Yellowstone National Park
Yellowstone Lake Hotel
© National Park Service
Yellowstone, the first inaugural national park in our system, is also the largest in the lower 48 states encompassing 2.2 million acres. This equals 3,472 square miles. With all this size you may be thinking, "How am I going to see all of this during my visit"? Visiting these pages will help you better understand how you can enjoy the Park's natural wonders. more info
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Grand Canyon of Yellowstone
© National Park Service
Yellowstone is filled with geothermal geysers, hot springs, steam vents, and mud-pots. Elevations in the park range from 5,000 to 11,000 feet. The temperature in the Park can range from 90 degrees F, in the summer to -45 degrees below zero in the winter. All kinds of wildlife live in this vast forested area so keep your eyes open for that buffalo looking at you from behind a tree. The Grand Canyon of Yellowstone is famous for its colors, shapes, and waterfalls. Rivers, streams, waterfalls and Yellowstone Lake are the major water resources.
Entrances to Yellowstone
There are five entrances into Yellowstone National Park. All are accessible during the summer months and only one is open to vehicles during the winter months.
- North Entrance (Only entrance open year-round)
- South Entrance
- East Entrance
- West Entrance
- Northeast Entrance
The major scenic attractions are located on the Grand Loop Road (a figure eight shaped road in the center of the park). The entire Loop is 142 miles but due to the maximum speed limit of 45 mph, traffic maybe be slow and heavy, therefore keep this in mind when traveling to a destination.
Geysers and Hot Springs
Hot Spring
© National Park Service Yellowstone has an estimated 10,000 thermal features including geysers, hot springs and fumaroles. Only three percent are geysers. Most of the geysers are small bubbling pools that may occasionally splash and make some noise. There are only 100 geysers that erupt 100 feet or higher on a daily basis. The most famous geyser is Old Faithful which erupts approximately every 65 minutes. Geysers are made up of water and steam. This combination can be disrupted very easily. The throwing of sticks, coins, stones or any other foreign material can cause a geyser to disrupt its eruption time or even cause one to die after a period of time. Natural causes such as earthquakes can produce the same effect.
The Upper Geyser Basin is where Old Faithful is located. There are many geysers on this loop including Castle, Grand, Riverside, Beehive, Grotto, Beauty Pool and the famous Morning Glory pool. Morning Glory Pool is famous for its elaborate colors and resemblance of the Morning Glory flower. The Lower Geyser Basin includes the Fountain Paint Pots. The paint pots are an elaborate display of colored mud that erupt and bubble just like geysers. If your children made mud pies at some time, this is an excellent opportunity to see mud at its best.
Many of the hot springs have some sort of color. The color is determined by the types of algae that may grow in the springs. Temperature may also have an effect on the color. For example water that is 167 degrees F makes the water look green or blue. This is what makes the hot springs so unique.
Maps are located at Visitors Centers and at the beginning of most trails. A small donation is asked to help cover costs of printing the maps. Everything is on the honesty system so please contribute the small amount. It is greatly appreciated. Littering in the Park is illegal and also in many areas of Wyoming. Please pick up your trash and throw it in the proper containers provided.
Wildlife
Upper Basin Hot Spring
© National Park Service A wide variety of wildlife live in the Park including bison, elk, mule deer, black bear, grizzly bears, moose, coyotes, pelicans, eagles and many other types of animals. The buffalo is a famous symbol for Yellowstone Park. In the early 1900's the buffalo became nearly extinct due to the hunters of the Plains. Yellowstone was the only place the buffalo could roam and be protected from the hunters. Elk can often be seen off the side of the road grazing in the grassy areas during the summer months. During the winter, many elk find a home on the vast plains of the National Elk Refuge. If the snow becomes too deep or crusty, pelletized alfalfa is provided to help them survive the winter months. When is the best time to see these animals? The early morning and evening hours is the best time to see a moose at a watering hole or an elk peeking through the tall grasses.
Plants
As you enter Yellowstone you will notice the very large lodgepole pine trees that encompass two thirds of the Park. On the Grand Loop Road these trees are the most common species of pine tree. The elk can be easily seen living here in the summer months. The lodgepole pine provides shelter, food, and sunshine for much of the wildlife that lives here, including an abundance of wildflowers in the summer months.
Yellowstone Lake
Yellowstone Lake is 136 square miles at 7,733 feet and is shaped like a man's hand. This is where the Yellowstone River begins which is a major tributary for the Missouri River. The Lake is a fisherman's paradise because it is filled with brown, rainbow, and cutthroat trout. In the spring many birds migrate here to nest such as the pelicans, cormorants, and gulls. Otters, muskrats, and moose are some of the wildlife that can be seen on the banks of the Lake.
The Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone
West Thumb Basin Ledge
© National Park Service The Grand Canyon was created by Yellowstone River. The river gets its name from the yellow hues that are cast upon the canyon walls. The river carved a canyon 1,000 to 1,500 feet deep and 20 miles long. The best time to see the spectacular colors of the canyon is in the early morning. As the sun rises it shines on certain sections of the canyon walls accenting its uniqueness. The South Rim Trail provides the best scenery of the Canyon. Here one can see The Lower Falls, at 308 feet, which are the highest in the park.
Hiking Maps and Trails
All of these trails can be done in a day. The trails very in length and difficulty so choosing your trail and destination can be easy as 1,2,3.
Snow covered trees in purple hues
© Peter Volf Photography Old Faithful Area
- Fairy Falls - 5 to 6 miles - easy
- Mystic Falls - 2.4 miles - moderate
- Lone Star Geyser - 5 miles - easy
- Shoshone Lake - 6 miles - moderate
- Lake Overlook - 2 miles - moderate
- Riddle Lake - 5 miles - moderate
- Elephant Back Mountain - 3 miles - moderate/difficult
- Pelican Creek - 1 mile - easy
- Storm Point - 3 miles - easy/moderate
- Clear Lake/Ribbon Lake Loop 3 to 6 miles - easy
- Cascade Lake - 5 miles - easy
- Mt. Washburn - 6 miles - somewhat strenuous
- Beaver Ponds Loop - 5 miles - easy/moderate
- Bunsen Park - 4 miles - somewhat strenuous
- Wraith Falls 1 mile - easy
- Lost Lake Loop - 4 miles - easy/moderate
- Tower Fall - 1 mile - somewhat strenuous
- Yellowstone River Picnic Area - 4 miles - easy
- Slough Creek (to first meadow) - 4 miles - easy/moderate
- Trout Lake - 1.2 miles - easy
There are some rules and regulations set up by the National Forest Service regarding Yellowstone National Park. Please be aware when preparing for a hiking trip.
Ice Formation
© National Park Service DO:
- Begin your hike by stopping at a ranger station or visitor center for information. Trail conditions may change suddenly and unexpectedly. Bear activity, rain or snow storms, high water, and fires may temporarily close trails.
- Hike with another person. There is safety in numbers! Tell a friend about your hiking plans.
- Plan a hike for your enjoyment. Hiking long distances without allowing adequate time can exhaust you and ruin the trip. Stop to look at the flowers; take in the fantastic view.
- Pack out all trash and garbage.
- Take a jacket, rain coat, or poncho, a warm hat, insect repellent, sunscreen, matches, a first aid kit, food and a map. Temperatures may drop rapidly as you climb in elevation, and weather may change abruptly and unpredictably.
- Carry adequate drinking water. Stream and lake water may not be safe to drink untreated.
- Stay alert in burned areas. Sudden winds may topple over standing dead trees.
- Do not take chances in backcountry thermal areas. Thin crust overlying boiling water can be deadly. Careless walking destroys delicate mineral formations hundreds and even thousands of years old. Stay on the trail. Bathing or swimming in any thermal pool or runoff channel is dangerous and illegal.
- Do not take pets on any Yellowstone Trail or into any portion of the backcountry.
- Do not shortcut across switchbacks. This causes harmful erosion.
- Do not wash dirty dishes or clothes in park waters.
- Do not disturb or remove any natural feature or archeological/historical artifacts.
- Do not feed animals in the park. Feeding does not help the animals. Instead, they lose their natural fear of humans, become aggressive, and may attack.
- Do not approach wildlife. All animals are wild and potentially dangerous.
- Do not take motorized equipment or wheeled vehicles into the backcountry.
There are seven campgrounds operated by the National Park Service. The Park does not take reservations and are operated on a first-come first-served basis.
The following are operated by Xanterra Parks & Resorts and you may call and make reservations as of April 1 each year.
- Madison Junction
- Grant Village
- Bridge Bay
- Canyon Village
The lodging is run by Xanterra Parks & Resorts. The following is a list of accommodations in Yellowstone.
- Old Faithful Lodge
- Mammoth
- Canyon
- Lake Yellowstone
- Roosevelt and Grant Village
The Visitor Centers are a good place to pick up maps, learn interesting information, get your backcountry and boating permits and information on campground availability. It is also a great place to stop and take a break. Some visitor centers have refreshments available.
- Canyon Visitor Center (307)242-2551
- Old Faithful Visitor Center (307)545-2751
- Mammoth Hot Springs(307)344-2263
- Grant Village VisitorCenter (307)242-2651
- Yellowstone Lake Visitor Center (307)242-2450
- Norris Geyser Basin Visitor Center (307)344-2812
34FOther pages you might find helpful:
Montana's Glacier National Park
Guide to Glacier National Park and the Flathead Lake region of Montana.
Yellowstone
Visit our travel guide for Yellowstone National Park.
