The World’s First National Park: Yellowstone National Park

When the topic of US National Parks comes up in conversation, it is highly likely that one of the first things that comes to mind is Yellowstone National Park- and for good reason. Not only was Yellowstone the first National Park IN THE WORLD…it is also a geological wonderland and home to Old Faithful. To top it off Yellowstone is one of the most visited of the 59 US National Parks, so chances are high you already know someone who has been here. In 2016 alone there were 4,257,177 million visits recorded by the US National Park Service and it becomes more and more popular each year.

Yellowstone was the 2nd stop on our western state road trip which meant we came in through the south gate from Grand Teton National Park. The roads entering the park all link to a main road that has a cross section down the center. This essentially creates a road system resembling the number 8 as you can see in the map.

Most of the attractions are found on the lower loop of the park which makes for a pretty easy means of planning your visit. Due to weather conditions and road closures caused by construction we unfortunately did not have the opportunity to see anything along the upper loop.

Yellowstone is highly accessible by automobile which has played a huge factor in it’s visitation growth over the course of it’s history. At times, it can feel like a wilderness amusement park due to the crowds of people driving from one attraction to another, however we felt this was absolutely worth dealing with considering the awesome views, wildlife and geological features we were being exposed to.

There are also a surprising number of options as far as lodging and dinning go. Most entrance gates have towns just outside of them or near by with the exception of the south gate. You will also find several visitor centers that resemble something like a strip mall with shops and restaurants. This is certainly not a National Park where you will have to rough it if you do not want to.

*Pending on the time of year you choose to visit some sections of the park may be closed, so please do research before traveling

Why Visit Yellowstone?

If wildlife is what you are hoping to see than this is most definitely the national park for you. During our time here we were able to spot a wolf pack, grizzly bears, brown bears, elk, loads of buffalo, swans, in addition to lots of other birds and little furry creatures.

Some of the top areas to spot wildlife are the valleys just south of the Canyon Village which is where we camped (one of the park’s hotel lodges is here for those who don’t like sleeping outside). Your best bet is to head out in the early in the morning or early evening as the sun begins to set. These are the times that animals are most visible, as they are typically grazing during these times of the day.

Another major draw to Yellowstone are the hydrothermal features. There are more geysers, springs and mud pots than you’ll ever be able to count here, half of the worlds geysers are actually found in Yellowstone National Park! Due to the ever changing landscape from hydrothermal activity more could pop up at any time.

Getting Heated

Upon entering the park from the south gate we made our way straight to the Geyser Basin where Old Faithful can be found. This is definitely an area that is worth the hype, though we found more interest with the other features surrounding Old Faithful. (a post on this coming soon)

Following Old Faithful we made a quick and somewhat unsuccessful stop at the Grand Prismatic Spring. We found out the hard way that coming late in the day on a cold day was not the best of choices.  Due to the cold air temperatures and super hot water there was so much steam that we couldn’t see the spring! The steam however did make for some pretty awesome shots.

Steam and fog continued to be a theme during our time here but we found that by late morning it would typically burn off around the roads and valleys. We took the cold days as an opportunity to visit less heated sites such as the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone.

Wait there is a Canyon?

I will be honest in saying that a Grand Canyon is not what came to mind for me when thinking about Yellowstone National Park….because…well you know…THE GRAND CANYON. Turns out Yellowstone has it going on though with it’s own canyon that is indeed quite grand. There are 2 main ways you can view the canyon- From the North Rim or the South Rim. There are several lookouts along each side (many of which are handicap accessible to a point) which will give you amazing views of waterfalls, the canyon and the Yellowstone River below. As with most all areas in the park you must stay on designated paths due to the structure of the ever changing landscape.

There are also trails that will take you into the canyon from the rim, such as Uncle Tom’s Trail. At the time of our visit this was closed, so please check their status before you travel. 

The colors that are displayed in the canyon walls are mesmerizing and a result of hydrothermally altered minerals and sediments. As the river has run over and through these weakened rocks for thousands of years it has eroded them away, creating the canyon and leaving trails of bright reds, yellows and shades of brown.  If you look closely at the canyon walls and along the river you will be able to see steam rising in areas which show where hydrothermal activity is still at work.

Nature is cool but I need an adult

If you are interested in seeing the sites but feel you need a bit more guidance there are plenty of tours available that are provided by guides approved by the park service. They will take you sight seeing, fishing, backpacking, cycling…pretty much anything you want. You can learn more about your options here. 

At the end of the day we felt that Yellowstone was most definitely worth a visit, but feel we must be very clear that this is not the best park to get away from people. It is very built up which has its plus and minuses. If you are not a huge fan of being around people you may consider staying in Grand Teton National Park and coming up to Yellowstone for a day or two from there.