Begin your Yellowstone adventure at Canyon Village, gateway to the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone. Carved by the Yellowstone River through volcanic rock, the canyon's brilliantly colored walls create one of the most recognizable landscapes in the national park system.
Yellowstone & Grand Teton National Parks: America's Greatest Wildlife and Wilderness Journey
5 Days
This five-day adventure combines two of America's most spectacular national parks into a single unforgettable journey through the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. From the erupting geysers and colorful hot springs of Yellowstone to the rugged granite peaks and pristine alpine lakes of Grand Teton National Park, this itinerary follows a logical route that minimizes driving while maximizing time spent exploring. You'll witness thundering waterfalls plunging into colorful canyons, observe bison and wolves roaming vast valleys, hike to alpine lakes beneath towering mountains, and experience some of the most extraordinary geothermal features on Earth. Organized geographically along Yellowstone's Grand Loop and Grand Teton's scenic park roads, this itinerary balances iconic destinations with some of the parks' most rewarding trails and viewpoints.
Day 1
Your journey begins in Yellowstone's Canyon Country, where waterfalls, colorful cliffs, and wildlife-filled valleys showcase the dramatic geological forces that shaped the world's first national park. The day combines Yellowstone's most famous canyon viewpoints with wildlife viewing opportunities and stunning lakeside scenery.
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One of Yellowstone's most iconic views unfolds here, where the Lower Falls plunge into a dramatic canyon painted with shades of gold, orange, pink, and red. The viewpoint has inspired visitors, photographers, and artists for generations.
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Spend the morning exploring the canyon's remarkable viewpoints. Each overlook provides a unique perspective of the Yellowstone River and its powerful waterfalls, from standing beside the river at the brink of the falls to viewing the entire canyon from panoramic overlooks.
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Continue south through one of Yellowstone's premier wildlife habitats. Herds of bison often dominate the valley, while elk, bears, coyotes, and wolves may be spotted roaming the vast grasslands.
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Bubbling mud pots, acidic pools, and sulfur-scented steam vents provide an up-close look at the geothermal activity that powers Yellowstone's vast volcanic system.
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End the day along Yellowstone Lake, North America's largest high-elevation lake. Lake Butte Overlook offers spectacular evening views over endless forest, distant mountains, and the vast expanse of water below.
Day 2
Today's route explores Yellowstone's northeastern wilderness, where mountain passes, wildlife-rich valleys, and remote landscapes provide a glimpse into one of the last largely intact ecosystems in the lower forty-eight states.
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Travel one of Yellowstone's most scenic mountain roads and, if conditions permit, hike Mount Washburn. The summit provides panoramic views stretching across much of Yellowstone National Park.
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Tower Fall drops dramatically beside volcanic spires that give the waterfall its name. Nearby Tower Roosevelt offers a gateway into Yellowstone's rugged northern backcountry.
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Often called America's Serengeti, Lamar Valley offers the best wildlife viewing in Yellowstone. Bison, pronghorn, wolves, bears, and countless bird species inhabit this legendary valley.
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Continue toward Yellowstone's Northeast Entrance and the mountain community of Cooke City. Surrounded by rugged peaks, the area showcases the frontier landscapes that characterized the early American West.
Day 3
Today explores Yellowstone's extraordinary geyser basins, where volcanic heat fuels the largest concentration of geothermal features on Earth. From world-famous geysers to brilliantly colored hot springs, the landscape appears almost otherworldly.
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Begin where geothermal activity meets Yellowstone Lake. Boardwalks wind among colorful springs and steaming pools perched along the lakeshore.
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Witness the world's most famous geyser before exploring the surrounding Upper Geyser Basin, home to the greatest concentration of geysers anywhere on Earth.
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Spend the remainder of the day among erupting geysers, colorful thermal pools, and boardwalks winding through Yellowstone's most active geothermal landscape.
Day 4
Your final Yellowstone day follows the western and northern portions of the Grand Loop. Spectacular thermal features, waterfalls, volcanic landscapes, and Mammoth Hot Springs combine to create one final showcase of Yellowstone's geological wonders.
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Discover bubbling mud pots, steaming vents, and colorful thermal pools that showcase Yellowstone's astonishing geothermal diversity.
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Stand beside Yellowstone's most colorful thermal feature. Brilliant rings of blue, green, yellow, orange, and red make Grand Prismatic Spring one of the park's most photographed landmarks.
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Hike through lodgepole forests to a beautiful waterfall and one of Yellowstone's lesser-visited geysers.
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Travel north through Madison and Norris, where Yellowstone's hottest thermal area contains Steamboat Geyser, the tallest active geyser in the world.
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Finish Yellowstone at Mammoth Hot Springs, where flowing mineral-rich water has created dazzling terraces that resemble a frozen waterfall. Nearby historic buildings tell the story of Yellowstone's earliest days of protection.
Day 5
Leaving Yellowstone behind, journey south into Grand Teton National Park, where jagged granite peaks rise abruptly above glacial lakes and sagebrush valleys. Today combines iconic viewpoints, historic homesteads, pristine lakeshores, and some of the finest hiking in the American West.
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Start the day at one of the most photographed locations in Grand Teton National Park. Oxbow Bend reflects the Tetons in calm water while moose, beavers, and waterfowl frequently inhabit the area.
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Enjoy some of the park's most extensive views before descending to river overlooks where the Tetons rise dramatically above the valley floor.
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Explore the historic homesteads that have become symbols of Grand Teton photography. The famous barns of Mormon Row and the Cunningham Cabin preserve stories of early settlement beneath the towering mountains.
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Spend the afternoon exploring Grand Teton's most famous lake district. Crystal-clear waters, forested trails, waterfalls, and mountain reflections make this the heart of the park's recreational opportunities.
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Depending on hiking ability and available time, choose one of Grand Teton's premier trail systems. Cascade Canyon and Lake Solitude provide classic alpine scenery, while Amphitheater Lake rewards strenuous hikers with stunning mountain views. Death Canyon and Granite Canyon explore the park's rugged backcountry. For a shorter experience, the Laurance S. Rockefeller Preserve offers peaceful trails through forests and wetlands. Conclude the day near Slide Lake as the Tetons glow beneath the evening light, bringing this remarkable five-day journey through two of America's greatest national parks to a memorable close.