Trails West
Self-drive tour
Follow in the footsteps and wagon ruts of the early explorers and pioneers through a land so beautiful it defies description. Through the Badlands, The Black Hills, Yellowstone, the mighty Grand Tetons, Rocky Mountain National Park and much more. The stunning landscape and the rich history of the native Americans and the pioneers combine to bring alive the atmosphere of the old west on this 15 day / 14 night self-drive tour operating daily from 18 May to 14 September.
Day 1.Arrive Denver. Upon arrival at Denver International Airport take your hotel's courtesy shuttle to the hotel and enjoy the remainder of the evening relaxing at your hotel. Overnight: Fairfield Inn Denver Airport (Standard) or Springhill Suites, Denver Airport (Superior)
Day 2. Denver to Lusk (approx. 260 miles). Collect your rental car this morning and head north through Cheyenne and visit the Ft.Laramie National Historic Site - one of the most important forts on the pioneer trails heading for the west. In the afternoon continue north across Wyoming to the town of Lusk - home of the Stagecoach Museum. Overnight: Best Western Pioneer - (Standard and Superior)
Day 3. Lusk to Black Hills/Bad Lands area (approx. 130 miles). From Lusk you will soon cross into South
Dakota and we recommend that you visit the Crazy Horse Memorial before arriving at your hotel. Overnight: Mt. Rushmore Whitehouse Inn (Standard) or State Game Lodge in Custer State Park (Superior)
Day 4 & 5. Black Hills/Bad Lands area. This southwest corner of South Dakota is rich in historic sites such as Deadwood, once home to Calamity Jane and Wild Bill Hickok; Mt.Rushmore and Wounded Knee, site of one of the bloodiest massacres in American history. The stunning scenery of the area played an important role in many famous movies such as 'Dances With Wolves' and 'Thunderheart'. The Black Hills, Wind Cave National Park, the Badlands National Park and Custer State Park - home to one of the largest herds of bison in North America, form one of the most scenic areas of North America. Overnight: State Game Lodge (Standard) or State Game Lodge, Creekside room (Superior)
Dakota and we recommend that you visit the Crazy Horse Memorial before arriving at your hotel. Overnight: Mt. Rushmore Whitehouse Inn (Standard) or State Game Lodge in Custer State Park (Superior)Day 4 & 5. Black Hills/Bad Lands area. This southwest corner of South Dakota is rich in historic sites such as Deadwood, once home to Calamity Jane and Wild Bill Hickok; Mt.Rushmore and Wounded Knee, site of one of the bloodiest massacres in American history. The stunning scenery of the area played an important role in many famous movies such as 'Dances With Wolves' and 'Thunderheart'. The Black Hills, Wind Cave National Park, the Badlands National Park and Custer State Park - home to one of the largest herds of bison in North America, form one of the most scenic areas of North America. Overnight: State Game Lodge (Standard) or State Game Lodge, Creekside room (Superior) Day 6. Black Hills/Bad Lands area to Buffalo (approx. 245 miles). From the Black Hills area, journey west following the route of Custer's 7th Cavalry on their journey to their final battle at Little Bighorn. On the way stop at Devil's Tower, the impressive natural rock formation famous from its role in "Close Encounters Of The Third Kind" 
Overnight: Hampton Inn (Standard & Superior).
Overnight: Hampton Inn (Standard & Superior).
Day 7. Buffalo to Billings (approx. 166 miles). After overnighting in Buffalo cross the state line into Montana and visit the site of the Battle of the Rosebud where General Crook fought one of the largest battles against the plains indians just 8 days before the fateful encounter at the Little Bighorn. Shortly after leaving the Rosebud you will arrive at the Little Bighorn Battlefield. It was here in 1876 that General Custer and his 7th Cavalry fought and lost their final battle against an alliance of Northern Plains tribes. Overnight: Best Western Clock Tower (Standard) or Crowne Plaza Hotel (Superior)Day 8 Billings to Yellowstone National Park (approx. 224 miles). From Billings take the scenic Beartooth Highway to Yellowstone Natl.Park (the Beartooth Highway is usually closed between September and early June and thus early and late season travellers will be diverted via Cody). In the afternoon arrive in Yellowstone National Park. Overnight: Grant Village (Standard) or Lake Yellowstone Hotel - Annex room (Superior).
Yellowstone National Park - video presentation (approx. 5 mins) click here to view. Take a video tour of the world's first national park
Day 9. Yellowstone National Park. Yellowstone's breathtaking scenery, wildlife and volcanic features provide a very full day of sightseeing. Overnight: Grant Village (Standard) or Lake Yellowstone Hotel - Annex room (Superior).Day 10. Yellowstone to Grand Teton National Park/Jackson (approx. 100 miles). Continue south through the Grand Tetons to your accommodation in the Grand Teton National Park or Jackson. The short journey today will give you plenty of time to explore the national park and the town of Jackson. Overnight: Painted Buffalo (Standard) or Signal Mountain Lodge (Superior)
Day 11. Grand Teton National Park. There are opportunities to do some rafting, cruising on the lakes, helicopter tours, walking and much more. Jackson Hole was where the mountain men such as Kit Carson used to hold their annual rendezvous and the town still knows how to party western style! Overnight: Painted Buffalo (Standard) or Signal Mountain Lodge (Superior)
Day 12. Grand Teton National Park/Jackson to Saratoga (approx. 325 miles). From the Grand Tetons, cross the Wind River Indian Reservation and the Oregon Trail. This is the land of Lewis and Clark, Fremont, Kit Carson and other famous western pioneers who scouted the routes ahead of the great wagon train migration west. Overnight: Riviera Motel (Standard) or Saratoga Historic Inn (Superior)
Day 13. Saratoga to Estes Park (approx. 183 miles). Take a leisurely drive through beautiful Rocky Mountain scenery today and linger as you cross Rocky Mountain National Park. Later this afternoon arrive at Estes Park - gateway to Rocky Mountain Natl.Park. Overnight: Alpine Trail Ridge - (Standard and Superior)
Day 14. Grand Lake to Denver (approx. 110 miles). After exploring the beautiful landscape of the park, you will arrive back in Denver for your final night staying at a downtown hotel to enable you to enjoy Denver's nightlife, restaurants and shopping. Overnight: Comfort Inn Downtown (Standard) or The Curtis Hotel (Superior)
Day 14. Grand Lake to Denver (approx. 110 miles). After exploring the beautiful landscape of the park, you will arrive back in Denver for your final night staying at a downtown hotel to enable you to enjoy Denver's nightlife, restaurants and shopping. Overnight: Comfort Inn Downtown (Standard) or The Curtis Hotel (Superior)
Day 15. Depart Denver. Return your rental car and check in for your return flight to the UK.
We can provide details, prices and make reservations for some of the optional sightseeing excursions mentioned in the itinerary. All mileages are approximate. Hotels /Lodges are subject to availability at the time of booking. Please note that the altitude on this tour varys from Denver (the mile-high city) at 5280-feet (1609 mtrs) to Yellowstone at an average of 8000-feet (2700 mtrs) above sea level. The air is thin and dry.
| Trails West | Standard Hotels | Superior Hotels |
|---|
| 2013 Prices per adult Sharing room type Prices in £'s |
Single £ |
Double £ |
Triple £ |
Quad £ |
2013 Prices per adult Sharing room type Prices in £'s |
Single £ |
Double £ |
Triple £ |
Quad £ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18, 25 May & 01 Jun | 1349 | 719 | 502 | 395 | 18, 25 May & 01 Jun | 1689 | 885 | 609 | 475 |
| 08 & 15 Jun | 1375 | 732 | 512 | 399 | 08 Jun-20 Jul | 1715 | 899 | 619 | 479 |
| 22 & 29 Jun & 06 Jul | 1425 | 759 | 529 | 415 | 27 Jul | 1715 | 899 | 619 | 479 |
| 13, 20, 27 Jul & 03 Aug | 1429 | 762 | 532 | 415 | 03 Aug | 1715 | 899 | 619 | 479 |
| 10 Aug | 1422 | 755 | 529 | 412 | 10 Aug | 1689 | 885 | 609 | 475 |
| 17 Aug | 1415 | 752 | 525 | 412 | 17 Aug | 1689 | 885 | 609 | 475 |
| 24 Aug | 1425 | 759 | 529 | 415 | 24 Aug | 1699 | 892 | 612 | 482 |
| 31 Aug & 07 Sep | 1415 | 755 | 525 | 412 | 31 Aug-07 Sep | 1695 | 889 | 612 | 479 |
| 14 Sep | 1349 | 719 | 502 | 395 | 14 Sep | 1675 | 879 | 605 | 475 |
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Prices Include: Children under 12 yrs free when sharing a room Pirces based on Saturday departures. Prices for other departure dates available upon request. |
| Location | No nights | Standard Hotels | Superior Hotels |
|---|---|---|---|
| Denver (Intl. Airport) | 1 | Fairfield Inn Denver Airport (CB) | Springhill Suites Denver Airport (CB) |
| Lusk | 1 | Best Western Pioneer (Bkfst) | Best Western Pioneer (Bfst) |
| Black Hills | 3 | State Game Lodge | State Game Lodge (Creekside room) |
| Buffalo | 1 | Hampton Inn (CB) | Hampton Inn (CB) |
| Billings | 1 | Best Western Clock Tower | Crowne Plaza Hotel |
| Yellowstone Ntl. Park | 2 | Grant Village | Lake Yellowstone Hotel (Annex room) |
| Jackson/Grand Tetons | 2 | Painted Buffalo | Signal Mountain Lodge |
| Saratoga | 1 | Riviera Motel | Saratoga Historic Inn |
| Rocky Mountain Ntl Park area | 1 | Alpine Trail Lodge | Alpine Trail Lodge (Balcony room) |
| Denver (city centre) | 1 | Comfort Inn & Suites | The Curtis Hotel |
CB = Continental breakfast. Bkfst = full breakfast. All hotels are subject to availability at the time of booking. Just America provides a full tailor-made holiday service so if you would like to change the itinerary, add extra nights along the way, choose different hotels, add excursions etc., please let us know. We can also offer flights from the UK with a variety of airlines. |