
Yellowstone Upper Loop Safari Tour - West Yellowstone, MT
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September 2026
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Who is going?
Adults
Age 13 and over
Children
Age 12 and under
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Free cancellation up to 24 hours before. Same price on Viator, Outty earns a commission.
Traveler rating
4.7/5
Based on 25 traveler reviews. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Quick answer
Is Yellowstone Upper Loop Safari Tour - West Yellowstone, MT worth booking?
Yellowstone Upper Loop Safari Tour - West Yellowstone, MT is a 9-hour experience in Big Sky, United States, from $275 per person. It scores 72 out of 100 on the Outty Ranking, which we label “Strongly Recommended”, based on a 4.7/5 rating across 25 reviews. Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before the start time. Same-day spots are currently showing.
- Outty Ranking
- 72 / 100
- Rating
- 4.7/5 (25)
- Duration
- 9 hours
- From
- $275 per person
This is a tour of the northern range of Yellowstone National Park and the 'Upper Loop' of Yellowstone. We call this the Wildlife and Nature Safari because it highlights the opportunity for abundant wildlife viewing and s
What you get
About this experience
This is a tour of the northern range of Yellowstone National Park and the 'Upper Loop' of Yellowstone. We call this the Wildlife and Nature Safari because it highlights the opportunity for abundant wildlife viewing and stunning landscapes. This tour will give you all of the best opportunities to see wildlife in Yellowstone and you will be able to sit back and take in the sights with us, with an extended focus on wildlife spotting with scopes and binoculars.
What's included
Included
- Lunch
- Bottled water
- Binoculars and Spotting Scope
- Snacks
- In-vehicle air conditioning
Not included
- Park Entry Fees(included with your National Park Pass)
- Gratuities
What you'll see and do
Yellowstone National Park
Experience Yellowstone National Park! The Grand Loop road was designed to encapsulate as much of the hydrothermal features in Yellowstone as possible.
15 minutes here
Lamar Valley
Watch out for extreme wildlife viewing in the 'Serengeti of the West' in Lamar Valley. Common wildlife sightings include Black Bear, Grizzly Bear, Grey Wolves, Moose, Pronghorn, Mountain Goat, Mule Deer and more.
90 minutes here · Admission included
Tower Fall
See the Iconic Tower Fall waterfall, one of the many sights painted by 19th century artists that helped make Yellowstone the first National Park in the World. This is also a good stop for restrooms, gift shopping and a place to eat outdoors.
50 minutes here · Admission included
Mount Washburn
Drive over Dunraven Pass from Tower junction to Canyon Village. Stop on the way up in search of plentiful Black Bear, and at the top for Bighorn Sheep sightings. This is also one of the best places in the park for Wildflowers!
50 minutes here · Admission included
Mammoth Hot Springs
We will view both the lower terraces and upper terraces of Mammoth Hot Springs and have lunch nearby in Fort Yellowstone
45 minutes here
Fort Yellowstone Historic District
We will have lunch in Fort Yellowstone with time for light gift shopping at the general store, ice cream, and a walk through the first building in Yellowstone National park. Here, we will see ranger housing and the federal district courthouse
45 minutes here
Norris Geyser Basin
View the area that has measured the hottest measurements in Yellowstone and home to the largest geyser in the world, Steamboat Geyser! We will walk the porcelain basin and see some of the wonders of the most dynamic and acidic location in Yellowstone
45 minutes here
Gibbon Falls
See the trickling cascade waterfall of Gibbon Falls and get some great photos for your camera roll!
25 minutes here
Virginia Cascade Drive
Drive through Virginia Cascade when it is open and see a waterfall with an opportunity for wildlife
20 minutes here
Slough Creek
Drive down a dirt road to Slough Creek, home of one of the Junction Butte wolf pack dens
30 minutes here
Where it starts and ends
Meeting point
Big Sky
We meet at The Wilson Hotel at 6am in Big Sky MT
Meeting point
Big Sky
Parking lot of West Yellowstone Visitor Center at 7am or we will pick you up at your hotel.
Hotel pickup
Pickup is available for selected locations.
Ends at
We meet at The Wilson Hotel at 6am in Big Sky MT
Ends at
Parking lot of West Yellowstone Visitor Center at 7am or we will pick you up at your hotel.
Before you book
- Cancellation
- For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
- Languages
- en
- Ticket
- Mobile Only
- Runs on
- Every day
- Group size
- Up to 11 travelers per booking
- Operated by
- CoveredGround Tours
Know before you go
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Service animals allowed
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Photos






What travelers are saying
Outty’s summary of the themes that recur across 25 traveler reviews. Written by us, not quoted from reviewers.
The guide
8 mentionsTravelers single out the guide as the reason the experience works.
Knowledge and storytelling
6 mentionsReviewers describe the commentary as informative rather than scripted.
Photo opportunities
3 mentionsThe views and photo stops come up again and again.
Traveler reviews
25 verified traveler reviews for Yellowstone Upper Loop Safari Tour - West Yellowstone, MT. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Great tour of Northern Yellowstone
This was a great tour and exceeded our expectations. Wonderful tour with many animals seen on our tour of Northern Yellowstone including Lamar and Hayden Valleys. Our tour guides were very knowledgeable and experienced. We saw different animals including, elk, grizzly bears, black bear, black wolves, bison, white tail deer, mule deer, and big horn sheep. It was also a great sightseeing tour. It was a learning experience for both of us. we would consider doing this tour again.
via Tripadvisor
A great Yellowstone tour!
Had a great trip. Saw pronghorn, bison, elk, back bear and our hilight was a grizzly! Darin was a fun and informative guide. I'd highly recommend this trip.
via Tripadvisor
Cover ground & See Key Animals
The guided van tour was great. So much great information about the park and anecdotes. The Yellowstone roads are dotted with hubs of excitement as visitors spy key species and gather. The guides were excellent at anticipating the plains animals and engaging with other ‘spotters’ to get great views. It was a great way to cover a lot of ground.
via Tripadvisor
Yellowstone tour
The tour was wonderful! The guide was extremely knowledgeable and found lots of wildlife for us to view! We loved it so much we booked a second tour of a different loop for the next day!
via Viator
Waste of money
Don’t waist your money. We had the Covered Ground Tours. First our pick up time was for 7am, received text was changed to 6 am. Thank them for text that’s all. No wildlife persay bison if you see one that’s enough. Our guide was not great (Jack) My husband was not happy I understood but was nerve racking and stressful. We had upper loop on our itinerary copy he was not doing the whole loop. In fact 25% we never saw. For $600 we should get what is on the itinerary. The day before we did a tour with Cody tours Lowe Loop. Was Amazing very Informational, took time to show everything and cost $120 LESS. This was a joke and waste of our time and money.
Response from the operator: Lisa and Len. We've talked about this and I've told you how out of line you guys are being. Just so you know I called the other people on your tour and they said you guys were unnecessarily harassing Jack and it really makes me mad. Jack is a great guy and an extremely knowledgeable guide and you guys were harassing him non stop trying to get him to do a route we have never ever ever done. You can't just find a mini-loop on a map and demand we do that when it's not the itinerary. Everybody else on board knew what they were signing up for and had a great time. You guys are way out of line here and it's sad to see you like this. Sorry, I stand behind Jack. Goodbye
via Viator
Good to know
- Duration
- 9 hours
- Free cancellation
- Up to 24h before
- Minimum age to book
- All ages
- Availability
- Bookable today
- Runs on
- Every day
- Hotel pickup
- Available for selected locations
- Booked in 30 days
- 9
- Verdict
- Strongly Recommended
Why this scores 72
The Outty Ranking is a weighted composite. Here is how this experience performed on each component.
Yellowstone Upper Loop Safari Tour - West Yellowstone, MT: questions travelers ask
Practical detail on this experience, plus the wider planning questions for Big Sky.
How much does Yellowstone Upper Loop Safari Tour - West Yellowstone, MT cost?
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Prices start at $275 per person. The final price depends on the date, the time slot and the number of travelers, and peak weekends in Big Sky usually price higher than midweek mornings. Live pricing and remaining availability are confirmed on the booking screen before you pay.
How long does Yellowstone Upper Loop Safari Tour - West Yellowstone, MT take?
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Plan for about 9 hours from start to finish, not counting travel to the meeting point. Most travelers leave another 30 minutes on either side so the rest of the day in Big Sky is not rushed.
Is Yellowstone Upper Loop Safari Tour - West Yellowstone, MT worth it?
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It holds an Outty Ranking of 72 out of 100, which we label "Strongly Recommended". That score blends traveler sentiment (4.7/5 across 25 reviews), the depth of that review evidence, recent booking momentum, value for money against comparable last minute in Big Sky, and how flexible the cancellation terms are.
Can I cancel or reschedule Yellowstone Upper Loop Safari Tour - West Yellowstone, MT?
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Yes. Cancel free up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Inside that window the booking is non-refundable, and no-shows are not refunded.
Is Yellowstone Upper Loop Safari Tour - West Yellowstone, MT suitable for kids and families?
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Yes, all ages are welcome. Families should still weigh the 9-hour running time, and strollers are easier on the earlier, quieter departures.
How far in advance should I book Yellowstone Upper Loop Safari Tour - West Yellowstone, MT?
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Around 9 people booked this in the last 30 days, so popular slots go early. Two to three weeks ahead is comfortable in shoulder season, while summer weekends and holidays in Big Sky can sell out a month out. Same-day spots do open up when other travelers cancel, so it is worth checking if you are already in town.
What should I bring or wear?
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Bring photo ID, your booking confirmation on your phone, a refillable water bottle and comfortable shoes. Dress for the weather in Big Sky and add a light layer if any part of the 9-hour experience runs outdoors or after sunset.
Where does Yellowstone Upper Loop Safari Tour - West Yellowstone, MT start and how do I get there?
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The exact meeting point and directions are on your voucher once you book, and they sit in central Big Sky within reach of public transport. Arrive 15 minutes early: late arrivals are treated as no-shows by most operators.
What are the best things to do in Big Sky?
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Big Sky, MT packs its best experiences into walkable neighborhoods, local food, and day trips nearby. Outty ranks every bookable tour and activity in Big Sky by rating quality, review depth, booking demand and value, so you can see the standouts before you book. On Outty we rank every Big Sky experience on the same 0 to 100 scale, and alongside this one the highest scorers right now include Ziplining across the Beautiful Gallatin River, Full Day Best Of Yellowstone National Park Tour From Big Sky, Private Yellowstone National Park Tour (Upper Loop). The city page groups everything into most popular, highest reviewed, last minute and family-friendly so you can build a day around what actually delivers.
When is the best time to visit Big Sky?
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Spring and fall bring the best weather and lighter crowds in Big Sky, while summer has the widest choice of tours and evening activities. Booking patterns follow the same curve: prices and queues climb in peak weeks, while shoulder season gives you better availability on the top-ranked experiences and more room to change plans.
How many days do you need in Big Sky?
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Three full days covers the headline sights without sprinting. A workable rhythm is one anchor experience each morning, such as this one, an unhurried afternoon in a single neighborhood, then a food or nightlife booking in the evening. Five days lets you add a day trip outside the city.
Do I book through Outty or through the operator?
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Outty ranks and explains the experiences, then hands you to Viator to complete the booking with the operator directly. The price is the same as booking on Viator yourself, and Outty earns an affiliate commission on the referral, which is how the rankings stay free to read.
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