Centennial Valley & Red Rock Lakes
Location: Taft-Nicholson Center
Sorry, the signup deadline has passed.
Please note: This course program requires membership in a 2023-2024 OLLI at MSU Membership
Activity Level
This trip requires:
- 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).
Description
Registration opens on Wednesday, March 6, 2024 at 10:00 a.m. and closes on Monday, April 8, 2024.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 important 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.
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 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 when staying at the Taft-Nicholson Center.
The main road through the Valley, the South Valley Road, runs east-west for 56 miles. It is a county-maintained gravel road. Depending on weather conditions, it can be challenging to drive. 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 you have a good spare tire in your vehicle.
Centennial Valley Travel Information
Red Rocks Lakes National Wildlife Refuge
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.
Learn more about the Taft-Nicholson Center by clicking on the link below:
Costs
Costs include two nights' lodging and seven meals per person (two breakfasts, three lunches, two dinners), as well as facility, programming, and staff fees.
Option #1 | Group Ranch House - $445 This option includes lodging in a large ranch house on the Taft-Nicholson Center campus. Shared and single rooms with twin beds are available within the ranch house. There are shared common areas (kitchen and living room) and separate gender bathrooms. This option is ideal for solo travelers or a travel group that includes 3+ people. Each person will need to register separately.
Option #2 | Cabin - $890 for up to two people. This option is ideal for individuals traveling with a friend or partner. Most rustic cabins are one room only. All have a private bathroom. If you are registering for a cabin, please do not register your partner online. We will contact you and register your partner.
Please note that all travelers must be OLLI at MSU members. If any traveler is not a current OLLI at MSU member, there will be an additional fee of $45 for their membership.
Transportation
Participants will arrange their own transportation to and from the Taft-Nicholson Center, arriving by 11 a.m. on Wednesday, July 1, 2024. 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 when possible to lessen our collective footprint.
Scholarship
Apply for a needs-based scholarship before registering for this program. The application deadline is March 13, 2024.
| Fee: | $445.00 |
Bill West
Instructor Bill West has three decades of experience managing national wildlife refuges in Montana, including the National Bison Range and the Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge. His skills include partnership building for fish and wildlife conservation, good neighbor/landowner relationships, wild bison management, sustainable agriculture, negotiations with tribal governments, trumpeter swan management, and most recently, grizzly bear and arctic grayling recovery and management. Bill will share his immense knowledge and passion for the Centennial Valley with our travel group.| Date | Day | Time | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| 07/01/2024 | Monday | 12M to 12M | Taft-Nicholson Center |
| 07/02/2024 | Tuesday | 12M to 12M | Taft-Nicholson Center |
| 07/03/2024 | Wednesday | 12M to 12M | Taft-Nicholson Center |
Cancellations
Please read carefully:
- If a registrant cancels on or before April 8, 2024, OLLI will issue a refund within 60 days, minus a 7.5% administrative fee.
- If a registrant cancels after April 8, no refunds will be issued. Registrants may, however, designate a replacement for this trip at the time of cancellation.
- Registrants are strongly encouraged to purchase accident, baggage, and trip cancellation insurance through a travel agent or other provider. Travel insurance can help protect against financial loss in case of an emergency.
- If this trip fails to meet the minimum enrollment by April 8, 2024, OLLI will cancel the trip and issue full refunds to all registrants within 60 days.