Route Overview
A high-alpine loop through Yellowstone, Grand Teton, and Glacier built around wildlife hours, early starts, and Going-to-the-Sun Road timing.
Itinerary
Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport - arrival + supplies
Land in Bozeman, pick up your rental, and stock up for park days.
Buy a cooler, snacks, and bear spray before heading to Yellowstone.
Gardiner check-in
Settle in at the North Entrance for an early wildlife start.
Expect a 1.5-2 hour drive from Bozeman.
Mammoth Hot Springs terraces sunset
Walk the boardwalks through the travertine terraces in golden light.
Stay on boardwalks and keep an eye out for elk in the village.
Lamar Valley sunrise wildlife
Prime wildlife corridor for wolves, bison, and elk.
Bring binoculars and stay 100 yards from bears and wolves.
Grand Canyon of Yellowstone
Look out across the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone or take in the beauty of the Yellowstone River and its waterfalls.
Classic canyon overlooks with the Lower Falls in full view.
Plan for short walks to Artist Point and Lookout Point.
Canyon Village lunch
This is where you can mail letters and packages, or buy postage. This location is only open during the summer season. 2025 Season Open daily May 15–October 6 Accessibility Not wheelchair-accessible.
Refuel before the geyser basins.
Restock water and snacks for the afternoon.
Old Faithful + Upper Geyser Basin
Old Faithful Geyser is the world's best known geyser. Its eruption intervals have varied from 40 to 126 minutes. Find out the eruption times of Old Faithful and other large geysers at the Old Faithful Visitor Education Center, following the @GeyserNPS twitter feed, or using the Geysers app.
Walk the boardwalks and time your visit around an Old Faithful eruption.
Check eruption predictions at the visitor center. Boardwalks are exposed; bring sun protection.
Grand Prismatic overlook sunset
Short hike to the overlook for the best color in late light.
Arrive early for parking; the trail is short but can be crowded.
Norris Geyser Basin morning loop
Norris Geyser Basin is one of the hottest and most acidic of Yellowstone’s hydrothermal areas. It is part of one of the world’s largest active volcanoes. Many hot springs and fumaroles here have temperatures above the boiling point (200ºF / 93ºC).
Walk the Porcelain Basin and Back Basin loops.
Stay on boardwalks; thermal areas are dangerous off-trail.
Drive to Jackson (via South Entrance)
Arrive in Jackson for your Grand Teton days.
Allow 4-5 hours from Norris with stops.
Mormon Row sunset
Visit Mormon Row to see the historic Moulton Barns and Teton views.
Iconic barn views with the Teton Range behind.
Arrive early for parking and photo positions.
Oxbow Bend sunrise
Visit Oxbow Bend for iconic views of the Teton Range.
Best reflections of Mt. Moran in early light.
Arrive before sunrise; moose and beavers are common.
Jenny Lake shuttle + Hidden Falls
Visit the only accessible waterfall in Grand Teton on this easy-moderate hike to Hidden Falls.
Boat shuttle to the west shore, then a hike to Hidden Falls and Inspiration Point.
Buy shuttle tickets early in peak season. Carry bear spray.
Schwabacher Landing evening
Beaver ponds with classic Teton reflections.
Dirt road access; check conditions after rain.
Taggart Lake Trail
Get spectacular views of the Teton Range on this easy hike to Taggart Lake.
Classic 3-mile loop to a glacial lake with Teton views.
Start early for parking and cooler temperatures.
Drive to West Glacier
Arrive in West Glacier for an early Going-to-the-Sun start.
Expect 7-8 hours of driving; consider a mid-drive meal stop.
Going-to-the-Sun Road sunrise drive
A drive across this engineering marvel has been a quintessential part of any trip to Glacier since the 1930s.
Drive to Logan Pass in early light for the best views and parking.
Check for vehicle reservation requirements and road status.
Hidden Lake Overlook
Boardwalk and trail to a high alpine overlook.
Parking fills fast; arrive early and bring layers.
Lake McDonald sunset
Lake McDonald Lodge sits on the shore of Lake McDonald and has been welcoming guests since 1914. Built in a Swiss style of architecture it retains a "hunting lodge" feel as guests enter the lobby surrounded by animal mounts and rustic log banisters. It remains the primary lodging facility on the west side of the park.
Calm evening light on the lake with mountain reflections.
Rock-skipping beach is a great spot for photos.
Glacier Park International Airport - departure
Return the rental car and fly home.
Allow 45-60 minutes from West Glacier to the airport.
Creates a copy you can customize
7
Days
20
Stops
moderate
Difficulty
Best Season
Late June-September. Going-to-the-Sun Road typically opens late June or early July.
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