Yellowstone National Park

Overview

Yellowstone National Park represents one of the last remaining intact ecosystems in the temperate zone and sits atop one of the world's largest active volcanic systems. The park contains over half of the world's geothermal features, including more than 500 geysers, which constitute approximately two-thirds of all geysers on Earth. The famous Old Faithful geyser erupts roughly every 90 minutes, drawing millions of visitors annually to witness this natural spectacle. The park's biodiversity is exceptional, supporting 67 mammal species including free-roaming herds of bison and elk, as well as one of the few remaining grizzly bear populations in the contiguous United States. The reintroduction of gray wolves in 1995 restored the park's apex predator and has provided unprecedented opportunities to study trophic cascade effects in a natural ecosystem. The Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem is one of the largest nearly intact temperate-zone ecosystems on Earth. Yellowstone's landscape encompasses dramatic features including the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, which plunges over 1,000 feet deep and showcases vibrant yellow, orange, and red rock walls. Yellowstone Lake, one of North America's largest high-elevation lakes, sits at approximately 7,733 feet above sea level. The park's diverse habitats range from sagebrush plains and grasslands to alpine tundra, supporting an equally diverse array of plant communities adapted to the region's harsh winters and geothermal influences.

Getting there

The nearest major airports are Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport in Montana (90 miles north), Jackson Hole Airport in Wyoming (60 miles south), and Yellowstone Regional Airport in Cody, Wyoming (52 miles east). The park has five entrance stations accessible by vehicle: North Entrance (Gardiner, Montana via US-89), Northeast Entrance (Cooke City, Montana via US-212), East Entrance (Cody via US-14/16/20), South Entrance (Jackson via US-89/191/287), and West Entrance (West Yellowstone via US-20).

Best time to visit

Late April through May and September through early October offer fewer crowds with active wildlife; June through August provides warmest weather and full facility access but peak crowds; winter (December-March) allows snowcoach and snowmobile access to unique geothermal viewing.

Trails & points of interest

Old Faithful area boardwalks, Grand Prismatic Spring overlook trail, Uncle Tom's Trail into Grand Canyon of Yellowstone, Mount Washburn Trail, Lamar Valley wildlife viewing roads, Norris Geyser Basin boardwalks, Mammoth Hot Springs terraces, Fairy Falls Trail, Storm Point Trail at Yellowstone Lake

Wildlife you might see

American bison, elk, grizzly bear, black bear, gray wolf, coyote, moose, pronghorn antelope, bighorn sheep, mountain goat, river otter, bald eagle, golden eagle, osprey, trumpeter swan, sandhill crane, cutthroat trout, and over 300 bird species

Flora

Lodgepole pine forests, Engelmann spruce, subalpine fir, whitebark pine, Douglas fir, quaking aspen, limber pine, sagebrush, Indian paintbrush, lupine, arrowleaf balsamroot, thermophilic bacteria and archaea in hot springs creating colorful microbial mats, over 1,300 native plant species

Safety & preparation

Maintain minimum 100 yards from bears and wolves, 25 yards from bison and elk; stay on boardwalks in thermal areas as ground can be thin and water scalding; carry bear spray in backcountry; prepare for rapidly changing weather and afternoon thunderstorms; acclimate to high elevation; purify all water sources; store food properly; check road and trail conditions before travel; winter visitors require proper cold-weather gear.

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