Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone Rim and Loop Hike with Lunch

About this activity

The Grand Canyon Rim Hike is one of the best hikes in Yellowstone National Park. This hiking tour is a loop. Your tour guide will watch for bears and answer your questions along the way.

Not only do we hike along the Rim of the Canyon, but also through the forest to lakes, mud pots, and meadows.

Your guide knows the trail and trail junctions, where many hikers get confused. Your guide also knows the good spots to stop for photos, resting, and lunch with a view.

Itinerary

1. Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone · 180 min

   Your expert guide will meet you at the Pavilion next to the Upper Falls Parking Area at 8AM. The hike is a 4 to 6-mile loop. The hike is along the Canyon Rim, then through the endless pine forest out to Ribbon Lake. After that, we pass a thermal basin, Clear Lake, and the Hayden Valley. If you hike one trail in Yellowstone this should be it!

2. Upper Falls · 5 min

   We begin our hike seeing the Yellowstone's Upper Falls. This is the beginning of the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone River.

3. Artist Point · 15 min

   We will stop by Artist Point for views of the Lower Falls along the Yellowstone River. This is a must see when in Yellowstone. The 308 foot falls is surrounded by the colorful canyon. The area can be a little crowded, but it's worth it! After viewing the falls, we leave the crowds behind and hit the dirt trail.

4. Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone · 60 min

   After leaving Artist Point, we hit the dirt trails. We hike along the rim of the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone for more colorful views. We turn off in to the forest for a walk through endless pines before hiking past mud pots and steaming vents.

5. Stop 5 · 30 min

   We take a break at Clear Lake to soak in the serenity. We often see wildlife and wildflowers.

6. Hayden Valley · 15 min

   We see the Hayden Valley from the trail with wide open views of mountains touching the sky. This is a wonderful spot to see bison, as well as the occasional bear or wolf, at a distance.

7. Yellowstone River · 45 min

   We end our hike along the Yellowstone River taking in views of calm waters becoming rapids before descending over the Upper Falls.

Meeting point

Everyone meets at the meeting point.

End point: Meet near the pavilion at the Upper Falls View Parking Area off of the South Rim Drive. Turn left off the Grand Loop Road on the South Rim Drive, 2 miles south of Canyon Village, toward Artist Point. After crossing over the Yellowstone River on a bridge, turn left at the 'Canyon Views' sign.

Good to know

• Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
• Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
• Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness

Cancellation policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

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