Private Yellowstone Lower Loop Tour: Old Faithful & Grand Canyon

Watch Old Faithful erupt on schedule, then stand at Artist Point for the Lower Falls.

A private full-day guided tour of Yellowstone's Lower Loop from West Yellowstone covers six major sites: Mud Volcano Area, Hayden Valley, Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, Black Sand Basin, Old Faithful Geyser, and the geothermal features around it. The tour runs 7 to 8 hours with a live English-speaking guide, includes hotel or Island Park pickup, and provides gourmet lunch, binoculars, a high-powered spotting scope, and bottled water. You choose your pickup location at checkout from five zones across the park.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time at each

1. Old Faithful Geyser1h · entry included
2. Black Sand Basin1h · entry included
3. Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone1h · entry included
4. Hayden Valley1h · entry included
5. Mud Volcano Area1h · entry included

Explore Yellowstone Lower Loop highlights

• Walk 0.5-mile boardwalk of mud pots and geysers
• Enjoy boardwalk views and optional overlook trail
• Watch timed eruption at Old Faithful Geyser
• Visit Emerald Spring and Black Sand Pool
• See Artist Point and Upper Falls viewpoint
• Spot wildlife in Hayden Valley
• Explore Mud Volcano Area features

The experience

The tour starts with pickup from your hotel in West Yellowstone, Island Park, Mammoth, Old Faithful, Madison, or Canyon: whichever zone you select. From there, the guide drives a small group through the Lower Loop in an air-conditioned vehicle, stopping at each major thermal feature and wildlife corridor. The day moves between geysers, hot springs, and overlooks, with time to walk short boardwalks and trails at each site.

Old Faithful is timed so you watch the eruption, then explore nearby Castle and Beehive Geysers and the visitor center. The Black Sand Basin loop features Emerald Spring and the namesake Black Sand Pool on a quieter stretch. At the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, you stop at Artist Point for the classic view of the Lower Falls, plus an additional viewpoint at Upper Falls. Hayden Valley is the wildlife corridor: bison, elk, bear, and raptors move through it regularly, and the guide carries a high-powered spotting scope to help you see them. The Mud Volcano Area closes the loop with the Bubbling Mud Volcano, Dragon's Mouth Spring, and Sulphur Caldron.

Lunch is a gourmet picnic served in a beautiful location during the day. You get binoculars for each person in your group, bottled water, soda, snacks, and copies of any HD wildlife videos recorded on the tour. The guide is a live person who speaks English and knows the park's thermal systems and wildlife patterns. National Park entry fees may apply for international visitors and are collected at the destination, not at booking.

What’s included

• Gourmet picnic lunch in a beautiful location.
• high-powered spotting scope and quality binoculars for each group member.
• bottled water, soda, and snacks.
• copies of HD wildlife videos recorded on the tour.
• air-conditioned vehicle.
• live English-speaking guide.
• hotel or Island Park pickup from your chosen zone.

Options for this experience

5 options

I.P. / W.Y. pickup area (Area 1)Guide in English · 06:30Pickup from the Island Park / West Yellowstone area is included

Madison pickup area (Area 2)Guide in English · 06:30Pickup is included from the Madison Junction area. Starting point: Madison Junction - Flush Toilets, Yellowstone National Park, Yellowstone National Park, WY 82190, USA

Old Faithful pickup area (Area 3)Guide in English · 06:30Pickup from the Old Faithful area is included

See 2 more options

Canyon pickup area (Area 4)Guide in English · 06:30Pickup is included from the Canyon Village area

Mammoth pickup area (Area 5)Guide in English · 06:30Pickup from the Mammoth Hot Springs area is included

You see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates & prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 06:30

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Paid on siteUS$ 120

Prices and times updated 5 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller friendlyPublic transport nearbyNot for heart conditions

Operated by Island Park Expeditions

Is this one for you?Pick this if you're staying in West Yellowstone or Island Park and want one full day covering all six Lower Loop thermal sites: the included pickup saves you a separate drive to meet the group.

Traveler reviews

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Top questions

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What exactly happens at Old Faithful on this tour?

Old Faithful Geyser is timed so you watch the eruption from the boardwalk, then explore nearby features like Castle and Beehive Geysers and stop at the visitor center to learn more about the geyser system.

Will I see wildlife like bison and elk?

Hayden Valley is a classic wildlife corridor where bison, elk, bear, and raptors move through regularly. The guide carries a high-powered spotting scope to help you spot and observe them, and you'll have binoculars for each person in your group.

How long is the full tour, and what time does it start?

The tour runs 7 to 8 hours total. Pickup times depend on which zone you choose at checkout (West Yellowstone, Island Park, Mammoth, Old Faithful, Madison, or Canyon), and the guide will confirm the exact start time when you book.

Is lunch included, and what about water and snacks?

Yes. The tour includes a gourmet picnic lunch served in a beautiful location, plus bottled water, soda, and snacks throughout the day.

What's the difference between Artist Point and Upper Falls at the Grand Canyon?

Artist Point is the iconic overlook for the Lower Falls and the colorful canyon walls. The Upper Falls viewpoint is an additional stop nearby that shows where the water drops before it reaches the Lower Falls, giving you two perspectives of the canyon.

Do I need to arrange my own transportation to the park?

No. Pickup is included from your hotel or lodging in one of five zones: West Yellowstone, Island Park, Mammoth, Old Faithful, Madison, or Canyon. You choose your pickup area when you book, and the guide picks you up in an air-conditioned vehicle.