Field Trip

Visit Yellowstone’s Northern Range

The 2026 workshop will include a guided day trip for everyone into Yellowstone National Park!

Each day of the week, retired Forest Service ecologist Jesse Logan will guide a class on an excursion to the Lamar Valley in the northern range of the park, one of the world’s premiere wildlife-watching landscapes. You’ll learn about Yellowstone’s natural history, biology, ecology—and more!

What to expect: Each class will have a day in the park, traveling together with their faculty, who will design curriculum for the trip. Discussions to include an overview of human and natural history, on the route from Chico Hot Springs through Paradise Valley, to the Lamar Valley. Plan on short walks; three or four longer stops with up to 1/2-miles walks over easy terrain; a sack lunch; and time for photos, writing, and unparalleled views.

Your hosts: This opportunity is made possible in collaboration with Yellowstone Forever (YF), the park’s official nonprofit partner. Along with providing transportation and a volunteer driver, YF will bring binoculars and spotting scopes to share. YF program coordinator Katy Fast says, “October brings crisp air, golden landscapes, and great chances to see bison, elk, and maybe even wolves.”

Your guide: Jesse A. Logan is a Ph.D. ecologist who had a successful career both in academia and as a Forest Service scientist. Over the past 20 years, he has spent over 2,000 days on skis exploring the Northeast corner of Yellowstone’s backcountry and an additional 1,000 days or so hiking and backpacking in pursuit of Yellowstone cutthroat trout. This combination of formal academic training and local knowledge of Yellowstone’s cultural and natural history has resulted in unique qualifications for guiding in Yellowstone’s wildest corner, the Northern Range.

Please note: This cost for this program is included with your tuition and is designed to be accessible to all of our students, no matter your mobility or fitness level.