🌲 The Real Yellowstone Discovery Expedition: A Summer Hiking Experience for Women (July 12-17, 2026)

NOTE: 🌿 This mid-summer session explores beyond the main overlooks—moderate to high daily hiking levels (6–8 miles on average, with a few shorter or a few longer days) let us reach calmer spaces, hidden trails, and wildlife moments away from the crowds. Expect a mix of boardwalks, uneven trails, stairs, and a few steeper hills at elevation. You don’t need to be fast, just steady and comfortable being on your feet for a good portion of the day, with plenty of breaks built in.

Experience Yellowstone in its vibrant mid-summer season—when days are long, meadows are green, wildflowers linger at higher elevations, and evening light stretches over the valleys. This 6-day, women-only retreat invites you to discover “the real Yellowstone” through story, scenery, and sisterhood.

We’ll travel from Bozeman through Paradise Valley to our cozy base near Gardiner, exploring thermal terraces, geyser basins, sweeping canyons, and wildlife-rich valleys. A full-day adventure to Cody layers in Western history and art, with time at the Buffalo Bill Center of the West and a classic Main Street dinner.

Each day blends guided experiences with movement and space to breathe: picnic lunches, purposeful walks and moderate hikes, quiet overlooks, a rejuvenating soak at Yellowstone Hot Springs, and evenings gathered over hearty meals and dessert boards. Some days focus on shorter walks and scenic drives; others invite you into 6–8 miles of easy-to-moderate hiking spread across the day, always with time for rest, photos, and simply being in the landscape. You’ll be invited to slow down, listen to the land, and share the journey with a small circle of women who are here for more than just a checklist of sights.

☀️ Seasonal Flexibility – Mid-Summer in Yellowstone

July in Yellowstone brings long daylight hours and generally warmer, drier conditions—but it’s still a wild, high-elevation landscape. Afternoon thunderstorms, wildlife activity, and ongoing roadwork can all influence what’s possible on a given day. We may adjust the order of days, swap specific stops, or shorten/lengthen hikes to keep things safe, comfortable, and aligned with the spirit of the trip.

No matter the weather or trail conditions, our priority is the same: meaningful, memory-filled days with a thoughtful balance of views, stories, movement, and rest.

Unless otherwise noted, all meals, national park entrance fees, guided experiences, and local transportation are included. Alcohol and market-price add-ons are not included.

LIMITED SPOTS AVAILABLE. This retreat is designed for women seeking connection, awe, and the ease of being guided through Yellowstone—together.

🗓️ Booking, Grace Period & Cancellation Terms

💳 Payment Plan – Yellowstone Discovery Expedition (July 2026)

To reserve your spot, a 20% deposit is due at booking. This deposit secures your place on this small-group expedition.

• 20% deposit due at booking (non-refundable after grace period)

• The remaining balance will be split into equal monthly payments, due on the 12th of each month, with final payment due by June 12, 2026.

If your final payment is not received within 48 hours of the due date, your space may be released and offered to another guest.

PLEASE NOTE: If you book within 30 days of the expedition, payment terms will change. The payment plan found on the WeTravel website (the booking site for this expedition) supersedes all other payment plans.

Some trip components (such as lodging, park permits, or group reservations) may become non-refundable after booking unless your spot can be resold. Full payment terms will be included in your invoice and guest agreement.

🕊️ Grace Period

Guests may cancel within 7 calendar days of booking for a full refund, including the deposit—if the waiver and guest agreement have not yet been signed. If booking within 30 days of the expedition, the grace period is waived, and the cancellation policy will be in effect.

Once the waiver is signed or the 7-day window has passed (whichever comes first), the deposit becomes non-refundable, and the cancellation policy below applies.

❗Cancellation Policy

• The 20% deposit is non-refundable after the grace period.

• Cancellations more than 14 days prior to the expedition start date may be eligible for a partial refund of additional payments, depending on what costs can be recovered or resold.

• Cancellations within 14 days of departure are non-refundable, unless your spot is filled by another guest.

Expedition Sisterhood will always make a good-faith effort to resell unused spots and issue partial refunds when possible.

Full cancellation terms will be outlined in your guest waiver and booking agreement, sent within 7 days of registration.

Bringing a group of 3 or more women? You’ll receive 10% off your total booking. Email Christine at christine@expeditionsisterhood.com before booking to receive your custom discount code.

Arrive in Bozeman (BZN) and ease into the rhythm of the trip as we gather and meet up for a relaxed late lunch in historic Livingston at The Murray Bar & Grill, your first taste of small-town Montana charm. From there, we’ll follow the Yellowstone River through Paradise Valley, watching the mountains rise around us as we make our way toward our private lodge between Emigrant and Gardiner.

Once we arrive, we’ll settle into our cozy home base, unpack, breathe, and then head into Yellowstone National Park for an initial evening drive to get a feel for the landscape and light. We’ll return “home” for a welcoming dinner at the lodge, with intentional introductions, orientation, and a shared dessert board that sets the tone for connection and conversation for the days ahead.

Planned Hiking & Walking (approx.):

• Gentle walking only today (lodging, roadside overlooks, in-town strolls): ~1–2 miles total

• Surfaces: mostly paved or well-packed paths

• Focus: arrival, settling in, and letting your body land at elevation

After a self-serve breakfast at the lodge, we’ll head into the wide-open landscapes of Yellowstone’s Northern Range, traveling through Lamar Valley with time to stop for wildlife sightings and sweeping views. A short walk along the Wraith Falls Trail leads us to a gentle cascade in a quiet meadow, and a simple Lamar River wander lets us feel the breeze and the scale of the valley away from the road.

We’ll continue over the dramatic Chief Joseph Scenic Byway, pausing at Sunlight Creek Bridge and Dead Indian Pass Overlook before rolling into Cody, Wyoming to explore the Buffalo Bill Center of the West and enjoy a hearty Western dinner at Proud Cut Saloon. As evening settles in, we’ll travel back toward Yellowstone via Sylvan Pass and along Yellowstone Lake, where, if conditions allow, we’ll close the day with the Storm Point Loop, a peaceful shoreline walk framed by lake views and marmot chatter before returning to the lodge.

Day 2 – Planned Hiking (time, conditions & group energy permitting):

• Wraith Falls Trail – easy meadow-and-forest walk: ~0.9–1.0 miles round trip

• Lamar River Walk – gentle wander toward the river: up to ~1.0 mile round trip

• Storm Point Loop (Yellowstone Lake) – mostly level loop to lakeshore: ~2.3 miles round trip

• Estimated total if all segments are completed: ~4–4.5 miles

We’ll begin with a slow breakfast at the lodge before heading to Yellowstone Hot Springs for a 9:00 AM soak — warm mineral pools surrounded by big sky and mountain ridges, giving your body a reset before our longer day on the move. From there, we’ll travel into the park to explore Norris Geyser Basin, walking the Porcelain Basin Loop and Back Basin Loop past steaming pools, hissing vents, and some of Yellowstone’s most otherworldly terrain.

After a picnic-style lunch near Dunraven Pass, we’ll make a short stop at Tower Fall and Calcite Springs Overlook, then head out on the Lost Lake–Petrified Tree–Roosevelt loop, a moderate, varied trail through meadows and forest with good chances for wildlife and broad views. We’ll roll right from hiking boots into our Old West Stagecoach Dinner near Roosevelt Lodge, trading trails for a wagon ride, a hearty cookout meal, and the feeling of classic Yellowstone country before we drive back to the lodge in the soft evening light.

Day 3 – Planned Hiking (time, conditions & group energy permitting):

• Norris Geyser Basin:

  • Porcelain Basin Loop – otherworldly boardwalk circuit: ~0.75 miles

  • Back Basin Loop – wooded thermal loop: ~1.5 miles

• Tower Fall Trail & Canyon Walk – paved overlook + trail toward the river: up to ~0.9 miles round trip

• Lost Lake–Petrified Tree–Roosevelt Loop – rolling meadows and forest: ~3.1–3.5 miles, plus optional spur to Lost Creek Falls: ~0.4 miles round trip

• Estimated total if all segments are completed: ~6.5–7.5 miles

With an early lodge breakfast, we’ll head straight for Grand Prismatic Spring in Midway Geyser Basin, where a short hike to the Grand Prismatic Spring Overlook gives us a sweeping, elevated view of its blue core and rust-colored edges. Then we’ll continue to the Old Faithful area, timing our visit to watch an eruption from the boardwalk or lodge while enjoying lunch nearby before walking the length of the Upper Geyser Basin past pools, riverside features, and quiet corners beyond the main boardwalk crowd.

Those who wish can add the short, steeper trail to Observation Point for a view looking back down over Old Faithful and its basin. Later, we’ll explore Fountain Paint Pots in Lower Geyser Basin, make storytelling stops at Mattie Culver’s Gravesite, the Nez Perce Trail marker, and Queen’s Laundry remnants, then walk the loop at Artist Paint Pots for one more burst of geothermal color. In the evening, we’ll enjoy dinner in Gardiner, then, for those who have the energy, return to Mammoth Hot Springs Terraces for an unhurried twilight wander among steaming travertine formations before closing the day with ice cream and a slow, contented ride back to the lodge.

Day 4 – Planned Hiking (time, conditions & group energy permitting):

• Grand Prismatic Spring Overlook – gentle climb to a big view: ~1.2–1.6 miles round trip

• Upper Geyser Basin (Old Faithful to Riverside and back) – extended boardwalk walk: ~3–4 miles total

• Optional: Observation Point – short, steeper viewpoint trail: ~1–1.5 miles round trip

• Artist Paint Pots – loop with stairs and viewpoints: ~1 mile round trip

• Mammoth Hot Springs Terraces – linked boardwalk loops: ~1–2 miles total

• Estimated total if all segments are completed: ~7–9 miles of walking

After breakfast, we’ll head straight for the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, visiting overlooks like Brink of the Upper Falls, a Brink of the Lower Falls viewpoint, and classic Artist Point before the biggest crowds arrive. From there, we’ll lace these highlights together on the Brink–Artist Point–Lily Pad Pond–Clear Lake loop, blending canyon rims, forest, meadow, and a quiet thermal-influenced lake into one continuous, moderate hike.

As the day unfolds, we’ll drive through Hayden Valley watching for bison and other wildlife, then make our way to West Thumb Geyser Basin and the short walk to Duck Lake for a different perspective on Yellowstone Lake. On the journey back north, we’ll loop through the Mud Volcano area, take a river walk at Sheepeater Cliffs, and, if group energy allows, finish with a more strenuous out-and-back to the Upper Hoodoos from Golden Gate, where broken terraces and pale boulders create a surreal “capstone” landscape. We’ll close the night with dinner in Gardiner and a final reflection time back at the lodge, gathering up the moments that meant the most.

Day 5 – Planned Hiking (time, conditions & group energy permitting):

• Brink of the Lower Falls – Artist Point – Lily Pad Pond – Clear Lake Loop – canyon + interior trail: ~3.3 miles total, including meaningful elevation change

• Duck Lake (West Thumb area) – short forest-and-lake walk: ~1 mile round trip

• Mud Volcano Loop – boardwalk/paved circuit with short climbs: ~0.8 miles round trip

• Sheepeater Cliffs – river path below columnar basalt: up to ~1–1.5 miles round trip

• Upper Hoodoos from Golden Gate – steeper out-and-back among fallen terraces: ~2 miles round trip

• Estimated total if all segments are completed: ~7–9 miles of walking, with options to shorten based on weather, wildlife, and group energy

Our final morning at the lodge will be slow and simple — time to pack, take a few last photos, and savor one more look at the surrounding mountains before we drive back toward Bozeman. We’ll gather for a farewell brunch at Western Café, a beloved local spot known for hearty, no-frills Montana comfort food that sends you home well-fed and grounded.

After brunch, Christine will coordinate Bozeman (BZN) airport drop-offs, with group services officially concluding by mid-afternoon, and optional onward rides to Butte, Helena, or Missoula for those arranged in advance. If your flight is later, you’ll have the option to explore downtown Bozeman or visit the Museum of the Rockies on your own, carrying the stories, friendships, and inner shifts of the week with you as you travel home.

Planned Hiking & Walking (approx.):

• Light walking only (brunch stop, airport, optional museum/downtown exploring): ~1–3 miles at your own pace

• This is primarily a travel and transition day, giving your body and heart space to integrate the week