Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone Rim and Loop Hike with Lunch

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!

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

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.

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.

We often see wildlife and wildflowers.

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.

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