Yellowstone: Old Faithful 6-Mile Hike & Geyser Loop with Lunch

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Free cancellationExcellent qualityLikely to sell out

1/29

Duration6h

GroupUp to 14

LanguagesEN

Mobile ticketAccepted

Walk past Old Faithful without fighting the crowds—the six-mile loop that does it

You hike a six-mile loop through Yellowstone's Upper Geyser Basin, seeing Old Faithful twice and quieter geysers like Grotto and Fountain, with most of the route on dirt trail away from crowds. The guide provides all gear, a picnic lunch, and bear spray, and you avoid the Old Faithful parking lot entirely by starting at Biscuit Basin. Six hours total, moderate fitness required, small group size.

Step-by-step itinerary

Six-mile hike and geyser viewing

Meet at Biscuit Basin Trailhead
Hike six-mile loop through Upper Geyser Basin
See Grotto Geyser from trail
Follow rugged trail above boardwalks
View Old Faithful geyser eruptions
Stop briefly at Old Faithful Inn
Enjoy picnic lunch near geysers

The Experience

What if you could see Old Faithful erupt twice in one morning, and spend most of the day on quiet dirt trail instead of packed boardwalks? That's the shape of this hike. You start at Biscuit Basin Trailhead to sidestep the parking lot chaos at Old Faithful, then loop through the Upper Geyser Basin on a six-mile route that mixes boardwalk sections with rougher ground where you'll see far fewer people. The whole thing takes about six hours, with 500 feet of elevation gain spread across ups and downs that feel manageable if you're used to moving on uneven terrain.

The hike passes Grotto Geyser first—a smaller, weirder thermal feature with smoke pouring out of its crevasses—and then climbs to a ridge above the main boardwalks where you get views of Old Faithful from a distance, plus sightlines across the Yellowstone Caldera itself, the supervolcano crater you're literally standing inside. Your guide times it so you'll see Old Faithful erupt from a couple of different spots as you move through the basin; it goes off every 90 minutes, so the math usually works. You'll also pass Fountain Geyser, one of Yellowstone's lesser-known ones, where eruption timing is less predictable but that's part of what makes it interesting. Along the way you encounter hot springs and colorful pools, and the guide carries bear spray and knows what to do if you cross paths with bison or bears—which happens sometimes, though not every day.

Halfway through, you stop at the Historic Old Faithful Inn, a massive log building from the early 1900s with a fireplace and knobby pine details, mainly to use the restroom and catch your breath. After that it's the second half of the loop back to the trailhead. Your guide provides a hearty picnic lunch partway through—turkey, veggie, or vegan sandwich options, apple, nuts, snacks—eaten next to the geysers themselves. You also get a light breakfast snack and hot coffee or tea before you start, plus trekking poles, binoculars, a backpack if you need one, and bear spray. The guide handles all the gear and the knowledge; you just show up ready to walk.

What’s included

Your day includes a light breakfast snack and hot coffee, tea, or cocoa before departure.
a professional guide.
bear spray, binoculars, trekking poles, and a backpack (if needed).
a hearty picnic lunch with turkey, veggie, vegan, or gluten-free sandwich options.
and all instruction on the six-mile loop through the Upper Geyser Basin. A brief restroom stop at the Historic Old Faithful Inn is included midway through the hike.

Good to know

Moderate physical levelNot for heart conditionsNot for back problems

Operated by Yellowstone Hiking Guides

Is this one for you?Book this if you want to see Old Faithful and the Upper Geyser Basin without spending your morning in the parking lot or following crowds on boardwalks—the loop route and early start at Biscuit Basin are what make that possible. Moderate fitness and comfort with six hours of hiking on mixed terrain are what you need to bring.