What Makes This Adventure Special:

Trip Origin

COVID put international travel on hold. So we, like everyone else, adjusted. Our big change was remembering that **adventure is in our own backyard!**
Thus, our domestic trips were born. In collaboration with another woman-owned business we are realizing our dream of making travel more accessible and getting more people outdoors.
Our beginner trips are a favorite and really made for everyone. It’s a chance to learn all the basics and test yourself in a new way!

Escape the crowds and dive deep into the wilderness of Yellowstone on this mindful exploration! No prior backpacking knowledge is required. Yes, we will see the iconic vistas, but the highlight will surely be the backcountry exploration!

We include the knowledge and supplies, just bring your sense of adventure and we will explore:

Visit Grand Prismatic Spring and Old Faithful
Take a swim in Shoshone Lake
Get off the beaten path while camping and connecting with other like-minded individuals ready to learn the new skill of backpacking
Soak your hardworking muscles in the Bozeman Hot Springs
Enjoy 2 nights front-country camping and 2 nights back-country camping

Our experienced guides will help you with everything you need to know about backpacking before and during your adventure. This is a beginners trip, so you will be well supported. They will take a look at your pack and make sure everything is packed well and situated correctly. In addition you will be supported with 2 pre-trip calls that will answer all your questions as a first-time or novice backpacker.

Plus:

+ Everything you need for backpacking as a beginner
+ Daily movement and mindfulness activities
+ Experienced Root tour leader
+ 3 month pre-trip physical and mental preparation guide
+ 2 pre-trip Zoom calls
+ Post-trip integration guide
+ 2 post-trip Zoom calls
+ Talk to a real human when booking and planning your trip!

Contact us to learn more

Detailed Itinerary

(Click “+” To learn more)

Your journey begins today! You’ll meet your group and guides in Bozeman by 11am and get to know each other over lunch at a local restaurant.
Then, you’ll head down to the world’s first national park! We’ll enjoy some sightseeing and short hikes before arriving at our camp in Canyon Village. There, we'll look through our packs together to make sure we're prepared for our backcountry adventure!
On our first evening together we will take the time to get to know each other, set some individual intention for the trip and take in the peace of the great outdoors.
Accommodations: Front Country Camping
Meals: L, D
*Flight info: Please arrive in Bozeman before 11am
After a morning meditation practice, we’ll head into the Hayden Valley for some wildlife spotting, then stop at West Thumb Geyser Basin, situated along the enormous Lake Yellowstone!
Eventually, we’ll find ourselves at the Lone Star Geyser trailhead, where our adventure into Yellowstone’s backcountry will begin! We’ll hike 9 miles along backcountry thermal features that may erupt as we pass, giving us a private show!
We’ll arrive at our campsite along Shoshone Lake, where we will set up tents and do some gentle movement to workout the kinks from the days travel. Afterwards, we'll enjoy a delicious camp dinner and some much deserved rest and relaxation.
Accommodations: Backcountry Camping
Meals: B, L, D
Another optional morning meditation practice will clear our minds for the day's new adventure.
After a filling camp breakfast, we’ll hit the trails towards our next campsite, also along Shoshone Lake. We’ll keep our eyes out for elk, who enjoy spending time along the lakeshore. Once at camp, we'll have time to relax and swim in the lake!
Accommodations: Backcountry Camping
Meals: B, L, D
We’ll wake up at dawn to start our hike out of the backcountry. Then, we’ll hit Yellowstone’s most famous features: Grand Prismatic Spring and Old Faithful.
After enjoying the show, we’ll drive to our final front country campsite. There, we’ll enjoy a farewell dinner and campfire and have an opportunity to shower for your travels home!
Accommodations: Front Country Camping
Meals: B, L, D
After a leisurely morning with some recovery movement and mindful practices, we’ll make our way back to Bozeman.
We’ll stop at Bozeman Hot Springs for a dip in their 12 hot and cold pools, saunas and steam rooms. We’ll enjoy lunch in Bozeman before heading to the airport where we will say “see you soon!”
Meals: B, L
*Flight Info: Please depart anytime after 3PM from Bozeman.

FAQs

We provide a full service experience. Included in your trip cost:

+Transportation: All transportation is included from arrival in Bozeman, MT to the return to the airport.
+Food: All food from lunch on day one to lunch on day 5 are included as outlined in the itinerary.
+Accommodation: Accommodation are shared, modern, lightweight 2-person weather-proof tents.
+Equipment: Trip participants will be responsible for providing their own hiking clothing, rain gear, and sturdy hiking footwear. We will provide group camping gear along with sleeping bags and sleeping pads. Option for us to rent backpack and hiking poles for you. The guides will provide the group safety gear such as tarps, emergency communication devices and bear spray as well as group cooking gear and food.
+Safety: As with all our trips, safety is our number one priority. We expect the unexpected and will have plans for anything that could happen while on our adventures. We will have radios and other types of emergency communication devices, evacuation plans, and all of our guides have current Advanced Wilderness First Aid Certificates.
+1 Root Expert Tour Leader who will facilitate mindfulness/wellness practices
+1 Local Guide
+Daily mindfulness activities
+Individual pre-trip assistance as needed
+3 month pre-trip preparation guide
+2 pre-trip calls
+2 post trip calls
+Access to our Director of Traveler Experience who can help answer all your questions!
+All tips/gratuities
+6 Week Post-Trip Meditation Series to help integrate your experience
+Lifetime access to the Root Community
Airfare, travel insurance, souvenirs, alcoholic beverages, and anything not detailed in the itinerary.
August is an ideal time to be in Yellowstone! The snow has melted, the weather is lovely, the wildlife is plentiful, and there is much to explore.
The average temperature is 77 degrees Fahrenheit during the day with lows in the upper 30’s/lower 40s at night. Because of the range of temperatures and the chill factor at night it's best to be prepared with lots of layers including rain gear to protect you from Yellowstone’s notoriously high winds. Below you can find a full packing list. ng 80°F (25°C) for the month.
You’ll need to arrive in Bozeman, MT by 11am on August 14th.
Please depart from Bozeman, MT any time after 3pm on August 18th.
We classify this trip a difficulty level of 5 out of 5. Which means prior hiking experience is highly recommended. This is a beginner friendly backpacking trip, so no prior backpacking experience is necessary. However expect to carry a 35+ lb pack for multiple days on trail for sustained daily time.
This route has some, but minimal elevation gain and loss in the form of undulating terrain rather than big, steep inclines.
You can see daily mileage in the itinerary above.
Sleeping accommodations are a combination of frontcountry as well as backcountry camping as detailed in the itinerary.
Your first and last night will be front country camping accommodations with the middle two nights backcountry camping.
Accommodation are shared, modern, lightweight 2 person weather-proof tents.
You will be carrying a backpacking pack (35+ lbs) with everything you need for camping for 4 days. You will be carrying individual gear as well as a portion of the distributed shared group gear provided by the local guides. We recommend keeping your personal gear to about 15lbs as shared group gear will be added.
The key in backpacking is to pack as light as possible! We will talk about this much more and will make sure you are prepared!
You can find a detailed packing list here. We will also go over gear in much more detail on our two pre-trip calls.
Yes! Most dietary requests can be arranged in advance.
Incredible meals are provided by the local guides and will help be prepared by all participants.
On the days you’ll be camping there is no access to electricity and minimal to zero access to cell phone service.
During the backpacking portion of the trip there will be no access to showers or toilets. Your guides will show you how to practice “leave no trace” practices for elimination on trails and outdoors.
At the front country campsites there are showers and flush toilets.
Here is a packing list. We will also go through gear questions in more detail in our two pre-trip calls.
Yes! It is absolutely recommended that you do practice hikes, walks, or strength and cardio conditioning to prepare for this trip. Three months before the start of your trip you will receive a pre-trip preparation series that includes a training plan.
Please email info@rootadventures.com or schedule a call. We would love to hear from you!