Had enough of the semester already and want to plan your next getaway? Step into 1872, when one of the most breathtaking national parks was founded. Yellowstone is more than just a popular TV show; it’s a place that should be on everyone’s bucket list. From the breathtaking views to the wildlife and landscape, there is something for everyone.
The park itself is about 3,500-sq miles in total and is part of three states, the biggest portion being in Wyoming, then Montana, and Idaho. The spread makes it impossible to experience much without a proper understanding of the area and a vehicle to get you around.
With so many attractions, I would recommend staying at least three days inside the park to be able to experience as much as possible. Easy enough with nine lodging options and four campgrounds.
The must-sees of the park are; The Grand Canyon of Yellowstone, Old Faithful Geyser, Lake Yellowstone, Lamar Valley, and the Norris Geyser Basin.
Being near the center of the park, the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone is one of the most popular attractions and my personal favorite. It is a massive and beautiful canyon that the Yellowstone River flows through with many lookout points having gorgeous views at every single one. It’s also home to a large waterfall that you’re able to walk right next to and look over the edge of as it falls into the deeper parts of the canyon.
Next up is Lamar Valley and its river. The 40 mile long Lamar River is a tributary of the Yellowstone River. Right near the Northeast Entrance, Lamar Valley is home to a large variety of Yellowstone’s wildlife. From Bison to bears, there are tons of species that you can see in this area.
The next place that warrants a visit is Yellowstone Lake. This is Yellowstone’s largest body of water, spanning 136 square miles with an average depth of 139 feet. This is a breathtaking spot for a number of activities. You can rent boats and spend a day on the water either relaxing or fishing. You can also drive around the outskirts of the lake and visit its various attractions like hot springs or geysers that surround parts of it.
Another favorite of mine is the Norris Geyser Basin. Home to many hot springs and geysers, this is one of the hottest and most thermally active places in Yellowstone. Many of the hot springs and other thermal attractions have temps over 200ºF. This area is a 2 mile hiking loop that takes you through the thermal activity and gives you a close up look of its many hot springs and geysers.
A part of the Norris geyser Basin is the Steamboat Geyser. Steamboat is the world’s largest active geyser and can reach 380 feet with a full scale eruption. The steam from this geyser can be seen from miles away and is still quite the spectacle up close.
Despite all these major attractions within the park, you can’t forget to look up sometimes. With how little light pollution there is in Yellowstone compared to any largely civilized area, the night sky is something of a dream. You can see everything in the sky: stars, planets, galaxies, you name it. Perhaps the most stunning sight is the Milky Way Galaxy. You can see our home galaxy with the naked eye in Yellowstone, making the night sky one of the park’s best unsung aspects.
Finally, Yellowstone’s best-known and most popular attraction, the Old Faithful Geyser. This geyser is THE must-see on a trip to Yellowstone. It is the most regularly erupting large geyser in the park. The geyser gets its iconic name from its reliability with at least one eruption every two hours. Its eruptions can be predicted with a 90 percent accuracy, shooting boiling hot water up to 180 feet into the air lasting anywhere from 1.5 minutes to 5 minutes. Old Faithful is one of the coolest, or hottest, attractions in the park and is something you have to visit on your first trip here.
It’s easy to see why this is the first national park. Yellowstone is one of the most beautiful places on planet Earth and is something everybody should try to experience at least once in their lifetime, especially if you’re ready for a vacation.
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