking trail to the falls from the Spearfish Lodge.

Spearfish Canyon Scenic Byway

Spearfish Canyon is a superb 19 mile stretch of road with stunning waterfalls and 1000 foot high limestone walls. This scenic drive connects the town of Spearfish with Savoy and Cheyenne Crossing, following the Spearfish Creek all the way.

Badlands Wall

At different times during the drive through the Badlands, we will pass through the Upper and Lower Prairie. The barrier that separates these 2 levels is known as the Wall.

Door Trail

The 3/4 mile Door Trail is the most popular as you follow a boardwalk until reaching a notch in the rock - the Door. Through the Door, hikers can venture into the amazing rock formations, characteristic of the Badlands. The shorter option is known as the Window Trail, just 1/4 mile long.

Fossil Exhibit Trail

This easy 0.25 mile boardwalk is dedicated to the stories of fossils that have been found throughout the park. During its history, what is now the park has experienced perfect conditions leading to animal, plant and insect life forms to be quickly buried in silt of mud. When these events are timed just right, bones, teeth and shells especially are preserved to provide us a window to past times. Fossil finds are active to this day.

Minuteman Missile National Historic Site

For a complete change of theme in the Badlands, there is an opportunity to experience an important location from the Cold War arms race era. The Minuteman Missile Visitor Center serves as a museum and an opportunity to visit now decommissioned nuclear missile silos and control centers.

Yellow Mounds Overlook

One of the best vistas in Badlands National Park, the view from this overlook reveals classic buttes and erosion. The unique coloring in bands across these mounds, ranges from yellow and beige through to pink. The formation originated as black, ocean mud which has weathered through exposure to air into this highly photographic yellow display.

Wind Cave National Park

These 2 cave systems are incredible and if you have time in your itinerary, should not be missed. Both locations require driving on side trips off the Black Hills Loop tour route. If you follow the loop, the commentary will include descriptions of where to turn off for these these places, and details of how to visit. Simply return to the tour route when you are done.

Day 5: Colorado National Monument

5 stops
Meals: Not included
Accommodation: Not included

Book Cliffs View

Book Cliffs View offers a striking panorama of the layered cliffs named for their resemblance to a bookshelf. The base is grayish Mancos shale, topped by tan sandstone, creating a natural pattern of shelves formed over millennia by water erosion.

Independence Monument

Independence Monument is a towering monolith rising over 450 feet, named by John Otto for its patriotic symbolism. He carved footholds and handholds to climb it and raised the American flag on July 4, 1911 a tradition still honored today.

Coke Ovens Overlook

The Coke Ovens Overlook showcases distinctive beehive-shaped sandstone formations, named for 19th-century brick ovens used to heat coal into coke. The softer Wingate and Chinle sandstone beneath harder Kayenta sandstone created the sculpted shapes visible today.

Saddlehorn Comfort Station

The Saddlehorn Comfort Station, built in 1937 by the Civilian Conservation Corps, is a historic example of rustic park architecture. It provided early visitors with restrooms and reflects the careful integration of man-made structures into natural landscapes.

Window Rock

Window Rock is a natural arch that draws visitors for its striking geological formation and easy access. The sandstone formation frames scenic views of Wedding Canyon and Monument Canyon.

Day 6: Glacier National Park

10 stops
Meals: Not included
Accommodation: Not included

Glacier National Park

As the audio guides play commentary based on your gps location, you can create your own itinerary along the tour route to match your interests and schedule.

Lake McDonald Lodge

In keeping with many of great lodges built under the direction of the National Park Service, the historic Lake McDonald Lodge has a European Swiss chalet style, crossed with a rustic hunting lodge - though that seems a contradiction with Park values today. Advanced reservations (through NPS) are highlighly recommended if you want to stay overnight, but day visitors are welcome in the restaurants, gift stores and general store. The lobby houses taxidermy collections of mountain animals on its walls. Activities, horseback rides and lake cruises all depart from the lodge.

Haystack Creek Culvert

Pretty waterfalls that flow directly beside the road. Though you won't see it as you drive over, there is a small arch that allows the water to pass directly under the road.

Apgar Visitor Center

Located at the lower end of Lake McDonald and roughly 2 miles from the West Glacier Entrance, Apgar offers a visitor center, some gift and camping stores, dining, lodging and boat rentals. The Apgar Campground is the largest campground in Glacier National Park and almost always full.

Logan Pass

Logan Pass, the summit of the drive and the highest point we will reach as we cross the mountain pass and home to the Logan Pass Visitor Center. There is a selection of short or long hikes from here that will give you that incredible high alpine environment experience. Also a great place for spotting wildlife.

Lunch Creek

Just a few minutes drive to the east of the Logan Pass Visitor Center, Lunch Creek has been a favourite rest stop for many Going to the Sun Road visitors. If exploring, please stick to to the paved areas and designated trails to help prevent further erosion to this over-loved area.

Weeping Wall

If you are touring early in the season, you might get a free car wash at the Weeping Wall, as the snow melt showers over the road and your vehicle. By fall, you might be wondering what all the fuss was about.

Siyeh Pass

Another section along the route, where the road bends its ways through a gulch carved into the mountainside by a constantly fast flowing creek. Siyeh translates to "mad dog" or "crazy wolf" but no need to fear any rabid beasts here. The pullout provides a place to park off the road and enjoy more great views of the surrounding mountains. The trailhead for some serious hikes into the mountains leave from here.

Wild Goose Island Lookout

A punctuation within Saint Mary Lake, tiny Wild Goose Island sits only 10ft above the water, but seems only to add to the beauty at one of the most photographed locations on the Going to the Sun Road.

Route 3

Many Glacier is like a Park within the Park. Just 12 miles off Highway 89 from the town of Babb, Many offers a suberb and stunning collection of views and activities. Hiking options vary from rewarding uphill efforts to Grinnell Glacier, or gentler loop walks around alpine lakes. Lake cruising has been a tradition for Many for decades. Use the cruisers for the pure sightseeing enjoyment or to shorten some of the longer hikes. It's a great wildlife spotting area too! Food services are available as is lodging - but reserve early. Remember that reservations are required to enter Many in peak season.

Day 7: Mesa Verde National Park

9 stops
Meals: Not included
Accommodation: Not included

Mesa Verde National Park

Balcony House

Located on the Cliff Palace Loop, Balcony House is one of the more adventurous of the cliff house tours as it requires climbing multiple ladders and even squeezing through tight passageways. The best non-tour view of Balcony House is from the Soda Creek Overlook Trail, also located on the Cliff Palace Loop Road. To see inside Balcony House, you must have a ticket for the Ranger-guided tour.

Chapin Mesa Archeological Museum

This museum has a superb collection of items and exhibitions and provides an excellent opportunity to experience more of the culture, beyond just seeing the ruins.

Cliff Palace

Perhaps the most famous of all the cliff dwellings in Mesa Verde, Cliff Palace was first re-found by rancher Richard Wetherill, though he'd received tips of its existence from a local Ute member. It is the largest cliff dwelling in North America with 151 rooms and 23 kivas. Getting into Cliff Palace requires a pre-purchased ticket and the tour is considered Ranger-assisted. Your timed visit is supervised by a ranger who provides information, but you are somewhat allowed to self-explore.

Montezuma Valley Overlook Trail

Mesa Verde is most famous for its cliff dwellings and rich archeological sites, but its elevated mesa-top setting also means we get to enjoy some fantastic views in every direction. Though its naming is factually incorrect, the Montezuma Valley Overlook reveals a landscape where we can see as far as 100 miles away. This view is also significant because it shares the locations of other significant pueblo sites in the valley below.

Park Point Overlook Trail

There are many worthwhile scenic views throughout Mesa Verde, but this one must rank as the best. A full 360 degrees of viewing can be enjoyed from this highest, easily-accessible point in the park. On a clear day you should be able to see into each of the Four Corners states, as well as numerous mountain ranges and specific geological features such as Shiprock.

Spruce Tree House

Spruce Tree House is located at the same access area as the museum and other park services. Though it is not as large as Cliff Palace, this dwelling is considered the best preserved. It is easily appreciated and photographed from the viewpoint behind the museum. Unfortunately due to some rock falls and destabilization, it is not possible to visit inside the Spruce Tree House for an indefinite time moving forward. There are also 2 popular but somewhat strenuous hiking trails that leave from this location; Petroglyph Point Trail - which as the name suggests, leads to a petroglyph panel, and the Spruce Canyon Trail. Expect each of these hikes to take approx 2 hours.

Step House

Step House is the best opportunity in Mesa Verde to be able to get up-close and personal with a cliff dwelling, but does not require a that you join a ranger-led tour, and that you do not need tickets to see. Step House is located at the end point of the excellent drive along Wetherill Mesa Road. The bonus of visiting Step House is the many outstanding views along the 20 minute each way drive.

Sun Temple

Sun Temple was one of the last mesa-top pueblos built at Mesa Verde. The distinction is that it is built on the land, and not in a cliff alcove - almost like a regular building!

Day 8: Million Dollar Highway

5 stops
Meals: Not included
Accommodation: Not included

Crystal Lake

Crystal Lake offers a stunning mirror-like reflection of the San Juan Mountains and is the perfect place to pause, relax, and enjoy the view. Its serene waters attract wildlife, making it a great spot for nature watching.

Bear Creek Falls

Bear Creek Falls is one of the most iconic sights along the Million Dollar Highway, plunging 200 feet into the canyon below. A small pull-off on the left offers a perfect viewpoint to admire the dramatic cascade.

Molas Lake Loop Trail

Molas Lake is a breathtaking alpine lake surrounded by the towering San Juan Mountains and the vast Weminuche Wilderness. It’s a favorite spot for birdwatchers, offering sightings of jays, woodpeckers, and waterfowl.

Pinkerton Hot Springs

Once a popular resort built by James Pinkerton in the 1800s, Pinkerton Hot Springs is now a historic spot to admire nature’s beauty. Known for its claimed healing properties, the springs were once frequented by those seeking cures for various ailments. Though the resort is no longer standing, the springs remain as a scenic stop along the highway.

Baker's Bridge Veterinary Clinic

Baker’s Bridge offers stunning views of the Animas River and a dash of Hollywood history—it’s where Paul Newman and Robert Redford famously leaped in Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid.

Day 9: Pikes Peak Highway

4 stops
Meals: Not included
Accommodation: Not included

Pikes Peak Summit House

Pikes Peak Summit is the crown jewel of one of America’s most iconic mountains, soaring to 14,115 feet above sea level. From the top, visitors are rewarded with panoramic views stretching across Colorado’s plains, peaks, and even into neighboring states on a clear day.

Barr Trail

Barr Trail is a legendary hiking path that winds its way up the slopes of Pikes Peak, offering sweeping views and a true test of endurance. Beginning in the town of Manitou Springs, this 13- mile trail climbs over 7,000 feet through changing landscapes fromdense forests to alpine tundra.

Crystal Creek Reservoir

Crystal Creek Reservoir is a serene alpine lake nestled along the Pikes Peak Highway, offering a peaceful escape with stunning mountain views. Framed by tall pines and the towering presence of Pikes Peak itself, the reservoir is a favorite spot for fishing, picnicking, and photography.

Scenic Overlook

Cascade Observation Site offers a breathtaking overlook where forested valleys and distant mountain ranges stretch as far as the eye can see. Named after the nearby town of Cascade, this scenic stop invites travelers to pause and take in the dramatic elevation change as they climb higher into the Rockies. On clear days, the sweeping views highlight Colorado’s rugged terrain and natural beauty.

Day 10: Rocky Mountain National Park

11 stops
Meals: Not included
Accommodation: Not included

Rocky Mountain National Park

Trail Ridge Road

Most definitely the star of Rocky Mountain National Park, Trail Ridge Road is a scenic drive like no other in the country. Starting from either Estes Park or Grand Lake, the road climbs to heights above the treeline, topping at over 12,000 feet. There are many scenic overlooks along the way and the views to some of Colorado's most spectacular mountains is simply superb from this elevated vantage point. Not to be missed on any visit to Rocky Mountain National Park, driving the Trail Ridge Road is a must-do.

Estes Park

Charming mountain town that has managed to keep a small town feel, despite being the gateway for the popular Rocky Mountain National Park. You can still rub elbows with famous mountain explorers, or just enjoy the galleries, eating fudge or shopping for fresh fruit and vegetables at the summertime Farmers Market.

Bear Lake

The Bear Lake area is the starting point for many of the most popular and scenic hikes in the Park. It's a leisurely stroll to go around the lake and catch fantastic mountain peaks views in all directions. Keep watch for wildlife as you drive towards Bear Lake, especially elk, who love this area.

Many Parks Curve Overlook

The Many Parks Curve Overlook is one of the best turnouts in Rocky Mountain National Park. From the hairpin turn, pull into the carpark. The curved boardwalk has memorable views to various mountains including Longs Peak, at over 14,000 feet. The terrain we peer into from the view is the result of glaciers bulldozing their way through.

Tundra Communities Trail

You're high above the treeline in the alpine tundra here. Hike roughly 1 mile from the Tundra Communities Trailhead and you'll reach some really unique rock formations - the Mushroom Rocks. At 12,000+ feet you may feel you need to stop and take short rests to catch your breath. Some wildlife thrive in these conditions and you may see marmots basking on flat rocks and hear pikas squeaking warning calls.

Old Fall River Road

Before Trail Ridge Road was constructed, the original road that was built to allow visitors to drive into the high alpine was what we know as the Old Fall River Road. The road is unpaved, but very well maintained, and over 11 miles, climbs its way to the Alpine Visitor Centre at over 11,500 feet. It's a slow and memorable drive that is driven as a one-way journey - uphill!

Sprague Lake

Located along the Bear Lake Road, Sprague Lake offers an easy mostly flat, but busy, 0.8 mile loop trail. There are some boardwalks and bridges along the way. The setting is idyllic for this lake that was created by a pioneer who thought his guests might like to fish. Fingers crossed, you might see moose in the late afternoons.

Chrysalis At the Stanley Hotel

Famous for its inspiration as the Overlook Hotel in author Stephen King's horror novel "The Shining". Motoring buffs will have other interests to enter the hotel, there is a Stanley Steamer (steam powered car) on display. The hotel was constructed by wealthy industrialist and also conservationist, FO Stanley, who wanted the fledgling town to have a 1st-class hotel, to attract early wealthy travelers.

Holzwarth Historical Site

Some people had to be tough in the old days. Imagine leaving home at age 14 for another country. Seeing your chosen profession in a brewery shutdown when prohibition came into law. Moving your wife and 5 young children to start anew in the Kawuneeche Valley, and eventually building and running a dude ranch with fishing, horseback riding and rodeos. The Holzwarth family were immigrants from Germany and hardy pioneers. Find out more at the historic site and from on-site staff.

Alpine Visitor Center

Nowhere else can you drive on paved roads to an elevation of 12,000 feet! The mountain top scenery is stunning of course, and the picture windows inside the Alpine Visitor Center provide an amazing oasis if the wind is blowing, or the temperature is dropping. Catch your breath and hike the 0.7 mile Alpine Ridge Trail, also known as Huffers Hill, that rises another 147 feet and provides 360 degree views.

Day 11: Theodore Roosevelt National Park

6 stops
Meals: Not included
Accommodation: Not included

Maltese Cross Cabin

The Maltese Cross Cabin was once the residence of Teddy Roosevelt, the 26th President of the United States, during his days as a cattle rancher in the 1880s.

Skyline Vista

Skyline Vista in Theodore Roosevelt National Park provides breathtaking panoramic views of the Badlands' rugged terrain, with its rolling hills, deep ravines, and unique rock formations.

Boicourt Overlook Trail

Experience the Boicourt Overlook, Teddy Roosevelt's cherished spot, offering an enchanting vista of the landscape. Keep an eye out for bison roaming the verdant grazing grounds below, enhancing the spectacle.

Wind Canyon Trail

Wind Canyon Trail is renowned for its exceptional views of the Little Missouri River. This easy half-mile trek can be completed in about 15 to 20 minutes, offering a quick yet rewarding escape into nature.

River Bend Overlook

River Bend Overlook is the North Unit's most breathtaking and essential viewpoint. From a historic stone shelter, masterfully built by the Civilian Conservation Corps, it offers a stunning panoramic vista of the Little Missouri River.

Oxbow Overlook

Oxbow Overlook is the breathtaking finale of Theodore Roosevelt National Park’s North Unit scenic drive. Perched high above a sweeping bend of the Little Missouri River, this viewpoint offers one of the most dramatic panoramas in the park.

Day 12: Yellowstone National Park

11 stops
Meals: Not included
Accommodation: Not included

Artists Paintpots

Artists Paintpots in Yellowstone National Park is a colorful geothermal area with bubbling mud pots, hot springs, and geysers. Explore it via an easy boardwalk trail. Don't miss this short but fascinating stop!

Fountain Paint Pot

Yellowstone's Fountain Paint Pot is a colorful mud pot named for its red, yellow, and brown hues. Explore it and nearby geysers like Fountain Geyser (known for frequent eruptions) on a short, easy boardwalk trail. Stay on the boardwalk - the ground is hot!

Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone

Yellowstone's Grand Canyon is a dramatic gorge carved by the Yellowstone River. At 24 miles long and reaching depths of 1,200 feet, it's a must-see. Colorful volcanic rock layers paint the cliffs, contrasting with the cascading river. Hike the rim trails or overlooks for stunning views.

Mammoth Hot Springs

Mammoth Hot Springs is a truly unique geological wonder in Yellowstone National Park. It's famous for its otherworldly-looking terraces, which have been carved by hot springs over thousands of years.

Grand Prismatic Spring

Grand Prismatic Spring, in Midway Geyser Basin, is Yellowstone's crown jewel. This giant hot spring (bigger than a football field!) is famous for its rainbow rings caused by colorful thermophilic bacteria. Explore it and other geothermal wonders like Excelsior Geyser on a boardwalk. Be sure to arrive early for parking and consider the upper overlook for a breathtaking view.

Mud Volcano

Yellowstone's Mud Volcano area is a wild geothermal spectacle. Forget lava flows - here, churning mud, boiling water, and steam paint a bizarre landscape. Bubbling mud pots, colorful springs, and fumaroles venting gas make it otherworldly. Explore it easily via a 0.6-mile boardwalk loop. Just remember, stay on the trail - it's hot!

Norris Geyser Basin

Norris Geyser Basin is Yellowstone's hottest spot, boasting vibrant colors, geysers, and hot springs. Explore its wonders on various boardwalks.

Old Faithful

See Old Faithful erupt! This iconic geyser in Yellowstone's Upper Geyser Basin is famous for its reliable eruptions, every 65-95 minutes.

Roaring Mountain

Roaring Mountain: Hear the hiss of steam! This mountainside is covered in fumaroles (steam vents) that once roared for miles. Still active, it's a quick stop with a fascinating past.

Tower Fall

Tower Fall, a 132-foot beauty in Yellowstone's northeast, stuns with its cascading waters and rocky pinnacles. Enjoy it from an easily accessible overlook!

West Thumb Geyser Basin

West Thumb Geyser Basin: Scenic lakeside geothermal features on Yellowstone Lake. Tranquility with colorful springs & mud pots (boardwalk trails). Less crowded than other basins.

Day 13: Grand Teton National Park

9 stops
Meals: Not included
Accommodation: Not included

Chapel of the Transfiguration

The Chapel of the Transfiguration, a charming log chapel in Grand Teton National Park near Moose, Wyoming, offers stunning Teton views. Built in 1925, it's a popular spot for weddings and summer services (Sundays, May-Sept). Open for self-guided tours when services aren't held.

Grand Teton Lodge Company Scenic Rafting

Jackson Lake Lodge is a historic hotel with stunning Teton views in Grand Teton National Park. It offers rooms, cabins, dining, shops, and an outdoor pool. Perfect for a scenic Grand Teton getaway.

Jenny Lake

Jenny Lake, a jewel of Grand Teton National Park, reflects the Teton Range's beauty. Enjoy boating, hiking, fishing, and stunning scenery. Explore the lake or hike for deeper immersion in the park's mountains.

J.P. Cunningham Cabin

J.P. Cunningham Cabin: A historic homestead (1888) in Grand Teton NP. Short walk, panoramic Teton views.

Menors Ferry Road

Menor's Ferry in Grand Teton National Park is a fascinating glimpse into Jackson Hole's past. Step back in time and explore a replica of the ferry that William D. Menor used to transport people and goods across the Snake River in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Moose Wilson Road

Moose Wilson Road is a scenic 15-mile route in Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming. It's a wildlife hotspot for moose, elk, and deer, with access to hiking trails. Be aware of the narrow road, wildlife, and limited pullouts. Enjoy the views, but drive slow and watch for animals!

Mormon Row Historic District

Mormon Row (Grand Teton NP, near Moose) is a must-see for photographers. Historic barns stand with the Tetons as a backdrop. Free & open year-round (limited access in winter).

Signal Mountain Summit Road

Signal Mountain is an isolated peak located in Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming. Standing at 7,720 feet above sea level, it offers sweeping views of the Teton Range, Jackson Hole, and the Snake River.

Snake River Overlook

Snake River Overlook is a must-see in Grand Teton National Park for its iconic view of the winding Snake River framed by the majestic Tetons. Made famous by Ansel Adams' photograph, it offers stunning year-round scenery (though winter views may be snowy).

Day 14: Yellowstone's Grand Prismatic’s Fairy Falls Trail

3 stops
Meals: Not included
Accommodation: Not included

Grand Prismatic Spring

The Grand Prismatic Spring Overlook offers a stunning view of Yellowstone's largest hot spring. From this vantage point, visitors can appreciate the spring's massive size and vivid coloration, which ranges from deep blues to vibrant oranges, created by microbial mats around its edges.

Fairy Falls

Fairy Falls, one of Yellowstone’s tallest waterfalls, descends 220 feet from Fairy Creek, originating in the Firehole River. Discovered during the 1871 Hayden Expedition, it was named by J.W. Barlowe for its graceful descent.

Firehole River

The Firehole River, named for its misty, smoke-like steam, flows through Yellowstone National Park, serving as a vital link between several geyser basins.

Day 15: Yellowstone's Old Faithful Geyser Basin Walk

5 stops
Meals: Not included
Accommodation: Not included

Heart Spring

Heart Spring, dubbed for its heart-shaped appearance by Park Geologist George Marler, boasts icy-blue waters averaging 184 degrees Fahrenheit. The vibrant yellow-orange hues surrounding the pool are colonies of microorganisms, not mineral deposits.

Beehive Geyser

The unassuming Beehive geyser resembles a large beehive until it unleashes boiling water, shooting it 100 feet into the air. It erupts for 5 minutes every 10 to 20 hours, often signaled by its companion, the "Beehive’s Indicator," which releases a stream of water shortly before.

Grand Geyser

Grand Geyser, the most powerful predictable geyser globally, showcases awe-inspiring eruptions reaching up to 200 feet high. Unlike cone geysers, Grand is a fountain-type, characterised by a pool rather than a cone structure.

Chromatic Pool

Chromatic Pool, though smaller at 30 feet in diameter, boasts vivid colours, with temperatures around 133.1 degrees Fahrenheit. The center displays brilliant blue-green hues, indicating the hottest water, while outer regions showcase a spectrum of colours.

Giant Geyser

Giant Geyser stands tall with its towering cone, resembling the Coliseum in Rome, crafted from geyserite or sinter, reaching approximately 12 feet in height.

Day 16: Yellowstone's West Thumb Geyser Basin Walk

4 stops
Meals: Not included
Accommodation: Not included

Fishing Cone

Fishing Cone, a geothermal feature in Yellowstone National Park, is steeped in history. In the late 1800s, it served as a natural "hot pot" where visitors would cook trout directly in its boiling waters—a novel yet perilous method, leading to several fatalities.

Blue Funnel Spring

Blue Funnel Spring, previously measuring 18 feet across and maintaining temperatures between 172 and 182 degrees Fahrenheit, has witnessed cooling and depletion in the last thirty years, redirecting its water to the nearby Abyss Pool.

Abyss Pool

Behold Abyss Pool, enticing you to stroll over to the observation deck for an up-close encounter! Plummeting 53 feet into the earth, it reigns as one of Yellowstone's deepest hot springs—a title it wears with flair, naturally.

West Thumb Geyser Basin

Thumb Geyser, renowned for its vivid colors, owes its brilliance to thriving bacteria flourishing in the warm waters of the West Thumb Geyser Basin. In the mid-1970s, reduced geyser activity puzzled scientists, attributing the decline to various factors like slow underground pool refilling or changes in rock composition.

Location

Activity location

Bears Tooth
- 59068, Carbon County, Montana, United States

Meeting/Redemption Point

Yellowstone National Park
- United States
Colorado National Monument
- 81507, Grand Junction, Colorado, United States
Theodore Roosevelt National Park
- North Dakota, North Dakota, United States
Big Sky
- Big Sky, Montana, United States
Glacier National Park
- Montana, Montana, United States
Million Dollar Highway
- Million Dollar Highway
- Ouray, Colorado, United States
Grand Teton National Park
- Teton County, Wyoming, United States
Black Hills
- United States
Beartooth Highway
- Beartooth Highway
- Red Lodge, Montana, United States
West Thumb Geyser Basin
- 82190, Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, United States
Mesa Verde National Park
- 81330, Mesa Verde National Park, Colorado, United States
Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park
- Montrose County, Colorado, United States
Rocky Mountain National Park
- Colorado, Colorado, United States
Grand Prismatic Spring
- 82190, Teton County, Wyoming, United States
Old Faithful
- 82190, Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, United States
Pikes Peak Highway
- Pikes Peak Highway
- Colorado, Colorado, United States

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