Lower Loop Van Tour from West Yellowstone: Grand Prismatic and Old Faithful
Description
This Active Van Tour is a great way to see Yellowstone National Park beginning in the fun gateway town of West Yellowstone. The early morning part of the tour explores wildlife haunts in the famous Shadow Canyon of the Madison River. This area is home to bear and elk. Later we hike to an overlook of the famous Grand Prismatic Hot Springs. If you don't feel like walking we find a safe, scenic spot for you to wait for the group. Next we explore the Old Faithful area, including some time at the famous Old Faithful Inn. We continue over the continental divide and down to the West Thumb Geyser Basin on Yellowstone Lake for a view of some spectacular lakeside thermal pools. Continuing our drive along Yellowstone Lake we arrive at the Mud Volcano near the Hayden Valley. See bison roam along the Yellowstone River. Finally, we arrive at the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone to view the canyon and the amazing Lower Falls at Artist Point. The day concludes back at West Yellowstone.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Drive along the Madison River and watch wildlife in the early morning light.
Hike to a viewpoint of the Grand Prismatic Hot Springs. This hike is along an old stagecoach road before climbing 200 feet to see one of the largest hot springs on earth. We arrive early to beat the heat and crowds. This is a must see while visiting Yellowstone!
We watch Old Faithful erupt near the historic Old Faithful Inn. If time permits, you can explore the Inn or the Visitor Center to learn more about Yellowstone National Park. Old Faithful erupts every 90 minutes.
We take a short stop at the Continental Divide, where water drains to the Gulf and Pacific Ocean.
This beautiful geyser basin along the shores of Yellowstone Lake has hot springs, geysers, and mud pots. We hike a boardwalk trail to see the Fishing Cone and Black Pool.
We take a short stroll to the Mud Volcano and Dragon's Mouth. Listen to the super volcano breath with powerful mud churning and steam billowing out.
We stop for wildlife viewing in one of Yellowstone's most iconic valleys. This valley is home to more bears than anywhere else in the Park. We sometimes spot wolves, elk, and trumpeter swans along the Yellowstone River.
Stop to see stunning views of the wonderous colors and thundering falls of the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone River. We take a short break at Artist Point to see the 308 foot Lower Falls of the Yellowstone River.
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
We will meet you at the lobby of any hotel in West Yellowstone or any vacation rental located within the boundaries of West Yellowstone. For travelers who are staying outside of West Yellowstone, we meet at the West Yellowstone Visitor Information Center. Please do not pick a hotel where you are not staying as your meeting point.
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Reviews(435)
Words cannot convey the beauty we saw today! First off, our guide Tim was extraordinarily knowledgeable and engaging. He not only provided a history of the park but also pointed out the sites and sounds of the area in great detail. If we were staying longer, we’d book another tour with this company-but when we come back, we will. The lunch was more than enough and we were offered hot and cold drinks as well as a snack. Tip: dress in layers and charge your phones/cameras for all the pictures you’ll take! ! Thank you!
This was an absolute fantastic tour! Bri was our guide and she was energetic, knowledge and all around funny. We saw all the landmarks and stopped for animal sightings! This tour is a must if you want to see all the sights without worrying about guiding yourself!
Parker was our guide and he was fabulous. His passion for the outdoors was contagious and his knowledge was so informative. He explained all the sights in depth and was also very personable. It was comforting that he take our safety very serious. Would highly recommend.
Jillian was our guide and she was very knowledgable and accomodating through out the tour. She was personable and just added to the great sights we saw that day. You can just sit back and relax in on tour and just take in the beauty and wonders of the area.
Rory was very knowledgeable and a wonderful guide. We were the only two on the tour so it made it even more enjoyable!
10 years ago I decided I wanted to come to Yellowstone National Park. I can’t believe it took me so long to accomplish this. We made this a family trip and our guide made the tour spectacular. I couldn’t imagine anything more beautiful. The stories Tim told us were interesting and informative.
Our Yellowstone Lower Loop tour exceeded expectations in all respects. We saw an extensive portion of the park and our guide, Bri, was amazing. She showed us numerous locations and was very patient and friendly throughout the day. Bri’s upbeat demeanor made everyone feel welcome. I wholeheartedly recommend this tour in every respect!
Wonderful tour that hits all the Lower Loop highlights! We had the best guide, Connor! He was great for our family of 5 (which included 3 kids ages 17, 15 and 12)
This was one of the best things we did on our trip! Hit all the major spots and Bri, our guide, was amazing. She was very personable and knowledgeable of the area. Also drove and parked the van like a pro! Went above and beyond to make this a great experience. The hotel pick up option is awesome as well.
To make the most of your time in Yellowstone, we highly recommend the Lower Loop and Upper Loop tours offered by Yellowstone Hiking Guides! We took both tours and enjoyed two unforgettable days exploring the park from the comfort of a small van with large windows. Our tour guides, Bri for the Lower Loop and Maddie for the Upper Loop, were outstanding! They safely navigated the park, shared fascinating information about Yellowstone's history and tour sites, and always knew exactly where to stop for the best views. We were mesmerized by Yellowstone's incredible geothermal features, including Grand Prismatic Spring, the spectacular eruptions of Old Faithful and Beehive Geysers, the colorful hot springs at the West Thumb Geyser Basin, and the iconic Mammoth Hot Springs Terraces. We also enjoyed the breathtaking views of the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, the historic Continental Divide, and the vast ecosystems of Lamar and Hayden Valleys. The wildlife viewing was just as amazing. We saw bison, elk, pronghorn, a bald eagle, ravens, and even an osprey with her young in their nest. We are extremely grateful to Yellowstone Hiking Guides for making this truly the trip of a lifetime!
