The Restless Giant – Established on March 1st 1872 Yellowstone became the World’s First National Park. Yellowstone National Park is an iconic park that takes away the breath of every visitor. When I think of the National Park Service I think Yellowstone National Park.
Yellowstone National Park is huge, encompassing 3,472 square miles making it larger than Rhode Island and Delaware combined! The Park spans in Wyoming (96%), Montana (3%) and Idaho (1%). The park has more than 300 active geysers, more than 290 waterfalls, home to 67 species of mammals, 285 species of birds, 16 species of fish, 6 species of reptiles and 5 species of amphibians. This diversity of the park is what draws in so many visitors yearly and why the park continues to be such an icon for the National Park Service – Yellowstone has it all!
Yellowstone has five entrances: North, Northeast, East, South, and West. Below, I’ll break down the different “sections” of the park. By the way, you could easily spend a week exploring just Yellowstone, with a little time in Grand Teton National Park. But if you’re short on time, I recommend at least two nights to get a good feel for the park.
Yellowstone is one of the most popular National Parks in the U.S. (and you’ll see why below), so expect crowds, especially in the summer. If you’d rather avoid the crowds, consider visiting in winter, spring, or fall. A good rule of thumb for any national park: the early bird gets the worm!
Mammoth Hot Springs:
Mammoth Hot Springs has some of the most unique geothermal formations that will leave you astounded. Located by the North Entrance to the Park this section is a MUST-SEE! Be sure to hike both the Upper and Lower Terraces to take in all the views.
Old Faithful
Old Faithful, located between the South and West Entrance is easily the most popular attraction inside Yellowstone National Park. Old Faithful can erupt from 100-180 feet high and erupts around 20 times a day. Old Faithful generally erupts in 60-110 minute intervals. Generally if you see a lot of people around the geyser you can expect an eruption is happening soon, you may also check the Visitor Center to see when the next predicted eruption will be and plan accordingly.
Parking lot here is very large, but spots go fast. Plan on arriving early to secure a spot and allocate time to walk to the Geyser. Remember the earlier in the day..the better!
Midway Geyser Basin
The Midway Geyser Basin is home to the world’s largest geyser, Excelsior, and the world’s largest hot spring, Grand Prismatic (left picture). Hike the boardwalks to get closer to these amazing features! Located near Old Faithful (closest to West Entrance).
Canyon Area
The Canyon Area of Yellowstone is my absolute favorite! Located in between the Northeast and East Entrance. My favorite views include the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone River (left picture) and the Upper and Lower Falls from the scenic overlook points (right picture).
Lots of day hikes in this area to explore! Visit the NPS website for specific info.
Lake Village and West Thumb
Lake Village offers breathtaking views of Yellowstone Lake, the highest elevation lake in North America (over 7,000 feet). It’s more than 400 feet deep and stretches across 141 miles of shoreline. The lake’s water is extremely cold, so swimming is not recommended. Yellowstone National Park Lodges provides boat rentals and guided canoe and kayak trips on the lake. Located near the East Entrance, it’s also a great spot for a roadside picnic!
West Thumb located near the South Entrance, features mudpots, boiling springs, and geysers that spill into the cool waters of Yellowstone Lake.
Norris Geyser Basin
Norris Geyser Basin is the park’s hottest, most dynamic geyser basin located by the West Entrance. Here you can view Steamboat, the world’s tallest geyser. The basin consist of two areas: Porcelain Basin and Back Basin. Boardwalks are available for viewing of both sections.
Lamar Valley
Lamar Valley: Home of The Bison, Elk, Black and Grizzly Bears. Located near the Northeast Entrance you will find yourself immersed in the beautiful green hills and gathering of wildlife. This drive was truly breathtaking and the amount of bison we saw brought the valley to life!
So…What is your favorite Section of Yellowstone?
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