GUIDED YELLOWSTONE HIKING TOURS
Lamar Valley - Grand Canyon - Upper Geyser Basin - Fairy Falls
LAMAR VALLEY SAFARI HIKE
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Take a Yellowstone guided tour in the Lamar Valley. There are more animals here than any other location in NorthAmerica, including other parts of Yellowstone. We will lead you to unique vantage points to gaze out over the vast Lamar Valley. The Lamar Valley Safari Hike is the best tour in Yellowstone to see wildlife from the trail: bison, pronghorn, elk, bear, wolf, moose, badger, coyote, eagles, and more. Comfortably watch these unique animals with binoculars and a spotting scope. This is a moderate walk with some uphill over the course of six miles.
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6 hours, 6 miles
Easy to Moderate (depending on your personal fitness level)
200ft (60m) elevation gain and loss throughout the hike
Hike is at 6,000ft (1,828m) elevation
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Tour meets at the Lamar River Valley Trailhead. This trailhead is 1/4 mile past the Lamar Valley Horse Trailhead, which has two outhouses. Go another 1/4-mile to a parking lot for about 25 cars (plenty of room in the morning).
Please visit our Meeting Times and Locations Page for exact coordinates.
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$182 per person
GRAND CANYON RIM HIKE
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No Yellowstone guided tour is complete without a good walk along the rim of the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone River. This is a classic Yellowstone hike. See waterfalls, hike through the pine forest, and watch bubbling mud pots. The hike is a six hour, six-mile loop. There is some up and down along the rim, totaling 500 feet of elevation gain. Our hike meets at the Upper Falls View Parking Area off of the South Rim drive.
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6 hours, 5-7 miles
Moderate to Hard (depending on your personal fitness level)
500ft (150m) elevation gain and loss throughout the hike
Hike is at 8,000ft (2,438m) elevation
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Tour meets at the Upper Falls View Parking Area off of the South Rim Drive (left turn at ‘CANYON VIEWS’ sign).
Please visit our Meeting Times and Locations Page for exact coordinates.
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$182 per person
UPPER GEYSER BASIN HIKE
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If you’re considering a Yellowstone day tour, the famous Old Faithful is a must-see on everyone’s trip. This is a nice way to tour the Old Faithful area. Don’t get stuck in the busy traffic at Old Faithful! Meet us at the Daisy Trailhead to see Yellowstone’s most famous geyser, avoiding parking problems. Explore geysers, hot springs, and steam vents along the Firehole River. The hike is a six hour, six-mile loop. There are some ups and downs along the hike as we follow boardwalks and dirt trails, totaling 500 feet of elevation gain. Along the way we learn about the super volcano that powers these unique geologic features. Frequently we watch Old Faithful erupt from Observation Point as we enjoy a hearty picnic lunch
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6 hours, 6 miles
Easy to Moderate (depending on your personal fitness level)
500ft (150m) elevation gain and loss throughout the hike
Hike is at 8,000ft (2,438m) elevation
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Tour meets at the Daisy Trailhead, 2.5 miles north of the Old Faithful Inn off of the Grand Loop Road.
Please visit our Meeting Times and Locations Page for exact coordinates.
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$182 per person
Fairy Falls and Grand Prismatic Hike
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Grand Prismatic Hot Spring is a must-see on everyone’s trip to Yellowstone National Park. A Yellowstone guided tour can ensure a safe yet exciting adventure. Yellowstone’s largest hot spring is best viewed from above, giving you the vantage point to see the entire spring with a panoramic view. After viewing Grand Prismatic, we hike through the endless pines of the 1988 burn to Fairy Falls. Dropping 200 feet over the edge of the cliff, Fairy Falls is a sight to see! Then, we head to Imperial Geyser for a taste of solitude. Watch the geyser erupt while taking in the colorful waters that surround it. This is the best time to see Grand Prismatic, Fairy Falls, and Imperial Geyser before the massive crowds clog the parking area. The hike is a six-hour, six-mile lollypop loop. The hike is mostly flat along well-maintained dirt and gravel trails with a 200-foot elevation gain. We learn about the super volcano, and we sit to enjoy a hearty picnic lunch next to a towering waterfall or erupting geyser.
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6 hours, 6 miles
Easy (depending on your personal fitness level)
200ft (60m) elevation gain and loss throughout the hike
Hike is at 8,000ft (2,438m) elevation
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Tour meets at the Fairy Falls Trailhead, 5.5 miles north of the Old Faithful Inn, and 1.5 miles south of Midway Geyser Basin Parking Area.
Please visit our Meeting Times and Locations Page for exact coordinates.
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$182 per person
Yellowstone Day Hiking Tour Photos
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![Lamar Valley Safari Hike]()
Lamar Valley Safari Hike
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![Grand Canyon Rim Hike]()
Grand Canyon Rim Hike
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![Upper Geyser Basin Hike]()
Upper Geyser Basin Hike
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![Fairy Falls and Grand Prismatic Hike Yellowstone Hiking Guides]()
Fairy Fall Grand Prismatic
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![Lamar Valley Safari Hike]()
Lamar Valley Safari Hike
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![Grand Canyon Rim Hike]()
Grand Canyon Rim Hike
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![Upper Geyser Basin Hike]()
Upper Geyser Basin Hike
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![Fairy Falls and Grand Prismatic Hike Yellowstone Hiking Guides]()
Fairy Fall Grand Prismatic
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![Lamar Valley Safari Hike]()
Lamar Valley Safari Hike
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![Grand Canyon Rim Hike]()
Grand Canyon Rim Hike
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![Upper Geyser Basin Hike]()
Upper Geyser Basin Hike
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![Fairy Falls and Grand Prismatic Hike Yellowstone Hiking Guides]()
Fairy Fall Grand Prismatic
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![Lamar Valley Safari Hike]()
Lamar Valley Safari Hike
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![Grand Canyon Rim Hike]()
Grand Canyon Rim Hike
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![Upper Geyser Basin Hike]()
Upper Geyser Basin Hike
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![Fairy Falls and Grand Prismatic Hike Yellowstone Hiking Guides]()
Fairy Fall Grand Prismatic
FAQs
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●LAMAR VALLEY SAFARI HIKE—LAMAR RIVER TRAILHEAD (HIKER TRAILHEAD; NOT STOCK (HORSE) TRAILHEAD
From Tower Junction: The trailhead is 14.8 miles from Tower Junction (25 minutes). Turn onto Highway 212 at Tower Junction toward Cooke City. After driving through the Lamar Valley you will pass the Lamar River Stock Trailhead. This trailhead is for horse users. There are two latrines at this location. This is your last civilized bathroom location. On the trail there are many “facili-trees”. The hiker trailhead is another 0.25 mile upstream. This large parking lot for the Lamar River Trail has no latrines. If you get out of your vehicle you will see a small footbridge.
From Cooke City: The trailhead is 18.3 miles from Cooke City (30 minutes). It is located approximately 0.5 mile past the small, white Soda Butte thermal formation. You will smell this if you don’t see it! The parking lot for the Lamar River Trail is on the left. There is a small footbridge here if you get out of your vehicle and look. If you arrive at a parking lot with two latrines you have gone too far. This is the Lamar River Stock Trailhead. The hiker trailhead is 0.25 mile back upstream.
Distance From:
●Canyon Village…..1 hour
●Old Faithful Village…..2 hours 15 minutes
●Lake Yellowstone Village…..1 hour 25 minutes
●Grant Village…..1 hour 55 minutes
●Mammoth Hot Springs Village…..55 minutes
●West Yellowstone, MT…..2 hours
●Gardiner, MT…..1 hour 10 minutes
●Cooke City, MT…..25 minutes
●Big Sky, MT…..3 hours
●Jackson, WY…..3 hours 40 minutes
●GRAND CANYON RIM HIKE (UPPER FALLS VIEW, CANYON VIEWS PARKING AREA)
From Canyon Village: The trailhead is 3.4 miles from Canyon Village (8 minutes). From the four-way stop in Canyon Village, go south on Grand Loop Road toward Yellowstone Lake. You will encounter the North Rim Drive. Stay straight. Turn left on SOUTH RIM DRIVE (your next left turn). You will know this is the correct road because there is a massive bridge over the Yellowstone River. You will cross the Yellowstone River on this bridge and proceed 0.7 miles. Turn left into the Upper Falls View Parking Area (also signs for Uncle Tom’s Trail). This is a large parking lot with latrines.
From West Thumb Junction: The trailhead is 34 miles (1 hour and five minutes) from West Thumb Junction if you are coming from the south. Follow the Grand Loop Road (Highway 20) north along the lake and through the Hayden Valley. The turn for the South Rim Drive will be a right hand turn shortly after leaving the valley. If you hit Canyon Village you have gone too far.
Distance From:
●Canyon Village…..10 minutes
●Old Faithful Village…..1 hour 10 minutes
●Lake Yellowstone Village…..30 minutes
●Grant Village…..1 hour
●Mammoth Hot Springs Village…..1 hour
●West Yellowstone, MT…..1 hour 10 minutes
●Gardiner, MT…..1 hour 10 minutes
●Cooke City, MT…..1 hour 30 minutes
●Big Sky, MT…..2 hours
●Jackson, WY…..2 hours 30 minutes
●UPPER GYERSER BASIN HIKE—DAISY TRAILHEAD
From Old Faithful Village: The trailhead is 3 miles from the historic Old Faithful Inn (10 minutes). Go north 2 miles from the overpass near Old Faithful Village. The trailhead parking lot is on the left side of the road. If you find yourself at Fairy Falls trailhead, you’ve gone too far.
From Madison Junction: The trailhead is 14 miles from Madison Junction three-way stop. It takes 20 minutes. Go south from Madison Junction. The trailhead is on the right side of the road 2 and a half miles past the Fairy Falls trailhead. If you see Black Sand Basin on your right, you’ve gone too far (if you are at the overpass to Old Faithful, make yourself a u-turn).
Distance From:
●Old Faithful Village…..10 minutes
●Grant Village…..35 hour
●Lake Yellowstone Village…..55 minutes
●West Yellowstone, MT…..45 minutes
●Canyon Village…..1 hour
●Mammoth Hot Springs Village…..1 hour 15 minutes
●Gardiner, MT…..1 hour 30 minutes
●Big Sky, MT…..1 hour 40 minutes
●Jackson, WY…..2 hours 10 minutes
●Cooke City, MT…..1 hour 40 minutes
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●We meet at 8AM at the designated trailhead (Lamar Valley Safari Hike: Lamar River Trailhead—Grand Canyon Rim Hike: Upper Falls View Parking Area off South Rim Drive—Upper Geyser Basin Hike: Biscuit Basin Trailhead)
●We return to the trailhead around 2PM (+ - 30minutes, depending on group pace)
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YHG active travelers are all fitness levels and ages!
●Upper Geyser Basin Hike (our easiest hike)—six miles, 200-300ft elevation gain and loss throughout the hike (at high altitude) on well-maintained trails and boardwalks. (at 8,000ft elevation)
●Lamar Valley Safari Hike (second easiest hike)—six miles, 200-300ft elevation gain and loss throughout the hike on game trails. (at 6,000ft elevation)
●Grand Canyon Rim Hike (third easiest hike)—six miles, 600ft elevation gain and loss throughout the hike (at high altitude) on maintained paths and dirt trails. (at 8,000ft elevation)
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●Water bottle (we recommend two liters per person)
●Rain jacket
●Extra fleece layer/warm hat
●Sun protection (hat/sunscreen/sunglasses)
●Bug spray
●Toilet paper/zip loc
●Camera
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●Light backpack for your lunch and personal gear
●Bear spray
●Trekking poles
●Optic gear
●Sack picnic lunch; light breakfast snack and hot drink
●Knowledgeable and professional guide to safely take you off the beaten path
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The best time to visit Yellowstone depends on your interests. Each of the distinct four seasons offers a different experience.
Spring/Fall can be unpredictable; but July can throw a blizzard your way, too. Typically, May and June are cooler. July and August are warmer; and, September is a toss up.
Yellowstone weather is a powerful force and visitors should be prepared for a variety of conditions depending on the time of year. ●Bring a rain jacket, extra fleece layer and warm hat no matter the time of year.●
Yellowstone Hiking Guides makes the final call on canceling tours due to inclement weather.
Please be aware that road closures occur frequently in Yellowstone during inclement weather. Please visit the National Park Service Web site for current road conditions.
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Restrooms are primitive on the trail in Yellowstone National Park. Please bring paper and a zip loc to pack out your paper (your guide will have extra). Your guide will be reminding you to drink water. Restroom breaks will be necessary.
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Our typical group size is 8-10. Group sizes can be as large as 15.
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YES!
We have found over the years that 8-years-old and older is the perfect age to join our day hikes.
We do not offer child discounts, sorry!