Yellowstone Tour: Upper and Lower Loop in Two Days

172 Ratings

Save

View Gallery (12)

Experience the best of Yellowstone National Park with our 2-Day Upper and Lower Loop Tour. Explore wildlife encounters, short hikes, and boardwalk excursions in the world’s first National Park.

Duration: 2 days

Cancellation: 24 hours

learn more

Highlights

Day One: Journeying North from Jackson, WY

Grand Teton National Park - The journey begins through Grand Teton National Park, heading north towards Yellowstone. There will be a few brief stops for photos along the way. Entrance fees will be collected at the park gate.
Yellowstone National Park - Entering through the south entrance of…

Day One: Journeying North from Jackson, WY

Yellowstone National Park - Entering through the south entrance of Yellowstone National Park, entrance fees will be collected here.

Old Faithful - A stop at Old Faithful will allow us to witness the eruption of the Old Faithful Geyser, along with other geysers and thermal features.

Grand Prismatic Spring - We will explore Midway Geyser Basin, including the stunning Grand Prismatic Spring.

Fountain Paint Pot - A visit to Lower Geyser Basin will offer various thermal features to explore.

Firehole Canyon Drive - Experience the beautiful scenery of Firehole Canyon, with photo opportunities at the waterfalls.

Gibbon Falls - Enjoy the view of this beautiful waterfall on the Gibbon River as we drive by.

Gibbon Meadows - Delight in the scenic beauty and the possibility of spotting wildlife.

Norris Geyser Basin - An optional stop to explore Norris Geyser Basin, depending on time constraints.

Golden Gate Canyon - Capture the scenery and photo opportunities as we descend from the Yellowstone Plateau towards Mammoth Hot Springs.

Mammoth Hot Springs - Explore the terrace formations at Mammoth Hot Springs with short boardwalks and a scenic drive.

Gardiner - Enjoy the descent through Gardiner River Canyon towards the north entrance of Yellowstone, in Gardiner, Montana.

Pray - Relish the beautiful scenery along the Yellowstone River and Paradise Valley as we head north towards Chico Hot Springs Resort.

Day Two: Heading South from Chico Hot Springs Resort or Gardiner, Montana

Paradise Valley - Enjoy the stunning scenery of Paradise Valley and the Yellowstone River as we travel south towards Gardiner, Montana, and the north entrance of Yellowstone National Park.

Mammoth Hot Springs - Another chance to explore Mammoth if time was limited on day one, then onward to Lamar Valley.

Undine Falls - A brief stop at this beautiful waterfall, with some geological points of interest.

Blacktail Plateau Drive - Experience the scenery and potential wildlife sightings as we travel through the Blacktail area of Yellowstone.

Petrified Tree - A quick stop to view and discuss one of the few petrified trees accessible by road in the park.

Lamar Valley - Enjoy the scenery and wildlife viewing opportunities as we travel towards and into Lamar Valley, with chances to spot grizzly bears, wolves, bison, big horn sheep, and more!

Tower Fall - Stop to explore the Tower Falls area, with photo opportunities, short walks, and chances to view big horn sheep, beautiful views, and engaging geology.

Canyon Village Area - Delight in the scenery as we travel over Dunraven Pass towards the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone River, with photo opportunities and wildlife viewing.

Lower Yellowstone River Falls - Various viewpoints and short walks will offer views of the Lower Falls of the Yellowstone River and the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone River, with beautiful scenery, waterfalls, and engaging geology.

Upper Falls - A brief stop and short walk to the Brink of the Upper Falls of the Yellowstone River, offering a beautiful waterfall viewing opportunity.

Hayden Valley - Enjoy the scenery and diverse wildlife viewing opportunities as we travel through Hayden Valley, where bison, wolves, and grizzly bears are often seen. There will be photo opportunities and stops to view wildlife.

Yellowstone Geysers - Mud Volcano Area - If time permits, we will explore the Mud Volcano area, otherwise, we will pass by. This area features interesting thermal features and a short boardwalk walk.

Yellowstone Lake - Enjoy the scenery as we travel past Yellowstone Lake, with photo opportunities and wildlife viewing chances.

Jackson - Heading south from Lake Yellowstone towards Jackson, WY, enjoy the beautiful scenery of the southern end of Yellowstone and Grand Teton as we return to Jackson, WY. There will be photography opportunities and chances to view wildlife on the way south.

What's Included

Hotel pickup and drop-off
Professional guide
Waters and granola bars
Lunch
Binoculars and spotting scope provided

What's Not Included

Breakfast
Dinner
Price of Lodging
Park entrance fees
Guide Gratuity

Additional Information

Discover both the Upper and Lower Loops of Yellowstone National Park over a two-day adventure. This tour is among the most sought-after experiences in Yellowstone. Spend two remarkable days in the world’s first National Park, with an overnight stay at the welcoming Chico Hot Springs Resort (subject to availability) or enjoy the quaint atmosphere of…

Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings

4.9

(172 Ratings)

5 stars

4 stars

3 stars

2 stars

1 star

473rexf

Jul 6, 2025

2 days in Yellowstone - This was one of the best tours we have even been on , the tour guide John, was amazing and made the days just perfect, would highly recommend taking this 2 day tour with Teton scenic floats great to deal with

Review provided by Tripadvisor

Reema_k

Jul 5, 2025

Memorable extraordinary experience! - Fantastic tour of Yellowstone and more. Blane is an excellent guide, very knowledgeable and thorough. We were guided to the best of Yellowstone. Very happy we saw old faithful and beehive eruptions, mud volcano, artist point, prismatic and several waterfalls. Overall very good group of people and memorable experience. Highly recommend this trip!

Review provided by Viator

Anie_a

Jul 1, 2025

We absolutely loved our... - We absolutely loved our recent 2-day trip to Yellowstone National Park with John Putrino! John did a fantastic job from start to finish—from being right on time for hotel pickup to taking care of every detail, including capturing and sharing beautiful photos. He followed through on everything he committed to, and we truly felt looked after throughout. His deep knowledge and attention to detail made the entire experience even more memorable. The tour itself was absolutely fabulous. Each day’s itinerary was thoughtfully organized to highlight the most iconic and breathtaking sights, and the two-day schedule was incredibly efficient—full days that covered so much without feeling rushed. In such a short time, we were able to experience the best of Yellowstone. The tour covered both the Upper and Lower Loops of Yellowstone, showcasing a wide range of the park’s natural wonders—geysers, hot springs, bubbling mud pots, thermal basins, streams, waterfalls, and unforgettable wildlife. We were lucky to spot wolves and several bears, including grizzlies. Even the tour coordinator (pardon me if I got the name wrong—Kilman) was wonderful. Right after we booked, she made sure to gather all our information and helped us feel well-prepared ahead of the trip.

Review provided by Viator

Scenic15139894402

Jun 24, 2025

Perfect! - We had a wonderful experience on our two-day tour of Yellowstone with our amazing guide, John Putrino! Thanks to his passionate, organized, and thoughtful explanations and care throughout the tour, we were able to deeply appreciate and enjoy so many aspects of the park, including its diverse thermal features, waterfalls, scenery, and wildlife. It was an enriching experience that helped us feel more connected to Yellowstone and deepened our respect for the land. Highly recommended!

Review provided by Tripadvisor

Susan

Jun 24, 2025

Incredible 2-day upper and lower loop Yellowstone tour with John! - We took a 2-day Yellowstone tour with John Putrino and it was the best experience we’ve ever had. John was incredibly knowledgeable, guiding the group to all the best views, sites and animal sighting locations while avoiding traffic. We saw an impressive array of wildlife including 3 bears (each with cubs), wolves, elk, pronghorn, sheep, mule deer, and many, many bison. John was very friendly and engaged with each person in the group, sharing in-depth information about everything we saw throughout the 2-day tour. He answered questions from the group about everything from history and geology to wildlife behavior and plant life. Our overnight stay at Chico Hot Springs resort was also amazing and not to be missed. We’d love to come back for another Yellowstone adventure tour. Thanks very much John!

Review provided by Tripadvisor

546anuragp

Jun 24, 2025

A Transformative Yellowstone Experience with the Best Guide Ever - We had the incredible opportunity to go on a two-day guided tour of Yellowstone - one day focused on wildlife and the other exploring the Grand Loop, and we cannot recommend it enough! Our guide, John, was absolutely phenomenal - hands down the most knowledgeable, engaging, and thoughtful guide we’ve ever had. We've been on many great guided tours in different parts of the world, but we're not exaggerating in the slightest when we say that John is the best guide we’ve ever had, and one of the biggest reasons this trip was so unforgettable! From the moment we started, it was clear how deeply knowledgeable and passionate John is about Yellowstone and its ecosystems. His insights were not only informative but shared with such enthusiasm that it made every moment come alive. He patiently answered all our questions, made sure we felt safe at all times, and never once rushed us. He always gave us ample time to enjoy the hikes, take in the views, and truly soak in the magic of the park. John had a wealth of knowledge about the park’s thermal features, wildlife and landscape - and he explained their history and science in a way that was both accessible and fascinating. Whether we were spotting a bear through his scope or standing in awe at the Grand Prismatic Spring, he brought every moment to life with his storytelling and deep respect for the land. It’s clear that John has dedicated his life to exploring and understanding national parks, and that passion shines through in every part of the tour. Thanks to him, Yellowstone became more than just a beautiful place - it became a living, breathing story that we got to be a part of. We’re incredibly grateful for his time, care, and knowledge. This was one of the most memorable trips we’ve ever had, and we wholeheartedly recommend both this experience and John to anyone visiting Yellowstone!

Review provided by Tripadvisor

John_c

Jun 21, 2025

Yellowstone infinitum - You will never see all of these things on your own. Our guide was a mountain of information, and one of the nicest people you'll ever meet.

Review provided by Viator

Laura

Jun 17, 2025

Deep dive into Yellowstone - We thoroughly enjoyed this 2 day whirlwind Yellowstone adventure. Our guide John Putrino’s vast encyclopedic knowledge and genuine passion for the park, its wildlife, and for the iconic natural wonders of Yellowstone, elevated our tour experience to a higher level. Day 1 included a plethora of fascinating facts about each site that we saw—including: geological info, park history, flower and plant identification, and a variety of stories. Day 2 saw John on the radio making sure that we saw as much wildlife as possible. We ended up seeing several bears, Elk, a variety of birds, and herds of Bison. He gave us binoculars and also set up a telescope so that we could see distant animals more closely. John’s dedication to providing an informational, efficient, and exciting tour was much appreciated. Thanks John!

Review provided by Tripadvisor

Flyer221770

Jun 16, 2025

Amazing experience - We had an amazing time on our 2 day tour of Yellowstone. Blane was our guide and he was absolutely fantastic. He was so knowledgeable about everything in and out of the park. He was great with ensuring that we had plenty of photos even taking all of the pictures of me and my fiance! The van stopped at many places for photos and site seeing. There is no way that we would have been able to see as much if we would have taken the trip in our own vehicle. I was hesitant on how it would be loaded with people I didn’t know, but we were paired with some great people that made the trip pleasant! Our overnight stay was at Chico Hot Springs in Montana. The hotel was very “vintage”, the saloon had great food, but they were very busy so the service was a little off at times with very different personalities than I am used to in Texas. Overall, I would definitely recommend this trip to anyone that is questioning taking it. It was well worth the price paid.

Review provided by Tripadvisor

Nehal_t

Jul 9, 2025

It’s not worth the money... - It’s not worth the money .The tour guide skipped 2-3 stops in the itinerary and was rushing at every stop .I travel a lot and this was a disappointment

Review provided by Viator

Check Availability

From $650

up to 8 guests

1 - Adult