Idaho, Wyoming & Montana

Explore The Great American West

Take a road trip in any season through the Great American West States of Idaho, Montana and Wyoming to experience adventure, freedom and the great outdoors at its most scenic and pristine. Be as active or relaxed as you choose as you discover the history and heritage of the old west, encounter wildlife and nature up close or the charm and fun of vibrant small towns and cities along the way. The unparalleled natural diversity and dramatic scenery is unforgettable, and the adventure limited only by your imagination.

Start: Salt Lake City

Finish: Boise

Duration: 11 Days

Day 1: Salt Lake City

Salt Lake City

Arrive and stay overnight in Salt Lake City.

Day 2

Salt Lake City to Bear Lake to Lava Hot Springs to Idaho Falls

Bear Lake’s turquoise blue water is perfect for summer boating, swimming, and sailing. This surreal setting is a great place to go horse riding, bird watching, or fishing as there is an abundance of Cutthroat and lake trout. Nearby is Minnetonka Cave which contains nine rooms of fascinating stalactites and stalagmites. Continue to Lava Hot Springs which is the ideal place to go for a healing soak in the natural hot pools and enjoy the accompanying water park. Explore beautiful natural settings on the Lava Zip-line or by visiting the free Sunken Gardens where you can view native and imported flowers.

Drive on to Idaho Falls for a serene family walk or picnic along the Snake River Greenbelt or visit Idaho Falls Zoo to view over 300 animals including lions, zebras, otters, pelicans, and flamingos. Stay at Idaho Falls for the night.

Day 3

Idaho Falls to Jackson Hole

Start your day with a stop at the history and science Museum of Idaho in Idaho Falls. About I hour 15 minutes later you’ll reach Teton Valley which is a charming area offering interesting wildlife, fishing, hiking and horseback riding.

Jackson Hole is a charming and vibrant western town that offers both exclusive cultural experiences and sophisticated dining options. Shop for western apparel, Native American and western arts and crafts at the many galleries and boutiques or head to Jackson Hole Town Square at 6pm every Monday to Saturday to watch a thrilling shootout, where characters in costumes re-enact frontier town justice. The National Museum of Wildlife Art offers some of the world’s finest wildlife art or take a sleigh ride in winter through the National Elk Refuge. Dance along to live music or enjoy a beer, wine, or cowboy up to the bar on saddles for bar stools to sample a cocktail at the Million Dollar Cowboy Bar. End the day in Jackson Hole.

Day 4

Jackson Hole to Yellowstone National Park to Jackson Hole

A day trip to Yellowstone National Park is one you will never forget as you explore dramatic canyons, serene rivers, and lush forests to view the abundant wildlife such as bison, elk, bear, coyote and much more. Visit the famous natural thermal features like the Grand Prismatic Spring which is the largest natural hot spring in the United States and the third largest in the world!

The Grand Canyon of Yellowstone features a thundering waterfall, while Mammoth Hot Springs is an incredible geological feature which looks like an inside-out cave. Don’t miss Old Faithful; a geyser that regularly erupts hot water into the air to heights of about 40 metres. After a day exploring Yellowstone’s jaw dropping scenery, drive back to Jackson Hole for another night there.

Day 5

Jackson Hole to Jackson Lake (Grand Teton National Park) to Bozeman

Drive to Grand Teton National Park and rent a boat at Jackson Lake for a calming day on the water, exploring nearby islands with the dramatic Grand Teton Mountains in the background. Those who want to stay on the shore can relax with a book in the sunshine or go fishing for lake, brown, brook, and Cutthroat trout, as well as salmon and pike. Take a wildlife safari in Grand Teton National Park to view the National Elk Refuge which provides sanctuary for one of the largest elk herds in the world.

Drive north along one of the most scenic routes in the region and along the Gallatin River to Bozeman, one of the most eclectic towns in Montana, within easy reach of two ski resorts and hiking and biking trails. Here you can enjoy a diverse music and arts scene, visit the Museum of the Rockies, a Smithsonian affiliate that houses one of the USA’s largest collections of dinosaur fossils, mostly discovered in and around Montana. Go on a hike and picnic to the top of Madison Buffalo Jump State Park where Native Americans used this as a hunting tool to drive buffalo off the cliff. Back in town; savor a beer from local craft breweries or an adult beverage on historic Main Street at The Rocking R Bar, Plonk Wine Bar, or Ted’s Mountain Grill, before sampling one of many great local restaurants. Take a rest overnight in Bozeman.

Day 6

Bozeman to Missoula

Missoula is nestled in the heart of the northern Rockies on the Clark Fork River, one of the State’s most popular recreational. Explore Missoula’s verdant scenery at Rattlesnake National Recreation Area and Wilderness by going bicycling, hiking, or horse riding to see its high alpine lakes. Another great place to visit in Missoula is the Smokejumper Center for elite firefighters where you can go on a tour of the Smokejumper base and see the manufacturing room where they make and repair gear. Step back in time at Garnet Ghost Town and explore over 30 original buildings that have been preserved from this historic mining town or visit A Carousel for Missoula which is a hand-carved carousel from the 1990s. Stay the night in Missoula.

Day 7

Missoula to National Bison Range to Kalispell

Drive north to the National Bison Range to see over 500 American Bison spread over 19,000 acres of grassland, along with birds, deer, elk, and bighorn sheep. Established in the early 1900s by Theodore Roosevelt to conserve bison, the National Bison Range is a special site that you can learn more about through intriguing displays at the Visitor Center which is open from May to October. Travel on to Flathead Lake and Kalispell, offering access to a range of outdoor adventure and water-based activities including canoeing, sailing, paddle boarding and swimming. Or immerse yourself in a strong arts culture and tour downtown galleries and explore the Hockaday Museum of Art. Or venture further to enjoy the rustic village charm of Bigfork or to Whitefish, the small-town base for Whitefish Mountain Resort, a mecca for summer and winter activities from skiing and snowboarding to zip-lines, hiking and mountain biking.

Day 8

Glacier National Park

Visit Glacier National Park and take the famous Going-to-the-Sun Road in summer for panoramic views of glacier-carved valleys, snow-topped mountains, alpine meadows, and untouched waterfalls. Go horse riding or hiking on Glacier National Park’s scenic trails to spot grizzly bears, Rocky Mountain goats, bighorn sheep, and bald eagles. Go boating on one of Glacier National Park’s pristine lakes where a tour guide will provide intriguing information about the local region. Stay the night in Kalispell or Whitefish.

Day 9

Kalispell to Coeur d’Alene to Lewiston

Drive south-west past Flathead Lake through the Flathead Reservation to the Idaho Panhandle, locally known as North Idaho, via the more scenic US highway 2 through Sandpoint (options to visit en route: City Beach, Schweitzer Mountain and Farragut State Park) or via I-90 with a stop in Wallace (with access to Route of the Hiawatha bike trail, Sierra Silver Mine Tour and Cataldo State Park) and on to the recreational centre of Coeur d’Alene. Try Lake Coeur d’Alene’s diverse water sports or scenic hiking trails at lakeside park Tubbs Hill, home to the famous Floating Green Golf Course and the adjacent National Forest. The history of the region’s former timber industry is detailed at the local Museum of North Idaho.

Day 10

Lewiston to Boise

Idaho’s capital of Boise has a vibrant cultural scene where you can meet over 200 artists and buy their work at Boise Art Museum’s Art in the Park or tour the house of James Castle who was an incredible 20th Century artist. Boise is home to one of the world’s largest Basque communities which you can learn more about at the Jaialdi festival (July 28-August 2) held every five years, where talented Basque dancers, musicians and singers will showcase their exquisite Basque culture.

Those wanting to learn more about Boise’s history can tour historic prisons at the Old Idaho Penitentiary Site, while animal lovers can see live bird demonstrations and get up close to eagles, vultures, hawks, and owls at the World Center for Birds of Prey. Those seeking a serene afternoon walk or bike ride can head to Boise River Greenbelt which is a tree-lined pathway alongside Boise River where you can spot Canada geese, ducks and songbirds. Stay the night in Boise.

Day 11

Depart Boise

Depart Boise. We hope you enjoyed your time in the Great American West and have a safe flight home!

For more information on these itineraries visit The Great American West: Australia or The Great American West: New Zealand.

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