WILD & SCENIC

THE UPPER LOOP TOUR

By Emma Heller

At Yellowstone Scenic Tours, we love the opportunity to explore the Upper Loop in Yellowstone National Park. The Upper Loop, located in the Northern portion of Yellowstone, takes us through some of the most scenic sections of the Park and offers excellent wildlife viewing opportunities.

Due to the historic flooding that took place in June 2022, access to certain areas of the Upper Loop has been restricted. As a tour company, we have the opportunity to explore some of those restricted areas with you.

Graphic of a map of Yellowstone Park. The map shows open roads and road closures. The road closures are primarily in the NE section of the Park.

Map showing Yellowstone National Park’s most up-to-date road status.

The Northeast stretch of Yellowstone was heavily impacted by the flooding, destroying infrastructure to Lamar Valley and the Northeast Entrance in Cooke City, Montana. We have been missing the amazing wildlife we often see in this area. The Park Service is now allowing tour companies and those with reservations to drive to Slough Creek. Slough Creek boasts two wolf dens in the area where we are able to wolf watch. There is also the potential to see bison, pronghorn and bighorn sheep!

Two grizzly bears walking along the Lamar River and a wolf just up the bank in Yellowstone National Park.

A rare sighting of two grizzly bears and a wolf near a bison carcass next to the Lamar River.

Jim Peaco

Between Canyon and Tower Falls, we drive over Dunraven Pass. This area is known to have a high concentration of black bears. While seeing wildlife in Yellowstone isn’t guaranteed, incredible scenery, unique thermal features and the Park’s headquarters, Mammoth Hot Springs are all guaranteed on the Upper Loop. Mammoth is filled with rich Park history, resident elk and the Mammoth Terraces which are unlike any other thermal area in Yellowstone.

A herd of primarily cow elk and one large bull elk next to a picnic table in Mammoth Hot Springs, Yellowstone National Park.

With the elk rut just around the corner, you are likely to see scenes like this at Mammoth Hot Springs.

Jim Peaco

Most often, we tour the Lower Loop with our guests. This is an excellent option if you only have one day in Yellowstone. If you have had the opportunity to visit Yellowstone before or are able to explore the Lower Loop on your own, take advantage of our extensive knowledge of the area and our access to Slough Creek. Can’t decide which tour to go on, we find ourselves out on multi-day tours, leaving no obsidian rock unturned!