Although our guide Bob was very knowledgeable about wildlife (especially bears), we felt shortchanged with our tour experience. The itinerary and coverage clearly mentions duration as 9-10 hours. When I booked, the pickup time was shown as 6:00 am. However, 2 days before the start date, I received an email message stating that the pickup time had been changed to 7:45 am. I assumed that the tour would therefore end later too. But the tour was over and we were dropped off at exactly 2:45 pm, i.e., just 7 hours. And it’s not as if the park was overcrowded, nor was there a lot of traffic – in fact, quite the opposite, as our guide pointed out a couple of times. The main reason why we finished so quickly was that certain key sights that were specifically in the itinerary, such as Norris porcelain basin, Norris back basin, and Roaring Mountain, were completely OMITTED. Additionally, the tour description states that “Time permitting, other sites we may see include Undine Falls, Calcite Springs, and Roosevelt Arch.” Clearly, there was enough time – so why didn’t we see any of these? Very disappointed. Not recommended for the money we paid.
Full-Day Yellowstone Upper Northern Loop Tour
At a glance
- Duration
- 9–10 hours
- Price from
- $219 / person
- Location
- West Yellowstone
- Rating
- 4.5 / 5 · 6 reviews
- Languages
- EN
- Group
- Small group, up to 14
- Cancellation
- See policy below
- Confirmation
- Instant
- Ticket
- Mobile or paper ticket accepted
- Operator
- USA Park Tours
- Meeting point
- In front of Yellowstone Motel, which is on the southeast corner and US Highway 20 and Hayden Street. The office is in a two floor brown log cabin, facing north.
Description
Today we'll be touring Yellowstone's upper, or northern loop, including visiting the best location in the lower 48 states to see wildlife! There are frequent stops along the way! Starting in West Yellowstone, we'll travel along the Grand Loop Road until we get to Canyon Village, where we'll head north, climbing up Dunraven Pass towards Mount Washburn. The tour passes through good grizzly bear terrain before stopping at Tower Falls. The Lamar Valley, Yellowstone's prime area for wildlife viewing, is the next major destination, followed by Mammoth Hot Springs. There is almost always an elk herd to be seen at Mammoth, along with the famous terraces and historic Fort Yellowstone. Roaring Mountain is on the way to Norris Geyser Basin, which is made up of two separate geyser basins and includes the world's highest active geyser. Time permitting, other locations at which we may stop include Calcite Springs, Undine Falls, and Obsidian Cliff.
Tour Options
Itinerary
You'll be able to walk around the ever growing and changing terraces, as well as see historic Fort Yellowstone. There is also an elk herd which is almost always to be seen at Mammoth Hot Springs..
The best place in all of Yellowstone to view wildlife.
Check out geysers, hot springs, and more, as well as Porcelain Basin with its almost out of this world type terrain.
Amongst other features, Norris is home to the world's highest active geyser, Steamboat, although you have to be very lucky to see it erupt.
We'll climb up to about 9000 feet (2743 metres) as we pass Mount Washburn, and drop down the other side through good grizzly bear terrain.
Tower Fall is an attractive waterfall located right next to one of Yellowstone's General Stores.
Roaring Mountain is a hill with lots of steam vents or fumaroles.
The Grand Loop Road is the the road we'll be taking to drive around Yellowstone's upper loop. Time permitting, other sites we may see include: Undine Falls Calcite Springs Roosevelt Arch
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
We pick up at all lodging properties, including cabins and apartments, within West Yellowstone itself.
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Pets are not permitted in most of Yellowstone.
- Yellowstone is located at altitude. Check with your medical professional that you'll be OK.
Cancellation
All sales are final. No refund is available for cancellations.
Frequently asked questions
How long does Full-Day Yellowstone Upper Northern Loop Tour take?
Full-Day Yellowstone Upper Northern Loop Tour lasts about 9–10 hours. The itinerary has 8 stops.
How much does Full-Day Yellowstone Upper Northern Loop Tour cost?
Prices start at $219 per person for this West Yellowstone experience, booked through Viator with the price shown before checkout. There is 1 booking option, so the final price depends on the option you choose.
Can I cancel Full-Day Yellowstone Upper Northern Loop Tour for free?
All sales are final. No refund is available for cancellations.
Is hotel pickup included?
Yes, pickup is offered. We pick up at all lodging properties, including cabins and apartments, within West Yellowstone itself. Pickup points include Arrowhead Lodge by Arrowhead Properties.
What languages is Full-Day Yellowstone Upper Northern Loop Tour offered in?
The experience is available in EN.
Is this a private or a group tour?
It is a small-group experience with a maximum of 14 participants.
Will my booking be confirmed immediately?
Yes, bookings are confirmed instantly.
Is Full-Day Yellowstone Upper Northern Loop Tour worth it?
Travellers rate it 4.5 out of 5 across 6 verified reviews; it is run by USA Park Tours.
Reviews(6)
Tour guide was great. Saw lots of wildlife. Tour guide did a couple of extra side trips for us including the original north entrance. Awesome. My only problem was no speakers in the van. At times it was hard to hear the guide.
David was the best tour guide ever and he knows a lot about yellowstone and history I had lots of fun
This was an unforgettable experience!! My daughter and I made so many memories today!! Steve was absolutely amazing!! He knew so much about the park- history, geology, and wildlife! He worked tirelessly to find all the best spots to see wildlife and customized the trip to accommodate everyone’s wishes. Lunch was fabulous- we ate by a beautiful stream with a resting bison on the other side. This was amazing- I would tell anyone to definitely book this experience!! It was worth every penny and more!!
Be ready for 9 hours of one of a kind sights and experiences. Buy the supplied lunch which was great.
Great tour, beautiful sights, and very informative. Our guide/driver was knowledgeable and considerate of our interests. Highly recommend.
Compare similar tours in West Yellowstone
- Lowest price: Full-Day Yellowstone Upper Northern Loop Tour — $219
- Best rated: Yellowstone Upper Loop Wildlife Safari | Lamar Valley | PRIVATE — 4.9 (113 reviews)
- Shortest: Upper Loop Tour and Lamar Valley from West Yellowstone with Lunch — 8 hours
| Tour | Duration | Rating | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full-Day Yellowstone Upper Northern Loop Tour | 9–10 hours | 4.5 (6) | $219 | |
 Upper Loop Tour and Lamar Valley from West Yellowstone with Lunch | 8 hours | 4.8 (209) | $292 | View |
 Yellowstone Upper Loop Wildlife Safari | Lamar Valley | PRIVATE | 8 hours | 4.9 (113) | $450 | View |
 Private Yellowstone National Park Tour (Upper Loop) | 10–12 hours | 4.8 (99) | $595 | View |
 2-Day Private Yellowstone Tour(Lower and Upper Loops w Iconic Sites) w Lunch | 2 days | 5.0 (35) | $1,000 | View |
 Yellowstone Full-Day Upper Loop with Wildlife Adventure w/Lunch | 8 hours | 5.0 (28) | $550 | View |
 Yellowstone Upper Loop Safari Tour - West Yellowstone, MT | 9–10 hours | 4.6 (26) | $275 | View |