Hayden Valley Tours
Named after Dr. Ferdinand Hayden—whose geological survey in 1871 helped Yellowstone become a national park—the Hayden Valley is one of Yellowstone’s most popular places to view wildlife. Here, in a vast plain that was filled with water when Yellowstone Lake was larger, herds of bison speckle the grasslands and casually cross the road, while elk, moose, grizzlies, and wolves all scavenge and search for food. The valley is located at the geographic heart of Yellowstone National Park, conveniently situated between the Fishing Bridge and Yellowstone Canyon and Falls. In August, Hayden Valley is home to North America’s largest free-roaming bison rut, and is a time when hundreds of bushy brown bison can flank both sides of the road. Aside from its wealth of wildlife, Hayden Valley also houses spectacular thermal formations, from the thick and fickle Mud Volcano to the pungent Sulphur Cauldron. Given its popularity, however, and position at the center of the park, traffic can sometimes be an issue—particularly in the middle of summer—or when a herd of bison has decided to simply park themselves on the road.
Practical Info
Hayden Valley is closed to vehicle traffic from the middle of October through May. It lies on the eastern edge of the Lower Loop of Yellowstone’s Grand Loop Road, and is just over an hour from Mammoth Hot Springs, West Yellowstone, and Old Faithful.
Address: Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, USA
Admission: $30 entrance fee to Yellowstone National Park
2 Tours and Activities to Experience Hayden Valley
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PRIVATE Yellowstone Tour: Famous Sites, Wildlife, Easy Hikes, & Lunch included!
Our private tours are led by experienced, knowledgeable, and local guides.
During our day we will make our way through Yellowstone National Park stopping at all of the most famous sites. As well as some of the lesser known locations to see colorful hot springs, geysers, and wildlife! We will view Old Faithful, Grand Prismatic Hot Spring, the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone, Yellowstone Falls, Artist Paint Pots, the Mud Volcano, Yellowstone Lake, and stop for wildlife viewing. If wildlife is far away we will them with provided high powered spotting scopes and binoculars!
We will have several group discussions about the parks biology, history, and geology as we make our way through the park.
Our small sized tours allow us to go off the beaten path and take short cuts to save time. A delicious picnic style lunch from a local deli is provided along with bottled water, sparkling waters, and sodas.
We can take a few optional short hikes along the way to a scenic lake, waterfall, or spring!
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From
$1,277.50
per group
$547.50 savings
From
$1,277.50
per group
$547.50 savings
Hand sanitizer available to travelers and staff
Regularly sanitized high-traffic areas
Gear/equipment sanitized between use
Private Yellowstone Wildlife Safari with guided hikes. Picnic Lunch included!
All of our tours are led by a knowledgeable and seasoned local guide that has an education in wildlife biology/ ecology with years of experience guiding in Yellowstone.
We depart your accommodations and head towards Yellowstone’s northern range, undoubtedly one of the prime wildlife viewing spots in the world, it harbors impressive bison herds, wolf packs, and meandering bears. Visitors are likely to depart from the park’s northern lands with at least one, if not more, checks on their wildlife card. Wild and pristine. When thinking about Yellowstone, a vast and amazing back-country, large carnivores, bison herds, iconic geysers, and geothermal features fill the imagination.
Along the way we will stop to take a short a hike or two to a secluded lake or waterfall. Mid way through the tour we will stop for a picnic lunch at a scenic area.
Time permitting we will walk the boardwalks of Mammonth Hot Springs.
Note: to maximize our chances of seeing wildlife this your leaves early AM.
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From
$1,218.75
per group
$406.25 savings
From
$1,218.75
per group
$406.25 savings