Over 4 million visitors per year arrive in Yellowstone to see geologic features that occur nowhere else in the world. It is the third most frequented national park in America. The park stretches across 880,000 hectares (2.2 million acres) across three states and is larger than Delaware. These 10 tours in Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming will help you have a unique experience during your time here and make sure to soak up the must-see sights.
Rafting
Yellowstone offers many rafting trips for all experience levels.
1. Easy: Half day rafting on the Yellowstone River (from USD 85.0)
First, the easy trip. Suitable for beginners and children as young as six years old, this trip will traverse Class II and III rapids through some of the most scenic parts of the Yellowstone River. A professional guide will take you down 13 kilometers (8 miles) of river bordering the beautiful Gallatin National Forest.
The raft will stop in calm parts of the river to let everyone off for a refreshing swim. All necessary gear is provided and a safety briefing and instructions are given to the group before departure. A professional photographer will take your group’s photograph and you will be shuttled to and from a drop-off point.
Yellowstone River Rafting 2-Hour Family-Friendly Guided Tour
Duration 2 hours
2. Difficult: Yankee Jim River rafting trip (from USD 70.0)
Craving a little more adventure? This trip is suitable only for adults in good physical condition and takes rafters over Class III and IV rapids through Yankee Jim Canyon. Enjoy beautiful views and thrilling whitewater while your professional guide takes you through this amazing stretch of the Yellowstone River. All equipment, instructions, and a safety briefing are provided, but participants are encouraged to have prior rafting experience.
Yellowstone River Whitewater Rafting through Yankee Jim Canyon
Duration 3 hours
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3. Overnight rafting trip (from USD 325.0)
For the most adventurous travelers, this overnight rafting trip along the Yellowstone River will provide you with a truly unforgettable experience. Travel over Class III and IV rapids while viewing amazing scenery and wildlife. Visitors will get a picnic lunch among the trees and access to a section of the river reserved only for overnight guests. The destination camp for the night has drinks, a campfire, dry clothes, tents, and a bathroom and shower. Guests are allowed to spend the evening here however they wish – walking along the riverbank, roasting marshmallows, or fishing.
Yellowstone River Raft Trip Scenic Overnight Rafting Tour
Duration 2 days
Other Tours in Yellowstone National Park
4. Scenic float on the Yellowstone River (from USD 85.0)
This float allows you to enjoy the serenity and beauty of the Yellowstone River without the stress of white water rafting. Spend two hours meandering 10 kilometers (6 miles) along a gentle stretch of river past the stunning Gallatin and Absaroka Mountains. Keep an eye out for Osprey birds, geese, deer, and eagles during your float. Swimming is allowed in safe areas.
Yellowstone River Scenic Rafting Trip, All-Ages 2-Hour Float
Duration 2 hours
5. Small-group wildlife safari (from USD 299.0)
This 11-person maximum tour begins in the early morning hours to ensure the best chances of wildlife viewing. It starts with a one-hour drive through Grand Teton National Park to view elk and bison on their morning commute. Next, visitors will arrive at Yellowstone and board an all-terrain vehicle to drive through the rugged terrain of the Yellowstone backcountry to view bears, eagles, and wolves. As the day gets later and the animals are less active, the tour will take you by some of Yellowstone’s most famous sites, including Old Faithful, Yellowstone Falls, and Yellowstone Lake. Finally, see the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone before driving back along the same path to look for more wildlife.
From Jackson Hole: Yellowstone Old Faithful, Waterfalls and Wildlife Day Tour
Duration 12 hours
6. Kayak day paddle on Yellowstone Lake (from USD 220.0)
This tranquil tour is suitable for any kayaking experience level. Guests will paddle along the West Thumb Geyser Basin to see geothermic features not accessible by any other means and explore the Potts Geyser Basin, a rare and secluded area of Yellowstone that will have no other people. In addition, you will be able to enjoy a deli-style lunch on a secluded beach and watch for the many animals that live in the park including elk, eagles, and otters.
Yellowstone Lake Kayak Day Paddle History and Geology Tour
Duration 5 hours
7. Grand Canyon of Yellowstone hike
This small group tour will ensure you a private and personalized experience in one of Yellowstone’s most scenic regions. Begin with a light breakfast, followed by a drive through Grand Teton National Park to see native fauna such as bison, moose, and antelope. Once the group arrives in Yellowstone National Park, you will embark on a moderate hiking route, taking in sights such as Hayden Valley and Yellowstone Falls along the way.
Travelers are encouraged to walk at their own pace and stop to take lots of pictures. Finally, arrive at the breathtaking Grand Canyon of Yellowstone. Explore and enjoy a lunch, then head back to the hotel.
Grand Canyon of Yellowstone hike
Duration: 12 hours
Website:
8. Yellowstone Upper Loop self-guided driving tour from Jackson Hole
This self-guided tour is perfect for anyone who wants to remain independent, yet receive guidance from experts in order to not miss any attractions. The package includes an itinerary crafted by an expert, tips on the best places to spot wildlife, recommendations on food, and a mile by mile guide. Just print the tour off at your hotel or download the app on your phone. Sites along the tour include the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone, Norris Geysers, Obsidian Cliff, Huckleberry Ridge, the Petrified Tree, and Lamar Valley.
Self-guided driving tour (Upper Loop)
Duration: 12 hours
Website:
9. Lower Loop full-day tour (from USD 299.0)
This all-day tour includes lunch and ensures you will spend an entire day seeing all the sites the Upper Loop has to offer. First, stop at the Upper Geyser Basin to witness Old Faithful erupt and hope to see other, less predictable geysers such as Beehive, Castle, Sawmill, and Lion Group erupt as well. The group will also visit the Old Faithful Inn.
Moving north, the tour will stop at the Midway Geyser Basin, Fountain Paint Pots, Grand Prismatic Spring, Excelsior Geyser Crater, and more. After stopping for lunch, you will continue driving around the loop, observing the Firehole Canyon Drive, Madison River, Gibbon River Falls, Virginia Cascades, and Elk Park along the way. A major stop will occur at the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone. Finally, the tour will head south through the lower loop to pass through the Mud Volcano, Yellowstone Lake, and West Thumb.
Yellowstone Lower Loop Full-Day Tour
Duration 10 to 12 hours
10. Grand Teton & Yellowstone two-day one-night adventure (from USD 999.0)
No other tour will give you as much of an in-depth look at the native flora and fauna of Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Park as this two-day adventure. Start at Grand Teton early in the morning to see native wildlife such as moose, elk, bison, grizzly bears, wolves, eagles, and more. See Yellowstone Lake, West Thumb Geyser Basin, the Lower Falls of the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone, and then head to Lamar Valley for the afternoon. The second day will begin searching for wildlife in the Lamar Valley, as this is the most likely time to view a wolf in their natural habitat. End the tour by visiting Mammoth Hot Springs, Fountain Paint Pots, Mud Pots, Old Faithful Geyser, and Old Faithful Inn.
From Jackson: 2-Day Grand Teton and Yellowstone Tour
Duration 2.0 day
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Unforgettable
With something for everyone in any situation, one or more of these tours will make your trip to Yellowstone an unforgettable experience. Sign up today to enjoy things that no other visitor will see and get information from experts.