Yellowstone Lower Loop Tour: Old Faithful, Wildlife & Views

Watch Old Faithful erupt, then walk through Yellowstone's most colorful geothermal features

A full-day small-group tour of Yellowstone National Park's Lower Loop, covering Old Faithful, the Grand Prismatic Spring, Fountain Paint Pot, the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, Yellowstone Lake, and Hayden Valley wildlife habitat. Hotel pickup and drop-off are included, along with a local guide, binoculars, spotting scope, lunch, and snacks. Groups stay small so every guest gets personal attention and real chances to spot bison, bears, and other wildlife.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time at each

1. Old Faithful Geyser30m
2. Grand Prismatic Spring30m
3. Fountain Paint Pot30m
4. Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone30m
5. Yellowstone National Park30m
6. Hayden Valley30m

Explore Yellowstone's Lower Loop Highlights

• Visit Old Faithful Geyser
• See Grand Prismatic Spring
• Walk Fountain Paint Pot area
• View Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone
• Enjoy Yellowstone Lake scenery
• Spot wildlife in Hayden Valley

The experience

Old Faithful erupts roughly every 60 to 90 minutes, shooting steaming water up to 180 feet in the air, and you'll time your visit to see it. From there, the tour moves through the Upper Geyser Basin and into the park's most visually striking thermal features. The Grand Prismatic Spring, over 370 feet wide, displays intense bands of blue, green, yellow, orange, and red created by heat-loving microorganisms in its mineral-rich waters. You'll walk the boardwalk beside it, feeling the steam rise as the colors shift in front of you. Fountain Paint Pot offers a compact loop where mud pots bubble and blurp, fumaroles steam, and small geysers erupt: a multi-sensory look at the park's geothermal diversity all in one place.

The Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone stretches over 20 miles long and plunges up to 1,200 feet deep, with canyon walls painted in yellow, orange, and red. You'll stop at scenic viewpoints like Artist Point and Inspiration Point to see the Upper Falls (109 feet) and the Lower Falls (308 feet, nearly twice the height of Niagara Falls) plunging into the colored canyon. Yellowstone Lake, the park's largest body of water at over 130 square miles and nestled at 7,733 feet elevation, offers a tranquil contrast to the geysers and hot springs, though beneath its calm surface lies an active geothermal system with underwater features. Hayden Valley, a former glacial lake bed now open meadowland, is where the tour focuses on wildlife. At dawn and dusk, herds of bison, elk, grizzly bears, and wolves move through the valley, and bald eagles hunt overhead.

Your guide carries high-quality binoculars and a spotting scope so the whole group gets real chances to see wildlife safely and respectfully. The vehicle is climate-controlled and stops frequently for restroom breaks and to let the landscape sink in. Lunch and snacks are provided, along with bottled water throughout the day. The tour runs 10 to 12 hours, and hotel pickup and drop-off are included in the price.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off.
• a local guide with deep knowledge of geology, wildlife, and park history.
• lunch and snacks.
• bottled water throughout the day.
• binoculars and spotting scope for wildlife viewing.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 07:00Last departure this season: 31 Dec

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 24h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Easy physical levelWheelchair accessibleStroller friendly

Operated by Grizzly Country Wildlife Adventures

Is this one for you?The guide delivers commentary in English at a pace suited to small groups, so you follow the geology and wildlife stories without feeling rushed or left behind. Groups stay under a dozen people, which means the guide can answer questions and adjust stops based on what the group wants to linger on.

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Top questions

What time does the tour pick me up from my hotel?

Hotel pickup time varies depending on your location and the tour schedule. Contact the operator directly to confirm your specific pickup window and meeting point.

Can I see Old Faithful erupt on this tour?

Yes. Old Faithful erupts approximately every 60 to 90 minutes, and the tour is timed to catch an eruption, with the geyser shooting steaming water up to 180 feet in the air.

What wildlife might I see in Hayden Valley?

Hayden Valley is a prime wildlife viewing location where you may spot herds of bison, elk, grizzly bears, wolves, and birds of prey including bald eagles, especially at dawn and dusk.

Is the Grand Prismatic Spring accessible by boardwalk?

Yes. The Grand Prismatic Spring is accessed via boardwalk, where you walk beside the 370-foot-wide spring and feel the steam rise as you view its vivid rainbow colors created by heat-loving microorganisms.

What's included in the tour price?

Hotel pickup and drop-off, a local guide, lunch, snacks, bottled water, binoculars, and use of a spotting scope are all included. The park pass price varies by age and group type and is separate.

Is this tour suitable for children?

Yes. The tour is suitable for all physical fitness levels and welcomes infants and small children in a pram or stroller. The minimum age for group tours is 8 years old, though private tours welcome all ages.