Centennial Valley & Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge

Important Requirements

This tour requires low to moderate activity. Participants must be able to meet ALL the physical requirements outlined at the bottom of this page

Description

Nestled on the edge of the Continental Divide, the Centennial Valley's 60+ miles of unpaved roads traverse a vast array of forest, sagebrush steppe, grasslands, and the largest wetland complex in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. The Valley also marks the uppermost point of the Missouri/Mississippi watershed, 3,768 miles from the Gulf of Mexico.

OLLI has designed this trip for those who want a robust overview of the Centennial Valley's significant natural and cultural aspects. Participants will learn about and meet people who live and work in the area, including cattle ranchers, the Centennial Valley Association's Range Riders, and managers of non-profit organizations such as the Montana Nature Conservancy and the Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge.

Trip programs will range from lectures with interactive discussions to experiential outdoor learning.

Meals and Lodging

Meals and lodging are provided by the University of Utah's Taft-Nicholson Center, a remote campus offering environmental humanities education to educational institutions and non-profits. The Taft-Nicholson Center is not open to the public. Click or tap here to learn more about the Taft-Nicholson Center.

Tuition

Program tuition includes two nights' lodging and seven meals per person (two breakfasts, three lunches, and two dinners), as well as facility, programming, and staff fees.

Program tuition is dependent on the lodging of your choice at the Taft-Nicholson Center:

Option #1 | Single-Occupancy Mini-Cabin $450 for one person. This option is ideal for individuals traveling alone. Each cabin contains a cot, nightstand, desk, desk lamp, and chair. Participants are responsible for their own bedding. Participants will share the all-gender bath house in University Village. This option requires a short walk to the dining hall and community areas.

Option #2 | Double-Occupancy Cabin: $1150 for up to two people. This option is ideal for individuals traveling with a friend or partner. Most rustic cabins are one-room only, and all have a private bathroom.

Please note that all travelers must be OLLI at MSU members. If a traveler is not a current member, an additional $45 will be charged for membership.

Transportation

Participants will arrange their own transportation to and from the Taft-Nicholson Center, arriving on the morning of June 24, 2025. OLLI will send detailed directions to the Taft-Nicholson Center to participants a few weeks before departure. While within the Centennial Valley, we will vehicle-pool whenever possible to lessen our collective footprint.

Important things to note about travel in the Centennial Valley:

• There are no gas or charging stations.
• There is little to no cell phone coverage, although Wi-Fi is available at the Taft-Nicholson Center's main lodge.
• The nearest medical facility is over 55 gravel road miles away or by air ambulance (helicopter). The Taft-Nicholson Center provides certified basic Wilderness First Aid when needed.
• Pets are not allowed.

The main road through the Valley, the South Valley Road, runs east-west for 56 miles. It is a county-maintained gravel road that can be challenging to drive, depending on weather conditions. This is characteristic of all other roads in the Valley.

We strongly recommend light trucks and heavier SUVs to reduce the chance of a flat tire while driving on valley roads. Make sure your vehicle has a good spare tire.

Activity Level

This is a moderately active tour where days are filled with a variety of activities on foot and in vehicles. The physical requirements are:

• Low-to-moderate levels of walking (up to one mile/day), sometimes on uneven terrain (fields and pastures).
• Standing outdoors (up to 1.5 hours) amongst the elements (sun, wind, rain).
• Picnic lunch (chairs, no tables).

Scholarship

Apply for a needs-based scholarship before entering the lottery for this program. The application deadline is February 10.

Apply for a needs-based scholarship to take this offering.