Yellowstone National Park stretches across the secluded north-west corner of Wyoming, reaching into Idaho and Montana. Founded in 1872, Yellowstone was the world’s first national park and now hosts over 4 million adventurers each year.
A 12-hour drive from Seattle or a five-hour drive from Salt Lake City, there’s no doubt that it’s a trek to get here, but the moment you step foot in this vast park, you’ll know it was worth every mile.
Yellowstone is the very best of North American wilderness, wrapped up into a 2-million-acre gift for nature lovers.
Yellowstone is proudly managed by the National Park Service and its highlights are easily accessible by the loop road which can be reached from each of the park’s five entrances.
Grand Prismatic Spring
One of the best places to witness the geothermal activity bubbling beneath Yellowstone is at Grand Prismatic Spring, just under 25 miles from the park’s west entrance.
Old Faithful
Just to the south is Old Faithful, one of the most visited geysers in the world. Aptly named, Old Faithful punctually spews boiling water and steam into the sky every 60 to 90 minutes.
The explorers of yesteryear once used Old Faithful as their laundry, placing garments at the vent, which were blasted into the sky and thoroughly washed by the boiling water.
Mammoth Hot Spring
The springs carry minerals which solidify into ever-changing limestone terraces. The ethereal formations are breathtaking reminder that even in the natural world, change is the great constant of life.
Forests, Rivers, and Lakes
Yellowstone Lake is the tranquil heart of the park,and outdoor enthusiasts congregate here for all sorts of recreational activities. Cast a line in the icy, high altitude waters,venture out in a kayak,or explore the lapping shores on foot.
The park is not only rich with legends and precious views; it is also teeming with wildlife. Yellowstone has long been a refuge for America’s native animals, and the park’s greatest success story is the restoration of the mighty bison. Today, Yellowstone is home to the planet’s largest remaining wild herd.
One of the most dramatic sights in the park is the Yellowstone River. Fed by Yellowstone Lake, the river winds its way north before plummeting 300 feet off Lower Falls and into the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone.
Artist Point, one of the best places to sit and marvel at the immensity of this natural wonder. Natural beauty can lift the spirit like nothing else, and there are countless places in Yellowstone which seem to be designed for travelers to simply sit back and admire.
The park’s north, dense trees open out into rolling prairies in Lamar Valley. Its lush fields are watered by babbling brooks and framed by a backdrop of snow capped peaks. Bring your binoculars to catch a closer glimpse of more wild bison, along with Yellowstone’s other native animals.
When evening sets in, set up your tent at one of the many campsites or head out of the park’s north entrance to Gardiner. This gateway town is the perfect haven for weary travelers. In Yellowstone, a step in any direction is like a journey to another continent.
Make your way south to Norris, an area surrounded by hundreds of geothermal wonders. Listen to clay bubbling and boiling from the depths of the earth at Artists’ Paintpots. Wander boardwalks set just inches from the trembling surface of Norris Geyser Basin and hold your breath as you advance through billowing clouds of vapor rising from beneath the planet’s crust.
Conclusion
Yellowstone National Park has long been a land of epic horizons, legendary stories and endless renewal. As the grandfather of all national parks, its legacy has inspired wildlife preservation across the globe.
Today, a trip into the heart of Yellowstone is like a journey back in time. A journey to the great landscape of America before Europeans arrived. It’s a journey to creation itself.
Some More Beautiful Pictures of Yellowstone National Park
