A national park larger than the state of Rhode Island, Yellowstone National Park embodies the spirit of the West. Yellowstone is primarily located in Wyoming, but has also penetrated into Montana and Idaho. With such a large area of land to cover, a guide to Yellowstone National Park is essential.
Yellowstone National Park Guide
Yellowstone National Park was the world’s first national park, established in 1872. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is visited by tourists from all over the world. In addition to over 3,400 square miles to explore, Yellowstone offers some of the best outdoor recreation in the United States. This is one of the reasons Yellowstone is a top national park. Travelers can enjoy a variety of activities, including popular pastimes like hiking, biking, boating, fishing, and wildlife viewing, all on the same trip.
A trip to Yellowstone National Park is a great way to learn a new hobby or rediscover an old passion. Visitors can arrange guided tours of the historic lodge, go on photo safaris, or go on wildlife viewing tours.
Top attractions in Yellowstone National Park
- Old Faithful Geyser and Old Faithful Inn
- grand canyon of yellowstone
- yellowstone lake
- Wildlife viewing in Lamar or Hayden Valley
- Mammoth Hot Springs
Old Faithful Geyser
About 2 million years ago, a supervolcano erupted in Yellowstone, forming a caldera, or basin. This entire area is part of the Yellowstone Caldera from Old Faithful to Yellowstone Lake. Old Faithful Geyser is the star. However, there is more to see in this area. Old Faithful is one of Yellowstone National Park’s top attractions because it is very predictable.
The Upper Geyser Basin is home to Old Faithful, the largest concentration of geysers in the world. This supervolcano keeps Magna close to the surface, so visitors can see water bubbling and boiling in the upper geyser basin. The best way to explore this area is on foot. There are many paved hiking trails. In addition to several named geysers, visitors can see other geothermal features.
- Hot springs – pools of hot water of different colors
- Fumarole – an outlet for steam where there is no significant amount of water
- Mudpot – Hot sulfuric acid breaks up rock into stinky clay that bubbles on the surface. Tip: Approximate geyser firing times for Old Faithful, Castle, and Grand Geysers are posted at the Old Faithful Visitor Education Center and local lodges.
Old Faithful Inn
Opened on June 1, 1904, the Old Faithful Inn is made using local forest products. Architect Robert Riemer wanted to bring the forest indoors. The Old Faithful Inn is an architectural landmark and one of the most famous buildings in the United States. At seven stories, it is the largest log cabin hotel in the world. The internal lobby rises to the top of the roof and includes several dining options.
Old Faithful Inn is the most requested lodge in Yellowstone National Park. Although reservations are difficult to secure, visitors can walk through the building or reserve dinner in the dining room. free tour Offered during the summer season.
grand canyon of yellowstone
Yellowstone National Park has canyons that are over 300 feet deep. Additionally, the Grand Canyon is home to a pair of waterfalls that are a must-see in the national park. The 308-foot-tall Lower Falls and 109-foot-tall Upper Falls are spectacular and popular attractions in Yellowstone.
The easiest way to see Yellowstone’s Grand Canyon is by driving either the North Rim Drive or the South Rim Drive. Both are good options for viewing. It is more than 20 miles long and more than 4,000 feet wide. Both rim drives are equipped with a number of display drawers, including artist points and ground views. Keep an eye out for ospreys and other birds of prey that frequent the area.
Top Yellowstone Lake Activities
Yellowstone Lake, the largest high-elevation lake in North America, is one of the best areas for fishing in Yellowstone National Park. There are also fishing charters that take anglers to all the best spots. Another popular summer activity is a boat cruise on Yellowstone Lake.
The grand and historic Lake Yellowstone Hotel opened in 1891. It is still the oldest hotel in the National Park Service. As Yellowstone’s most luxurious accommodation, our rooms are designed for adults. Free tours of the facility are offered during the summer. Like most lodging options, Lake Village also offers family-friendly cabins. Camping is also possible nearby.
Best wildlife viewing in Yellowstone National Park
Some people enjoy the geothermal heat, while others want to observe animals. Yellowstone National Park offers some of the best game viewing in the United States. These are the most common wildlife in Yellowstone.
- bison
- mousse
- elk
- grizzly bear
- black bear
- wolf
- bighorn sheep
- mule deer
- coyote
- pronghorn
- pika
- marmot
For wildlife viewing, we recommend Hayden Valley or Lamar Valley, both in the eastern part of the park. Dawn and dusk are the best times to view wildlife, so binoculars will come in handy. Guided tours are also popular. Contact park rangers for the latest wildlife sightings. They know where the animals frequent and are kept up-to-date on bear congestion and traffic conditions caused by bear sightings.
Remember, wild animals are unpredictableAs such, visitors should remain 25 meters away from all Yellowstone wildlife. If there is a bear or wolf, visitors should keep 100 meters away from him.
Mammoth Hot Springs
In the northwest corner of Yellowstone National Park, you’ll find some of the most protected travertine hot springs in the world. Hikers can explore Mammoth’s limestone terraces, which feature a series of viewing platforms and boardwalks. Mammoth offers more than just hot springs. This area is home to the park’s headquarters and the site of Fort Yellowstone, built by the U.S. military.
After Yellowstone was founded in 1872, poachers and illegal campers used the area illegally. The U.S. military patrolled the area for his 32 years and established Fort Yellowstone as its headquarters.
Popular activities in Mammoth
- See more features at Liberty Cap and Mammoth Hot Springs
- Tour the Albright Visitor Center
- Walk through historic Fort Yellowstone
Due to the lower elevation of the Mammoth area, it is open seven days a week.
Yellowstone National Park Accommodations
Lodging and campgrounds in Yellowstone are concentrated in villages, each of which provides travelers with services such as meals, laundry, groceries, and in some cases gas stations. Reservations are required for travel any time of the year. Lodging, camping, dinner reservations, and tours fill up quickly.
This park is huge, so consider spending at least four days in Yellowstone. To minimize driving, stay in a few areas and move around the park during your vacation. Yellowstone offers a wide range of accommodation options, from basic cabins to luxurious suites. With nine properties and more than 2,000 guest rooms, visitors can enjoy all that Yellowstone has to offer.
- Canyon Lodge and Cabins
- Grant Village Lodge
- Lake Yellowstone Hotel and Cabins
- Lake Lodge Cabins
- Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel and Cabins
- Old Faithful Inn
- Old Faithful Lodge Cabins
- Old Faithful Snow Lodge and Cabins
Yellowstone Developed Campground
Yellowstone National Park has more than 2,000 established campgrounds in 12 campgrounds. All summer campgrounds are available for reservation only through Recreation.gov or YellowstoneNationalParkLodges.com. Rates start at $20 per night.
Campgrounds reserved through Yellowstone National Park Lodges:
- bridge bay
- canyon
- Grant Village
- madison
- Fishing Bridge RV Park
The Canyon Village, Grant Village, and Lake Village areas offer the services campers need. There is a self-service laundry, general store, gas station, and cafe.
Campgrounds reserved through Recreation.gov:
- mammoth
- Indian Creek
- lewis lake
- Slough Creek
- norris
- Pebble Creek
- tower fall
Access to Yellowstone
bozeman
As the largest regional airport in the Yellowstone metropolitan area, many airports use Bozeman as a gateway town. It is approximately 90 miles north of the Mammoth Springs area. The northern portion of Yellowstone’s Great Loop is open year-round, making Bozeman a great place to visit in the winter and early spring.
cody
Located east of Yellowstone, you can fly to Cody, Wyoming. The northeast and east entrances are open from May until the roads are closed due to snow in the fall.
jackson
For those looking to see Grand Teton National Park on their Yellowstone trip, Jackson, Wyoming is about 143 miles south of Old Faithful. Yellowstone National Park is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Visitors can use an annual National Park Pass ($80) or purchase a seven-day pass for $35 per vehicle.
There are five entrances to Yellowstone National Park. Seasonal closures affect the opening of Yellowstone National Park and its entrances. All roads and facilities are open only in July and August.
- West Entrance – Closest Entrance to Idaho
- North Entrance – Nearest Entrance in Bozeman, Montana
- Northeast Entrance – Scenic Highway to Billings, Montana
- East Entrance – Scenic Highway to Cody, Wyoming
- South Entrance – Busiest entrance and gateway to Grand Teton National Park and Jackson, Wyoming
