Salt Lake City to Yellowstone 3-Day Tour

Today, we’ll depart from Salt Lake City and head to Jackson, a charming western cowboy town and renowned resort destination. Be sure to visit Jackson Town Square, home to the iconic Elk Antler Arches at the heart of the city. In the afternoon, we’ll enter Grand Teton National Park, where towering, glacier-covered peaks create a landscape that feels like a dream. We’ll then continue to Yellowstone National Park—the world’s first national park—where the beauty of Yellowstone Lake and the park’s incredible geothermal wonders showcase nature’s most magical creations. We’ll spend the night in West Yellowstone.

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Itinerary：

Salt Lake City → Jackson → Jackson Town Square with Elk Antler Arches → Grand Teton National Park → Yellowstone National Park (stop at West Thumb Geyser Basin) → West Yellowstone

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Jackson Town Square with Elk Antler Arches

Jackson Town Square features four distinctive arches made from thousands of elk antlers, creating a truly unique landmark. It’s a remarkable place to explore, offering a memorable experience for every visitor.
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Grand Teton National Park

Grand Teton National Park, nestled in the Rocky Mountains of northwest Wyoming, is renowned for its breathtaking mountain views and sparkling alpine lakes. The park is also a haven for diverse and abundant wildlife, making it a true natural treasure.

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Yellowstone National Park

Yellowstone National Park—the first national park in the United States—is a must-see treasure filled with year-round scenic beauty. It offers incredible opportunities to observe wildlife as animals migrate in and out of the park throughout the seasons. No matter where you go in Yellowstone, you’re likely to spot some of its iconic residents, including bears, wolves, moose, elk, bison, and more!
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Hotel：White Buffalo West Yellowstone; Yellowstone Country Inn; or similar

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This morning, we’ll return to Yellowstone, the world’s first national park, for a full day of exploration and wonder. Nature’s power and beauty are on full display here. Sitting atop the largest active supervolcano on the continent, Yellowstone boasts over 10,000 geothermal features and more than 200 waterfalls. Its unique landscape also supports one of the richest habitats for large wild animals in North America, making it a true natural sanctuary.

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Itinerary:

West Yellowstone → Yellowstone National Park (stop at Norris Geyser Basin, Upper Terraces, Colossus Hot Springs, Canyon Village, Upper Falls, Artist Point, Hayden Valley, Mud Volcano, Fishing Bridge and other attractions. The scenic spot arrangement will be based on the actual situation of the day The situation is subject to adjustment, please refer to the actual arrangement) → West Yellowstone

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Norris Geyser Basin

Norris Geyser Basin, named after one of Yellowstone’s early superintendents, is considered the hottest geyser basin in the park. The Porcelain Basin within it features a stark, barren landscape shaped by its highly acidic environment, which makes it difficult for plants, algae, and bacteria to thrive. Instead, the basin’s vivid colors come from mineral oxides—iron creating shades of pink, red, and orange, and sulfur and iron sulfates producing bright yellows. This basin is also home to Steamboat Geyser, the tallest active geyser in the world. Though its eruptions are infrequent, when it does erupt, it can shoot water nearly 380 feet into the air in a dramatic spectacle.

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Upper Yellowstone Falls

Just a quarter mile upstream from the larger Lower Falls, the Upper Falls of the Yellowstone River cascade 109 feet over a rugged lava cliff into the basin below. The area beneath the falls has experienced more intense erosion compared to the calmer stretch above.

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Artist Point

Artist Point is one of the most breathtaking viewpoints in the Canyon Area of Yellowstone National Park. The canyon’s sheer walls plunge 700 feet to the river below, with the majestic Lower Falls visible upstream. Downstream, the canyon expands and deepens to a maximum depth of 1,540 feet. While the canyon walls are primarily yellow, they also display vibrant hues of blue, red, orange, and brown—colors that shift and intensify, especially after rainfall followed by bright sunshine.

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Mud Volcano Area

The Mud Volcano violently erupted in the early 20th century, leaving behind a striking crater that remains visible today. Surrounding the site are several fascinating geothermal features, including the Mud Cauldron, Black Dragon’s Caldron, and Dragon’s Mouth Spring, each offering a unique glimpse into Yellowstone’s dynamic geothermal landscape.

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Hayden Valley

This centrally located valley in Yellowstone National Park is one of the best spots for wildlife viewing. As you drive through the wide, scenic landscape, you’re likely to encounter herds of bison, scattered elk—and occasionally, even a grizzly bear. Along the Yellowstone River, keep an eye out for waterfowl such as ducks, Canada geese, and pelicans, either swimming or resting near the shore.

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Hotel：White Buffalo West Yellowstone; Yellowstone Country Inn; or similar

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Today, we continue our journey through the breathtaking Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. Wander through serene, mysterious forests, admire the beauty of Yellowstone Lake, and take in the peaceful, mist-covered rivers—all showcasing the incredible power and magic of nature.

Highlights of the day include the vibrant Grand Prismatic Spring with its rainbow-like colors, the iconic eruptions of Old Faithful, the dramatic beauty of the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, the thunderous Upper Falls, and the steaming, colorful Norris Geyser Basin. Keep your eyes open—you may spot wildlife up close along the way.

In the afternoon, we’ll arrive at the Great Salt Lake, the largest remaining remnant of ancient Lake Bonneville and the largest saltwater lake in the Western Hemisphere. With no natural outlet, evaporation concentrates the lake’s minerals, creating a uniquely salty environment that supports a thriving habitat for birds, brine shrimp, and other wildlife.

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Itinerary:

West Yellowstone → Yellowstone National Park (go to the Color Palette, Grand Prismatic Hot Spring, Old Faithful Geyser, Fountain Trail, Morning Glory and other attractions. The tour guide will be adjusted according to the actual situation of the day, please refer to the actual arrangement) → Yellowstone Bear World (optional) → Great Salt Lake → Salt Lake City

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The Grand Prismatic Hot Spring

The Grand Prismatic Spring, measuring about 370 feet (110 meters) in diameter and 160 feet (50 meters) deep, releases around 560 gallons (2,100 liters) of 160°F (70°C) water every minute. It is the largest hot spring in the United States and the third largest in the world. The spring’s vibrant colors are created by microbial mats that thrive around the edges of the mineral-rich water.

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Old Faithful Geyser

Old Faithful, located in Yellowstone’s Upper Geyser Basin, is one of the park’s most iconic natural landmarks. Renowned for its reliability, this cone geyser erupts approximately every 91 minutes, delighting visitors with its regular displays.

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Yellowstone Bear World (optional)

No trip to Yellowstone or Grand Teton National Park is complete without a visit to Yellowstone Bear World—a unique drive-thru wildlife park that offers an up-close experience with the region’s incredible animals. As you explore the park from the comfort of your vehicle, you’ll encounter Rocky Mountain elk, bison, white-tailed and mule deer, Rocky Mountain goats, moose, and, of course, both American black bears and grizzly bears. It’s an unforgettable adventure into the wild!

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Great Salt Lake

The Great Salt Lake, located in northern Utah, is the largest inland saltwater lake in the Western Hemisphere and one of the saltiest in the world. It is fed by the Bear, Weber, and Jordan rivers, but has no outlet, causing its size to fluctuate based on river flow and evaporation rates. Much like the Dead Sea, the lake lies in an arid region and shares similar chemical properties with ocean water—but with significantly higher salinity, due to evaporation surpassing the inflow from its tributaries.

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