Looking to spend your summer making memories that last a lifetime? Explore one of our nation’s treasures with sightseeing tours in Yellowstone National Park. Specialty sightseeing tours offer personalized experiences that allow you to explore all that Yellowstone has to offer.
Private sightseeing tours in Yellowstone give you an up close and personal look at the wonders of one of our country’s premier national parks. You’ll travel in small vehicles and SUVs, allowing you to travel Yellowstone’s smaller backroads that large buses and other vehicles can’t travel. You’ll be able to stop and pull over for any wildlife sightings of interest, and you’ll also avoid the crowds that flock to Yellowstone during the summer—and all the traffic that accompanies them.
You’ll be accompanied by experienced guides on your tour. They’ll be able to answer your questions and provide you with expert insight of the park and the wildlife who call it home.
Lower Loop Tours
There’s no other place in the world quite like Yellowstone, and private Lower Loop tours let you see some of the park’s major sites in all their glory. During a private Lower Loop tour, you’ll visit the Fountain Paint Pots, Old Faithful Geyser, the Old Faithful Inn, Yellowstone Lake, the Lake Hotel, Hayden Valley, the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, Upper Falls, Lower Falls, Crystal Falls and Gibbon Falls.
Upper Loop/Wildlife Adventure Tours
While most people come to Yellowstone just to visit Old Faithful in the park’s Lower Loop, there’s plenty to see and experience in the north side of the park. Yellowstone’s Upper Loop shows the full diversity of the area’s terrain and wildlife. You’ll visit Rustic Falls, Mammoth Hot Springs, Undine Falls, the Lamar Valley, Tower Falls and Dunraven Pass. You’ll also visit two locations that are closed to large vehicles, Upper Terrace Drive and the Petrified Tree.
One of the best parts about the Upper Loop tours is the ability to see wildlife in their natural habitat. You’ll likely spot bison, black bears, elk, grizzly bears, mule deer and wolves, as well as plenty of avian species. Summer is a special time of year to visit this alpine environment, as the animals are out and fields are filled with wildflowers.
Personalized tours
You can also schedule private day tours according to the elements of the park you want to see most. Just let your guide know what you’d like to see and do, and he/she’ll tailor your trip to your specifications. Whether you want to take a day hike, view wildlife, watch geysers, swim or simply sightsee, you’ll be able to experience Yellowstone in a way that’s most meaningful to you.
Ready for an adventure of a lifetime? Guided Yellowstone sightseeing tour trips are the ultimate outdoor experience in America’s first national park. Contact Yellowstone Tour Guides to book your trip today. Now is a great time to set up your multi-day vacation package for the summer—we’ll help you plan everything from hotels, tours and alternate activities to customize your trip to your interests.
Yellowstone backpacking trips give you the opportunity to experience the wonders of America’s first national park firsthand. Up to 97 percent of Yellowstone is backcountry, i.e., areas where the average visitor doesn’t get to venture into. Very few people get to see the park’s incredible backcountry and all the wildlife that call it home, but you get to see it all when you book a backpacking tour for the summer.
Black Canyon of the Yellowstone Wildlife Adventure
Traversing one of Yellowstone’s great remote canyons, this adventure backpacking trek takes you into the heart of the Northern Range, which is full of wildlife. You’ll have the opportunity to view bison, black bears, coyotes, elk, grizzly bears, pronghorn, wolves and more. Enjoy gorgeous scenery every step of the way.
Gardner’s Hole Fishing or Day Hiking Adventure
This easy-to-moderate trek includes a stop at Gardiner’s Hole and a free day for fishing or hikes up Fawn Pass. You’ll take in incredible scenery along the way and wrap up the journey at Mammoth Hot Springs.
Wapiti Lake/Pelican Valley Adventure
One of the best Yellowstone backpacking trips you can take is the Wapiti Lake/Pelican Valley Adventure trek. This trip is long in terms of miles, but the terrain is easy to traverse. This trip takes you through one of the most heavily-populated areas of the park for bears, offering great backcountry thermal areas and wildlife habitats to explore.
Thorofare/Snake River Adventure
Enjoy the stunning scenery of the Thorofare in this long trek totaling 65 miles. You’ll traverse one of the park’s biggest and most remote valleys, trekking past large streams and the Yellowstone River to take in the scenery and spot wildlife in their natural habitat. You’ll also visit the Snake River Canyon, following the river from its source to Yellowstone’s South Entrance.
Bechler Adventure
If you’re looking for a backpacking trip that has it all, book your spot in a Bechler Adventure trek. You’ll visit Old Faithful and the Lone Star Geyser and then hike over the continental divide to take in the stunning scenery of the Bechler River Canyon and the Ferris Fork Thermal Area.
Heart Lake/Snake River Adventure
This trek begins at Heart Lake and the Heart Lake Geyser Basin, both of which offer great scenery. As the journey continues, you’ll hike to Mt. Sheridan and the Snake River to enjoy a hot spring soak.
Lava Creek Adventure
Backpacking with little ones? Take the two-day Lava Creek Adventure trek. You’ll visit Undine Falls with the option to visit Lake Falls. You’ll take an easy hike to your campsite for the night, featuring unmatched views of Undine and Lower Undine Falls. To wrap up the trip, you’ll stop by Boiling River to enjoy a comfortable soak surrounded by incredible scenery.
Ready to book guided Yellowstone backpacking tours? Contact Yellowstone Tour Guides today. Those looking for backpacking trips in 2022 should contact us before February 1 to secure your dates—we’re filling up fast for the summer. Make your reservation today.
Want to get up close and personal with the vibrant wildlife in and around Yellowstone National Park? Late fall and early winter is an ideal time to book Yellowstone National Park tours, since crowds are low and wildlife is still active. Here’s what you can expect to see on Yellowstone guided tours this winter.
Wolves
Wintertime is the best time of year for viewing wolves in their natural Yellowstone habitat. When a deep snowpack covers the ground of the park, it’s easier to spot the wolves going about their daily activities. Their beautiful, dark coloring makes them stand out in stark contrast against the white snow.
Lamar Valley is a particularly good spot to view wolves, and with Yellowstone guided tours, you have access to a knowledgeable guide for the duration of your trip. An experienced naturalist answers all your questions about these magnificent creatures, including unique insights into their habits and habitats.
Bison
Lamar Valley is a particularly good spot to view wolves, and with Yellowstone guided tours, you have access to a knowledgeable guide for the duration of your trip. An experienced naturalist answers all your questions about these magnificent creatures, including unique insights into their habits and habitats.
Owls
Owls are birds of prey, and it’s a regular occurrence for winter visitors to the park to catch them in flight as they search for rodents on the ground. They’re usually spotted in the woods of the Northern Range, swooping into lower elevations to find their next meal.
Elk
The largest elk herds in Yellowstone spend the winter along just north of the park’s winter boundary. These icons of the West form large herds, giving winter visitors an incredible look at how these animals coexist together.
Trumpeter Swan
Named for its distinctive call, the trumpeter swan is North America’s largest wild waterfowl. They mainly nest in wetlands and form larger groups in winter. You may catch them migrating in search of a new habitat to brave the cold temperatures of the winter together.
American Bald Eagle
The symbol of the nation, the American bald eagle lives year-round in Yellowstone National Park. This unmistakably-large, dark bird with a white head is always searching for food in winter, and you’ll usually spot them near rivers or streams looking for fish. They’re commonly spotted on the northern border of the park in lower elevations where food is more available during the cold winter months, and they’re often joined by other species including rare golden eagles.
Now is the best time to book Yellowstone National Park tours that allow you to get a unique glimpse of the area’s incredible wildlife. Contact Yellowstone Tour Guides today to book a journey of a lifetime.
You’ll fly into Bozeman for two or more days, touring the Northern Range and Lamar Valley. Since now is the quietest time to visit the park, you’ll get an undisturbed look at nature’s wonders. For those arriving after December 15, we can even build a snow-coach trip to Canyon or Old Faithful
Our winter wildlife weekend getaways are available through the end of May, so reach out today to start your journey.
In the mood for a fall getaway you’ll never forget? Yellowstone National Park tours are ideal for year-round travel, but they’re especially breathtaking in the fall and early winter. The Northern Range remains open for you to enjoy.
Here’s a breakdown of what you can expect to see and do on Yellowstone guided tours to the beautiful Northern Range.
Scenic drives
Most of Yellowstone National Park is closed to vehicular traffic during winter, but routes between Cooke City and Gardiner remain open. These scenic drives are beautiful in all seasons, especially during winter when snow blankets the ground.
Starting from Gardiner, you’ll take the park’s northern entrance road to Mammoth Hot Springs. Then you’ll follow east on Grand Loop Road, taking in Yellowstone’s beautiful high country. As you continue, you’ll see the impressive canyon between the 11,000-foot Abiathar Peak and the 10,200-foot Amphitheater Mountain.
The total distance of this scenic drive is 57 miles, and guided Yellowstone National Park tours help you take in this beautiful scenery at a leisurely pace. Let professionals do all the guiding and driving, so all you have to do is relax and enjoy the natural wonders of Yellowstone.
Photography opportunities
Want to get in touch with your inner Ansel Adams? You can do just that with a tour of the Northern Range. You can take impressive shots of colorful hot springs, bubbling pools and geysers set against the dramatic backdrop of snowcapped mountains, waterfalls and active wildlife during winter.
Hot springs
Most of the hot springs in Yellowstone are too hot for you to safely interact with them, but you can at the Boiling River, also known as Gardiner River. You’ll enjoy the unique sensation of hot and cold water mixing in pools along the river’s edge. The access point to this location is located between Gardiner and Mammoth Hot Springs. After a short hike, you’ll arrive at the hot springs for a sensory experience like no other.
Wildlife
There’s never a bad time of year to experience Yellowstone’s vibrant and varied wildlife. While many animals hibernate during the winter season, you’ll still have a chance to see wolves, coyotes and mountain goats going about their day set against the dramatic winter scenery.
Yellowstone is particularly rich in avian life, with over 330 species documented in the park. It’s highly likely you’ll encounter a variety of birds during your visit, from graceful raptors to majestic bald eagles. You may even catch a glimpse of the rare peregrine falcon, osprey or great horned owl.
Although winter weather is settling in, there’s still time to get in a last-minute weekend getaway. While the park’s roads have closed, the Northern Range remains open. Enjoy it without the crowds by reaching out to the team at Yellowstone Tour Guides today. Contact us, and all you have to do is fly into Bozeman. We’ll take care of you from there, coordinating Yellowstone guided tours, transportation and lodging. Reach out to us today to take advantage of this unique opportunity.
One of the most popular attractions in the United States, Old Faithful is a majestic cone geyser situated in Yellowstone National Park. People come from all over the world for Yellowstone guided tours so they can view the wondrous eruption of Old Faithful; however, not many know the geyser’s extensive history.
Read on if you’re interested in learning about the landmark that’s become a staple of American culture.
Old Faithful’s discovery
Old Faithful was discovered on September 18, 1870 by members of the Washburn Expedition. It was the first geyser discovered in Yellowstone National Park and gets its name because of the frequency at which it erupts. One of the explorers, Nathaniel P. Langford, wrote about this during the expedition.
“It spouted at regular intervals nine times during our stay, the columns of boiling water being thrown from 90 to 125 feet at each discharge, which lasted from 15 to 20 minutes,” said Langford. “We gave it the name of ‘Old Faithful.’”
Before Old Faithful became a popular tourist attraction, people would use the geyser to wash their clothes. They would place their dirty clothes in the crater and wait for an eruption. This process thoroughly cleaned clothes made from cotton, but the eruption would completely destroy clothes made from wool.
More about the geyser
Since its discovery, Old Faithful has erupted more than one million times. While some people claim the geyser erupts once an hour, it actually erupts around every 91 minutes, though this can vary. This usually results in around 20 eruptions per day. During an eruption, water usually shoots over 100 feet in the air, sometimes reaching as high as 140 feet. These eruptions usually last a few minutes or so.
A lot of water gets shot out of Old Faithful during an eruption. In fact, scientists think that somewhere between 3,500 and 8,400 gallons get shot out during each eruption. The water that shoots out can range in temperature, though it’s always extremely hot. On average, the water comes out at 204°F, and the steam reaches temperatures of 350°F—that’s why it’s important to keep a safe distance from Old Faithful.
Other geysers in Yellowstone National Park
While Old Faithful is the most popular geyser in Yellowstone National Park, there are plenty of others to see. In fact, there are over 500 geysers located in Yellowstone National Park. The Norris Geyser Basin, for example, is home to several beautiful geysers, including the Corporal Geyser, Fearless Geyser and Echinus Geyser. The Norris Geyser Basin is the hottest in Yellowstone National Park. Other popular geyser basins include the Lower Geyser Basin, Midway Geyser Basin and many more.
See Old Faithful for yourself
If you’re visiting Yellowstone National Park, you don’t want to miss out on seeing Old Faithful! When you’re ready for a visit, make sure you sign up for one of our Yellowstone guided tours to ensure you get a great view of the majestic geyser. At Yellowstone Tour Guides, we offer a variety of excellent tour packages, all available at fair prices.