Lower Loop Van Tour from West Yellowstone: Grand Prismatic and Old Faithful
- 8 hours
- Free cancellation up to 24h before
- Guided in English
- Instant confirmation
Highlights
This Active Van Tour is a great way to see Yellowstone National Park beginning in the fun gateway town of West Yellowstone. The early morning part of the tour explores wildlife haunts in the famous Shadow Canyon of the Madison River. This area is home to bear and elk. Later we hike to an overlook of the famous Grand Prismatic Hot Springs. If you don't feel like walking we find a safe, scenic spot for you to wait for the group. Next we explore the Old Faithful area, including some time at the famous Old Faithful Inn. We continue over the continental divide and down to the West Thumb Geyser Basin on Yellowstone Lake for a view of some spectacular lakeside thermal pools. Continuing our drive along Yellowstone Lake we arrive at the Mud Volcano near the Hayden Valley. See bison roam along the Yellowstone River. Finally, we arrive at the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone to view the canyon and the amazing Lower Falls at Artist Point. The day concludes back at West Yellowstone.
Inclusions
What's included
- Binoculars for viewing wildlife at a safe distance
- Van with large windows for wildlife sightings
- Brown Bag with snacks
- Soda/Pop
- Bottled water
- Hot coffee/tea/cocoa
- Sandwich, apple, nuts, snacks (Turkey/Veggie/Vegan/Gluten Free Options) *Please notify YHG with any food allergies or dietary restrictions*
- Spotting scope for viewing wildlife at a safe distance
What's not
- Yellowstone Entrance Fee -- Unless You Have an Annual Pass, which is good for 4 people in your party --
- Gratuities
Itinerary
Drive along the Madison River and watch wildlife in the early morning light.
Hike to a viewpoint of the Grand Prismatic Hot Springs. This hike is along an old stagecoach road before climbing 200 feet to see one of the largest hot springs on earth. We arrive early to beat the heat and crowds. This is a must see while visiting Yellowstone!
We watch Old Faithful erupt near the historic Old Faithful Inn. If time permits, you can explore the Inn or the Visitor Center to learn more about Yellowstone National Park. Old Faithful erupts every 90 minutes.
We take a short stop at the Continental Divide, where water drains to the Gulf and Pacific Ocean.
This beautiful geyser basin along the shores of Yellowstone Lake has hot springs, geysers, and mud pots. We hike a boardwalk trail to see the Fishing Cone and Black Pool.
We take a short stroll to the Mud Volcano and Dragon's Mouth. Listen to the super volcano breath with powerful mud churning and steam billowing out.
We stop for wildlife viewing in one of Yellowstone's most iconic valleys. This valley is home to more bears than anywhere else in the Park. We sometimes spot wolves, elk, and trumpeter swans along the Yellowstone River.
Stop to see stunning views of the wonderous colors and thundering falls of the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone River. We take a short break at Artist Point to see the 308 foot Lower Falls of the Yellowstone River.
Cancellation
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the experience starts, for a full refund.
Reviews
4.9
- 5445
- 423
- 32
- 22
- 14
Ratings come from 476 reviews collected by our booking partner. They are travellers' own words, in the order they were written — never reordered to flatter the experience.
Showing reviews written in English.
4Grand Teton
The weather was not on our side so seeing the Tetons was not happening but our guide Shane did his best to give us a quality experience we did see several Moose which was a super cool experience.
5BEST Way to Experience Yellowstone if short on time
5/5 Stars — An unforgettable day in Yellowstone! We recently took a guided tour of the lower loop with TIM, he completely made our trip. From the moment he picked us up, his energy, deep knowledge, and passion for the ecosystem were obvious. Instead of stressing over park traffic and finding parking, we got to sit back and take in the views. Tim knew all the best stops, timed our light hikes/walks to miss the worst of the crowds, and had binoculars for each of us to actually see bison groups up close. We also stopped to see bison, elk, and swans up close. He tailored the day to what our group wanted to see, shared great stories and history, and kept everyone comfortable and well-fed with a great lunch. If you are visiting Yellowstone, skip the headache of driving yourself and book a tour with Yellowstone Hiking Tours —it was worth every penny!
5Highlight of our time in Yellowstone
Amazing tour of Yellowstone. The van is very comfortable with large viewing windows. Our guide, Conor, was very personable and informative. This tour was the highlight of our time in Yellowstone. I highly recommend leaving the driving to a professional.
5Our tour through Beautiful Yellowstone
Our guide, Jillian, was very friendly and kind. You could tell she enjoyed her job of sharing the beauty of Yellowstone and so much of its history. My husband and I rate her and the tour, top notch! Thank you.
5Great tour. Great guide!
Lots of walking. Beautiful sights. Great guide, Connor, may the trip educational and exciting. Connor spoiled us for any other guide. He was not only wonderful but he took care of us all!!
5Rory was an awesome...
Rory was an awesome guide! She knew all about the park's geography and history and made the whole day a fun experience!
Know before you go
- Meeting point
- This is not the Madison Campground. This the parking lot where the restrooms are located near the Madison Amphitheater. We meet here at 7:45AM. There is no cell reception at this location.
- Pickup
- Pickup is offered, or you can meet at the starting point.
- Ticket type
- Mobile or paper ticket accepted
- Group size
- Up to 12 travellers
- Operated by
- Yellowstone Hiking Guides
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
How it compares in West Yellowstone
- Its from-price is 27% below the median of the 52 day trips we list in West Yellowstone.
- Its length is typical for the group.
- By number of reviews it ranks 3 of 52.
- The operator lists free cancellation on it.
About West Yellowstone
West Yellowstone is a small Montana town at the west entrance to Yellowstone National Park, ringed by forested mountain country and rivers.
West Yellowstone sits at about 2,000 metres on the Montana side of the Idaho border, right at the west entrance to Yellowstone National Park. Its streets of log-fronted shops, motels and restaurants serve the park, and a museum in the old railway depot tells how early visitors arrived by train. A wildlife centre cares for grizzly bears and wolves that cannot be returned to the wild.
Special offers in West Yellowstone
Was/now prices come from the operator, never from us.
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