Lower Loop: Hot Springs & Geysers | West Yellowstone | PRIVATE

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8 hours (approx.)

Hotel pickup offered

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Overview

Experience the awe-inspiring beauty of Yellowstone’s Lower Loop on a full-day private tour led by expert naturalist guides. Witness the explosive power of Old Faithful, the vibrant colors of Grand Prismatic Spring, and the raw energy of bubbling mud pots and roaring waterfalls—all while learning the rich stories that bring this landscape to life.

Ride in comfort in a private vehicle (Toyota Sienna mini-van) as your guide shares fascinating insights into Yellowstone’s geology, history, and wildlife. From iconic bison herds to the chance of spotting wolves or bears, every moment is framed by expert storytelling and top-tier interpretation.

Enjoy a catered picnic lunch in the heart of the park, with dietary options available, plus healthy snacks & drinks throughout the day. We’ll also capture professional-quality photos of your adventure & share them with you afterward—at no extra cost.

This immersive, customizable tour reveals both Yellowstone’s legendary landmarks & its hidden gems.

What's Included

Hotel pickup and drop-off in West Yellowstone, MT
Brown Bag Lunch
Use of optics: scope & binoculars
Snacks & Beverages
Transport by enclosed, air-conditioned vehicle
Professional/Naturalist Interpretive Guide

Entry not included: $40/car (be sure to pay the $5 commercial fee if paying before tour) $20/person, $80 annual pass for all parks. 65+ can get lifetime pass. Veterans free. Pass covers up to 5.
Gratuities (standard 15-20%)

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Meeting and Pickup

Pickup point

Pickup details

Front door pickup is included in the price of your tour if you are staying within 2 miles of the West Yellowstone Visitor Information Center. You will be picked up in a Toyota Sienna Mini-van. Please plan to meet us at the West Yellowstone Visitor Information Center if you are staying outside of town (Under Canvas, Island Park, Big Sky, etc). If you are staying in the park, we can arrange to meet in the park at the Madison Junction Picnic Area parking lot or at the Norris Geyser Basin junction.

Meeting point

Yellowstone Avenue
West Yellowstone, MT 59758, USA

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Detailed check-in instructions, including the exact address, are provided with your booking confirmation.

End point

This activity ends back at the meeting point.

Detailed check-in instructions, including the exact address, are provided with your booking confirmation.

What To Expect

Old Faithful

The world's most famous geyser, Old Faithful erupts with remarkable predictability roughly every 90 minutes, sending a dramatic tower of scalding water up to 180 feet into the sky. This iconic spectacle, which lasts between 1.5 to 5 minutes, draws visitors from around the globe to experience nature's timekeeping marvel. While waiting for the next show, explore the surrounding geyser basin's network of boardwalks or visit the historic Old Faithful Inn, a masterpiece of rustic architecture.

1 hour • Admission Ticket Free

Grand Prismatic Spring

Grand Prismatic Spring, Yellowstone's most photographed thermal feature, is a natural masterpiece of stunning colors and immense scale. This massive hot spring, larger than a football field, displays brilliant rings of orange, yellow, and blue caused by heat-loving microorganisms. Steam dances across its surface while the deep blue center reaches temperatures near boiling. Visitors can experience this wonder up close from the steamy boardwalk or take a 1.5-mile roundtrip hike to the Grand Prismatic Overlook for a breathtaking aerial view of this rainbow-hued spectacle against its backdrop of white travertine terraces.

1 hour • Admission Ticket Free

Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone

The Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone presents one of nature's most spectacular displays, where the mighty Yellowstone River plunges over two massive waterfalls into a thousand-foot-deep gorge. The canyon's golden walls, painted with splashes of pink, red, and white by ancient thermal activity, frame the legendary Lower and Upper Falls. The 308-foot Lower Falls thunders with particular majesty, while multiple viewpoints along both rims offer awe-inspiring perspectives of this magnificent landscape. Artist Point and Lookout Point provide especially dramatic views of this natural masterpiece.

1 hour • Admission Ticket Free

Yellowstone Geysers - Mud Volcano Area

Welcome to Yellowstone's most intriguing collection of thermal features, where mud pots bubble and churn like nature's witches' cauldrons. The Mud Volcano area showcases the park's volatile underbelly through a series of gurgling mud pools, steam vents, and acidic hot springs. A short boardwalk loop leads visitors past features like Dragon's Mouth Spring, where thunderous roaring accompanies waves of steam, and the ever-churning Mud Cauldron. The pervasive smell of sulfur adds to the otherworldly atmosphere.

30 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Firehole Canyon Drive

This scenic two-mile, one-way drive follows the dramatic Firehole River as it cuts through steep canyon walls. A favorite spot for osprey nesting, the canyon offers excellent opportunities to watch these magnificent birds dive for fish in the tumbling waters below. The route features pullouts for wildlife viewing and leads to the hidden gem of Firehole Swimming Area, where warm springs meet cool river waters.

15 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Hayden Valley

Migration of various ungulates call Hayden Valley home including bison and elk.

45 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

West Thumb Geyser Basin

Where geothermal wonders meet Yellowstone Lake's sapphire waters, West Thumb Geyser Basin offers a uniquely beautiful thermal landscape. This lakeside basin features crystal-clear pools, bubbling hot springs, and delicate geysers set against the backdrop of the lake and distant Absaroka Mountains. The easy boardwalk trail showcases remarkable features like Fishing Cone, where early visitors once cooked their fresh-caught fish in the hot spring, and the brilliant blue Abyss Pool. Winter visitors might spot otters playing among the steam.

45 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Continental Divide Trail

Perched atop Craig Pass at the Continental Divide, Isa Lake presents a fascinating hydrological oddity. This small lily pad-dotted lake is the only natural lake in the world that drains to both the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans - and it does so backwards. During spring runoff, its western side drains to the Atlantic via the Missouri-Mississippi Rivers, while its eastern waters flow to the Pacific through the Snake-Columbia Rivers, defying the expected continental drainage pattern.

15 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

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Additional Info

Confirmation is instant and will be received at time of booking
Service animals allowed

Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller

Frequently Asked Questions

(6)

Q: What is the cancellation policy for the Lower Loop: Hot Springs & Geysers | West Yellowstone | PRIVATE?

A: You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the tour for a full refund. For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the tour start time.If you cancel less than 24 hours before the tour start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.Any changes made less than 24 hours before the tour start time will not be accepted.Cut-off times are based on the tour local time (MDT). Read more Apr 2025