Vacationing in Yellowstone National Park

Planning a summer vacation to Yellowstone Park?  This guide will help you gain the most from your visit to this magnificent mountainous thermal wonderland, designated the world's first National Park, in 1872.  Yellowstone National Park consists of 2 million acres of stunning natural beauty.  This geographic area is larger than the states of Rhode Island and Delaware combined!  Statistically, most of the 3 million yearly visitors to Yellowstone Park only schedule one day for their visit.  Don't let this happen to you.  It takes several days to see all of the wonders that make Yellowstone National Park the shining jewel of National Parks in this country.

Areas of Yellowstone

Yellowstone National Park has five points of entry through the North, Northeast, East, South and West Entrance gates.  I will discuss each Area location as though we have entered from the North, travelling south along the 'Upper Loop' and then the 'Lower Loop' of the figure 8 road.  This guide discusses the major destinations in Yellowstone Park, but there are many more places to discover during your visit.

When arriving through the North Entrance (2.5 hours from I-90), Mammoth Hot Springs is the first area you'll encounter.  The Mammoth Hot Springs are awe-inspiring thermal features, unique in their terraced appearance.  This area is a must-see for your visit, and your first taste of the magic of Yellowstone, with much more to come.

In travelling South from this point your primary destination will likely be Canyon and it's easiest to choose the Norris road.  {Travelling SouthEast along the Tower Road will lead you to Dunraven Pass (elevation 8859ft), a more difficult and time consuming drive.}  Although mileage numbers are mentioned in this guide, Yellowstone roadways vary between winding and mountainous traverses, so you'll be travelling at a much slower pace than you're used to.  In addition, there are often 'car-jams' where all traffic has stopped to view various nearby wildlife.  Give yourself plenty of time, it's unlikely that you'll be travelling at speeds of 50 mph.

Norris Geyser Basin, 21 miles from Mammoth, is a spectacle of colorful thermal pools, geysers and hot springs.  Plan to spend at least an hour wandering along the boardwalks through these unusual thermal features. 

Canyon, 8 miles from Norris to the East, on the upper loop road, is the centerpiece of our first National Park and is home to the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone and Lower Falls - one of the most photographed waterfalls in the world. Yellowstone Canyon's beauty is unrivaled and is where Yellowstone National Park got its name.  There are two waterfalls here, Upper and Lower Falls, with easily accessible viewing platforms and trails on both sides of the canyon.  Plan to spend at least a halfday visit to the falls, to fully appreciate this area.

Lake, 16 miles South of Canyon, now on the 'lower loop' road, travels through Hayden Valley - one of the most visually captivating landscapes you'll ever view.  This is the most likely area to find the bison herds as they graze over the open fields along the Yellowstone River.  Stop here to picnic as you look for eagles, elk and if you're very lucky, one of the re-established wolves.  The Lake Yellowstone area is one of my favorite places in the world.  Yellowstone Lake is a very large body of water, framed by the Absaroka Mountain Range and Majestic Mount Sheridan to the West.  This destination requires more than a day to appreciate, and offers fishing, boating, star-gazing and hiking opportunities.

Old Faithful is 38 miles from Lake area, as you turn west at West Thumb Junction.  This drive will take more than an hour as you pass through lodgepole pine forests and over Craig Pass (elev. 8262ft). Craig Pass is also a crest in the Continental Divide. Old Faithful is the premier destination for all Yellowstone Park visitors.  During different times of the summer season many areas in Yellowstone are busy, but Old Faithful will seem crowded by comparison.  But for good reason.  Old Faithful Geyser remains unparalleled as the most popular thermal feature in the world.  Plan to spend a day here investigating all of the hundreds of pools, mudpots, geyers, and fumaroles in this largest thermal area of Yellowstone Park.

Wildlife

It's an absolute guarantee that you will come upon a plentitude of wildlife during your visit to Yellowstone.  As a virtually untouched wilderness since its inception as a National Park, Yellowstone overflows with herds of elk, bison, pronghorn, and deer; and solitary moose are seen by almost every visitor.  An easy trick is to notice cars that have pulled over along the road.  That is a clear tip-off that they're marvelling at some handsome critter.  Yellowstone is also home to: mountain lion, coyote, bighorn sheep, wolves, bears, fox, and hundreds of water-fowl.  The Old Faithful area and Hayden Valley are great places to see the Bison.  Elk are commonly found in the Gibbon River Valley.  Pronghorn are most likely seen in the dryer sage brush fields near Mammoth Hot Springs. Bighorn sheep can be found near Mt. Washington which is along the Tower Road at Dunraven Pass. (A word of caution: Due to constant interaction with humans, many of the Yellowstone wildlife species may appear tame or harmless.  Never approach any animal to get a closer photograph, this is very dangerous and could lead to injury.)

Everyone wants to see a bear during their visit.  This is not a guarantee by any means.  Bear sightings do occur every day in Yellowstone, but typically you'll need your binoculars to find them.  The days of roadside bears in Yellowstone are long gone and the National Park Service monitors both Grizzly and Black Bear activity very closely.  Lucky visitors do occasionally see a bear as it wanders across the road. 

Wolves are also an unlikely sighting.  The wolves are more active at night and tend to hunt in the larger spanses of deeper wilderness in the park.  But if you sit in Hayden Valley under the moonlight, or you are inspired to view a sunrise over Yellowstone Lake, you might be lucky enough to hear the wolves howl and chant to each other in the mist. 

Weather

Almost all of the lodging and camping areas in Yellowstone Park are at a fairly high altitude (above 7000ft).  Even in July you may be wearing a sweater in the daytime.  Temperatures at Lake Yellowstone and Canyon are rarely over 80 degrees in the summer months. Surrounded by several mountain ranges, it can snow in Yellowstone at any time of year.  Whenever you're on any kind of trail or excursion in the Park, anticipate rain or a chilly wind - bring a sweater or a jacket.  Weather in the mountains can change in an instant.  If you plan on doing some tent camping in Yellowstone, temperatures routinely dip into the 30's at night, be prepared for much colder temperatures than you are used to during summer months.

Lodging in Yellowstone

There are many locations for lodging in Yellowstone Park  Lodging in the park is operated by the concessionaire: Xanterra Parks and Resorts.  While there are hundreds of choices for lodging outside of Yellowstone Park entrances, I recommend staying within the park boundaries for your vacation.  The travel distance from a lodging facility outside of the Park to any Yellowstone destination is of great consideration.  Lodge outside the Park and you will spend  more than half your day driving.  Most of these facilities listed below, operate seasonally during the summer and are open for several months with August and September closing dates that vary by location.

Several lodging locations in Yellowstone include:

• Mammoth Hotel & Cabins
• Roosevelt Lodge Cabins
• Canyon Lodge & Cabins
• Lake Lodge & Cabins
• Lake Yellowstone Hotel & Cabins
• Grant Village
• Old Faithful Inn
• Old Faithful Snowlodge & Cabins
• Old Faithful Lodge 

Roosevelt Lodge is a western themed facility offering various rustic cabins for an unusual lodging experience.  This area, on the Tower Road, offers western cookouts and trail rides to enhance the rustic lodging experience. 

Lake Hotel is the oldest hotel in the Yellowstone Park.  I would recommend this Hotel for your stay simply because of it's 1920's grandeur.  Many of the rooms face Lake Yellowstone and provide unequalled views of the Lake and the surrounding mountain ranges. Tip: Request a lake view room when you make a reservation.  Also, consider requesting a top floor room to enhance your view of the lake.

Old Faithful Inn is a spectacular hotel by any standard of measure.  The main building was constructed entirely of Yellowstone logs and the interior of the Inn's lobby is awe striking.  Here, you can request charming rooms in the main building or stay in more modern hotel rooms.

It's best to make your reservations at least 6 months in advance for some of these facilities.  Planning your must-see destinations and route through the Park, will help you determine which Lodging facility best suits your needs.

The posted Check-in time for all lodging is 4pm.  This is actually the worst time to check in, you'll be met with long lines of tourists at every front desk.  If you can, check-in at the front desk earlier in the day - it's most likely that your room will not be ready, but later, all you'll need to do is pick up your key.  Checking in after dinner is also an easy way to escape waiting needlessly in line. 

Camping

There are many RV and tent camping facilities located throughout Yellowstone Park, operated by the National Park Service and Xanterra.  Most campgrounds have sites for RV and tenting.  Some campgrounds are restricted for tent camping only. Camping reservations for many sites can be made in advance.  There are some restrictions for tent camping in several areas due to bear activity.  It's best to consult the National Park Service in Yellowstone or Xanterra for campsite, availability, reservation and fee information.

Restaurants and Gift Shops

Most of Yellowstone's area destinations offer various dining facilities and gift shops.  Dining facilities extend from fine dining and cafeteria style dining to sandwich & ice cream shops.  Many of the gift shops also offer small grocery sections that  offer some fresh produce and also include modest beer and wine selections.  Behind Lake Hotel is the Hamilton gift shop specializing in sporting goods as well as gifts.

Recreation

Recreation opportunities abound in Yellowstone Park.  Listed below are only some of the activities available to you during your visit.  There are several National Park Service Visitor Centers in the Park to give you advice and provide necessary permits for each of these activities.

• Hiking: There are thousands of miles of day hiking and backpacking trails through the wilderness.  There are several short hiking trips (1 to 3 miles) near most lodging facilities that offer a sense of adventure to your Yellowstone stay.  Backpacking permits are required for any overnight treks. 

Hiking in Yellowstone on Ebay

Yellowstone Trailguides in Ebay Stores

• Boating is available on Yellowstone Lake.  Bridge Bay Marina is a docking facility and also has various boats for rent.
• Fishing is a popular activity throughout Yellowstone, in many lakes, rivers and streams. Fishermen are restricted to fly fishing or lure fishing only.  Yellowstone is reknowned for some of the best fly fishing trout rivers in the world. Fishing equipment is available for rent at the Bridge Bay Marina Hamilton Store. There are some restrictions and a Yellowstone fishing license is required. 

Fishing Guidebooks in Ebay

• Fishing Guides are available for hire at Bridge Bay Marina and include boat rental.
• Canoes can be launched at Yellowstone Lake, Grant Village Campground and Lewis Lake.  There are several canoe rental vendors outside of the Park entrances.
• Swimming: Yellowstone Park is located at a fairly high elevation, and swimming activities are limited by the cold temperature of its rivers and lakes.  However, a little spot on the Firehole River has been a favorite swimming hole by those in the know for years.  The river here is warmed by hot springs up-river. 

Xanterra offers a variety of sightseeing tours and activities in the Park  including:

• Horseback Trail Riding
• Old West Cookouts
• Scenic Boat Tours on Yellowstone Lake. 
• Stagecoach Adventures
• Motorcoach Excursions
• Hayden Valley Twilight Tour

The National Park Service also sponsors various programs including nature walks, campfire presentations, and thermal feature tours.

Resources

Ebay offers a huge number of resources for your vacation planning:

Yellowstone Book Titles on Ebay

Magazines with a Focus on Yellowstone

Yellowstone DVD's on Ebay

Yellowstone Maps on Ebay

Yellowstone Cauldron and Geology Books

The National Park Service has excellent information to plan your trip.  There are also several websites on the internet dedicated to your Yellowstone Vacation.

As you can see, careful planning of your Vacation in Yellowstone will be rewarded with countless memories of wildlife, amazing thermal features and unforgettable experiences for you and your family.  Be sure to read more on the subject to refine your vacation plan and then set out to discover the wonderous magic of our nation's first and best National Park.

Coming soon: Yellowstone Park Winter Vacation Guide!

(All photos posted in this Guide are public domain and obtained through the National Park Service.)