Yellowstone Favorite Spots

Yellowstone National Park is the world’s first national park and it’s reknowned for geysers, hot pools, stunning scenery, and a variety of wildlife; so much so it’s called the Serengeti of North America.

Yellowstone is also big. It’s bigger than Rhode Island and Deleware combined!
So when you visit Yellowstone plan at least two days to visit. That will allow you to spend a day travelling the Upper and Lower loops and seeing the sites and wildlife along the way. Three or more days are recommended if you plan on going to Teton National Park and Jackson; or Cooke City and Beartooth Pass; or Cody; or Gallatain. There’s also a lot of fishing and hiking possibilities in Yellowstone. Those activities take up an entire day easily.

Below are some of our favorite places and things to see in Yellowstone.

Old Faithful
Old Faithful is on the Lower Loop of Yellowstone and about a 60 mile drive from Island Park. Along the way are some of the most remarkable geyser basins, such as the Midway Geyser Basin, Biscuit Basin, Black Sand Basin and Upper Geyser Basin. Stopping and walking around all of these will take at least a few hours of your day.

Of course, there is Old Faithful itself. You can find out about the approximate times Old Faithful will erupt from the West Yellowstone Visitor’s Center – (406) 646-7701. Plan to arrive at least a half-hour before a scheduled eruption so you can find parking and get a good spot for viewing the geyser eruption.
After the geyser be sure to check out the historic Old Faithful Inn and its shops and restaurants. Ice cream is always a favorite treat at the Old Faithful Inn’s ice cream parlor.

Grand Canyon of Yellowstone
The Grand Canyon of Yellowstone is also on the Lower Loop of Yellowstone. You can go there before or after visiting Old Faithful as part of the loop tour. If you like to hike there are trails on both sides of the canyon and you can hike far down into the canyon on the west side.
Nearby is Canyon Village, which has a very good Vistor Education Center, where you can learn about Yellowstone’s geographic history, features and wildlife . There are also stores, restaurants and a gas station at Canyon Village.

Wildlife Viewing
You are almost guaranteed to see Bison when you visit Yellowstone. Bison is the technical name, not Buffalo. Bison can be seen just about anywhere while driving through Yellowstone. Most times of the year you can find larger heards in the Hayden Valley on the Lower Loop, or the Lamar Valley, just a short drive off the Upper Loop in the northeast corner of Yellowstone.

Elk can often be seen as well, but later Summer and early Fall increase the odds as the animals begin to come down from higher elevations to mate.
Bears and wolves are harder to catch sight of in Yellowstone than other animals. In the Spring there are often sightings of mama grizzly bears with cubs. The Gibbon River and Falls is one area known for cub sightings. During the height of summer into Fall an early morning visit to the Hayden or Lamar Valleys is often the best bet for spotting bears or wolves.
While you may see moose in Yellowstone, Island Park is actually a better place to see moose. They can often be seen from the bridge crossings on the Buffalo and Snake Rivers by Pond’s Lodge and Mack’s Inn. Early morning and evening sightings around Big Springs are common as well. Floating the Henry’s Fork of the Snake River from Big Springs to Mack’s Inn is a great way to see moose, as you’re floating through miles of their favorite habitat.

Mammoth Hot Springs
Mammoth is the Park Headquarters with a large hotel and a Visitor’s Center. There are also restaurants, shops and gas at Mammoth. Mammoth is located at the top of the Upper Loop near the North Entrance. While there you will want to see the Hot Springs Terraces, one of the premier Yellowstone sites to see.

Norris Geyser Basin
Norris Geyser Basin is located at the west crux of the upper and lower loops of Yellowstone. It is a vast area of geysers and pools with miles of walkways roaming through the area. If you like walking you will like roaming around Norris.
On the way to Norris you may also want to stop and see the Artist Paint Pots and the Monument Geyser Basin.

Yellowstone Lake
If you travel the Lower Loop you will drive along the west shore of Yellowstone Lake. There are many places to pull off for views of this remarkable lake that sits above 7,000-feet of elevation. You may also want to check out the West Thumb Geyser Basin and Grant Village Visitor Center located on the South West shore.

The Rest
There is so much to see in Yellowstone it can hardly all be written about. A lot of what to see depends on the visitor. People who like hiking and walking will have a lot more options than those who want to stay closer to the car. There are several hiking trails and campsites, let alone many Visitor Centers, lodges and shops. Most important is to plan ahead using the many online resources, such as the National Park Service website, to plan your adventures day by day.