Yellowstone National Park

Yellowstone National Park – The Ultimate Guide

Yellowstone National Park is one of the most extraordinary natural treasures in the United States and indeed the world. Established in 1872, it holds the distinction of being the first national park anywhere on Earth. Spanning more than 2.2 million acres (3,500 square miles) across Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho, Yellowstone is a land of superlatives—home to spectacular geysers, colorful hot springs, vast forests, thundering waterfalls, deep canyons, and some of the richest wildlife habitats in North America. It is a place where the Earth seems to breathe, where herds of bison roam freely, and where the forces of fire and ice have shaped landscapes of breathtaking beauty.

Yellowstone National Park

Quick Reference: Yellowstone National Park

Category	Details
Location	Yellowstone National Park is located in the U.S. states of Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho, with most of its area in Wyoming. Wyoming: About 96% of Yellowstone’s total area lies within Wyoming. Montana: Roughly 3% of the park lies in Montana. Idaho: Around 1% of the park lies in Idaho.
Area	Covers approximately 3,472 square miles (8,991 square kilometers), making it one of the largest national parks in the United States. Wyoming: 3,333 sq mi Montana: 104 sq mi Idaho: 35 sq mi
Established	March 1, 1872 – It was the first national park in the world.
Nearest Town	West Yellowstone, Montana – just outside the West Entrance; other nearby towns include Gardiner, Cody, and Jackson.
Nearest Airport	Yellowstone Airport (WYS) – 3 miles from the West Entrance; Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport (BZN) – 90 miles north;  Jackson Hole Airport (JAC) – 60 miles south.
Entrances to Yellowstone	Five entrances to Yellowstone National Park: West Entrance (West Yellowstone, Montana) North Entrance (Gardiner, Montana) Northeast Entrance (Cooke City, Montana) East Entrance (Cody, Wyoming) South Entrance (Jackson Hole, Wyoming)
Famous Destinations	Old Faithful, Grand Prismatic Spring, Mammoth Hot Springs, Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, Lamar Valley, Hayden Valley, Yellowstone Lake, Norris Geyser Basin.
Wildlife to See	Bison, elk, grizzly bears, black bears, wolves, coyotes, moose, pronghorn, eagles, trumpeter swans, and sandhill cranes.
Main Rivers & Lakes	Yellowstone River, Firehole River, Gibbon River, Madison River, Shoshone Lake, and Yellowstone Lake.
Geological Features	Contains about half the world’s geysers, plus fumaroles, mudpots, and hot springs – all part of the Yellowstone Caldera, an active supervolcano.
Elevation	Ranges from 5,282 feet (1,610 m) to over 11,000 feet (3,350 m) at high mountain peaks.
Climate	Cold, snowy winters and mild to warm summers. Weather can shift rapidly due to elevation.
Best Time to Visit	June through September for open roads and prime wildlife viewing. Winter offers serene landscapes and fewer visitors.
Camping & Lodging	More than 2,000 campsites and historic lodges like Old Faithful Inn, Lake Yellowstone Hotel, and Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel.
Activities	Wildlife watching, geyser viewing, hiking, camping, fishing, and photography.
Visitor Centers	Old Faithful Visitor Center, Canyon Visitor Center, Mammoth Hot Springs Visitor Center, and Fishing Bridge Visitor Center.
Interesting Fact	Yellowstone sits atop one of Earth’s largest active volcanic systems, last erupting around 640,000 years ago.

At the heart of Yellowstone’s uniqueness lies its geothermal activity. The park sits atop one of the largest active volcanic systems in the world, often referred to as the Yellowstone Caldera. This underground supervolcano fuels over 10,000 hydrothermal features—geysers, hot springs, mud pots, and fumaroles—more than anywhere else on the planet. Old Faithful, the most famous geyser, draws crowds from around the world with its predictable eruptions, which shoot columns of steaming water skyward roughly every 90 minutes. Nearby, the Grand Prismatic Spring dazzles visitors with its surreal rainbow colors created by heat-loving microorganisms. These geothermal wonders remind us that Yellowstone is not just a scenic destination but also a living laboratory of Earth’s geologic power.

Beyond its geothermal marvels, Yellowstone is a park defined by water and stone. The Yellowstone River carves through the heart of the park, plunging dramatically over the 308-foot Lower Falls in the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone. The canyon’s cliffs, painted in shades of yellow, red, and orange from mineral deposits, inspired the park’s very name. Yellowstone Lake, one of the largest high-altitude lakes in North America, stretches across the southeastern corner of the park, its icy waters surrounded by mountains and forests. Valleys such as Hayden and Lamar open into wide, grassy basins where wildlife can often be seen grazing or hunting, making them prime destinations for nature lovers and photographers.

Wildlife is one of Yellowstone’s greatest draws, offering a glimpse of what North America once looked like before widespread settlement. The park is home to one of the largest concentrations of free-roaming mammals in the continental United States. Massive herds of American bison roam the valleys, elk bugle in autumn, and grizzly bears and black bears forage through the meadows and forests. Wolves, reintroduced to the park in the mid-1990s after being absent for decades, now thrive in Yellowstone and attract wildlife enthusiasts from around the globe. The park also shelters moose, pronghorn, mountain goats, bald eagles, trumpeter swans, and hundreds of smaller species, making it a true sanctuary of biodiversity.

Visiting Yellowstone is an adventure that can be tailored to every traveler. For those who prefer scenic drives, the Grand Loop Road connects most of the major attractions, allowing access to geyser basins, canyon viewpoints, and wildlife areas with relative ease. Hikers will find hundreds of miles of trails, ranging from short boardwalks around geothermal areas to challenging treks into the backcountry, such as the climb up Mount Washburn for sweeping panoramic views. In winter, the park transforms into a wonderland of snow and silence, where visitors can explore by snowcoach, skis, or snowmobile and witness wildlife surviving in one of the harshest climates in North America.

The human history of Yellowstone is as rich as its natural wonders. For thousands of years, Native American tribes lived, hunted, and held sacred connections to this land long before it was declared a national park. Later, expeditions led by explorers such as Ferdinand Hayden and Nathaniel Langford brought national attention to its wonders. The establishment of Yellowstone marked the beginning of the global national park movement, a revolutionary idea that wild landscapes should be preserved not for exploitation but for the benefit and enjoyment of all people.

Today, Yellowstone faces both opportunities and challenges. The park draws over four million visitors annually, making it one of the most popular destinations in the United States. This high visitation brings economic benefits to surrounding communities but also raises concerns about overcrowding, road congestion, and the long-term impact on fragile ecosystems. Conservation efforts continue to protect Yellowstone’s landscapes and wildlife from threats such as invasive species, climate change, and habitat pressures. The story of Yellowstone is therefore not just one of beauty and wonder but also of responsibility and stewardship.

For anyone seeking an encounter with the raw power of nature, Yellowstone National Park is unmatched. It is a place where you can watch a geyser erupt against the backdrop of a setting sun, hear the haunting call of a wolf echo across a frozen valley, or stand in awe at the brink of a roaring waterfall. More than a park, it is a symbol of wild America—an enduring reminder of why protecting the natural world is essential for future generations. Whether you visit for a day or spend weeks exploring, Yellowstone leaves an impression that stays with you long after you have left its gates.