In Yellowstone National Park, unhurried bison roam past shooting geysers. Wolves hunt in the dawn light and a massive lake stretches to the horizon. The very definition of “unspoiled,” Yellowstone has served for generations as a sort of living museum. Its natural splendors provide visitors with an up-close-and-personal glimpse of what the continent was like in the days before recorded history. With 2,219,789 acres of sprawling wilderness to explore, Yellowstone stands as one of North America’s greatest assets — and it’s open year-round for visitors to enjoy. The park’s vast network of trails will take hikers to hundreds of secluded places, where vehicles are prohibited. You’re bound to see wildlife wherever you go. Yellowstone’s legendary wildlife includes grizzly, black bears, gray wolves, buffalo, elk, pronghorn antelope, trumpeter swans, eagles and much more.
The iconic spots — Old Faithful, Lower Falls, and Yellowstone Lake will be familiar from paintings and photographs, but seeing them in person is a humbling, enthralling experience. These areas are not just as good as you’ve heard — they’re better. Here are just a few must-see sights!
Old Faithful
Chances are, seeing Old Faithful erupt is at the top of your bucket list. Start your morning by watching the incredible geyser erupt. The world’s most renowned geyser is a must-see for every Yellowstone visitor. Although it isn’t the largest geyser in the world, Old Faithful’s eruptions are definitely awe-inspiring. Eruptions average about 130 feet in height and can sometimes clear 180 feet. Like its name suggests, you can count on Old Faithful to erupt approximately once every hour and a half. There are several ways to see Old Faithful’s power: You can join the crowds of tourists who gather around the perimeter or find a less hectic spot in the dining room of the nearby Old Faithful Inn. More adventurous travelers can enjoy the mile-long hike to Observation Point for a bird’s-eye view of the geyser.
After seeing Yellowstone's most famous geyser, take a walk on the boardwalks into Upper Geyser Basin. You can walk up to 6 miles through the highest concentration of geysers in the world. On your path you will pass stunning blue, orange and yellow to pools, you will have to duck from the mist of erupting geysers to get to watch the Firehole River stream. Once you get away from Old Faithful, the crowds seem to disappear. Be on the lookout for animals like bison and elk.
Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone
Formed over many thousands of years due to glacial activity, the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone is the primary attraction in Canyon Country and one of the most popular hiking areas in the park. Approximately 20 miles long, nearly 1,000 feet deep, and half a mile wide, this is the first large canyon on the river south of Yellowstone Falls, and its golden cliffs are quite a sight.
The Grand Canyon of Yellowstone is home to three incredible waterfalls: Upper, Lower and Crystal Falls. Seeing the waterfalls in the late afternoon or evening light is totally breathtaking. Several lookout areas allow you to see the canyon and the falls from different vantage points. The Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone is in the northeast corner of the park, about 40 miles north of Yellowstone’s East Entrance.
The Yellowstone River tumbles 308 feet. It strikes the canyon floor with such force that it sends foam and mist hundreds of feet upward and dampens the rocks so constantly that bright green moss grows high above the water. Lower Falls is twice the height of Niagara Falls. As the water races and finally stops foaming, it looks green, but, in reality, the water is totally clear. The river’s color comes from algae and moss.
The Lower Falls is visible from Red Rock Point, Artist Point and Lookout Point. To stand on top of the falls, hike the .75-mile steep, round trip trail to Brink of Lower Falls to witness the water the moment it plunges down the canyon.
The Upper Falls is shorter at 109 feet, but still impressive. Head to Brink of Upper Falls overlook, which is accessible via a short, paved path, to see the waterfall. Upper Falls can also be seen from Uncle Tom’s Point.
The smaller, lesser-known Crystal Falls can be seen from the South Rim Trail which is a great hike to see all three falls.
Mammoth Hot Springs
Sitting just southwest of the North Entrance in Mammoth Country, Mammoth Hot Springs is one of the park’s more unique attractions. Known for its terraces that were formed resulting from centuries of hot water bubbling up from the ground cooling and leaving calcium carbonate deposits, many refer to this site as natural sculpture. Keep an eye out for elk grazing near the edge of the springs before terrace-hopping along numerous boardwalks down toward the bottom. Be careful to avoid direct contact with the water, which can easily cause burns.
Mammoth Hot Springs is composed of two loops. If you do them both, you’ll see around 50 hot springs as you follow the boardwalks for 1.75 miles.
If you’re interested in Yellowstone history, head over to the Albright Visitor Center, which features displays about Fort Yellowstone, a former U.S. Army base that once balanced on the Mammoth Hot Springs terraces.
Yellowstone Lake
Sitting in the heart of Yellowstone National Park is Yellowstone Lake, the park’s largest body of water and the largest freshwater lake above 7,000 feet in North America. Yellowstone Lake, the largest high elevation lake in North America with 141 miles of shoreline. First visited by Lewis and Clark’s scout, John Colter, in the early 1800s, Yellowstone Lake has since become a popular destination for anglers and boaters.
Pack a lunch to enjoy a picnic at one of 13 picnic areas that line the lake’s shores. Break out the cooler to enjoy a serene picnic. The lake is so big, that it feels like you’re looking out over the ocean complete with the sound of waves lapping against the shore.
Take the opportunity at Yellowstone Lake to come face to face with some of the park’s animal residents including bison, bald eagles, bears, and moose. During the winter, many animals trek to the shallower areas of the lake’s southern shores; these areas don’t freeze due to the West Thumb’s geothermic activity beneath the surface. Most of the lake, however, freezes over by early December and can stay that way until early June.
Grand Prismatic Spring
Head to Midway Geyser Basin and walk along the boardwalk to see one of the world’s largest, deepest hot springs, Grand Prismatic Spring. It’s larger than a football field, 370 feet across and deeper than a 10-story building at 160 feet.
If you’re looking for a bit of artistic inspiration, you’ll find it at the Grand Prismatic Spring. Located in the Midway Geyser Basin, this is the largest hot spring in the United States. It’s Grand Prismatic rainbow waters that really make the spring fascinating, however. While the center of the pool’s deep cerulean hue is characteristic, the deep reds, bright yellows and fiery oranges encircling the edges are not. These colors are caused by pigmented bacteria that thrive on the rich minerals produced by the geothermic activity in the spring. The color of the bacteria is determined by the temperature of the water and is reflected when light hits the organisms. The center of the spring is too hot to support life.
Hayden Valley
One of the main reasons to visit Yellowstone is to catch a glimpse of the park’s fascinating wildlife, and Hayden Valley is one of the best places to do just that. This lush valley (located several miles north of Yellowstone Lake) is a highly visited gathering place for bison, elk, coyotes and the occasional grizzly bear − not to mention numerous bird species. While you can get a good view of the valley from the Grand Loop, you need to get out of your car for the best perspective. Hikers should check out the area’s two trails, the Hayden Valley Trail that runs parallel to the Yellowstone River from Yellowstone Lake to the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone and the Mary Mountain Trail that traces the northern edge of the valley. While you’re exploring, be sure to check out some of the area’s geothermic features such as Mud Geyser, Sulphur Spring and Black Dragon Caldron.
Yellowstone National Park has something for everyone. Whether you love the challenge of a strenuous hike or prefer to sit quietly and watch the sunset, Yellowstone offers a great diversity of activities for everyone to enjoy. Along the way you’ll discover jaw-dropping views, friendly and inspiring locals and a landscape that seems brushed with a magic at every seam.
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