Yellowstone, Big Sky & Paradise Valley Family Vacation 2025/2026

Rally the kids, don your favorite cowboy hat, and get ready for an action-packed, all-inclusive Montana family vacation.

From gurgling geysers to lofty mountaintops, discover the perfect backdrop of your next family photo on this intimate journey through Big Sky Country. Explore pine-studded forests, raft the Yellowstone River, and ride horseback across pristine meadows with fourth-generation cowboys. Each day, you’ll enjoy the finest in western hospitality and regional fare with comfortable lodgings to relax and rest up each day.
Get away from the crowds and explore Yellowstone National Park, Big Sky, and Paradise Valley in an unparalleled way. From backcountry hiking to rafting to ziplining, your family will have their hearts pumping with excitement and their hearts filled with memories on this Montana family vacation.

^{Austin Adventures operates in part under a special use permit with the Custer Gallatin National Forest and is an equal opportunity provider.}

Download Our Handy Trip Itinerary

Our Trip Itinerary contains all the exciting details you can expect to do on our trips. Get a clear picture of the adventures on this trip.

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Yellowstone, Big Sky & Paradise Valley Family Vacation ~ Itinerary

Trip Start: Bozeman Trip End: Bozeman

Download our Handy Trip itinerary

Our Trip Itinerary contains all the exciting details you can expect to do on our trips. Get a clear picture of the adventures on this trip

Day 1Bozeman Creek walk, zip line tour across Gallatin River
Day 2Ousel Falls and Big Sky Exploration
Day 3Shuttle to Yellowstone, hike near the Grand Prismatic Hot Spring
Day 4Hike along the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone, raft down the Yellowstone River
Day 5Horseback ride in the Absaroka Mountains, soak in natural hot springs
Day 6Farewell, back to Bozeman

Day 1

Bozeman Creek walk, zip line tour across Gallatin River

Your adventure begins with an easy hike to stretch your legs along Bozeman Creek. Wander along the old logging trails that run parallel to the creek before enjoying a tasty lunch. You'll then set off for Gallatin Canyon to your “zip base” where you’ll get ready for a zip line tour across the Gallatin River.

As you make your way from base to base, behold towering limestone cliffs, pine-studded forests, and the rushing river below.
Accommodation: 320 Guest Ranch, Gallatin Gateway
Meals: Lunch, Dinner

Hiking: 3 miles (5 kilometers)
Day 2

Ousel Falls and Big Sky Exploration

Venture into the heart of Big Sky on a hike that will lead you over three Gallatin River bridges and to the base of Ousel Falls. The cascading falls will welcome you at the end of the trail, framed by lush greenery and terraced rock. In the afternoon take the easy way up Big Sky Resort's hilly terrain with a chairlift ride midway up the mountain.

From here, you'll walk through flower-dotted alpine meadows and pineladen forests as you explore the beauty of the Montana mountains from up high.

Enjoy a night on your own with a shuttle to Big Sky by your guides or choose to stay back at the ranch.
Accommodation: 320 Guest Ranch, Gallatin Gateway
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Hiking: 1.5 miles (2.5 kilometers)
Day 3

Shuttle to Yellowstone, hike near the Grand Prismatic Hot Spring

Shuttle to Yellowstone for a hike alongside Midway Geyser Basin to an unforgettable overlook of Grand Prismatic Hot Spring. A short drive away is Old Faithful and the Upper Geyser Basin, home to the largest collection of geysers in the world. Take some time to explore this area with your knowledgeable guide before a delicious picnic lunch.

Transfer to Canyon, stopping along the way to take in the astonishing West Thumb Geyser Basin, located on the shores of Yellowstone Lake.

This evening, enjoy dinner at Canyon Lodge.
Accommodation: Canyon Lodge & Cabins
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Hiking: 1 mile (1.6 kilometers)
Day 4

Hike along the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone, raft down the Yellowstone River

Embark on a backcountry hike along the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone, ending at a viewpoint of the incredible 308-foot Lower Falls. Shuttle to Gardiner where we enjoy lunch at the historic Roosevelt Arch. Load into rafts for a beautiful and splashy ride down the Yellowstone River before enjoying dinner in the quaint town of Gardiner.

Then we drive through Paradise Valley to Chico Hot Springs Resort and Day Spa.
Accommodation: Chico Hot Springs Resort & Day Spa
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Hiking: 2.5 miles (4 kilometers)
Rafting: 2 hours
Day 5

Horseback ride in the Absaroka Mountains, soak in natural hot springs

Shuttle to the Flying Diamond Ranch and mount up for a leisurely morning horseback ride high into the Absaroka Mountains. Our picnic lunch spot boasts spectacular mountain views. A short afternoon hike to a Pine Creek Falls will set the stage for a perfect evening.

Back at Chico, soak in a natural hot spring-fed pool before feasting on a candlelit farewell dinner.
Accommodation: Chico Hot Springs Resort & Day Spa
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Horse-back Riding: 2-3 hours
Hiking: 2 miles (3.2 kilometers)
Day 6

Farewell, back to Bozeman

Take a morning hike to a nearby trout pond or enjoy a last morning soak in the pool. Return to Bozeman airport and area hotels.
Accommodation: Not applicable
Meals: Breakfast

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What's Included

5 nights’ accommodation
5 breakfasts, 5 lunches, 4 dinners
Our own highly experienced guides, with you from start to finish
Industry leading Guest-to-Guide ratio (averaging 6:1)
Your own ‘Account’, an online space with everything required for your trip
Our knowledgeable Customer Service Team to answer your queries - just a phone call, email or chat away
Customer Service pre-trip phone calls to ensure you’re 'trip ready'
Delicious snacks to keep you fueled
Special ‘Wow’ moments you'll never forget
All activities described in the itinerary
All necessary equipment (well-maintained and safe) for activities
Transportation in our air-conditioned vans - safe, clean, modern and comfortable!

What Our Guests Say

Photos from our Yellowstone, Big Sky & Paradise Valley Family Vacation

Austin Adventures Roam Together book 3 4th travels free

Roam Together — Your 4th Adventurer is Free

Gather the family, rally your friends and ensure 2025 is filled with fun adventures, new experiences, and memories to last a lifetime.

Book three people on ANY 2025 Austin Adventures fully-guided tour, and you can bring a fourth adventurer along — for FREE!

Choose from any fully-guided tour of North America's national parks or any family adventure vacation, then get in touch to secure your group's spots. Mention the code 4THGOESFREE at time of booking.

This is a limited time offer and trips will sell out quickly!

_{*Terms and conditions apply - see below}

Terms and conditions:

Offer valid for new Austin Adventures bookings made through February 28, 2025 (11:59pm US Pacific Standard Time) for trips departing in 2025.
Offer applies to the trip cost for the youngest member of the booking where four guests are booked in one room.
Child rates apply for children who are 12 or under at the time of travel and are sharing a room with 1 or more adults.
Not combinable with any other offers. Other restrictions may apply.
Mention the code 4THGOESFREE at the time of booking.

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Pay in Full PIF Active Adentures and Austin Adventures deal

Take 10% off the trip price when you book a trip and pay in full

By paying in full we are able to pass on savings to our guests, but please note that by opting for this payment plan, your booking becomes non-refundable, non-cancellable, and non-changeable. This offer is only valid for reservations where the trip is no sooner than 180 days from the departure date at time of booking.

We highly recommend that you purchase Cancel For Any Reason (CFAR) insurance. We recommend Redpoint Insurance - you can find details here.

_{*Terms and conditions apply - read more here}

Useful Info

Where does the trip start?

On the first morning of the trip, our two pick-up locations are Best Western GranTree Inn at 9am or The Element Hotel at 9:15am. You are welcome to book your pre-trip stay at either of these hotels directly or any other hotel in Bozeman, though you must make your own way to one of the two pick-up points at the pre-designated times.

Where does the trip end?

Your trip ends with a drop-off at either the Bozeman Airport at 11:30am in time for flights below or at a hotel of your choice in Bozeman around 12pm.

What flights would you recommend?

Arrival: We recommend arriving in Bozeman at least the day before your trip starts. Many guests like to arrive a day or two early to accommodate potential flight delays and/or explore the city prior to your trip start.

Departure: Flying out on the last day of the trip, we recommend departing from Bozeman after 1:30pm. Earlier flight times will require a separate transfer booked at your own expense.

Will I have contact with my guides before the trip starts?

Your guides will call your cell phone the night before your trip begins to touch base on the first day’s plan. If they don’t get through to you, they will leave a voicemail on your cell phone with all the details you need to plan for your first morning.

What should I bring with me on the first day?

When you speak with your guides the night before your trip, they will give you a detailed description of what to bring with you on Day 1. Typically, this includes a day pack with your rain jacket, sunglasses, hat, camera, etc. Anything you want easy access to during the day should go in your day pack as the rest of your luggage will go in the locked cargo trailer pulled behind the van. Your guides will provide you with a water bottle on the first morning of your trip and will always have water available for refills. There will be snacks available at all times in the van. Your guides will also have bug spray and sunscreen accessible for you to use.

What are your recommended guide gratuity guidelines?

You will have 2-3 guides on your Austin Adventure (depending on group size). We recommend USD$20 per day, per guest, per guide. Typically, gratuities are offered by check or cash in local currency on the final morning of the trip and can either be given to each guide individually or to one guide to be equally distributed. Most of our guides these days also accept gratuities via Venmo (please note this app does not work in Canada). All dining, housekeeping and activity tips are included in your trip price.

How do rooming arrangements work?

Trip prices are based on shared arrangements (typically two guests per room), unless otherwise stated. For solo travelers, we’ll pair you with another person of the same gender to share rooms and if there’s no one suitable to share with, there’s no forced single supplement. However, if you specifically request your own rooms, you can opt to pay the single supplement. Solo travelers who book within 120 days of departure, where there are no other solo travelers willing to share, will be required to pay the single supplement.

For Family Vacation bookings, families consisting of four guests traveling with children aged 17 and under will be automatically assigned one shared room. However, the following alternative rooming allocations are available:

Families consisting of four guests with all children aged 13 and above are welcome to opt for additional rooms as per advertised double occupancy adult rates.
Families consisting of four guests with at least one child aged 12 and under are automatically assigned a shared room. However, families can opt to pay the adult rates for all guests in their family to have an additional room.
The same principles apply for families consisting of more than four guests.

Rooming preferences are subject to availability and must be communicated in writing at time of booking. Automatic assignments as per this policy will be applied in the absence of any specification provided by guests. Any request for additional rooms during trips will be at guests’ own expense and subject to rates made available by the accommodation provider at the time. All minors (guests aged 17 and under) must be accompanied by at least one adult.

How fit do I need to be for this trip?

You’ll need a reasonable level of fitness for this trip though you’ll be hiking on gentle to moderate trails and can still enjoy the scenery and relaxation. Typically, hikes range between two and four hours to complete, more, or less hiking is available too.

Please head to our Fitness Guide for great tips on how to prepare along with a workout plan!

What are the accommodations we stay at on this trip?

We have selected the accommodation on your trip for the stunning settings, unique character and adventuresome feel – it’s not designed as a tour of the fanciest hotels near Yellowstone. We prefer to stay in accommodations close to the park and our activities for the day that are comfortable after a full day of exploration.

While there are laundry facilities at some locations, they may not be convenient or there may only be one machine to service your entire group. We recommend bringing enough clothing to only not have to do laundry during your trip. If needed the best time will be in Chico on Days 4 & 5.

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