Skip to main content
obsidianexpeditions.com
Book Now

Yellowstone National Park Tour (Lower Loop)

Castle Geyser erupting, Yellowstone National Park
1 / 20

Trip Highlights

Old Faithful, the park's most famous geyser, erupting roughly every 90 minutes
Grand Prismatic Spring, the largest hot spring in the United States
West Thumb Geyser Basin on the shore of Yellowstone Lake
Norris Geyser Basin, the hottest and most dynamic thermal area in the park
A full day exploring Yellowstone's geothermal wonders

Description

This full-day tour covers Yellowstone's Lower Loop — the park's southern half, and home to its most famous geothermal features. You'll visit West Thumb Geyser Basin on the shore of Yellowstone Lake, Old Faithful and the Upper Geyser Basin, Grand Prismatic Spring's concentric bands of color, and Norris Geyser Basin's steaming, otherworldly terrain. It's a day built around the park's living geology — steaming vents, boiling pools, and geysers that have been erupting for thousands of years. This tour pairs naturally with our Upper Loop Day Tour, which covers Yellowstone's wildlife-rich Lamar Valley and the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone. Guests wanting to see the full park often book both as back-to-back day trips from Bozeman. Yellowstone also holds a rich cultural history—from its deep significance to Native American tribes to the Buffalo Soldiers and other early stewards who helped safeguard its lands. Your day is designed to connect these natural and human stories so the Park feels more alive, layered, and meaningful. This exclusive tour is crafted to be seamless and stress-free, with expert guiding, thoughtful pacing, and flexible routes that highlight the very best of Yellowstone’s scenery, history, and wildlife.

Tour info

Duration
10 to 12 hours
Group Size
2 to 14 people
Price starts at
$995
Languages
English
Meeting Point
Hotel, Airbnb, VRBO or agreed meeting point — Bozeman, Big Sky, Gardiner & West Yellowstone area
Open in Google Maps

Why take this tour?

The Lower Loop is Yellowstone's geothermal loop — home to the highest concentration of geysers and hot springs on Earth. This tour is built for guests who want to see the park's most iconic features, Old Faithful and Grand Prismatic Spring among them, in a single well-paced day, with a guide timing each stop around eruption windows and the best light for photos.

Lower Loop: Yellowstone’s Volcanic Heart

Grand Prismatic Hot Spring, Midway Geyser Basin

This is Yellowstone’s most iconic route. From the erupting geysers of the Upper Geyser Basin to the thunderous waterfalls of the Grand Canyon, the Lower Loop showcases the park’s greatest hits. With expert interpretation and curated stops, this day blends geology, ecology, and storytelling in a truly unforgettable way. Featured stops: • Grand Prismatic Hot Spring (Midway Geyser Basin) • Fountain Paint Pots (Lower Geyser Basin) • Firehole Canyon Drive & Firehole Falls Overlook • Lake Yellowstone & the Historic Lake Hotel • Hayden Valley (prime for wildlife sightings) • Mud Volcano & Dragon’s Mouth Spring • Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone (Artist Point & Upper Brink)

Wildlife You May Spot

Yellowstone is one of the best places in North America to see wildlife in the wild. Depending on the season, route, and a bit of luck, you may encounter: Bald Eagles, Bighorn Sheep, Bison, Black Bears, Coyotes, Elk, Grizzly Bears, Moose, Mountain Goats, Osprey, Pronghorn, Ravens, River Otters, and Trumpeter Swans.

Included

  • Pick-up and drop-off at your hotel, Airbnb, VRBO, or a mutually agreed-upon location
  • Expert guide with in-depth knowledge of the region’s wildlife, geology, and history
  • Light breakfast, brown bag lunch, snacks, bottled water, and non-alcoholic beverages
  • Use of high-quality Vortex™ spotting scopes and binoculars for wildlife viewing
  • Comfortable transportation in a spacious Chevy Suburban or Ford Transit Van
  • All-day private Lower Loop tour of Yellowstone National Park

Excluded

  • Guest accommodations
  • Alcoholic beverages
  • National Park entrance pass
  • Guide gratuity (15% is customary and greatly appreciated)

Frequently asked questions

The Lower Loop covers Yellowstone's southern half and its geyser country: West Thumb Geyser Basin, Old Faithful, Grand Prismatic Spring, and Norris Geyser Basin.
This tour focuses on the park's geothermal features. The Upper Loop Day Tour instead covers the wildlife-rich Lamar Valley and the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone. Many guests book both tours on consecutive days to see the full park.
Pricing starts at $995 for a private tour of 1–2 guests, with each additional guest added at $250, up to a maximum of 14 guests total.
June through October, when park roads and facilities are fully open.
Yes — entrance fees aren't included. We recommend purchasing an America the Beautiful Annual Pass in advance if you're also doing the Upper Loop Tour or other national park trips; your guide can advise on the best option.
Private transportation, a professional guide, breakfast and lunch, and use of spotting scopes
Yes, no minimum age. Children ages 0–6 are welcome with a properly installed car seat or booster required in the vehicle; let us know in advance so we can plan seating.
Comfortable walking shoes for boardwalks, layers (mornings are cool even in summer), sun protection, a refillable water bottle, camera or binoculars, and personal medications.
Gratuities aren't included. 15–20% of the tour cost is customary.

Things to know

Starting Price

$995 for 1–2 guests, plus $250 per additional guest, up to 14 guests total

Group Size

Private tour for 2–14 guests. For groups larger than 14, an additional guide and vehicle are required to ensure comfort, safety, and the highest-quality experience.

Pick-Up Times & Locations

We pick up from hotels, Airbnbs, VRBOs, or a mutually agreed-upon location. Typical start times:

  • 7:30 AM — Big Sky & Paradise Valley
  • 8:00 AM — Gardiner & West Yellowstone

Please allow a 10–15 minute grace window for guide arrival, as weather, wildlife migration, and road construction can affect travel times.

National Park Pass

A National Park entrance pass is required and is not included. We recommend purchasing in advance.

Gratuity

Guide gratuity is not included. A 15-20% gratuity is customary and greatly appreciated.

Season & Availability

Available May 12 – October 31. Start times shift seasonally to maximize daylight and wildlife viewing.

What to Bring

Layered clothing, sturdy walking shoes, sunglasses, sunscreen, a refillable water bottle, and a camera. We provide scopes, binoculars, snacks, water, and a brown-bag lunch.

Check Availability

From
$995

Why book with us?

  • Book instantly directly with provider
  • Get the lowest price guarantee
  • Worry-free flexible cancellation policy
Human support:(406) 312-5592

More Experiences

Bison herd on the move in Yellowstone
Duration
10 to 12 hours
Group Size
2 to 14

Yellowstone National Park Tour (Upper Loop)

This full-day tour covers Yellowstone's Upper Loop — the park's northern half, and its richest corridor for wildlife. You'll travel from Mammoth Hot Springs through the Lamar Valley, one of the best wildlife-watching areas in North America, before continuing to Tower Fall, Dunraven Pass, and the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone. It's a day built around wide-open valleys, high passes, and the chance to spot bison, elk, bears, and wolves against a backdrop of rugged canyon country. This tour pairs naturally with our Lower Loop Day Tour, which covers Yellowstone's geyser basins and hot springs. Guests wanting to see the full park often book both as back-to-back day trips from Bozeman. Yellowstone also holds a rich cultural history—from its deep significance to Native American tribes to the Buffalo Soldiers and other early stewards who helped safeguard its lands. Your day is designed to connect these natural and human stories so the Park feels more alive, layered, and meaningful. This exclusive tour is crafted to be seamless and stress-free, with expert guiding, thoughtful pacing, and flexible routes that highlight the very best of Yellowstone’s scenery, history, and wildlife.

from
$995
Grand Teton National Park Tour
Duration
8 to 9 hours
Group Size
2 to 14

Grand Teton National Park Tour

Step into the heart of Grand Teton National Park on a full-day private journey designed to deliver the park’s most unforgettable viewpoints, stories, and seasonal wildlife opportunities—without feeling rushed. From the cottonwood-lined bends of the Snake River to the jagged skyline of the Teton Range, your day blends breathtaking scenery with the human history that shaped Jackson Hole. Along the way, we’ll weave together the region’s deep timeline—from ancient seabeds and glaciation to earthquakes, landslides, and the forces that built this dramatic landscape. You’ll also hear the real stories of Native American tribes, mountain men, pioneering women, artists, scientists, entrepreneurs, and captains of industry who left their mark here. A signature moment of the day is your one-hour Jenny Lake Scenic Boat Cruise, gliding across a glacial lake tucked beneath the Tetons. Keep your eyes open for wildlife such as moose, elk, pronghorn, mule deer, beavers, eagles, osprey, bears, coyotes, and foxes (sightings vary). We’ll handle the logistics—so you can soak up the views.

from
$895
Yellowstone's Grand Loop landscape
Duration
2 days
Group Size
2 to 10

2-Day Yellowstone National Park Tour

This two-day, privately guided tour explores the full sweep of Yellowstone’s Grand Loop, giving you time to see the park the way it was meant to be experienced—unhurried, immersive, and deeply memorable. Instead of trying to fit everything into a single, rushed day, you’ll spend one full day on the Lower Loop and one full day on the Upper Loop, each offering a different side of Yellowstone’s story. Over the course of two days, you’ll visit many of the park’s signature sights—Old Faithful and its surrounding geyser basins, the vivid colors of Grand Prismatic Spring, the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, Hayden and Lamar Valleys, Mammoth Hot Springs, and Yellowstone Lake—along with quieter overlooks, picnic spots, and short walks that most visitors never find. With more time, your guide can adjust the route to follow wildlife activity, lighting conditions, and your interests. Along the way, you’ll learn how fire, ice, and an active supervolcano shaped this landscape, and how people—from Indigenous nations to e

from
$2,995
3-Day Yellowstone & Grand Teton National Park Tour
Duration
3 days
Group Size
2 to 10

3-Day Yellowstone & Grand Teton National Park Tour

This three-day private tour departs and returns to Bozeman, Montana, tracing a single, sweeping route through the heart of Yellowstone National Park and into the valley floor of Grand Teton National Park. Day One is a full traverse of Yellowstone's wildlife corridors and canyon country — Mammoth Hot Springs, the Lamar Valley, Tower Fall, Dunraven Pass, and the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone — before continuing south to Jackson Hole. Day Two is spent entirely in Grand Teton National Park, centered on a scenic Jenny Lake cruise and a tram ride to the summit of Rendezvous Mountain. Day Three returns north through Yellowstone's geyser country — West Thumb, Old Faithful, Grand Prismatic Spring, and Norris Geyser Basin — before a scenic drive home through Paradise Valley to Bozeman. This routing gives guests two complete passes through Yellowstone from opposite directions, bookending a full day immersed in the Tetons. Along the way, your guide weaves together stories of geology, ecology, and human history — from ancient volcanic forces and glacial carving to the Indigenous nations, mountain men, and early explorers who shaped these landscapes. You'll stand where history was made, ride a boat across Jenny Lake at the foot of the Tetons, enjoy a Tram ride to the summit of Rendezvous Peak, and scan the valleys for wolves, bears, bison, and eagles with Vortex™ scopes and binoculars in hand.

from
$3,495
Private Transfers To & From Bozeman International Airport (BZN)
Duration
1 to 2 hours
Group Size
1 to 14

Private Transfers To & From Bozeman International Airport (BZN)

Start your trip with a seamless, private transfer from Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport (BZN). We serve Big Sky (Meadow/Mountain Village/Resort, Moonlight Basin, Spanish Peaks & Yellowstone Club), Gardiner, Paradise Valley (Chico Hot Springs Resort, Emigrant, Sage Resort & Under Canvas), and the Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel in Yellowstone National Park. We'll drop you off exactly where you're staying—hotel, Airbnb, VRBO, or private residence—with professional, flight-tracked service from arrival to doorstep. Each transfer includes up to 30 minutes for a grocery pickup stop along the way. Along the way, you'll receive a comprehensive overview of the Greater Yellowstone region's geology, iconic landscapes, cultural history, and wildlife from your experienced driver-guide.

from
$275
Moulton Barn with Grand Teton peaks, Jackson Hole
Duration
4 days
Group Size
2 to 10

4-Day Jackson Hole, Grand Teton & Yellowstone Tour

This four-day private tour departs and returns to Bozeman, Montana, and is designed around a relaxed, non-strenuous pace — no rafting, horseback riding, or hiking is included at any point. The journey opens with a full traverse of Yellowstone's wildlife corridors and canyon country before continuing south to Jackson Hole for three nights. The middle two days remain entirely within Grand Teton National Park and Jackson Hole: the first at an easy scenic pace, taking in Antelope Flats, Schwabacher's Landing, and Oxbow Bend; the second a bespoke leisure day built around a morning Jenny Lake cruise, a tram ride at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, an afternoon soak at Astoria Hot Springs, and an evening of dinner and stargazing at Snow King Mountain. The final day returns north through Yellowstone's geyser country before a scenic drive home to Bozeman — giving guests two complete passes through Yellowstone from opposite directions, bookending two full days in the Tetons.

from
$3,995
Abstract dark pattern with wavy lines resembling topographic contours.