Yellowstone Upper Loop and Lamar Valley Day Trip from West Yellowstone with Lunch
by Yellowstone Hiking Guides
Choose from 1 available option
How do you want to book?
✓Confirmation before Wed, 9 Sept - card's only charged if it's a yes. If it's a no, still time to book on Viator.
Book on Viator Confirmed right away, but you pay full price.$584Overview
This eight-hour van tour departs from West Yellowstone and covers the Upper Loop of Yellowstone National Park, including the Lamar Valley. The tour begins early with a 30-minute stop along the Madison River in Shadow Canyon to use spotting scopes for viewing bears and elk. Next, the van travels toward Mount Washburn, where guests have another 30-minute opportunity to observe wildlife such as grizzly bears and elk while driving and stopping for observation. The tour then continues to Lamar Valley, known for its large variety of mammals and the largest bison herd in North America. Guests spend about one hour here using spotting scopes to look for wolves, bears, bison, mountain goats, moose, and bighorn sheep. A hot drink and morning snack are provided during this stop. After Lamar Valley, the group visits Mammoth Hot Springs Terraces for a 20-minute walk on the boardwalks near the Liberty Cap thermal feature. Those who prefer not to walk may wait near the van in a safe spot. On the return trip to West Yellowstone, the van stops along the Gibbon River meadows area to observe elk and bison. The tour includes lunch, bottled water, tea, coffee, snacks, carbonated drinks, binoculars for personal use, and spotting scopes for safe wildlife viewing. Entrance fees and gratuities are not included.
Highlights
What's included
What's not included
Itinerary
Madison River
Guests spend about 30 minutes using spotting scopes along the Madison River in early morning light to look for bears and elk that frequent this area.
30 min
Mount Washburn
The tour drives up Mount Washburn with stops to observe wildlife including grizzly bears and elk herds over a 30-minute period.
30 min
Lamar Valley
For approximately one hour, guests use spotting scopes to search for more than 60 species of mammals here, including bears, wolves, bison, mountain goats, moose, and big horn sheep. Lamar Valley holds the largest bison herd in North America and is known for its wolf population since their reintroduction in 1995.
60 min
Mammoth Hot Springs Terraces
A short 20-minute walk is taken on the boardwalks near the Liberty Cap thermal feature. Guests who prefer not to walk can stay near the van in a safe, scenic area.
20 min
Gibbon Meadows
On the return trip, the van stops to look for elk and bison along the Gibbon River meadows.
Meeting point
We meet in the parking lot in between the Madison Amphitheater and the Restrooms at 6:45AM. There is no cell service at this location.
End point
We meet in the parking lot in between the Madison Amphitheater and the Restrooms at 6:45AM. There is no cell service at this location.
Languages
Cancellation policy
- Cancel at least 24 hours before start for a full refund.
Additional info
Yellowstone Upper Loop and Lamar Valley Day Trip from West Yellowstone with Lunch
by Yellowstone Hiking Guides
Choose from 1 available option
How do you want to book?
✓Confirmation before Wed, 9 Sept - card's only charged if it's a yes. If it's a no, still time to book on Viator.
Book on Viator Confirmed right away, but you pay full price.$584Overview
This eight-hour van tour departs from West Yellowstone and covers the Upper Loop of Yellowstone National Park, including the Lamar Valley. The tour begins early with a 30-minute stop along the Madison River in Shadow Canyon to use spotting scopes for viewing bears and elk. Next, the van travels toward Mount Washburn, where guests have another 30-minute opportunity to observe wildlife such as grizzly bears and elk while driving and stopping for observation. The tour then continues to Lamar Valley, known for its large variety of mammals and the largest bison herd in North America. Guests spend about one hour here using spotting scopes to look for wolves, bears, bison, mountain goats, moose, and bighorn sheep. A hot drink and morning snack are provided during this stop. After Lamar Valley, the group visits Mammoth Hot Springs Terraces for a 20-minute walk on the boardwalks near the Liberty Cap thermal feature. Those who prefer not to walk may wait near the van in a safe spot. On the return trip to West Yellowstone, the van stops along the Gibbon River meadows area to observe elk and bison. The tour includes lunch, bottled water, tea, coffee, snacks, carbonated drinks, binoculars for personal use, and spotting scopes for safe wildlife viewing. Entrance fees and gratuities are not included.
Highlights
What's included
What's not included
Itinerary
Madison River
Guests spend about 30 minutes using spotting scopes along the Madison River in early morning light to look for bears and elk that frequent this area.
30 min
Mount Washburn
The tour drives up Mount Washburn with stops to observe wildlife including grizzly bears and elk herds over a 30-minute period.
30 min
Lamar Valley
For approximately one hour, guests use spotting scopes to search for more than 60 species of mammals here, including bears, wolves, bison, mountain goats, moose, and big horn sheep. Lamar Valley holds the largest bison herd in North America and is known for its wolf population since their reintroduction in 1995.
60 min
Mammoth Hot Springs Terraces
A short 20-minute walk is taken on the boardwalks near the Liberty Cap thermal feature. Guests who prefer not to walk can stay near the van in a safe, scenic area.
20 min
Gibbon Meadows
On the return trip, the van stops to look for elk and bison along the Gibbon River meadows.
Meeting point
We meet in the parking lot in between the Madison Amphitheater and the Restrooms at 6:45AM. There is no cell service at this location.
End point
We meet in the parking lot in between the Madison Amphitheater and the Restrooms at 6:45AM. There is no cell service at this location.
Languages
Cancellation policy
- Cancel at least 24 hours before start for a full refund.