Hayden Valley
The Hayden Valley is one of the premier places to see wildlife in the Yellowstone National Park. This vast area is over 50 square miles in size, and is approximately 7 miles long and 7 miles wide. The Hayden Valley is known for it's lush, green meadows that surround one of the prettiest stretches of the Yellowstone River you'll ever see. The most prominent animal in the Hayden Valley is the bison, and it's unlikely that you'll get through this magical place without experiencing a classic Yellowstone National Park "bison jam".

Grand Canyon
No trip to Yellowstone National Park is complete without a visit to the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone River, a deep chasm with two fetching waterfalls. Formed over thousands of years of glacial activity and the rushing curthe Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone is the primary attraction in Canyon Country and one of the most popular hiking areas in the park. Approximately 20 miles long, half a mile wide and nerent of the Yellowstone River, nearly 1,000 feet deep, this is the first large canyon on the river south of Yellowstone Falls, and its golden cliffs are quite a sight. Several lookout areas allow you to see the canyon and the falls from different viewpoints.

Mammoth Hot Springs
Sitting just southwest of the North Entrance in Mammoth Country, the Mammoth Hot Springs are one of the park's more unique attractions. At Mammoth Hot Springs, a rarer kind of spring is born when the hot water ascends through the ancient limestone deposits of the area instead of the silica-rich lava flows of the hot springs common elsewhere in the park. The results are strikingly different and unique. They invoke a landscape that resembles a cave turned inside out, with its delicate features exposed for all to see. The flowing waters spill across the surface to sculpt magnificent travertine limestone terraces.

Norris Geyser Basin
Norris Geyser Basin is one of the most thermaly active and diverse geyser basins in Yellowstone. Norris is comprised of two sections, the Back Basin and Porcelain Basin. These two boardwalks lead you across eeire landscapes of hot water and steam. Hundreds of tremors, most of which are too small to be felt by people, happen here every year, constantly changing the characteristics of the geyser basin. New springs and geysers form while others become less active or become dormant altogether. Steamboat, the largest active geyser in the world resides here in the Back Basin of the Norris area. When Steamboat erupts it can shoot water over 300 ft. into the air (that's as tall as the Lower Falls of the Yellowstone River). Although very impressive when it does erupt, Steamboat is far from predictable, with intervals between eruptions lasting up to 50 years. There is also an easy one mile trail that will get you back and forth from Norris Geyser Basin to Norris Campground and the Ranger Museum. With hundreds of hotsprings, geysers and mudpots of all colors, shapes and sizes, you will definitely enjoy a stroll through the Norris Geyser Basin on your trip to Yellowstone. Pick up a Norris Geyser Basin Trail Guide at any visitor center so you can read about all the different features around Norris Geyser Basin.

Grand Prismatic
If you're looking for a bit of artistic inspiration, you'll find it at the Grand Prismatic Spring. Sitting in the Midway Geyser Basin, this is the largest hot spring in the United States, approximately 250 by 300 feet in size and around 160-feet deep. But it's Grand Prisimatic's rainbow waters that really make it fascinating: While the center of the pool's deep cerulean hue is pretty characteristic, the deep reds, bright yellows and fiery oranges encircling the edges are not. These colors are caused by pigmented bacteria that thrive on the rich minerals produced by the geothermic activity. The color of the bacteria is determined by the temperature of the water -- the center of the spring is too hot to support life -- which is then reflected when light hits the organisms.

Upper Geyser Basin
Yellowstone, as a whole, possesses close to 60 percent of the world's geysers. The Upper Geyser Basin is home to the largest numbers of this fragile feature found in the park. Within one square mile there are at least 150 of these hydrothermal wonders. Of this remarkable number, only five major geysers are predicted regularly by the naturalist staff. They are Castle, Grand, Daisy, Riverside, and Old Faithful. There are many frequent, smaller geysers to be seen and marveled at in this basin as well as numerous hot springs and one recently developed mudpot (if it lasts).

Old Faithful
The world's most renowned geyser is a must-see for every Yellowstone visitor. Although it isn't the largest geyser in the world, Old Faithful's eruptions are definitely awe-inspiring, averaging around 130 feet high and can sometimes clear 180 feet. Like its name suggests, you can count on Old Faithful erupting approximately every hour and a half (the nearby visitor's center can provide you with a more accurate schedule). There are several ways to see Old Faithful's power: you can join the crowds of tourists who gather around the perimeter or find a less hectic spot in the dining room of the nearby Old Faithful Inn. More adventurous travelers can enjoy the mile-long hike out to Observation Point for a bird's-eye view of the geyser.

Grand Tetons National Park
The rugged Tetons rise up and are reflected in the pristine waters of Jenny Lake in Grand Teton National Park. Waves drift to the shoreline from a shuttle boat giving visitors an effortless tour of the lake. Although there are many visitors to the lake, there are plenty of designated places to step off the trail to sit and enjoy the picture perfect beauty of the Tetons and the lake. The most loved of all Grand Teton lakes is Jenny Lake, nestled at the foot of Cascade Canyon and surrounded by a luxuriant forest of Engelmann spruce, subalpine fir, and lodgepole pine. not only is Jenny Lake beautiful, it is where the most popular hike in the park begins. The acclaimed Cascade Canyon is a moderate hike that starts near Jenny Lake and climbs up to the tumbling 200-foot-tall Hidden Falls and the aptly-named Inspiration Point, which looks out over Jenny Lake and the east side of Grand Teton National Park. While most visitors turn back after reaching Inspiration Point, adventurous hikers who continue on toward Hurricane Pass and Lake Solitude will be rewarded with views of the surrounding Cathedral Group and significantly fewer people.

On Your Own

Because our escorted adventures involve significant up-front logistical commitments, the following refund schedule applies:

Cancellations made: 

within 14 days of the initial deposit will receive a full refund of the deposit; applies only to bookings made 90+ days prior to departure.

75+ Days Prior to Departure (June 15): Full refund of all payments made, less the non-refundable deposit.  

43 to 74 Days Prior to Departure: 50% of the total trip price is refundable. 

0 to 42 Days Prior to Departure: 100% of the trip price is non-refundable.

Important: No refunds or credits will be provided for arriving late, leaving a trip early, or "no-shows" for any reason. We strongly recommend purchasing comprehensive travel insurance (including "Cancel For Any Reason" coverage) to protect your investment.

Any exceptions to this policy are at the sole discretion of Friendly Adventures and will be reviewed following the conclusion of the scheduled trip.