From hot springs in vivid colours to periodically erupting geysers, the supervolcano located under Yellowstone National Park has created one of the most artistic landscapes on the planet. Besides showing nature’s power to drastically change the environment, the park is proof that Earth is alive and visitors can actually see her breathing here with every geyser eruption and every small tremble. This mystical landscape attracted and amazed visitors for centuries and in 1872 the United States‘ Congress established Yellowstone National Park, making it the world’s first national park.
It is easy to spend weeks in the Yellowstone National Park and one will still not be able to see all its wonders. Yet, 3 full days should give visitors a good overview of the park and provide enough time to see all the main highlights described below. With more time, we advise visiting Grand Teton National Park located just next to Yellowstone.
Tip: If you are planning to visit during the busy summer period and wish to camp inside the park, make sure to reserve your desired camping site several months in advance.
Geysers
Standing on a supervolcano, it is not surprising that one of the highlights to any visit to Yellowstone are the numerous geysers. The geysers in the park have as many colours as the rainbow. The colours are an indication of their temperature: reddish/brown geysers are less hot than deep blue ones. The world’s largest concentration of geysers is in the Upper Geyser Basin, which includes the breathtaking Doublet and Morning Glory pools, and Old Faithful geyser – the most reliable and predictable geyser in the park. Besides Old Faithful, there are five other geysers with semi-predictable eruptions, but the error estimates are larger and demand more patience. For those short on time, Old Faithful is a loyal geyser to watch but patient visitors will be rewarded with an unexpected geyser shower from some of the surrounding smaller geysers.
The short walks in the other major geyser basins, Black Sand Basin and Biscuit Basin, are also enjoyable. The Sapphire Pool in Biscuit Basin, with its deep blue tones, is considered one of the most beautiful in the park, and is well worth a stop.
Midway Geyser Basin, further down the road, is home to one of the icons of the park: the Grand Prismatic Spring. The multi-coloured spring is the largest in Yellowstone. It can be explored at ground-level but is best viewed from above. A viewing platform recently opened on a nearby hill, and offers some of the best aerial views of the spring (for those who don’t want to spend money on a helicopter tour!).
Norris Geyser Basin is an extremely active area, with new geysers appearing every year and others becoming dormant. The Basin consists of two groups: the magnificent Porcelain Basin, and the Back Basin. Of the two, Porcelain Basin has the most interesting and colourful display of pools and the aerial views from the entrance are truly stunning.
West Thumb Geyser Basin, located on the shores of Yellowstone Lake and opposite the Absaroka Range, is one of the smallest examples of geothermal activity in the park. The highlight here is the Lakeshore Geyser, which can only be seen in late summer or fall; as its name suggest, the geyser is located right on the shore of Yellowstone lake.
Other geothermal activity
The Mammoth Hot Springs welcome visitors entering the park from the North Entrance. The heat-loving bacteria that live in the hot springs create tapestries of reddish, green and yellow colours where the hot water flows. In turn, the flowing water creates living sculptures from the travertine deposits. The hot springs consist of the upper and lower terraces, which are connected through a short hike. Canary Spring has been active in recent years and is the most impressive spring here. Other springs become more or less active (and more or less dry) over time, so no two visits are alike.
The Mud Volcano group houses the Mud Caldron, a large mud volcano, and the aptly-named Dragon’s Mouth Spring which appears to make the sounds of an angry dragon as its waters splash out of the ‘mouth’. While less impressive than the other geothermal features of the park, this is a popular spot for bison to enjoy the warm steam from the ground and can make for interesting photographs.
The Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone
The views of the lower falls of the Yellowstone River, surrounded by the bright yellow and red canyons, inspired the creation of the Yellowstone National Park, and it’s easy to see why! The numerous viewpoints on the north and south rims offer sweeping vistas of the canyon, but the views of both sides of the canyon from Artist Point are the most phenomenal. While admiring the views, osprey, ravens and swallows may be seen.
Hikes down into the canyon are also worthwhile. The steep walk to the Brink of the Lower Falls provides a bird’s eye view from above the impressive falls. The South Rim trail and Uncle Tom’s Trail are popular trails, both providing a close view of the falls.
Wildlife
Yellowstone is the territory of bears, wolves, bison, elk and pronghorns. These animals can be seen almost anywhere in the park, and on a quiet night, wolf packs might be heard howling. Bison can easily be spotted throughout the park but the largest herds are found in Lamar Valley. With luck, roaming pronghorns might also be spotted there. Bears and wolves are a bit more elusive, however it is possible to spot them in Lamar, usually in the distance, so the use of a scope or binoculars is advisable. Joining a wildlife tour provides the best chances to see these predators.
Another popular hangout spot for bison and other wildlife is Hayden Valley, with its plentiful water bodies. However, herds of bison are often smaller here than in Lamar Valley.
Tip: The best time to spot wildlife is early morning, so make sure to head out to these spots before sunrise.
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