Yellowstone National Park

Visited: July 2012, July 2014, May 2015, June 2016

Nearby towns: West Yellowstone, MT (West Entrance), Jackson, WY (South Entrance), Cody, WY (East Entrance), Bozeman, MT (North Entrance), Red Lodge, MT (Northeast Entrance)

Yellowstone. It's name is synonymous with the natural wonder and beauty of America. Created in 1872, it is the first National Park and the granddaddy of the National Park Service (which was founded much later in 1916). It is the quintessential National Park and, dare I say, the best one. Who doesn't remember as a kid, packing up the family car (usually either a station wagon or minivan) to drive thousands of miles to see Old Faithful? This is more than a family vacation. It's a rite of passage. A pilgrimage to an American mecca.

Yellowstone will always hold a special place in my heart. It's the first (and only) National Park that Tara and I visited while we we're dating. We had been dating long distance while I was studying for the bar exam. Once I finished the exam, I joined Tara and her family in Island Park and we spent a day at Yellowstone. This was the only picture I could find to document that visit. 😊   

Yellowstone is huge. You are not going to want to only set aside one day to visit. At a minimum, make it three, but you could easily spend an entire week in the park. Yellowstone is unparalleled for natural beauty, scenic vistas, scenic driving, hiking, hot pots, geysers, hot springs, waterfalls, lakes and rivers, and wildlife viewing. There are eight developed areas of the park where you'll find the main attractions, a visitor center, and campgrounds (also lodging in a few select areas). All of these developed areas are accessed by the Grand Loop Road, which forms a figure eight in the middle of the park. Be sure to check the website to see which roads are open (as they all close in winter, but re-open at different times of the year). By mid-June, all roads in the park should be open. Entrance fee is $30, or $50 combined with Grand Teton (which lies just south of Yellowstone).

Area #1: Mammoth Hot Springs

The main feature here is the large terraces of hot springs. There is also the main visitor center and Park Headquarters. This is one of the only places in Yellowstone that is open year round. Mammoth Hot Springs is divided into an Upper Terraces and Lower Terraces area. You can access the Upper Terraces by a scenic loop just off the main road.

You can hike or drive down to the Lower Terraces.

Liberty Cap

Just north of the Park Headquarters is the trail head to the Boiling River hike. This is a fun experience in the park where you can swim in a spot where a hot springs empties into the Gardner River. It makes the river water feel nice and warm, like a pleasant bath. It is only a mile long hike. The current was a little strong, but we found a nice pocket where there was no current and the river was warm. It was very fun.

Boiling River

We saw this snake along the trail. Yikes!

Area #2:Tower-Roosevelt

This section is in the northeastern area of the Park. Stop at the Roosevelt Lodge to learn about the history of Yellowstone and ride in a horse drawn carriage. You can also see the Petrified Tree, there are lots of good hiking, and Tower Falls.

Tower Falls

Area #3: Canyon Village

This is one of the most popular regions and certainly one of the prettiest. The Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone is a must-see. The Visitor Center is really neat here, head south of the Visitor Center and turn on the South Rim Drive. Your first stop is a viewpoint of Upper Falls, 109 ft.

The Upper Falls Viewpoint along the South Rim Road is also the trailhead for Uncle Tom's Trail. It descends 300 steps for a great close-up of the torrential Lower Falls, which plummets 308 ft.

South Rim Road ends in a parking lot at Artist's Point. This is a great viewpoint. An absolutely stunning view of Lower Falls and the yellowish canyon that gave the Park its name.

Just north of the South Rim Drive is the turnoff to Upper Falls View parking lot. From here you can walk right to the brink of Upper Falls.

Keep heading north and you'll see the turnoff for the North Rim Drive. More overlooks and Inspiration Point. The views off this road are nice, but if you are short on time South Rim Drive offers better views of the Falls and the Canyon.

Area #4: Norris

The main attraction here is Steamboat Geyser, which is the world's tallest geyser. Unfortunately, it is very unpredictable. The last time it blew was September 3, 2014. Artist's Paintpot is a great stop. Short hike to some beautiful hot pools.

Another cool stop is Roaring Mountain. The mountain looks like it might burst at any moment.

Area #5: Madison

This area is home to a large campground, the Firehole River (another spot where you can swim in warm river fed by a hot springs), and Gibbon Falls.

Area #6: Old Faithful

This is probably the most popular region of the park. It contains the iconic Old Faithful geyser, which blows basically every hour or so. To me, watching Old Faithful is THE one thing to do in Yellowstone. It is one of the great experiences of the National Park System. 

On our last visit to Old Faithful, we were lucky to see the eruption of a geyser near Old Faithful, Beehive Geyser. It was very impressive, it goes off every 8-24 hours. There is an indicator (looks like a small fountain) that goes off right before the geyser erupts.

the indicator will go off on average 15-20 minutes before the Beehive Geyser

the Old Faithful Inn

Just north of Old Faithful is another great site, the Grand Prismatic Spring. It was a beautiful day when we visited, so the colors of the spring were so vibrant. It looked like a painting.

The Fairy Falls Trail has recently re-opened. After a few miles on the trail you'll find an overlook for a bird's eye view of Grand Prismatic Spring. Looking forward to our next visit to do this hike.

Area #7: West Thumb & Grant Village

This place is similar to Madison, in that is a popular camping spot. Unlike Madison, it lies along Yellowstone Lake. There's more geysers here, along with a store, lodging, gas, and visitor center. Head south here to get to Grand Teton National Park. Before you leave the South Entrance, make a stop to see Lewis Falls.

Area #8: Fishing Bridge & Lake Village

The last area is the place to go if you want to explore Yellowstone Lake. Unfortunately, I haven't spent any time in this region. Just driven through.

Pretty much any spot along the Grand Loop Road will have hot spots and bubbling mud pots. Make sure you stop at a couple of them to experience these unique geothermal pools.

One of the great things about Yellowstone is the abundant wildlife. Tara and I have been to just over half the National Parks in the US. And Yellowstone is, by far, the one we have seen the most wildlife in. You are almost 100% guaranteed to see bison. I think I have seen bison every single time I've been to the park. You also have a really good chance to see deer, elk, pronghorn, bighorn sheep, moose, and even a bear (more likely a black bear than a grizzly bear). Less likely are gray wolf, mountain lion, and bobcats. Don't be a dumb tourist, respect the wildlife and don't get too close. Although they may seem placid, bison are definitely not! No picture is worth it.

You probably don't need me to convince you, but go to Yellowstone. There's a reason it's such a famous vacation destination. Your appreciation of nature will grow immensely. If you have limited time, no trip to Yellowstone is complete without (1) Old Faithful and Grand Prismatic Spring; (2) Grand Canyon of Yellowstone (do Artist's Point) and (3) Mammoth Springs. Check for more info here: https://www.nps.gov/yell/index.htm