AI Summary
Yellowstone is one of the most amazing attractions in the United States. It’s home to nearly 500 geysers, some of the most stunning natural springs in the world, and loads of majestic wildlife – definitely a place you gotta visit if you’re nearby.
To get to Yellowstone, you could rent an RV in Denver or in Salt Lake City and drive straight to the National Park.
Here are some of the coolest things to check out in Yellowstone.
Old Faithful Geyser
The Old Faithful Geyser is the most predictable (and the most famous) among almost 500 Yellowstone geysers. It was the first one to get a name and erupts about every 90 minutes, so it’s one of the easiest geysers to catch doing its thing.
Just like the Grand Prismatic Spring, Old Faithful is one of the busiest spots in the park. No matter when you come, expect crowds. But since the Upper Geyser Basin area is pretty big, there’s plenty of room to spread out.
Grand Prismatic Spring
The crown jewel of the Midway Geyser Basin, the Grand Prismatic Spring is the biggest hot spring in the US and one of the coolest natural wonders on Earth. It’s also the most photographed (and thus most well-known) landmark in Yellowstone.
This mind-blowing spring is deeper than a 10-story building and bigger than a football field, which really puts things into perspective. It gets its vibrant colors from different heat-loving bacteria that live around it, giving the spring those vivid blues, yellows, greens, and oranges.
Obviously, the Grand Prismatic Spring is super popular, so you’ll almost definitely run into crowds no matter when you visit.
Upper Geyser Basin and Morning Glory Pool
Home to the Old Faithful Geyser, the Upper Geyser Basin contains about a quarter of the world’s geysers. It’s a beautiful area with lots of walking trails that pass numerous geysers and thermal sites. Even if Old Faithful is your main goal, make sure to spend some time exploring the rest of the Upper Geyser Basin too.
Some geysers might be quiet when you get there, but if you walk towards the Morning Glory Pool you should catch a few in action. Don’t miss spots like Daisy Geyser, Castle Geyser, Grotto Geyser, and the colorful Morning Glory Pool.
Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone River
The Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone River is one of Yellowstone’s most famous sights. It’s over 24 miles long, up to 4,000 feet wide, and goes down as deep as 1,200 feet in places. Both sides of the canyon have multiple hiking trails and viewpoints, with the main ones attracting the biggest crowds.
The crown jewel here is Artist Point. This lookout on the South Rim offers incredible views over the canyon and its star attraction: the Lower Falls. Other spots you shouldn’t miss are Brink of the Upper Falls, Inspiration Point, and of course the Lower Falls.
Lamar Valley
If you love wildlife, you’ll really dig Yellowstone. One of the best spots to see bison and other animals is Lamar Valley. It’s often missed by visitors because it’s kinda remote, but it offers some of the park’s most breathtaking landscapes and plenty of wildlife.
Lamar Valley is THE spot to see wild bison. You might spot hundreds or even thousands of these majestic animals roaming freely on the huge plains. If you’re patient (and lucky), you might also catch sight of deer, elk, coyotes, bears, or even wolves.
Hayden Valley
Hayden Valley is probably the most popular place to spot wildlife in Yellowstone, so it can get seriously crowded. The bison have a habit of hanging out on the road, causing “bison jams” that can slow you down by up to an hour.
But if you want to get close to the wildlife, Hayden Valley is the place. Go early in the morning or late afternoon when animals are more active. Just remember to keep your distance and stay in your car if animals are nearby.
Yellowstone Lake
Yellowstone Lake is the biggest high-altitude lake in North America. It freezes completely in winter and stays too cold for swimming in summer, so the best way to explore it is by boat.
You can join guided scenic boat tours or rent a boat and explore on your own, or try kayaking. There are also plenty of hiking trails along the shore with amazing views of the lake and its surroundings.
Old Faithful Inn
One of the oldest lodges in Yellowstone, the Old Faithful Inn was built in 1903-1904 and is the biggest log building in the world. You don’t have to be staying there to visit – just pop inside to check out the incredible main building.
If you’re into the history of the lodge, you can join free guided tours of the building that run several times daily.
Camping in Yellowstone
Yellowstone has some campgrounds you can reserve and some that are first-come-first-served. If you choose the latter, you’ll want to get there early to grab your spot.
The park is huge, so you might want to camp at different campgrounds depending on which places you want to check out.
Some of Yellowstone’s best campgrounds are:
- Norris campground
- Maddison campground
- Grant village campground
Visit Yellowstone on your next road trip
There really are tons of things to do in Yellowstone. We’ve listed some of the top spots here, but that’s just scratching the surface. At least you’ve got a good starting point now. Planning a road trip? Check out other awesome destinations nearby.
Have an awesome adventure!
