Cornelius Amann
October 06, 2026
5/5
Yellowstone and Grand Teton: Lamar Valley, Old Faithful and Jenny Lake
7 days from Bozeman to Jackson: two nights each in Gardiner, West Yellowstone and Jackson, Lamar Valley at dawn, Old Faithful and Grand Prismatic early, and a morning on Jenny Lake.
7 days · Bozeman to Jackson · up to 12 guests
Grand Prismatic Spring from the overlook above Midway Geyser Basin Photo: James St. John from Newark, Ohio, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Grand_Prismatic_Spring_2013.jpg)
The facts
At a glance
- Length
- 7 days, 6 nights
- Start and end
- Bozeman to Jackson
- Group size
- 7 to 12 guests
- Longest drive
- 4.5 h on day 5
- Activity level
Moderate
Walks of 1 to 7 km a day, mostly on boardwalks and paved paths at about 1,600 to 2,500 m, where you may feel short of breath at first. The steepest is the rocky 1.5 km climb from the Jenny Lake boat dock to Inspiration Point, about 125 m up; you can stop at Hidden Falls instead. Up to about four hours a day in the van (four to four and a half on the day we move to Jackson), broken by stops, and you can stay with the vehicle at any stop.
- Meals included
- 6 breakfasts, 5 lunches, 1 dinner
- Room of your own
- + CAD 1,250 (estimated price)
- Season
- June to September
Highlights
Why this trip
- Lamar Valley at first light with a local wildlife guide and spotting scopes, and breakfast in the field
- The Mammoth terraces at 8 am, before the tour traffic arrives
- The Lower Falls from Artist Point, then Hayden Valley in the late afternoon
- Grand Prismatic Spring from the boardwalk early and from the overlook once the steam lifts
- Old Faithful erupting, then the Upper Geyser Basin to Morning Glory Pool
- West Thumb on the shore of Yellowstone Lake and Mount Moran from Oxbow Bend
- A morning on Jenny Lake: the shuttle boat, Hidden Falls and Inspiration Point
- The barns of Mormon Row against the Tetons on the way to the airport
What makes this trip different
Short drives, all published
Every drive is listed day by day. The longest is 4.5 h, on day 5.
Free time is part of the plan
Free time and choices are marked on the days they fall.
Solo without the penalty
A room of your own is + CAD 1,250 (estimated price).
Day by day
Itinerary
The longest drive is 4.5 h, on day 5.
Tap any stop on the map to open that dayClick any stop on the map to open that day
Bozeman and Paradise Valley to Gardiner
Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport to Livingston, then south through Paradise Valley to Gardiner
- Welcome dinner
- Stay in Gardiner
- Drive about 2 h
Fly into Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport (BZN) in Belgrade, Montana, and land by about 3 pm; we confirm the group pick-up times with your final itinerary. Your See Sight Tours guide meets you in arrivals, and we drive east past Bozeman and over Bozeman Pass to Livingston, then south through Paradise Valley, with the Yellowstone River beside the road and the Absaroka Range rising to the east. It is about 145 km and under two hours, with a stop at a river pullout to stretch your legs. Gardiner sits at the park's north entrance, the only one open to cars all year, and the town is small enough to walk end to end. Check in, then stroll to the Roosevelt Arch, built in 1903 and inscribed 'For the Benefit and Enjoyment of the People'.
Evening
In the evening your guide briefs the group on the week ahead: distances from wildlife, bear spray, layers for cold mornings, and why tomorrow starts in the dark. Then we sit down together to a welcome dinner in town.
Included
- Pick-up at Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport (BZN)
- Drive through Paradise Valley with your guide
- The Roosevelt Arch at the north entrance
- Welcome briefing and welcome dinner in Gardiner
Free time: Free until the evening briefing
Lamar Valley at dawn
Gardiner to Mammoth, Tower Junction and Lamar Valley, then back by Tower Fall
- Breakfast and lunch
- Stay in Gardiner
- Drive about 3 h
This is the one early start of the week, and it is worth it.
Morning
We leave Gardiner about an hour and a quarter before sunrise (about 4:15 am in late June, nearer 5:45 am in mid-September) and drive through Mammoth and past Tower Junction into Lamar Valley, about 75 km, arriving as the light comes up. Wolves, bison, pronghorn, elk and sometimes grizzly bears are most active at dawn, and a local wildlife guide joins us with spotting scopes and news of which packs and herds have been seen that week. Sightings are never promised, but the valley at first light, with bison spread across the flats and the river below, is the Yellowstone most visitors miss. Breakfast is in the field at a pullout above the valley, with hot drinks.
Afternoon
Mid-morning we head back by the Tower Fall overlook, where Tower Creek drops about 40 m between volcanic pinnacles, and sit down to lunch near Mammoth or in Gardiner. The afternoon is yours to rest after the early start.
Included
- Lamar Valley at dawn with a local wildlife guide and spotting scopes
- Field breakfast in the valley
- Tower Fall overlook
- Sit-down lunch near Mammoth or in Gardiner
Optional experiences
- Half-day whitewater rafting on the Yellowstone River from Gardiner in the afternoon (price shown at booking)
Easier option: Stay by the van at each pullout and watch through the spotting scopes; nothing today needs more than a few steps.
More active option: The short, steep walk up to Trout Lake, about 2 km round trip, where otters are sometimes seen.
Free time: Afternoon free in Gardiner
Activity: Dress for near-freezing temperatures at dawn, even in July. Wildlife jams can add 30 minutes or more to the drive.
Mammoth, Norris and the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone
Gardiner to Mammoth Hot Springs, Norris Geyser Basin, Canyon and Hayden Valley, then to West Yellowstone
- Breakfast and lunch
- Stay in West Yellowstone
- Drive about 3.5 h
We are at the Mammoth Hot Springs terraces by 8 am, before the tour traffic, and walk the boardwalks of the Main Terrace, where hot water has laid down travertine in white, cream and orange steps. Elk often graze on the lawns of the old Fort Yellowstone buildings. Then it is about 34 km south to Norris Geyser Basin, the hottest and most changeable of the park's basins and home to Steamboat Geyser, whose major eruptions come without warning, sometimes years apart; the Porcelain Basin loop takes about an hour.
Afternoon
At Canyon we sit down to lunch, then stand at Artist Point to see the Lower Falls, 94 m high, between the yellow and rose walls of the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone. Hayden Valley, a few kilometres south, is where bison gather in summer, so we spend the late afternoon there before driving through Norris and Madison to West Yellowstone. About 150 km and three and a half hours of driving, split by stops at Mammoth, Norris, Canyon and Hayden Valley; the longest stretch is the last, about an hour and a half from Hayden Valley to West Yellowstone.
Included
- Mammoth Hot Springs terraces at 8 am with your guide
- Norris Geyser Basin and the Porcelain Basin loop
- Sit-down lunch at Canyon Village
- Artist Point and the Lower Falls of the Yellowstone
- Hayden Valley in the late afternoon
Easier option: Stay on the level paths at Artist Point and Lookout Point and skip the Porcelain Basin loop at Norris.
More active option: The Brink of the Lower Falls trail, about 1.3 km round trip with a steep climb of about 180 m back up, to stand where the river goes over.
Free time: Evening free in West Yellowstone
Activity: About 3 to 4 km of walking in all, on boardwalks with some stairs at Mammoth.
Grand Prismatic and Old Faithful
West Yellowstone to Midway Geyser Basin and Old Faithful, then back by the Grand Prismatic overlook
- Breakfast and lunch
- Stay in West Yellowstone
- Drive about 2.5 h
We leave West Yellowstone at 7 am and drive about 40 km to Midway Geyser Basin to walk the boardwalk around Grand Prismatic Spring at about 7:45, before the small car park fills. Early on it steams heavily, so we come back for the colour later. Old Faithful is about 10 km on. Rangers post a predicted time for each eruption, so we time our arrival and watch from the benches.
Morning
Then we walk the Upper Geyser Basin along the Firehole River, past Castle and Grand Geysers, to the deep blue of Morning Glory Pool, about 2.5 km each way.
Afternoon
Lunch is at Old Faithful, then a look inside the Old Faithful Inn, the log hotel opened in 1904. In the early afternoon, when the steam has thinned and the sun is high, we drive a short way back north to the Fairy Falls trailhead, about 1.5 km south of Midway, and walk the 1.9 km round trip to the Grand Prismatic overlook, about 30 m above the basin. That small lot fills in the afternoon, so the van drops us there.
Evening
Then we return to West Yellowstone for a free evening.
Included
- Grand Prismatic Spring from the Midway Geyser Basin boardwalk at about 7:45 am
- An Old Faithful eruption
- The Upper Geyser Basin to Morning Glory Pool with your guide
- Sit-down lunch at Old Faithful
- The Old Faithful Inn lobby
- The Grand Prismatic overlook in the early afternoon
Easier option: Walk only the first part of the Upper Geyser Basin and watch a second Old Faithful eruption from the benches, then ride the van to the overlook trailhead and wait there if you prefer.
More active option: Carry on past the overlook to Fairy Falls, 61 m high, about 8 km round trip on a flat trail from the trailhead.
Free time: Evening free in West Yellowstone
Activity: About 6 to 7 km of walking on boardwalks and level trails, plus a short climb of about 30 m to the overlook from the Fairy Falls trailhead. Stay on the boardwalks: the ground in the basins is thin and scalding.
Yellowstone Lake and south to Jackson
West Yellowstone to Craig Pass, West Thumb and Lewis Falls, then through the South Entrance to Colter Bay, Oxbow Bend and Jackson
- Breakfast and lunch
- Stay in Jackson
- Drive about 4.5 h
A travel day built around stops rather than miles. We leave West Yellowstone at 8 am, pass Old Faithful, and climb to Craig Pass, where the road crosses the Continental Divide at about 2,520 m. West Thumb Geyser Basin sits on the shore of Yellowstone Lake, the largest lake above 2,100 m in North America, and its boardwalk passes hot pools that run right to the edge of the cold water; we give it about 45 minutes. South along the Lewis River we stop at Lewis Falls, leave the park by the South Entrance and follow the John D. Rockefeller Jr. Memorial Parkway into Grand Teton National Park.
Afternoon
Lunch is a sit-down meal at Colter Bay on Jackson Lake, with the range across the water. In the afternoon we stop at Oxbow Bend, where the Snake River curls below Mount Moran and moose, otters and white pelicans use the shallows, then drive the valley to Jackson. About 205 km and four to four and a half hours of driving at park speed limits, the longest day, broken by five stops and a sit-down lunch; we arrive by about 5 pm.
Included
- Craig Pass on the Continental Divide
- West Thumb Geyser Basin on Yellowstone Lake
- Lewis Falls
- Sit-down lunch at Colter Bay on Jackson Lake
- Oxbow Bend and Mount Moran
Free time: Evening free in Jackson
Activity: The longest drive of the trip, about 4 to 4.5 hours including time for wildlife jams, with stops at Craig Pass, West Thumb, Lewis Falls, Colter Bay and Oxbow Bend. Short level boardwalk at West Thumb.
A lake morning in Grand Teton
Jackson to Schwabacher Landing and Jenny Lake, then Moose and back to Jackson
- Breakfast, lunch and dinner
- Stay in Jackson
- Drive about 1.5 h
Morning
This morning is spent at the water below the range. We leave Jackson at about 6:30 am for Schwabacher Landing, where beaver ponds beside the Snake River reflect the range in the still early air, then drive on to Jenny Lake to be on one of the first shuttle boats across. The crossing takes about 12 minutes (the boat is included), and from the west shore dock a rocky trail climbs to Hidden Falls and on to Inspiration Point, about 125 m above the lake, with the view east across the water to the valley. The boat brings us back by late morning.
Afternoon
Lunch is a sit-down meal at Moose, then we visit the log Chapel of the Transfiguration, whose window frames the Grand Teton, at 4,199 m the highest peak in the range, and Menor's Ferry, a rebuilt Snake River crossing from the 1890s. We are back in Jackson by about 2:30 pm.
Evening
The afternoon is free for the Town Square and its elk antler arches, the National Museum of Wildlife Art or a rest, and in the evening we meet for a farewell dinner.
Included
- Schwabacher Landing in the early morning
- Jenny Lake shuttle boat across and back
- Hidden Falls and Inspiration Point with your guide
- Sit-down lunch at Moose
- The Chapel of the Transfiguration and Menor's Ferry
- Farewell dinner in Jackson
Easier option: Walk only the short way to Hidden Falls, or stay on the east shore and walk the level lakeside path while the others climb.
More active option: Carry on past Inspiration Point into Cascade Canyon for an hour or so before turning back, about 6 to 8 km round trip from the dock.
Free time: Afternoon free in Jackson
Activity: About 3 km round trip from the dock to Inspiration Point on a rocky trail with steps, climbing about 125 m.
Mormon Row and home from Jackson Hole
Jackson to the Gros Ventre River, Antelope Flats and Mormon Row, then Jackson Hole Airport
- Breakfast
- Drive about 1.5 h
Morning
A last morning in the valley before your flight. We leave Jackson at about 7:30 am, when the sun is full on the east face of the Tetons, and drive north to the Gros Ventre River, where moose browse the willows in the early hours. Antelope Flats is just beyond, wide sagebrush where bison and pronghorn graze. On Mormon Row the weathered barns of homesteads settled by Mormon families from the 1890s stand in front of the range, a classic view of the Tetons, and we give it time for pictures without a crowd of coaches. Jackson Hole Airport (JAC) is a short drive away on the valley floor, inside Grand Teton National Park, and we drop you there by about 11 am. Book a flight leaving after about 1 pm. If you are staying on in Jackson, we take you back to town instead, and your guide says goodbye there.
Included
- The Gros Ventre River and Antelope Flats
- Mormon Row and its homestead barns
- Drop-off at Jackson Hole Airport (JAC), or in Jackson
Easier option: For a morning flight we go straight from the hotel to the airport, about 15 minutes.
Activity: Book a flight leaving Jackson Hole Airport after about 1 pm to join the morning drive.
- Bozemanstart
- Gardiner2 nights
- West Yellowstone2 nights
- Jackson2 nights
- Overnight stop
- Day trip
- By boat or train
Wildlife and weather: June brings bison calves and snow on the high peaks, with cold mornings. July and August are warm, often 20 to 27 C in the afternoon, with thunderstorms and the bison rut in Lamar and Hayden. September brings the elk rut at Mammoth, first frosts and thinner crowds. Late-summer wildfire smoke can haze the views. Wildlife sightings are never guaranteed.
Want this plan in your inbox?
Get the day-by-day itinerary by email, or ask us anything about this trip. A trip planner replies the same or next business day.
Before you book
Right for you?
Good for you if you want
- Travellers who want wildlife, not just a drive past it, and will get up early once for Lamar Valley
- First visits to Yellowstone and Grand Teton, with the timing worked out for you
- People who want short walks most days, with a longer option when they feel like it
- Solo travellers who want a fair single price
Not for you if you want
- Serious hikers looking for long daily trails or backcountry nights
- Travellers who want luxury hotels; gateway-town hotels are comfortable, not grand
- Winter visits; this trip runs June to September only
- Anyone who cannot manage some time at 2,000 m and above
Book flights after we confirm your seat.
6 nights
Where you'll stay
Your hotels are named in your trip confirmation.
- Gardiner2 nights
- West Yellowstone2 nights
- Jackson2 nights
One price
What's in the price
Included
Accommodation
- 6 nights: 2 in Gardiner at the north entrance, 2 in West Yellowstone at the west entrance and 2 in Jackson
- Hotels of a 3-star-plus standard with private bathrooms, walkable to the town centre; we name each hotel when we confirm your dates
- Rooms shared, or your own for a supplement
Transport
- Pick-up at Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport (BZN) on day 1 and drop-off at Jackson Hole Airport (JAC) on day 7, at set group times
- A private van and professional driver for the group from day 1 to day 7, with spare seats
- The Jenny Lake shuttle boat across and back
Your guide
- A See Sight Tours guide with the group from the day 1 pick-up to the day 7 drop-off
- A local wildlife guide with spotting scopes for the dawn morning in Lamar Valley
Activities
- Entrance to Yellowstone and Grand Teton national parks, including the per-person fee for visitors who are not US residents
- Lamar Valley at dawn and the Tower Fall overlook
- Mammoth Hot Springs terraces and Norris Geyser Basin
- Artist Point, the Lower Falls and Hayden Valley
- Grand Prismatic Spring from the boardwalk and from the overlook
- Old Faithful, the Upper Geyser Basin and the Old Faithful Inn
- Craig Pass, West Thumb Geyser Basin and Lewis Falls
- Colter Bay and Oxbow Bend
- Schwabacher Landing, Jenny Lake, Hidden Falls and Inspiration Point
- The Chapel of the Transfiguration and Menor's Ferry at Moose
- The Gros Ventre River, Antelope Flats and Mormon Row
- A can of bear spray for each guest for the walks
Meals
- 6 breakfasts, including a field breakfast in Lamar Valley
- 5 sit-down lunches, on days 2 to 6
- 2 dinners: a welcome dinner in Gardiner and a farewell dinner in Jackson
Not included
- International flights to Bozeman and from Jackson
- Travel insurance
- Passport, and an ESTA or US visa where needed
- Dinners on days 2 to 5
- Drinks
- Tips for your guide, driver and wildlife guide
- Optional activities, such as whitewater rafting in Gardiner
- Personal expenses
- Hotel nights before day 1 or after day 7
Extras
- Room of your own
- CAD 1,250 (estimated price)
When you can go
Dates and prices
Pick your start date when you request to book. We check that date and confirm it in your quote.
Prefer to travel without a group or guide? Ask us about arranging hotels, transport and city tours for you to travel independently.
Before you book
Booking terms
Nothing is charged now. Full terms and the cancellation schedule come with your quote, before you accept.
Business addresses
See Sight Tours Trips (USA): 3172 N Rainbow Blvd, Las Vegas, NV 89108, United StatesSee Sight Tours Trips (Canada): 5305 50 Avenue, #1091, Red Deer, AB T4N 4B6, Canada+1-888-961-6584Guest reviews
What guests say
Reviews from guests on our day tours.
Jane
October 06, 2026
5/5
Susan
October 06, 2026
5/5
Tom L
October 05, 2026
5/5
MandL83
October 05, 2026
5/5
Darren O
October 05, 2026
5/5
Good to know
Questions
What does the price include?
Six nights in 3-star-plus hotels, 6 breakfasts, 5 sit-down lunches and 2 dinners, both airport transfers, a private van and driver, your See Sight Tours guide throughout, a local wildlife guide in Lamar Valley, entry to both parks including the non-resident fee, the Jenny Lake boat, bear spray and every visit in the day plan.
How big is the group?
The small-group trip runs with 7 to 12 guests in one van with spare seats. That means everyone gets a window, a turn at the spotting scope in Lamar Valley, and a van that can pull over for a bison when a 40-seat coach cannot.
Who leads the trip?
A See Sight Tours guide travels with you from the Bozeman pick-up to the Jackson drop-off, with a professional driver at the wheel. On the dawn morning in Lamar Valley a local wildlife guide joins us with spotting scopes and the latest sightings.
How fit do I need to be?
Moderately. Most days are 1 to 7 km of walking on boardwalks, but the parks sit at about 1,600 to 2,500 m, so you may tire sooner than at home. The steepest walk is the rocky climb to Inspiration Point; you can stop at Hidden Falls or stay by the lake.
I am travelling solo. What is the single supplement?
A room of your own is from CAD 1,250 more, about 17 percent of the trip price, and we show it next to the shared price before you book. If you would rather share a room, ask us about sharing when you send your request.
When is the best time to go?
June to September. June has bison calves and snow on the peaks; July and August are warmest, with the bison rut and afternoon storms; September brings the elk rut, first frosts and fewer people. Mornings are cold all summer, so pack layers.
How does booking work?
Choose your start date and send a request to book. We confirm your place within 24 hours, and no payment is taken until we do. The small group starts from CAD 7,295 per person sharing, with taxes and park fees included.
Can we travel privately or on our own dates?
Yes. The trip also runs as a private trip for your party only, with your own guide and van, on a date you choose, from CAD 13,130 per person. If you would rather travel independently on your own dates, ask us from the dates section for a separate quote.
Do I need a visa?
Canadian citizens need a valid passport and no visa for a visit to the United States. Most other travellers need an approved ESTA or a US visa before they fly. Check your own entry rules when you book; we cannot arrange US entry for you.
Will we see wolves and bears?
Possibly, but no one can promise it. Your best chance is the dawn morning in Lamar Valley with a wildlife guide and spotting scopes. Bison and elk are seen on almost every summer day, and moose, pronghorn and bald eagles are often seen too.
Why start in Bozeman and finish in Jackson?
Flying into Bozeman and out of Jackson Hole means no day is spent driving back to the start. Bozeman puts us at the north entrance for Lamar Valley, and Jackson Hole Airport is inside Grand Teton National Park, minutes from our last stop.
Do I need to buy park passes or bring bear spray?
No. Entry to both parks is included, along with the extra per-person fee the parks now charge visitors who are not US residents. Airlines do not allow bear spray in luggage, so we give each guest a can for the walks.
See Sight Tours has been providing travel services across North America since 2006. Operating in 20 cities across Canada and the USA, the company specializes in small group tours that offer personalized, high-quality experiences for travelers.
Book your Tour
Get in Touch
- Toll Free1-888-961-6584
- Local1-289-271-9767
© 2026 See Sight Tours. All rights reserved.