We meet this morning at our hostel in Salt Lake City, Utah, and after a quick welcome and introductions, we hit the road early to begin our journey north toward Yellowstone National Park. Since we’ll have time to explore Salt Lake City at the end of the trip, today is all about covering ground and positioning ourselves perfectly for our first big days in the park.
Today is our longest driving day, with approximately 5½ hours on the road, taking us through scenic stretches of Utah, Idaho, and into Montana. Along the way, we’ll stop in Idaho Falls for lunch and a grocery run, where we’ll stock up on food for the first few days of the trip.
Our next stop is Mesa Falls, a beautiful waterfall area where we’ll stretch our legs on a short nature walk and take in our first taste of the landscapes that make this region so special. From there, we continue on to our campsite, get settled in, and then head out to Hebgen Lake, a peaceful and scenic spot near the Yellowstone border.
After returning to camp, we’ll enjoy dinner together. This evening, your guide will go over the plan for tomorrow—what we’ll see, where we’ll go, and what to expect for our first full day exploring Yellowstone National Park.
🍽 Dinner included
🏕 Camping night
🚐 Drive time today: ~5.5 hours
Included activities:
• Mesa Falls
• Nature walking
• Hebgen Lake
After breakfast at camp and packing lunches for the day, we head straight into Yellowstone National Park—America’s first national park, established in 1872. Yellowstone is massive, covering nearly 3,500 square miles across Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho, and is famous for its dramatic landscapes of lakes, rivers, canyons, forests, and mountain ranges.
The park sits atop a dormant supervolcano and contains more geysers and hot springs than anywhere else on Earth, making today an unforgettable introduction to Yellowstone’s geothermal wonders.
We’ll spend the entire day exploring the park, starting with a scenic drive filled with frequent stops as we make our way to the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone. Here, we’ll hike to several breathtaking viewpoints, walk along the rim trails, and see both the Upper and Lower Yellowstone Falls from multiple vantage points. At more than twice the height of Niagara Falls, the Lower Falls are guaranteed to leave a lasting impression.
From there, we continue to the Mud Volcano area, one of Yellowstone’s most unusual and intense geothermal regions. Early explorers described this area as a “most repulsive and terrifying site,” and it’s easy to see why. Bubbling mud pots, steaming vents, and hillsides shaped by heat and steam create an otherworldly landscape. We’ll walk the ½-mile Mud Volcano trail, passing features like Dragon’s Mouth Spring, Sour Lake, and the Churning Cauldron—some of the most acidic hydrothermal features in the park.
Our next stop is Yellowstone Lake, where we’ll explore the West Thumb Geyser Basin. This unique area allows us to walk right along the shoreline, seeing steaming geysers and colorful pools beside the lake. Highlights include the stunning Black Pool, ironically named but known for its deep, vibrant blue color.
Depending on time and group energy, we may make additional scenic or wildlife-viewing stops on our drive back to camp. We aim to return with enough time for an evening swim before dinner—a perfect way to unwind after a full day of exploration.
🍽 Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner included
🏕 Camping night
🚐 Drive time today: Variable (park exploration)
Included activities:
• Yellowstone National Park
• Yellowstone Falls
• Mud Volcano area
• Yellowstone Lake
• West Thumb Geyser Basin
• Wildlife viewing
• Walking & hiking (up to 5–8 miles throughout the day)
Today is another full and unforgettable day exploring Yellowstone National Park, packed with geothermal wonders, wildlife viewing, and dramatic mountain scenery.
Our first stop is the Norris Geyser Basin, the hottest, oldest, and most dynamic hydrothermal area in Yellowstone. This fascinating basin features a network of trails made up of boardwalks, paved paths, and natural dirt trails that weave through steaming vents, geysers, and vividly colored thermal features. We’ll spend around 1½ hours here, giving you plenty of time to explore and take in the constantly changing landscape.
From Norris, we continue north to the Mammoth Hot Springs area. Here, we’ll walk along elevated boardwalks that wind through towering terraces formed by hot, mineral-rich water flowing over thousands of years. The steaming formations and unique shapes make this area unlike anything else in the park.
Next, we drive through the northern section of Yellowstone, one of the best areas for wildlife viewing. Keep your eyes open—elk, deer, antelope, bison, and even bears are all possible sightings today. We’ll stop frequently at scenic pullouts and viewpoints, including a visit to the beautiful Tower Falls, a dramatic waterfall tucked into a rugged canyon.
As we continue deeper into the park, we climb up to Dunraven Pass, reaching an elevation of 8,859 feet. Temperatures are cooler here, and this area is well known for its excellent chances of spotting grizzly bears. The views from near Mount Washburn are vast and breathtaking, offering sweeping panoramas that stretch for miles across Yellowstone’s wilderness.
Before heading back to camp, we’ll finish the day with stops at Firehole Canyon and Firehole Falls, rounding out another incredible day of exploration.
🍽 Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner included
🏕 Camping night
🚐 Drive time today: Variable (park exploration)
Included activities:
• Yellowstone National Park
• Norris Geyser Basin
• Mammoth Hot Springs
• Tower Falls
• Mount Washburn area
• Firehole Canyon & Firehole Falls
• Wildlife viewing
• Walking & hiking (up to 5–8 miles throughout the day)
After breakfast, we pack up camp and head back into Yellowstone National Park for another incredible day of geothermal exploration.
Our first stop is the Fountain Paint Pot area, where we’ll walk the trail through bubbling mud pots and steaming features named for the vibrant reds, yellows, and browns created by mineral-rich mud. From here, we continue on to two of Yellowstone’s most famous sights: the breathtaking Grand Prismatic Spring and the massive Excelsior Geyser Crater, one of the largest geysers in the world.
Next, we arrive at the Upper Geyser Basin, home to the highest concentration of geysers on Earth and the park’s most iconic attraction—Old Faithful. Erupting approximately every 60–90 minutes, Old Faithful never fails to impress. This area features an extensive network of walking trails connecting 17 major geysers, giving you free time to explore depending on our arrival time. One must-see feature here is the vibrant Morning Glory Pool, a favorite stop along the boardwalks.
After witnessing Old Faithful erupt, we begin our journey south toward Grand Teton National Park. Our first stop in the Tetons is Jackson Lake, where dramatic mountain views rise straight from the shoreline—an unforgettable contrast to Yellowstone’s geothermal landscapes.
From there, we continue on to our next campsite and settle in for the evening.
🍽 Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner included
🏕 Camping night
🚐 Drive time today: ~4–5 hours
Included activities:
• Yellowstone National Park
• Grand Teton National Park
• Fountain Paint Pot
• Grand Prismatic Spring
• Upper Geyser Basin & Old Faithful
• Morning Glory Pool
• Wildlife viewing
• Walking & hiking (up to 4–5 miles throughout the day)
Today moves at a more relaxed pace, with shorter driving distances as we explore Grand Teton National Park. The Tetons are known for their dramatic peaks, crystal-clear lakes, and excellent hiking, and your guide will talk with the group to decide how everyone would like to spend the day.
There are plenty of hiking options ranging from easy walks to longer, more challenging trails, and it’s possible for the group to split up if some travelers want to hike more or less. One popular optional experience here is the Jenny Lake boat shuttle, a quick and scenic way to access the Hidden Falls and Inspiration Point hiking trails. The boat ride itself offers a beautiful and unique perspective of the Teton Mountains from the water.
In the afternoon, we’ll regroup and head into the iconic western town of Jackson, Wyoming. You’ll have free time to explore the town, check out local shops, and visit the famous Jackson Town Square with its distinctive elk antler arches.
Tonight, you get a break from camp meals and can enjoy dinner on your own at one of the many restaurants near the town square.
🍽 Breakfast & Lunch included
🏕 Camping night
🚐 Drive time today: Minimal (park exploration)
Included activities:
• Grand Teton National Park
• Walking & hiking (up to 2–8 miles throughout the day)
• Wildlife viewing
• Jackson, WY
Optional activities:
• Jenny Lake boat shuttle ($12–$20, one-way or round-trip)
This morning we pack up camp for the final time and begin our journey back to Salt Lake City, with approximately 4½ hours of driving total. To break up the drive, we’ll stop in the fun and unique town of Lava Hot Springs, Idaho.
Here you’ll have free time to explore the Hanging Gardens, relax along the river, or take advantage of one of Lava Hot Springs’ most famous attractions—the natural outdoor hot spring pools. These rock-bottom pools range from 102°F to 112°F and are completely natural, with no chemicals, no sulfur, and no odor—a perfect way to relax tired legs after an active week. Another popular option is tubing the river, where you can float right through the middle of town.
After lunch, we finish the drive back to Salt Lake City and check into our hostel. In the evening, we’ll visit Temple Square, Utah’s most popular visitor attraction, welcoming over 5 million visitors each year. This beautifully landscaped 10-acre complex includes historic buildings, impressive gardens, and visitor centers, all surrounded by a distinctive stone wall.
To wrap up the adventure, your guide will help organize a farewell group dinner, with restaurant options to suit everyone’s budget—a perfect way to reflect on an unforgettable week together.
🍽 Breakfast & Lunch included
🏨 Hostel night
🚐 Drive time today: ~4½ hours
Included activities:
• Lava Hot Springs & Hanging Gardens
• Temple Square
Optional activities:
• Natural hot springs ($8)
• Tube rentals ($7)
• Farewell dinner ($15–$40)
Today is a relaxed departure day with no planned activities. The tour officially ends at 8:00 a.m., but you’re welcome to remain at the hostel until check-out at 11:00 a.m.
If needed, the hostel can store your luggage, allowing you to spend a little more time exploring Salt Lake City before heading to the airport. We recommend booking an afternoon flight to give yourself a stress-free end to the trip.
🍽 No meals included today
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