Month: January 2022

Yellowstone National Park, the first national park in the world, is a breathtaking destination for outdoor enthusiasts.

Established by Congress and signed into law by President Ulysses S. Grant on March 1, 1872, Yellowstone was originally established as a “pleasuring ground” or public resort.

The Act of Dedication states that it is to be maintained “for the benefit and enjoyment of the people.” Today, more than four million people visit this natural wonder each year.

In addition to its spectacular geothermal features such as Old Faithful Geyser and Grand Prismatic Spring (the largest hot spring in North America), Yellowstone offers visitors an opportunity to experience wildlife up close from bears to bison herds–in their natural habitat

The park is divided into five regions: Hayden Valley, Tower-Roosevelt, the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, Grant Village, and Mammoth Hot Springs.

Yellowstone National Park includes numerous attractions that will appeal to different types of visitors.

For those who enjoy outdoor activities such as hiking, fishing, or biking there are many trails throughout the park with varying degrees of difficulty.

There are also scenic drives for those who prefer a more passive experience. Many lodging accommodations exist in the park as well as nearby towns including West Yellowstone and Gardiner, Montana.

While most visitors come during peak summer months it is possible to visit year-round although winter conditions necessitate certain restrictions on daily activities.

Let’s get started!

Day 1: The Upper Geyser Basin

Start your day by exploring the geyser basins in the Upper Geyser Basin. The Upper Geyser Basin is the most accessible place to experience the iconic geothermal features of Yellowstone.

You can walk along boardwalks or travel by car for easy access to view all kinds of geothermal activity including water eruptions, mudpots, and steam vents.

The park’s largest concentration of geysers is located in this basin with over 300 documented geysers and numerous hot springs!

Be sure to check out Old Faithful, which is one of the most famous geysers in the park.

Old Faithful Geyser erupts nearly every 90 minutes depending on conditions, so plan your day accordingly (the interval between eruptions can range from 45 minutes up to 145 minutes). The average height of an Old Faithful eruption is 65 to 115 feet (20 to 35 m).

Keep in mind that the geyser basin areas are frequently crowded, especially near Old Faithful. Parking spots often fill up before 9 am. The best time to arrive at the Upper Geyser Basin is early morning.

For those traveling into the park via Teton Park Road, there are some beautiful thermal features along Firehole Lake Drive which you can enjoy after your visit to the Upper Geyser Basin.

Day 2: West Thumb Geothermal Area and Fishing Bridge

After breakfast, head toward West Thumb Geyser Basin on the west side of Yellowstone Lake. West Thumb is another geothermal highlight in Yellowstone and is a great place to see wildlife including elk, bison, and moose.

The West Thumb Geyser Basin includes hot springs, geysers, steam vents, mudpots, and fumaroles along the edge of Yellowstone Lake.

In addition to its thermal features, West Thumb also offers the opportunity for fishing from land or from a boat on Yellowstone Lake. The lake’s trout population makes it a favorite destination for anglers. You can even fish from a boat right near an active geothermal area!

Day 3: Fishing Bridge Loop Drive

Spend today exploring the Fishing Bridge area which is located at the south end of Yellowstone Lake. This area is another great place to view wildlife including bison, elk, moose, coyotes, and bears.

The Fishing Bridge Visitor Center is worth visiting if you are interested in learning more about the history of Yellowstone National Park.

Spend some time exploring the Fishing Bridge Loop Drive where several scenic pullouts offer opportunities for viewing wildlife while hiking along trails including Mary Mountain Trail which takes hikers up Mary Mountain with views of Yellowstone Lake at its end.

Day 4: Upper Geyser Basin to Mammoth Hot Springs

Enjoy a morning hike in the Upper Geyser Basin before continuing north on Grand Loop Road toward Madison Junction where you will turn left to head toward Mammoth Springs.

Around this area, it is also possible to see wildlife such as elk, bison, and moose.

Mammoth Hot Springs is located near the north entrance of Yellowstone National Park and contains a variety of thermal features including terraces and hot springs.

The colors of the travertine formations vary depending on which mineral elements are present and how much sunlight they receive so you can spend some time observing all the different colors if you want. Mammoth Hot Springs is another area where you can view wildlife such as elk, bison, and coyotes.

Day 5: Tower-Roosevelt Area

Spend today exploring the Tower-Roosevelt area in the northeast section of Yellowstone National Park.

This area was named for President Theodore Roosevelt who visited Yellowstone National Park several times, most notably in July 1903 when he dedicated Old Faithful Geyser with then-Secretary of the Interior Ethan Hitchcock. Roosevelt was also behind the designation of many national parks such as Petrified Forest (Arizona), Crater Lake (Oregon), and Wind Cave (South Dakota).

This is a great place to view wildlife including bison, elk, moose, wolves, coyotes, and bears. Tower Falls, located along Tower-Canyon Road in this area is also worth visiting.

Day 6: Mammoth Hot Springs to Fishing Bridge

From Yellowstone’s northeast corner, take the Northeast Entrance Road south toward West Thumb. Along this road, you will find several places for wildlife viewing and fishing including Lake Butte Overlook and Grant Village where there is a nice gift shop and restaurant.

Lake Butte Overlook offers views of Lake Butte with its waterfalls and Steamboat Point which overlooks an active geothermal area with mudpots.

You can also see some remnants of Yellowstone’s old steam plant along this drive as well as learn more about the history of the area at Grant Village Visitor Center before continuing on to West Thumb Geyser Basin on your way back to Old Faithful via West Thumb Junction.

Day 7: Blacktail Plateau Drive and Gardiner Area

Enjoy an early morning hike in the Upper Geyser Basin before driving north on Grand Loop Road. Along the way, there are several good places for wildlife viewing including Blacktail Plateau Drive which provides views of the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone River, and access to trails such as Uncle Tom’s Trail which leads you to Uncle Tom’s Point with its scenic overlooks.

After making your way back to Mammoth Hot Springs via North Entrance Road, continue south on Grand Loop Road toward Gardiner where you will turn right to visit Roosevelt Lodge before returning back to West Thumb where you can spend some time at Fishing Bridge Visitor Center or take a look around the historic fishing village if it is open for visitors.

Final Words

No matter how many times you visit Yellowstone National Park, there is always something new to discover.

This 7-day itinerary gives you just a small glimpse into what Yellowstone National Park has to offer. There’s no way you can fit everything into just one week, so if you have more than a week to visit Yellowstone National Park, here are some things you could add:

• Visit the West Thumb Geyser Basin and Norris Geyser Basin while heading south on Grand Loop Road toward Gardiner.
• Visit the Mammoth Hot Springs area and take part in one of their ranger-led tours such as talks about wildlife and other subjects or hiking one of their various trails.
• Take a drive through Biscuit Basin along Firehole Lake Drive which will lead you back up north to Old Faithful via Madison Junction where there is usually a black bear feeding on berries at this time during summer months (be sure to check with rangers before venturing out to any of these areas).
• You can also venture further south from the Mammoth Hot Springs area on Grand Loop Road which passes through the Teton Forest and Mount Washburn trails.

If you have more time, there are a lot more places in Yellowstone National Park that can be explored! Every season brings different experiences to Yellowstone National Park so if possible, visit during all four seasons.…