Things to do in Yellowstone National Park

Yellowstone National Park is a colossal wilderness of diverse landscapes and ecosystems, a natural playground of mountains, roaring waterfalls, volcanic phenomena, bears and bison.

Visit Old Faithful to see why it has earned its name. It has been consistently erupting for as long as people have known about it. The geyser’s reliability is a main reason why Yellowstone National Park, the world’s first national park, was created in 1872. Stay in the vicinity of the geyser for an hour or more and it’s almost certain to come to life. In fact, it’s so reliable that the park service provides time predictions for the 20 daily eruptions.

Yellowstone Lake in Yellowstone National Park is a marvel just by its location at such a high altitude. At 7,733 feet (2,357 meters) above sea level and with a surface area of 132 square miles (342 square kilometers), this is the largest high-elevation lake in North America. Although it’s located in a park with many hydrothermal features, don’t assume the water is warm. When you visit Yellowstone Lake dip a toe in, if you like, to discover the chill. The water may approach 70 F (21 C), but the average temperature is 41 F (5 C). The lake freezes over in winter.

When you visit Mammoth Hot Springs, prepare to be mesmerized by nature. Located near Fort Yellowstone in the Mammoth Hot Springs Historic District, the hot springs are one of Yellowstone National Park’s most iconic destinations.

The Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone is an awe-inspiring gorge with rock formations of pink and yellow hues and several immense waterfalls. The canyon, about 20 miles (32 kilometers) long, is a major highlight of Yellowstone National Park. Hike trails surrounding this spectacular gorge and enjoy exceptional vistas.

Visit Grand Prismatic Spring, a popular feature of Yellowstone National Park. The large steaming water basin has an unmatched blue color that is breathtaking. Its perimeter is bordered by a shoreline with hues of yellow, orange, green and brown. View the natural feature, which results from activity deep in Earth’s interior.

Yellowstone National Park’s Lamar Valley has open spaces that allow visitors to see many animal species from off-road viewing areas. Look for numerous bison, which some people call buffalo. You can also see bears, longhorn antelope, wolves, elk and other species here. Park guests visit Lamar Valley often just to see wildlife. Don’t be surprised if you’re caught in a traffic jam waiting for animals to cross from one side of the road to the other.

Fishing Bridge is a vehicle and pedestrian bridge that crosses the Yellowstone River at the point where it empties into Yellowstone Lake. Join other visitors on the bridge to spot schools of cutthroat trout and admire the landscapes of the national park. Fishing Bridge began its existence as a log crossing in 1902 and was rebuilt in its present form in 1937.