Strut into a Wild West adventure in YELLOWSTONE

BEST FOR: 8+

If you’re not wearing a Stetson, blue jeans and boots you may feel out of place in Jackson Hole. The southern gateway to Yellowstone National Park feels like a real frontier town with its boardwalks, bars with batwing doors and town square guarded by an archway made with thousands of discarded antlers. Elks are one of the many species of wildlife you’ll see on a drive, hike, canoe or horseback ride through this vast wilderness of mountains, gulches and waterfalls. Don’t miss Lamar Valley at the north end of the park, often dubbed America’s Serengeti thanks to its potential for viewing moose, wolves, bighorn sheep and bears. Yellowstone’s volcanic origins means the backdrop to all this wildlife could be a hot spring or magnificent geyser such as Old Faithful, which spouts spray into the air every 90 minutes. If you are tied to summer holidays, avoid the crowds of camera-toting tourists by staying at a ranch where you can head off on your steed (best for riders over 12) as part of a small group.

THE DETAIL

Frontier America’s 15-day Great American

West fly-drive holiday begins in Denver and includes a three-night stay at Laramie River Dude Ranch and a visit to Yellowstone National Park, with all accommodation, meals, flights and car hire. From £13,448 per family.

020 8776 8709, frontier-america.co.uk Scott Dunn’s 12-night Yellowstone Wildlife and Dude Ranch Adventure includes all accommodation, car hire and international flights and visits Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks and Jackson Hole. From £18,400 per family. 020 8682 5030, scottdunn.co.uk