Lower Loop Van Tour from West Yellowstone: Grand Prismatic and Old Faithful
Recommended by 98% of travelers
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West Yellowstone, USA
- 8 hours (approx.)
- Pickup offered
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
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Overview
Explore Yellowstone's famous Lower Loop the easy way on a small-group van tour that takes you to highlights like the Old Faithful geyser, Shadow Canyon, Yellowstone Lake, and the Grand Prismatic Hot Springs. Leave the driving to a professional and ride with a small group of fellow travelers, stopping along the way for short hikes, wildlife watching, and to admire the best scenic overlooks.
- See the best of Yellowstone without the stress of driving or choosing trails
- Stay energized with an included lunch, snacks, and non-alcoholic drinks
- Plenty of stops along the way to take photos and admire the views
- Small-group tour is an affordable yet social way to see the park
What's Included
- LunchSandwich, apple, nuts, snacks (Turkey/Veggie/Vegan/Gluten Free Options) *Please notify YHG with any food allergies or dietary restrictions*
- SnacksBrown Bag with snacks
- Air-conditioned vehicleVan with large windows for wildlife sightings
- Spotting scope for viewing wildlife at a safe distance
- Binoculars for viewing wildlife at a safe distance
- Coffee and/or TeaHot coffee/tea/cocoa
- Bottled water
- Soda/Pop
- Entrance fee - Yellowstone Entrance Fee -- Unless You Have an Annual Pass, which is good for 4 people in your party --$20.00 per person
- Gratuities
Meeting and Pickup
You can head directly to your preferred meeting point, or request pickup.
Operating hours.7:00 am
Itinerary
Your tour starts with pickup from your West Yellowstone hotel by air-conditioned minivan. Entering Yellowstone National Park, you’ll set out along the Lower Loop, which links many of the park’s most memorable geysers, waterfalls, and other natural wonders.
Make an early-morning stop to spot wildlife along the shores of the Madison River, followed by two of Yellowstone’s most visited attractions—the Grand Prismatic Hot Springs and the Old Faithful geyser. You’ll wait to see the famous geyser in action before continuing along the loop, stopping to take in views of the West Thumb Geyser Basin, go on a wildlife-watching walk through the Hayden Valley, and enjoy lunch in the park (included). Finally, arrive at the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone River, where you’ll follow your guide on a scenic hike to see the waterfalls and colorful cliffs.
After a full day exploring Yellowstone, you’ll be dropped back at your hotel.
Make an early-morning stop to spot wildlife along the shores of the Madison River, followed by two of Yellowstone’s most visited attractions—the Grand Prismatic Hot Springs and the Old Faithful geyser. You’ll wait to see the famous geyser in action before continuing along the loop, stopping to take in views of the West Thumb Geyser Basin, go on a wildlife-watching walk through the Hayden Valley, and enjoy lunch in the park (included). Finally, arrive at the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone River, where you’ll follow your guide on a scenic hike to see the waterfalls and colorful cliffs.
After a full day exploring Yellowstone, you’ll be dropped back at your hotel.
1
Madison River
30 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
2
Grand Prismatic Spring
45 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
3
Old Faithful
1 hour • Admission Ticket Free
4
Continental Divide
5 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
5
West Thumb Geyser Basin
30 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
6
Yellowstone Geysers - Mud Volcano Area
10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
7
Hayden Valley
30 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
8
Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone
20 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Not wheelchair accessible
- No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
- Most travelers can participate
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 12 travelers
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Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Featured review
Christine_S
Michelle was an awesome guide! Very knowledgeable about the park. We saw a lot of wildlife, bison, elk, and wolves. Windows on van were very clean which was great for viewing and taking pictures along the way. Would highly recommend this guide!
Reviews
4.9
based on 385 reviews
Candace_R, Dec 2025
We really enjoyed our guide and she was very friendly, knowledgeable, and helpful. The brown bag lunch was filled with a variety of snacks, sandwich, fruit, and candy!
Rebecca_L, Nov 2025
Totally totally worth the money. Joshua, our guide was so knowledgeable. Since it was the last day of the season we had a private guide to ourselves. His wife packed us the biggest sack last we have ever had. Hubby and I couldn’t eat everything. So accommodating . 5 plus stars. I am sure we would have missed so many points of interest if we had not had the guide. Thanks for the memories?”!
Jeff_M, Oct 2025
Great time ! The tour guide was excellent! Would recommend to anyone visiting the park! Checked all of the boxes!!
John_G, Oct 2025
Awesome tour of the lower loop. Spencer was a great guide! I really enjoyed the tour as I was the only guest and was able to learn almost more than I wanted to learn about geysers and Yellowstone! Book this!
Daniel_G, Oct 2025
Yellowstone is amazing - the park and the history are unmatched!
Spencer was understated at first….it was raining….but he proved to be a wealth of information and really enjoyable as he shared the park with us
Debbie_B, Oct 2025
There is some walking but it is doable. For those who have trouble stepping up into a van they provide a plastic stool but it isn't very strong.
Ron is a great driver and shared a lot of good information about Yellowstone, much that I didn't know.
Walter_C, Oct 2025
The tour exceeded my expectations
Our tour guide Ron was awesome.
Not only was he an excellent safe driver
He was also thoroughly knowledge about
Yellowstone park and the sites we stopped at.
Hope he is back next year
TeresaH, Oct 2025
Excellent and informative tour! Spencer was a terrific tour guide who was very interesting, highly knowledgeable and with a warm and friendly demeanor. He made this trip a wonderful experience!
Lisa_B, Oct 2025
We got to the highlights of the lower loop. Ron was super accommodating and informative. He made sure we timed it right so we could see Old Faithful erupt. It did not disappoint. He picked a beautiful spot on Yellowstone Lake for our picnic. We had plenty of tasty snacks and Ron was quick to serve hot coffee and hot chocolates when we had a break. We spotted plenty of bison in Hayden Valley and were lucky to see a grizzly bear digging in a field looking for food. Very enjoyable.
Chili_Z, Sep 2025
Unsafe Experience, Dismissive Attitude – Deeply Disappointing
I joined the Yellowstone van tour in September 2025 as a solo female traveler without a car. During the Lower Loop trip, my iPhone 13 Pro (256GB) was completely destroyed when the driver closed the van door.
Here is what happened: I had many belongings in my hands while boarding, and I placed my phone briefly in the door pocket to free my hands, planning to take it back right away. In that very short moment, the driver closed the door, and the phone was crushed. This was not my action — the damage occurred because the driver closed the door.
When I reported this, the company’s response was extremely disappointing. The owner immediately called me with an accusatory tone: “Don’t you think this is your problem?” Instead of empathy, I was met with blame.
I explained repeatedly that now I had no functioning phone, which is terrifying for a solo traveler in Yellowstone. The hotel Wi-Fi was unstable, making it very difficult to manage bookings or rebook flights. My broken phone also made it nearly impossible to share mobile data with my iPad, leaving me with almost no reliable internet. Without a working phone, I could not safely leave the hotel, call for help, or even book transport. Yet these urgent safety concerns were completely ignored.
The company further tried to downplay the damage. The driver reported it was “slightly bent in one corner.” That was false. I sent them clear photos showing the phone was completely shattered and bent. Still, they insisted it “seemed operable,” which is absurd. A phone briefly powering on does not mean it is safe or functional.
Their so-called “solution” was refunding me $199, saying that’s the price of a base iPhone 13 at Walmart. My device was a Pro 256GB model, valued at over $900 on Apple’s website today. More importantly, in West Yellowstone it was impossible to buy a phone nearby. The closest store is in Bozeman, a two-hour trip costing about $270 in transport alone — more than their refund. In reality, their offer did nothing to restore my ability to travel safely.
They also justified themselves by pointing to a small “no phone” sticker on the slot. But this does not excuse the outcome:
• The slot looks like a storage pocket, and many Ford Transit owners online have reported the same design flaw. Some even call it the “phone-destroyer pocket.”
• The driver, not me, closed the door.
• Even with a sticker, it doesn’t absolve a company from responsibility when a traveler is left stranded and unsafe.
This is not about demanding excessive money. It is about safety, fairness, and accountability. Because of this incident, I had to cancel the rest of my tours, losing not just money but also peace of mind.
What was most disappointing was their attitude: cold, dismissive, and unsympathetic. They ignored the fact that I, a solo woman traveler, was left in a vulnerable position with no reliable phone or internet in a remote location.
I cannot recommend this operator. If something goes wrong, they will:
• Blame you immediately, even when their driver’s actions were involved.
• Downplay facts, even when shown clear photographic evidence.
• Provide only symbolic compensation that does not solve the problem.
For solo travelers, especially women, this company is not one you can rely on for safety or support.
Response from Host, Sep 2025
We are sorry that your phone was damaged while you were on our trip, but that does not make the tour an unsafe experience. Our guides are equipped with emergency communication devices that are directly in contact with the National Park Service dispatch in Yellowstone if an emergency arises. Unfortunately your phone was placed in a slot on the door of the vehicle that is clearly marked for no cell phones. I was able to call you on your phone after you sent us a message about the damage. Also I called you a second time after I talked with our insurance agent. Our agent said, unfortunately, that you were at fault for these damages. Also she said that even if Yellowstone Hiking Guides were at fault it would not be our duty to purchase you a brand new phone. Apple iPhone 13s are available refurbished for under $400. We did refund you $199 and allowed you to cancel the next day's tour past the no-cancellation window with a full refund. That is the best we can do in this situation. I know how frustrating and scary it can be to be in a foreign country without 24/7 phone service, but your wireless service provider's coverage did not even work in the Park on the tour that you took with us (Verizon is the best carrier, many others do not work in the Park). Also you had other devices, and your phone still operated every time we contacted you on it. In addition, my insurance agent recommends that you look into your own insurance options like: credit card insurance, travel insurance, or cell phone insurance. Thank you for the review. We are sorry that we fell short in your eyes to remediate this situation as you required.
BETTY_L, Sep 2025
Spencer was very knowledgeable, personable and had a voice that was easy to hear, even with my hearing. He knew the places to stop and could explain the geology of the area at hand.
Spenser’s assistant, Ron, became a best friend and, hopefully, will visit us in the East at some point in the future. We have much more to discuss….🧐
We have already recommended this tour to friends.
Roderick_N, Sep 2025
The lower loop tour was fabulous. Michelle, our tour guide was excellent, funny, very knowledgeable, and courteous. She was a real treat to have as a wonderful guide. She prepared a very thoughtful and delicious lunch. Snacks, fruit, and nuts for us to munch on. Some were organic and vegetarian. Everyone enjoyed it so much. Would recommend her and the tour company, Yellowstone Hiking Tour. She answered all our questions about Yellowstone!
Kathy_L, Sep 2025
It was the best day! We saw all the places listed on our itinerary except Old Faithful. That was ok because we saw it the day before! Grand Prismatic Spring, the lower water fall, and the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone were amazing. We saw lots of Bison, Elk, and even a bear!
Gregory_A, Sep 2025
Outstanding tour provided by Michelle. Extremely knowledgeable about everything in Yellowstone. She went out of her way to maximize what we experienced. Fantastic day!
Karen_R, Aug 2025
Such a lovely all day tour with Emily. She was very knowledgeable and seemed to time every adventure just right - we walked up to Old Faithful and within one minute it went off!!! We also met a wonderful couple and had great conversation and shared experiences!
Julia_B, Aug 2025
Great tour with Dallas. He was very knowledgeable and kept a great pace throughout the day. We saw a few bison and bear I'm the mountains.
Chester_B, Aug 2025
Excellent way to see Yellowstone without having to worry about where you're going. Spencer was very knowledgeable, friendly and made sure everyone was having a good time. He makes a mean turkey sandwich too!
Carolyn_F, Aug 2025
Michelle was energetic, knowledgeable and humorous. We were able to move efficiently through the Lower Loop of the park. She brought us to the highlights with plenty of time for walks to get better views. She was always pointing out hidden gems especially the wildlife. We were able to see osprey, grouse, elk, bison, bears, mountain goats and sheep. I am quite sure she pointed out more I just can't remember. It was so nice not to worry about lunch, snacks or water as they were included and were good. It was also very nice to have Micheele on the Upper Loop tour the next day so she could share her wealth of knowledge about the park and it's wonders.
Christine_S, Aug 2025
Michelle was an awesome guide! Very knowledgeable about the park. We saw a lot of wildlife, bison, elk, and wolves. Windows on van were very clean which was great for viewing and taking pictures along the way. Would highly recommend this guide!
Cecilia_Z, Aug 2025
This is my first solo trip, and it’s been wonderful. Our tour guide, Oliver, was so considerate, professional, and energetic, he took great care of everyone in the group. The group members were also lovely, always willing to lend a hand.
Timothy_C, Aug 2025
This was a nice tour for our family of five. It was great to have someone else do the driving for a day and give the parents a chance to enjoy the sights. This tour hits the big stuff in the Lower Geyser Basin. Handy to have curbside service for the popular spots...Old Faithful, Grand Prismatic, Artist's Point at the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone. Having snacks, drinks and lunch provided was super. Tour guide was knowledgeable and good at interacting with the whole group. Van was roomy. Access to binoculars was a perk we really appreciated, too.
Jacqueline_S, Jul 2025
Excellent trip! Emily was able to offer insights on what we were seeing as well as history. Beautiful access, good driving, and delightful company. Went out of her way to help when I got i needed earlier exit. Rest of family continued with fabulous experience. Thank you!
Diane_W, Jul 2025
This was a great trip. Dallas showed us everything that was promised and more!!! He was entertaining and very knowledgeable!!
Russell_B, Jul 2025
We took the lower loop Yellowstone tour and Spencer was a great guide! Very knowledgeable about the area and has a great sense of humor. Snacks, drinks, and sandwiches for lunch were all provided. Be mindful that this is a National Park so restrooms are spotty, but our guide knew exactly where to take us for a better than average experience! I definitely recommend this trip with Yellowstone Hiking Guides.
JamesLaurinaitis, Jul 2025
Our guide Oliver was incredible! He made the trip so fun and so enjoyable! He did an amazing job connecting with each guest!! I would recommend this trip!
Darren_B, Jul 2025
We had a great time on the tour. Our tour guide Spencer did a fantastic job. He was very knowledgeable
Bruce_L, Jul 2025
Emily was an excellent guide
She was knowledgeable and personable
A nice lunch too!
Great experience
Jamie_P, Jul 2025
Emily was a great tour guide. The stops were great and beyond all expectations. The snack bag and lunch were very tasty. Half of my group is gluten free and the company was very accommodating to our allergy. Would highly recommend!
Bill_H, Jul 2025
Dallas was our guide. Knowledgeable, very friendly and would answer all our questions. He kept the whole group engaged all the time.
Denise_H, Jul 2025
Spencer was awesome! He provided so much information about the park and what we were looking at. He was quite the gentleman - he would drop us off, park the van and then catch up with us.
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