Yellowstone is a park for all seasons. Its famously dynamic ecosystem and underlying geology means each successive season is distinct not just from the one that came before it, but from what it was last year, too. Geyser eruption patterns, wildlife hangouts, the shapes into which things freeze and thaw – every time you go to Yellowstone, you’re going somewhere new. Let’s learn about the best things to do in Yellowstone here.
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Best Things To Do In Yellowstone
1. Watch Geysers Erupt and See Giant, Colorful Hot Springs
Yellowstone is the largest active geyser field in the world and is home to the most famous geyser, Old Faithful. There are also hundreds of colorful hot springs and pools such as the Grand Prismatic Hot Spring, pictured above, which is larger than a football field and the third largest spring in the world.
2. See Wild Animals in their Natural Habitat
Yellowstone National Park is home to more wild animals than almost anywhere else in the U.S., but it is not a zoo. Visitors are likely to see a number of animals in Yellowstone freely roaming the landscape in their natural habitat. Animals you might see include grizzly bears, gray wolves, the world’s largest wild bison herd, bald and golden eagles, trumpeter swans, moose and more. Outside of Yellowstone, to the south and the northeast of the park, you can also see herds of wild horses.
3. Take a Hike in Yellowstone and Grand Teton Parks
To explore Yellowstone’s wild side, get off the beaten path and onto the park’s 1,300-mile trail system. Some of the most popular hikes are Bunsen Peak, Mt. Washburn and Uncle Tom’s Trail to the base of Canyon’s Upper Falls. Do you have kids?
4. Go Camping
One of the best ways to experience the Yellowstone region is by spending a night or more under the stars. You can stay at one of the many campsites inside the park, at a nearby campground outside the park or camp in the backcountry.
5. Hike to Lewis falls
Lewis Falls is located just north of the South Entrance of Yellowstone National Park near Grant Village.
This 30 foot falls can be easily seen from the road and is a popular and common pull-off stop for travelers coming in and out of the park.
There are two options to view Lewis Falls – south of the river and north of the river.
South of the river, you can walk along a ledge and get close to the top of the falls and see the water rushing below. This is a great spot to get close, but not so great if you are hoping to get a photo of the full scene.
North of the river, you can take a trail that’s less trafficked to get a straight view of the falls.
It’s a fairly easy walk – the trail is a little steep but very short. Be careful where you step.
6. Watch old faithful erupt
Of all the geysers in Yellowstone, Old Faithful is the most famous and well-known one!
Old Faithful was the first geyser in Yellowstone to receive a name! It was discovered by the Washburn Expedition in 1870 and shoots boiling water anywhere from ninety to one hundred twenty feet in the air.
It is often said that it erupts every hour but it technically erupts every 1 hour and twenty minutes – give or take 10 minutes!
You can easily watch it erupt from the amphitheater-style viewing area around the geyser.
This is the most popular spot to visit in Yellowstone, so this is why we suggest arriving here in the early morning of your Yellowstone itinerary.
The Old Faithful Parking lot is very large and holds hundreds of cars. It’s also the most accessible and visitor-friendly area in the park – all kinds of amenities, food, accommodations, and information about the park can be found here.
7. Walk around the west thumb Geyser Basin
The West Thumb Geyser Basin is actually a caldera within a caldera (the greater Yellowstone Caldera to be exact). About 174,000 years ago, a volcano erupted and collapsed here, creating a depression in the earth’s crust.
The depression later filled with water and is now a large bay of the greater Yellowstone Lake in the southern area of the park.
Within this are a cluster of gorgeous pools and geysers to explore via a short half-mile boardwalk loop.
