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Yellowstone: Grand Canyon Rim & Loop Hike with Lunch

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Free cancellationTravelers' pickLikely to sell out

1/29

Duration6h

GroupUp to 14

LanguagesEN

Mobile ticketAccepted

A loop that takes you past the Upper Falls, into the pines, and back with a guide who reads the trail like a map.

You hike a four to six-mile loop through Yellowstone's Grand Canyon, starting at the Upper Falls and moving through forest, past thermal features, and into Hayden Valley. Your guide carries bear spray, knows the trail junctions that confuse other hikers, and picks a lunch spot with a view. Breakfast snack, lunch, and all gear are included; you're back by early afternoon.

Step-by-step itinerary

Meet guide at Pavilion 8AM
Begin hike at Yellowstone Upper Falls
Stop at Artist Point for Lower Falls views
Hike along Canyon Rim and forest trail
Pass mud pots and steaming vents
Break at Clear Lake for wildlife viewing
View Hayden Valley and wildlife
End hike along Yellowstone River near Upper Falls

The Experience

"Most people see Artist Point and think they've done it," your guide will tell you at the Pavilion next to Upper Falls Parking Area when you meet at 8am. "Then they get turned around on the dirt trails and end up backtracking." This hike is built so you don't. The loop runs four to six miles depending on pace and stops — you start at the rim of the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, pass the 308-foot Upper Falls where the river begins its drop, then move into the forest where the crowds thin out fast.

After Artist Point, the trail shifts. You're walking through endless pines now, past mud pots and steaming vents that smell like sulfur and feel like you've stepped into another planet. The guide carries bear spray and binoculars, and they know the junctions where most hikers hesitate. You'll stop at Clear Lake to rest — the water is still, and if you're quiet, you might see wildflowers or wildlife at a distance. Then the trail opens into Hayden Valley, wide and exposed, where bison graze and the mountains touch the sky. The Yellowstone River comes back into view near the end, calm water turning to rapids before it drops over the Upper Falls again.

Lunch happens somewhere with a view — the guide picks the spot based on the day and the group. You get a sandwich (turkey, veggie, vegan, or gluten-free if you've told them ahead), an apple, nuts, and snacks. Before you start, there's hot coffee or tea. The gear is provided: bear spray, binoculars, trekking poles if you need them, and a backpack. The whole thing takes most of the morning and early afternoon. You need moderate fitness — it's not technical, but it's steady walking on uneven ground, and the elevation and distance add up.

What’s included

Your day includes a light breakfast snack and hot coffee or tea before you start, a professional guide who carries bear spray and knows the trail, binoculars and trekking poles, a sandwich lunch with options for turkey, veggie, vegan, or gluten-free diets, plus apples, nuts, and snacks. The guide also provides a backpack if you need one.

Good to know

Moderate physical levelNot for heart conditionsNot for back problems

Operated by Yellowstone Hiking Guides

Is this one for you?Right for hikers with moderate fitness who want to move beyond the crowded viewpoints and understand how Yellowstone's canyon, forest, and valley connect. The loop takes four to six hours, which is what lets you see the Upper Falls, the rim, the thermal features, and Hayden Valley all in one morning.