Introduction to Yellowstone: Basic Park Highlights

Yellowstone National Park was the world’s first National Park (established on March 1, 1872 by President Ulysses S. Grant).

NPS Plaque

National Park Mountain

We owe a debt of gratitude to those early explorers who had the foresight to propose the preservation of this natural wonder for all to enjoy. To emphasize this sentiment, a stone arch was constructed in 1903 with the words, “For the Benefit and Enjoyment of the People”. President Theodore Roosevelt was asked to place the cornerstone for the arch which now bears his name. The arch was built here because, at that time, the north entrance was the most important gateway into the Park. Here’s a fun fact, a time capsule was placed inside the arch during the dedication ceremony.

Roosevelt Arch

Visitors can enter this wild and beautiful park from five locations – from the south (near Grand Teton National Park), from the west (at West Yellowstone, Montana), from the north (at Gardiner, Montana), from the northeast (at Cooke City-Silver Gate, Montana), and from the east (near Cody, Wyoming).

Entrance Sign

NPS Map

If you look at the NPS map (shown above), you can see the Grand Loop Road. It consists of two loops that create a figure eight. This 142-mile long road was built in 1915 and offers the best route for seeing the Park’s main attractions. Generally, you should plan an entire day to drive the road. It could take longer depending on traffic volume, possible delays due to road construction, animals walking down the road/bear jams, or how often you stop to explore the many natural wonders that make Yellowstone National Park such a special place.

What’s so special about Yellowstone? Let’s start with the geysers. Yellowstone has the greatest concentration of geysers in the world (500 geysers as well as an estimated 10,000 thermal features such as hot springs, mud pots, and fumaroles). Old Faithful (in Yellowstone’s Upper Geyser Basin) is probably the most famous geyser in the world. The average height of an eruption is 145 feet and lasts an average of 3 minutes. Time between eruptions range from 35 to 120 minutes. 

Old Faithful Geyser

While its predictability made Old Faithful famous, it is not the grandest geyser in Yellowstone.  Not to far from Old Faithful is Grand Geyser.  It is the tallest predictable geyser in the world (NPS source) with bursts soaring 150 to 200 feet in the air. 

Grand Geyser

How about all those the majestic mountains and thunderous waterfalls – they’re pretty spectacular too. Yellowstone National Park contains at least 45 named waterfalls and cascades. Some waterfalls can be seen from the road – like Firehole Falls (about 40 feet in height). These falls are located on a one-way road (Firehole Canyon Road) near Madison Junction.

Firehole Falls

Some waterfalls require hiking to them. The trail to Fairy Falls is a popular and easy hike (about five miles round trip). Before you do any hike in the Park, make sure you have plenty of water, bear spray or talk while you walk for noise, and bring your camera!

Fairy Falls (197' high)

Speaking of waterfalls, within the National Park there are three popular waterfalls along the mighty Yellowstone River – the Upper Falls (109 feet high), the Lower Falls (308 feet high), and Tower Falls (132 feet high). The Upper Falls and Lower Falls are in an area known as the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone. The Yellowstone River is the major force in the creation of the canyon. A stop at any one of the several lookout points to see the breathtaking view of the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone River is among the “must see” things to do when visiting Yellowstone Park.

Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone River

Another Yellowstone “hot spot” is Mammoth Hot Springs (located about 5.5 miles south of Gardiner, Montana and Yellowstone’s North Entrance). At Mammoth, the travertine terraces tantalize tourists with an array of ever-changing features shaped by the presence or absence of water.    

 Mound Terrace

Canary Spring

No trip to Yellowstone is complete without some wildlife sightings. Remember – these are wild animals. A camera with a good telephoto lens will provide a closer image without endangering you or them. Keep a safe distance and do not feed the animals – including those cute little ground squirrels. Keep them wild and healthy. The best time to see animals is early morning or around sunset. The best place to find them depends on the animal and the time of the year. Check with a Park Ranger to find current possibilities.

Grizzly Bear

Elk Bugling

Big Horn Sheep

Bison Herd

Here are some interesting facts about Yellowstone:

SIZE: It is 3,472 square miles. (or 2.2 million acres). That’s larger than the states of Delaware and Rhode Island combined.

LOCATION: It lies within three states – 96% in Wyoming, 3% in Montana, and 1% in Idaho

EARTHQUAKES: It’s common for Yellowstone to experience between 1,000 to 3,000 quakes each year,  No need to worry - most of them aren’t ever felt by visitors.

ROADS: There are over 400 miles of roads. The only road open during the winter months is the 47-mile road from Mammoth to the northeast entrance near Silver Gate/Cooke City.

TRAILS: There are about 15 miles of boardwalk and 900+ miles of trails of varying lengths and ability levels.

ANNUAL VISITATION: Yellowstone is a four-season park and averages 3-4 million visitors each year.

Planning a visit to Yellowstone? Food and lodging options are available inside the park and in the towns just outside the park (West Yellowstone, Gardiner, and Cooke City/Silver Gate – all in Montana). I highly recommend making lodging reservations in advance. Yellowstone is a popular destination and “No Vacancy” signs are common especially during the peak summer months. Since opinions, preferences, and budgets vary, I recommend checking a trusted travel source for current reviews.

My best advice is this - don’t just drive through Yellowstone – experience it!

Over the years, my hubby and I have driven and hiked through Yellowstone’s many scenic natural areas. There are too many things to see and do in this Park to include in a single post. I consider this to be a brief synopsis of what you might expect to see and do.

I invite you to view my other blog posts on Yellowstone National Park by clicking on the following links:

Yellowstone: A to Z

A Geyser Gazers Guide to the Upper Geyser Basin
Yellowstone: It's Cookin' in the Biscuit Basin
Yellowstone: Touring the Black Sand Basin
Backpacking Yellowstone: Quiet Wild Moments
Yellowstone: A Ton of Fun at the Canyon
Hiking Yellowstone: Fairy Falls & Imperial Geyser
Yellowstone Scenic Drive: Firehole Canyon

Yellowstone Scenic Drive: Firehole Lake
Yellowstone: Fountain Paint Pot Nature Trail
Yellowstone: Fountain Flat Drive & Beyond
Yellowstone: Mammoth Hot Springs is Really Cool (Upper Terrace)
Yellowstone: Mammoth Hot Springs are Really Cool (Lower Terraces)
Yellowstone: Hell's Half Acre

Hiking Yellowstone: Monument Geyser Basin
Yellowstone: Mud Volcano - Stop and Smell the ... Sulfur?
Hiking Yellowstone: NW Corner - More Space; Less Crowded
Norris Geyser Basin: Back Basin - Some Like It Hot
Norris Geyser Basin: Porcelain Basin - Some Like It Hot
West Thumb Geyser Basin: Two Thumbs Up
Whatta Falls - Waterfalls in Yellowstone NP

There are lots of books about Yellowstone National Park.  Here are a couple of my favorites:
"Yellowstone Place Names" by Lee H. Whittlesey
"Yellowstone Trails - A Hiking Guide" by Mark C. Marschall

The National Park Service has created a series of short videos titled “Inside Yellowstone”. It’s a fast and fun way to learn about the Park. Click on the following link to begin this Yellowstone experience.   

Inside Yellowstone Short Videos

Family vacations created some of my favorite memories. To start planning your memorable trip to Yellowstone, please click on the following link:

Plan Your Visit - Yellowstone NP