The Upper Loop of Yellowstone National Park is a famous day trip that allows visitors to see multiple prominent features of the park in just one day. It is a great choice for those who have already explored the Lower Loop and wish to further explore the park.
Description
The Upper Loop of Yellowstone National Park is one of the iconic day trips in Yellowstone. This tour lets you see many prime features of Yellowstone National Park in one day. The Upper Loop of Yellowstone is a good option if you have already toured the Lower Loop and want to see more of the park. Chances of seeing wildlife in Yellowstone is always good but it is especially good in this northern part of the park as we travel the Lamar Valley area. You will see that the Lamar Valley is home to large herds of bison (buffalo) ,gray wolf, black and grizzly bear, eagle, elk, moose, and coyote.
The Upper Loop of Yellowstone allows vistas of large natural beauty areas with wide-open spaces. It is a less traveled area of the park and does not see the crowds of the Lower Loop. The Upper Loop includes Mammoth Hot Springs, the largest collection of terraced limestone hot springs in the park, as well as Tower Falls, Upper/ Lower Yellowstone Falls, and Norris’s Geyser Basin . Historic man-made sites like Roosevelt Arch, Roosevelt Lodge and Fort Yellowstone are also located in this Upper Loop.
From Jackson we travel through Grand Teton National Park on our way to Yellowstone National Park. We enter Yellowstone from the south entrance and head north.
One of the nice things about this intimate and private tour with Teton Tour Guides is we can adjust our trip depending on your interest and time availability. The typical day starts early at 7:00 AM. Plan about 12 hours so be prepared for a big day in the park.
Cost
$425 Per person (Minimum of 4 people).
Meeting Time : 7 AM
Return Time : 7 PM
Points of Interest/Itinerary
Pick up in Jackson Hole at designated meeting place
Drive through Grand Teton National Park – we stop at Oxbow Bend for a quick coffee and to
view the Teton peaks and Mt Moran with the morning sun cascading across the simmering
granite peaks.
Entrance to Yellowstone National Park
Norris Geyser Basin – Norris Geyser Basin is the hottest, oldest, and most dynamic of
Yellowstone’s thermal areas. The highest temperature yet recorded in any geothermal area in
Yellowstone was measured in a scientific drill hole at Norris: 459°F. Steamboat Geyser, the
world’s tallest, currently active geyser is in this basin .
Historic Fort Yellowstone – explore a part of the beginning of the world’s first national park.
Most of the buildings constructed during the early Army era are still standing and are used by
the National Park Service as park headquarters and employee housing.
Mammoth Hot Springs – Mammoth Hot Springs is a large complex of hot springs on a hill of
colorful layered travertine. Terrace Mountain at Mammoth Hot Springs is the largest known
carbonate-depositing spring in the world.
Albright Visitor Center – this historic structure was built by the United States Army in 1909 as
bachelor officers’ quarters for the cavalry troops who protected the park before the creation of
the National Park Service.
Liberty Cap – Liberty Cap is 37 feet tall. It was created by a hot spring with internal pressure
sufficient to raise the water to such a great height, allowing mineral deposits to build slowly and
continuously for perhaps hundreds of years.
Roosevelt Arch – designed by famous Yellowstone architect Robert Reamer, the arch stands 50
feet high and marks the north entrance of the park. The arch was dedicated in 1903 by Teddy
Roosevelt
Lamar Valley – Yellowstone’s huge, wide valleys make excellent habitat for wildlife. Here is your
best chance of spotting bears, wolves, bison, and pronghorn. It’s an effort to get to this area of
Yellowstone but it is well worth it.
Tower Falls – among the highest waterfalls in Yellowstone, Tower Falls plunges a stunning 132
feet. The unusual rock columns north of the falls were created by lava flow that cracked as it
cooled.
Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone- the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone River displays the
park’s complex geologic history in dramatic yellow colors and tones. The Upper and Lower Falls
of the Yellowstone River add to the grandeur of this unique natural treasure.
Exit Yellowstone National Park – the return ride to Jackson with sunset in Teton National Park is
the perfect way to wind down 2 days of exploration in one of America’s favorite National parks.
Stopping along the way to take in the alpenglow behind the Teton peaks.
In addition to the natural wonder sites, we will also encounter much wildlife. Although there
are no guarantees to see wildlife, Yellowstone Upper Loop is known as a habitat for bear,
bison (buffalo), wolf, eagle, elk, deer, and owl.
Teton T our Guides are experts at getting you the most experience in the parks. The park is
vast, so you won’t see everything on one tour. Be aware that events can occur that are out of
our control such as weather, traffic, park conditions (closures) and guest needs that may
require us to alter times and itinerary.
Includes
- Coffee.
- Breakfast snacks.
- Lunch and snacks.
- Transportation and guide for the day.
- Hotel or meeting place pick up and drop off.
- Use of binoculars and spotting scope.
- Use of available Nikon camera bodies and telephoto lenses.
Does not include
- Parks entrance fees.
- SD cards for loaner cameras.
- Guide gratuity.