Yellowstone Upper Loop Wildlife Tour: Wolves, bears, bison

Eight hours tracking wolves and grizzlies through America's Serengeti

An eight-hour wildlife tour departing from Bozeman that travels the Upper Loop through Lamar Valley, the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, and Mammoth Hot Springs with a local guide, high-powered spotting scopes, and hotel pickup included. The private vehicle and expert guide let you watch wolves, grizzly bears, bison and elk in their natural habitat, with professional photos of your sightings provided at no extra cost. Snacks, beverages and a brown bag lunch (vegetarian and gluten-free options available) are included.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Lamar Valley2h · entry included
2. Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone30m · entry included

Wildlife and Scenic Yellowstone Tour

• Depart from Mammoth Hot Springs
• Visit Roosevelt Arch at park entrance
• Stop at Undine Falls for photos
• View Tower Fall waterfall
• Explore Lamar Valley wildlife watching
• Observe wildlife at Slough Creek
• Visit Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone
• Return to Mammoth Hot Springs

The experience

Eight hours is enough to cover the Upper Loop's premier wildlife zones without rushing. The tour starts with hotel pickup in Bozeman and heads straight into Lamar Valley, the grassland carved by ancient glaciers where wolves hunt, grizzly bears roam and bison herds graze. You'll use high-powered spotting scopes from the vehicle and roadside pullouts: dawn and dusk are when the valley comes alive with animal activity, so timing matters. The guide reads the landscape and knows where to find the day's wildlife, stopping at Slough Creek (a world-class location for wild wolves) and moving through the valley's three distinct meadows as the animals dictate.

The route also includes the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, a 20-plus-mile chasm with the park's tallest waterfall, often overlooked but frequently the tour highlight. You'll see Mammoth Hot Springs with its travertine formations and thermophilic bacteria that stain the pools rust and brown, the Roosevelt Arch at the park's original northern entrance, and waterfalls including Tower Fall (132 feet) and Undine Falls (60 feet in three tiers). Each stop is chosen for what it reveals about Yellowstone's geology and wildlife habitat.

The guide is CPR-trained and speaks English, and the vehicle is private to your group only. Snacks and beverages travel with you. Lunch is a brown bag meal with vegetarian and gluten-free options. Professional photos of your wildlife encounters are yours at no extra charge. Hotel drop-off in Bozeman happens at the end of the day. Note that the national park entrance fee is separate, though an America the Beautiful pass is accepted.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off in Bozeman.
• eight hours of guided wildlife viewing with a CPR-trained local guide.
• private vehicle for your group only.
• high-powered spotting scopes and binoculars.
• brown bag lunch with vegetarian and gluten-free options.
• snacks and beverages throughout the day.
• professional photos of your wildlife sightings.

Before you book

Days and timesSaturdayDeparts at 06:00Last departure this season: 31 Oct

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 11 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 3 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effort

Operated by Nature Seen

Is this one for you?The eight-hour commitment leaves the rest of your day free in Bozeman before or after the tour, making it easy to fit into a longer stay without dominating the schedule. If you're visiting Yellowstone for a single day trip from Bozeman, this tour covers the Upper Loop's major wildlife zones and geological highlights in one outing.

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Top questions

What wildlife can I actually expect to see in Lamar Valley?

Lamar Valley is home to vast herds of bison, wolf packs, grizzly bears, elk, pronghorn and countless birds. The valley's sweeping grassland and the meandering Lamar River create vital habitat for the park's most iconic species, and dawn and dusk offer the most active viewing windows when animals are hunting and moving through the meadows.

How does the eight-hour timeframe work with hotel pickup and drop-off?

Hotel pickup in Bozeman is included at the start, and drop-off happens at the end of the day. The eight hours covers the Upper Loop route through Lamar Valley, the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, Mammoth Hot Springs and the surrounding waterfalls and valleys, with stops timed to the wildlife activity and the guide's knowledge of where animals are that day.

What's included in the brown bag lunch and are there dietary options?

Lunch is a brown bag meal with gluten-free and vegetarian options available. Snacks and beverages are provided throughout the day as well, so you're fed and hydrated without leaving the vehicle or stopping at a restaurant.

Do I need to bring my own binoculars or camera?

High-powered spotting scopes and binoculars are provided as part of the tour. You can bring your own camera to photograph wildlife. The guide will also provide professional photos of your encounters at no extra cost.

Is the national park entrance fee included in the tour price?

The national park entrance fee is separate from the tour price. An America the Beautiful pass is accepted if you have one. International guests pay an additional $250 USD for up to four people.