Quick Details
Tour Highlights:
- Experience the wonders of Yellowstone’s iconic hydrothermal features, explore the geology that has shaped the ecosystem, and enjoy landscapes sculpted by both fire & ice
- Your own local naturalist guide
- Private and customizable tour – just your group!
- Activity level based on your interests and abilities
- High quality optics for all
- Breakfast and lunch – picnic style
- Safe, fun and educational
Rates based on total group size
(not per person)
1 person
$ 1,125
2 people
$ 1,125
3 people
$ 1,200
4 people
$ 1,275
5 people
$ 1,350
6 people
$ 1,425
7 people
$ 1,500
8 people
$ 1,575
9 people
$ 1,650
10 people
$ 1,725
Eleven+ people
Call to book
Rates do not include a 2.5% processing fee
Explore the best of the Yellowstone Volcano, one of the largest active volcanoes in the world, with a local expert guide. Yellowstone has more than 200 active geysers and over 10,000 thermal features; there is so much to explore! We will show you our favorite geysers, colorful springs and bubbling mud pots, and some local secrets along the way. This tour will be crafted around your interests and abilities and can include a longer hike to some off-the-beaten-path features as well! You will see all of these amazing features and begin to understand how and why Yellowstone is such a hotspot for them.
This day will take us down the west side of the park as we explore and unravel the mysteries of the awe-inspiring geological and thermal features for which Yellowstone drew national attention to become the world’s first National Park in 1872.
A major focus of this tour is an eruption of the world’s most famous geyser, Old Faithful. This remarkable feature, named in 1871 prior to the establishment of Yellowstone, has remained reliably “faithful” in its eruptions, and continues to awe visitors with its incredible raw power and predictable behavior. In the area surrounding Old Faithful, we can hike through a huge concentration of colorful, active pools that are home to their own fascinating ecosystems, as well as potentially witness eruptions of other spouting geysers with names like Beehive, Castle, Grand, Lion, Grotto, and Riverside!
Throughout the day, your guide will be sharing the fascinating and complex ways in which volcanism, glacial periods, plate tectonics, and hydrology have shaped the landscape and laid the foundation for the ecology and wildlife we see in and around Yellowstone today.
Stops may include:
- Old Faithful – Yellowstone’s most iconic feature and the world’s most famous geyser!
- Grand Prismatic – A dramatic rainbow of colors that make up the world’s 3rd largest hot spring, and perhaps a short hike to a scenic overview allowing for an aerial view of this thermal jewel.
- Fountain Paint Pot– All four types of thermal features found in the world are concentrated along one short ½-mile boardwalk.
- Gibbon Falls – Gibbon River cascades 88’over the edge of the caldera left by Yellowstone’s most recent major volcanic eruption – roughly 640,000 years ago.
- Norris Geyser Basin – An otherworldly landscape of porcelain pools and hissing steam home to the unpredictable Steamboat Geyser, the tallest active geyser in the world!
- Mammoth Hot Springs – Ethereal and pristine chalky-white travertine terraces that are constantly growing and shifting–sometimes from one day to the next!
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May – August
- Gardiner, MT, Sage Lodge & Chico Hot Springs: 6:00am
- Mammoth Hot Springs: 6:15am
- Norris Geyser Basin: 6:45am
- Canyon Visitor Center: 7:00am
- Madison Junction: 7:15am
- Old Faithful Visitor Center: 7:45am
September – October
- Gardiner, MT, Sage Lodge & Chico Hot Springs: 7:00am
- Mammoth Hot Springs: 7:15am
- Canyon Visitor Center & Norris Junction: 8:00am
- Madison Junction & Old Faithful Visitor Center: 8:30am
estimated drive times between park locations:
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This is as a full day tour starting early in the day to take advantage of the cooler, less-crowded morning hours. You can expect to be with your guide for 6-10 hours based on the following:
- You can plan on at least 5-6 hours with your guide and up to 10 hours if your tour starts from Mammoth or Gardiner, MT.
- Pickups at Old Faithful and Madison should plan on 6-7 hours of guide contact time. Pickups in Gardiner or Mammoth can plan on 9-10 hours. Canyon or Norris pickups can plan on 7-8 hours.
- Groups with younger children under 5 can plan on 6-8 hours
- You can plan on at least 5-6 hours with your guide and up to 10 hours if your tour starts from Mammoth or Gardiner, MT.
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Your Tour Includes:
- Full-day (*6-10 hour) private guided tour
- *Total tour length varies by pickup location (pickups locations farther from Old Faithful will be closer to 8-10)
- *Groups with children under 5 can plan on 6-8 hours (based on pickup location – pickups farther from Old Faithful will be closer to 6-8 hours)
- Transportation in our fully equipped touring vehicle (we drive, you enjoy the scenery)
- Plenty of space for gear and extra clothing
- Breakfast pastries and hot drinks (coffee, tea, hot cocoa)
- Healthy and hearty snacks and beverages
- Full picnic lunch spread
Gratuity is NOT included in the price of the tour. Tipping your guide is a common practice in North America, and tips are an important part of their income.
What to Bring
- Warm clothes for cooler early morning hours
- Dress warmly so that you can comfortably be out in the elements during the cold hours of the dawn. You will be at high elevations in the Rocky Mountains, and temperatures will be unseasonably cold. Be prepared!
- Close-toed shoes/hiking boots
- Long pants
- Sweater/sweatshirt
- Windbreaker/rain jacket
- Hat and gloves
- Duffle/backpack to store warm clothing as the day warms up
- Water bottle (reusable) *please remember to drink plenty of water at this high altitude
- Sun hat
- Sun glasses
- Sunscreen
- Lots of questions and curiosity!
- Full-day (*6-10 hour) private guided tour
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BOOKING, DEPOSIT, & FINAL PAYMENT POLICIES:
In order to reserve your tour, a $200.00 deposit per tour day is due at the time of booking. Preferred payment method is via credit card through our secure booking system. The balance due will be charged to the card on file 30 days prior to your tour departure date.
CANCELLATION POLICY OPTIONS:
The Cancellation Policy that you select at the time of booking will apply to your reservation.
TRIP PROTECTED FLEXIBLE CANCELLATION POLICY +12% OF TOUR TOTAL COST
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- If you cancel your tour 24 hours before your scheduled tour, your tour fee is fully refundable minus a $50.00 processing fee.
- If you cancel within 24 hours your tour fee is 65% refundable minus a $50.00 processing fee.
- We are unable to offer any refund for no-shows or tours canceled after the scheduled departure time
- The “Trip Protected Cancellation Policy” fee will be charged within 48 hours of booking and a receipt will be emailed to the email address on file
The 12% Trip Protected Fee is non-refundable. If you booked online, the “fees” charged by the third-party booking system are also non-refundable.
Rescheduling Your Tour with Us: We are happy to reschedule your tour for no additional charge up to 24 hours prior to your tour departure dependent upon availability.
STANDARD CANCELLATION POLICY
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- If you cancel your tour more than 30 days in advance of your tour start date, you will receive a full refund minus a $50.00 processing fee. If you booked online, the “fees” charged by the third-party booking system are also non-refundable.
- If you cancel your tour within 30 days of your tour start date, we are unable to offer a refund.
Should your tour need to be canceled due to factors beyond our control, including (but not limited to) extreme weather conditions, wildfire, natural disaster, park closure, airline cancellations, war, government shutdown, pandemic, or an “Act of God” we are unable to offer a cash refund.
As a small business, we regret that we are rarely able to make exceptions to our Standard Cancellation Policy. ***We strongly recommend that you select the “Trip Protected Cancellation Policy” or purchase third-party travel insurance in order to protect your investment in case of unforeseen events affecting your travel plans.***
Rescheduling Your Tour with Us: We are happy to reschedule your tour for no additional charge up to 48 hours prior to your tour departure dependent upon availability.
Updated 7/23/24
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Yellowstone National Park is a reminder that everything is connected and that its landscapes thrive through balance, diversity, and coexistence – as do all of us.
When the world feels divided, we turn to this wild place for lessons in how to move forward together.
At Yellowstone Wild, we promise to lead by example. We will choose curiosity over judgment, compassion over indifference, and connection over division — both on and off the clock.
We welcome our guests into an environment of shared discovery guided by kindness and curiosity. On our tours, we honor the backgrounds, beliefs, and cultures each guest brings, while holding firm to the expectation of respect for one another and to this place we all care for.
We believe our tours, though limited in time, have the power to establish common ground, form connections, and share experiences that bring us closer together as humans.
Ethics, Regulations & Responsibility
Yellowstone Wild operates as a licensed Commercial Use Permit holder under the National Park Service (NPS). This means we are required to follow—and strictly enforce—all NPS rules and regulations. Beyond that, as lifelong advocates for wildlife and wild places, we uphold our own ethical wildlife-viewing and resource protection standards.
Our goal is to provide exceptional viewing and photography opportunities without negatively impacting wildlife or the natural fluctuations of ecological processes. That balance is only possible when animals are allowed to move, feed, rest, and hunt without interference, and our geologic features are allowed to function without human tampering.
While on tour with Yellowstone Wild, the following National Park Service regulations apply and are non-negotiable (subject to federal law enforcement). Please note this list is not all-inclusive. You can visit the Yellowstone National Park NPS website for a comprehensive list of all regulations:
- Maintain at least 25 yards from all wildlife
- Maintain at least 100 yards from wolves, bears, and cougars (mountain lions)
- Never approach, follow, or remain near wildlife—including birds—if your presence alters their behavior
- Vehicles must be completely pulled off the road when stopping to view wildlife or load/unload passengers
- Feeding wildlife is illegal
- In thermal areas, travel is restricted to boardwalks and designated trails only
- Throwing anything (including snow or natural objects) is prohibited and may result in fines and/or tour termination
Why These Rules Matter
Wild animals live demanding lives. The ethical responsibility of visiting Yellowstone is to ensure our presence does not add stress, risk, or hardship to theirs. Your guide is trained to read animal behavior, and if an animal shows signs of disturbance, we must increase our distance immediately.
Failure to follow a guide’s instructions—especially regarding wildlife proximity—may result in the immediate termination of your tour, at the guide’s discretion.
Special care must be taken around animals feeding on or resting near carcasses. Approaching these areas can displace animals from critical food sources and may put people at serious risk. Carcasses are often defended by predators and scavenged by multiple species, including grizzly bears. Approaching such areas is strictly prohibited.
Finally, we share this park with other visitors, researchers, and permanent employees. Quiet, respectful behavior ensures the best possible experience for everyone and helps preserve the integrity of wildlife observations and continued preservation of our sensitive thermal features, waterways, and all pristine areas.
At Yellowstone Wild, ethical behavior is an expectation. Meeting these expectations is the foundation of meaningful, safe, and responsible wildlife and wilderness experiences.
Still have questions? Check out our FAQ’s page!