West Yellowstone: Lower Loop 55+ Tour & Old Faithful

The Lower Loop at a Pace Built for You: 8 Hours, Six Geysers & a Geyser That Never Quits

You spend 8 to 9 hours in a small group touring Yellowstone's Lower Loop from West Yellowstone. The minibus includes beverages and snacks. Lunch is provided. You see Hayden Valley wildlife, the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone, Grand Prismatic Spring, Old Faithful's eruption, and the Upper Falls. The fixed itinerary and included meals mean you don't arrange transport, buy tickets separately, or figure out timing. The guide handles it, and you arrive back in West Yellowstone in the late afternoon.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time at each

1. Hayden Valley45m
2. Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone45m · entry included
3. Grand Prismatic Spring1h
4. Fountain Paint Pot45m
5. Old Faithful Geyser2h
6. Yellowstone Upper Falls1h · entry included

Yellowstone Lower Loop Tour Highlights

• Visit Hayden Valley wildlife area
• See Grand Canyon of Yellowstone
• View Lower Falls at Artist Point
• Explore Yellowstone Grand Canyon history
• Visit Grand Prismatic Spring
• See Fountain Paint Pot geothermal basin
• Tour Old Faithful Inn and gift shop
• Watch Old Faithful geyser erupt
• Experience Brink of the Upper Falls
• View Lake Yellowstone and Tetons

The experience

Hayden Valley opens the day: a wide, grassy expanse where the Yellowstone River runs and bison graze without hurry. Your guide points out the wolves and trumpeter swans that live here because of the balance the ice age left behind when it carved this valley out. The minibus is stocked with water, coffee, snacks. You're not rushing. The tour is built for adults 55 and up, which means the pace is yours, the stops are long enough to actually look, and the group stays under twenty people who are here for the same reason you are.

Then you reach the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone. The Lower Falls drop over 300 feet, and you stand at Artist Point where Thomas Moran stood to paint it in the 1800s. The rhyolitic rock glows yellow and orange. The Grand Prismatic Spring comes next: the largest hot spring in the US, and the colors are real, not a filter. The bacteria that live in the heat create those rings of blue and green and rust. Your guide explains the science, but you can just stand there and look if you want. At Fountain Paint Pot you hear the geysers before you see them, and the smell of sulfur is sharp and alive. After that, the Brink of the Upper Falls. You feel the power of the water from where you stand.

Old Faithful erupts roughly every 92 minutes. You'll be there when it does. The historic inn is right there, and you have time to grab lunch (included is a deli sandwich, chips, fruit and a cookie or brownie, but you can buy something else if you want), walk through the gift shop, maybe get a coffee. The whole day runs 8 to 9 hours. If you're a veteran, there's a military discount. If supplies last, there's a gift. The minibus has binoculars on board and a spotting scope for wildlife, so you don't need to bring your own.

Tours occasionally consolidate if the group doesn't hit minimum capacity, so you might end up with another small group instead of your own private bus, but that's rare, and either way, you're not on a coach with sixty people. West Yellowstone is the gateway, and this is the Lower Loop that hits every major stop without the crowds of summer or the logistics of driving yourself.

What’s included

Your day includes hotel pickup (confirm with the operator), entry to Yellowstone National Park, transportation in a luxury minibus stocked with beverages and snacks, a deli sandwich lunch with chips, fruit and a cookie or brownie, binoculars and spotting scope for wildlife viewing, and a guided tour of the historic Old Faithful Inn. Veterans receive a military discount, and a complimentary gift is provided while supplies last.

Before you book

Good to know

Easy physical levelPets welcome

Operated by Cody Wyoming Adventures

Is this one for you?Book this if you're 55 or older and want to see Yellowstone's main attractions in one day without driving yourself, managing park entry, or figuring out timing for Old Faithful: the fixed schedule and included meals are what make a full Lower Loop possible in a single afternoon.

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Top questions

How long is the West Yellowstone Lower Loop tour?

8 to 9 hours total, including all stops and time at Old Faithful.

What's included in the tour?

Entry to Yellowstone, transportation in a luxury minibus, a deli sandwich lunch with chips, fruit and a cookie or brownie, bottled water, snacks like granola bars and trail mix, and use of binoculars and spotting scope for wildlife viewing.

Is there a discount for veterans?

Yes, veterans receive a military discount on the tour price.

How many people are on the tour?

Groups are kept to a maximum of 20 travelers, designed as a small-group experience.

What if I want to eat something other than the provided lunch?

You have time at Old Faithful to purchase additional food or drinks from the inn and visitor center if you prefer.

Do I need my own binoculars for wildlife viewing?

No. Binoculars and a spotting scope are provided on the minibus for wildlife viewing.

Is the tour suitable if I'm not very fit?

Yes, the tour is suitable for all physical fitness levels. Most viewing is from the minibus or short walks at each stop.

Are service animals allowed?

Yes, service animals are allowed on the tour.

What if the tour doesn't meet minimum capacity?

Tours may occasionally consolidate with another small group, but you'll still travel in a minibus with a limited number of passengers.

Is there a gift included?

Yes, a complimentary gift is included while supplies last as part of the 250th anniversary celebration.