2-DAY YELLOWSTONE
Description
Tour the famed Lower Loop, as well as taking in the Lamar Valley and Dunraven Pass taking in the must-see major points of interest!
Exploring Yellowstone without feeling rushed takes on a different feel even though these are still full days. It allows the latitude of slowing down, a bit, and that first day ends at a civil hour as opposed to the desire to doze through the last 2 hours in a vehicle when one takes on the Lower Loop in one full day. Quit pushing, enjoy more.
There will be ample time to learn about the flora, fauna, history, and geology while exploring Yellowstone National Park, including an extensive drive through part of Grand Teton National Park.
Entering Yellowstone from the South Entrance, we drive up the Lewis River Canyon, passing Lewis Falls, Lewis Lake, West Thumb and on to visit Old Faithful, Grand Prismatic Hot Spring and Excelsior Geyser Crater, and the Lower Geyser Basin, stopping for a picnic lunch in Firehole River Canyon or in the near vicinity. We will exit the caldera and pass through the Golden Gate, and descend to Mammoth Hot Springs, eventually exiting the park at Gardiner, through the North Entrance, and dropping down the Yellowstone River to Chico Hot Springs, dating back to 1900, arguably the most interesting stop in Montana. Sometimes guests stay in Gardiner to bring a close to their full day.
Passing back through the North Entrance at Gardiner and back through Mammoth, our road continues along northern portion of the upper loop, beyond Tower-Roosevelt to Lamar Valley considered the Serengeti of North America. Time permitting, we will exit the Northeast Entrance with a brief stop in Cooke City before retracing our steps back to Tower Junction and over Dunraven Pass to Canyon Village before heading to the famed lower falls of the Grand Canyon on the Yellowstone River, passing through Hayden Valley, and south to Jackson.
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Another option, if the tour happens to be returning to West Yellowstone if that was the origination of the trip, leaves time to consider options simply not possible with the drive south to Jackson- from hikes, to museums, slowing down to explore Canyon or even Norris geyser Basin depending on the preference of the group. This is an option to explore the park with potentially shorter driving days. Either way, remember, you are on vacation!
Pricing
$1,525/day pricing is based on a private tour for up to 5 guests, with additional guests up to 10 persons at $100 each/day.
Pricing Includes:
- Natural snacks and drinks throughout the day
- Guiding Services
- Private Transportation
- Use of professional binoculars and spotting scope
Pricing Does Not Include:
All private tours have various lunch options we will cover on the phone to accommodate the group
Personal Expenses
- Souvenirs
- Gratuities
- National Park Pass (required for guests. These are $80 which covers 4 people per calendar year and is good for all National Parks. Senior passes are lifetime. Children 15 and under are free.)
Schedule
Day One
If we come from Jackson, focusing on geothermal activity and wildlife, the potential to see more animals while passing thru Grand Teton National Park is a definite added bonus to the Yellowstone adventure. Overall, departure from West Yellowstone equates to less driving time while eliminating the drive through Grand Teton National Park. That is the beauty of a private tour- it affords flexibility.
On the first day entering the Park from West Yellowstone gives the group the option for an early departure the first morning, focusing on geothermal activity. An early jump in the morning would be by preference of the group and usually equates to more animals, potentially smaller crowds, and more time in the afternoon of Gardiner or quality time at Chico Hot Springs. Tip: Always reconfirm dinner reservations!
Driving through Mammoth Hot Springs and Gardiner, we exit the park for the night and stay in either Gardiner, Montana, or the famed Chico Hot Springs- this is an adventure in itself!
Day Two
Passing back through the North Entrance at Gardiner and back through Mammoth, our road continues along the northern portion of the upper loop, beyond Tower-Roosevelt to Lamar Valley considered the Serengeti of North America. Time permitting, we will exit the Northeast Entrance with a brief stop in Cooke City before retracing our steps back to Tower Junction and over Dunraven Pass to Canyon Village before heading to the famed lower falls of the Grand Canyon on the Yellowstone River, passing through Hayden Valley, and south to Jackson, having experienced the length and breadth of the park passing through 3 of the 5 entrances in just two days.
If we are returning to West Yellowstone, after seeing the Lower Falls of Yellowstone River, Canyon Village, and Hayden Valley, we drive either west to Madison Junction or south along Jackson Lake and go over Craig Pass and back through the Geyser Basins to Madison Junction..
Other major points of interest we may see include the Old Faithful/Upper Geyser Basin area, Midway Geyser Basin, Firehole Lake Loop, Fountain Paint Pots, Firehole River Canyon, Gibbon Falls, and the Lake Yellowstone Hotel area..
Lodging
Arrangements for the night’s accommodation vary and can be made at the discretion of the guest, or we may help with this at the time of your booking. This can eliminate last minute confusion, but dinner reservations are always highly advisable.
Items to Bring
- Warm clothing (in layers)
- Hat and/or Sunglasses
- Swimwear,
- Towel
- Rain Jacket
- Camera
"Fun Had for the Entire Family!"
Our tour guide, Greg, was fantastic! He was able to guide us to the park highlights, in a way that kept us from being overwhelmed by the crowds, even though we visited the park in early August. His knowledge of the park kept everyone from my 10-year-old son to my 75-year-old father-in-law engaged. Plus, he was plain nice, funny, and helpful--definitely something you want in a tour guide. We all came back from the trip with a deeper appreciation of Yellowstone and its history. (Oladapog1, Yellowstone Lower Loop Full-Day Tour, August 2019)
Best Tour Ever!
Review of 2-Day Yellowstone National Park
The best tour I have ever done! Greg Eich is an amazing guide! He had a wealth of knowledge about the park and wildlife. He was able to answer every question we had and then some. My daughter also left something behind in our van and he drove to our campsite to return it! I could not have asked for anything more in this tour. Gorgeous landscapes, tons of wildlife and an excellent guide! Thank you Greg! Date of experience: July 2020 Reviewed July 16, 2020
I Need to Know More!
All our tours are both private and modifiable. Sign of the times! We are eager to make your experience memorable, and that means connecting you to as many features as possible that are aligned with your area of interest. Would you like to hear about some of the options? Talking through the alternatives in advance is the best way to ensure you will be happy with your choice to explore the Greater Yellowstone ecosystem with Greater Yellowstone Adventures. Let's talk! 307-690-6374