Yellowstone National Park
Overview
Yellowstone National Park is home to the majority of the world's geysers. These geysers helped to motivate the establishment of the park in 1872 as America's very first national park. Yellowstone is a vast and mountainous wilderness that is home to wolves, grizzly bears, and herds of elk and bison. The park is the center of one of the only mostly-intact ecosystems in the Earth's temperate zone, and is home to some of the most impressive and colorful hot springs, mudpots, and geysers in the world. Visitors can explore the park's many mountains, forests, and lakes to view its wildlife and witness the drama of the natural world unfold.
To learn more about Yellowstone National Park, visit www.nps.gov.
Local Info
Visitor center hours vary by season. Visit the park's website for more information on the amenities offered by each visitor center as well as to see the most current hours of operation.
- Albright (Mammoth) Visitor Center: Hours vary by season.
- Canyon Visitor Education Center: Hours vary by season.
- Fishing Bridge Visitor Center and Trailside Museum: Open May through September from 8 am to 7 pm. October 1 through October 10 from 9 am to 5 pm.
- Grant Visitor Center: Open May through September from 8 am to 7 pm. October 1 through October 10 from 9 am to 5 pm.
- Madison Information Station and Trailside Museum: Open May through September from 8 am to 7 pm. October 1 through October 10 from 9 am to 5 pm.
- Museum of the National Park Ranger: Open May 28 through September 25 from 9 am to 5 pm.
- Norris Geyser Basin Museum and Information Station: Hours vary by season.
- Old Faithful Visitor Education Center: Hours vary by season.
- West Thumb Information Center: Open May 27 through October 10 from 9 am to 5 pm.
- West Yellowstone Visitor Information Center: Hours vary by season.
Visiting Tips
Park roads between the north and northeast entrances are open 24 hours a day, year-round. They provide access to Mammoth Hot Springs, the park's wildlife-rich northern range, and recreational activities such as cross-country skiing, hiking, camping, and fishing in season. The other park entrances and roads are also open 24 hours a day but have seasonal closures and travel restrictions in the shoulder and winter seasons. Visit the park's website for more information and to see current road closures.
Fees & Passes:
To learn more about park fees, click here.
Camping & Lodging
Yellowstone has twelve campgrounds located in the park with over 1,700 sites. Xanterra Parks and Resorts operates five campgrounds including Madison, Fishing Bridge RV Park, Bridge Bay, Canyon, and Grant Village. You can make reservations online. The National Park Service operates seven first come, first served campgrounds including Mammoth, Norris, Tower Fall, Indian Creek, Pebble Creek, Slough Creek, and Lewis Lake. Campgrounds usually fill by early morning. Be sure to plan ahead to obtain a site. For more information on camping in the park, visit the park's website.
- Bridge Bay Campground: 432 sites. Open late May through early September. Reservations can be made by calling (307) 344-7311 or online.
- Canyon Campground: 273 sites. Open late May through mid September. Reservations can be made by calling (307) 344-7311 or online.
- Fishing Bridge RV Park: 325 sites. Open early May through mid September. Reservations can be made by calling (307) 344-7311 or online.
- Grant Village Campground: 430 sites. Open late June through mid September. Reservations can be made by calling (307) 344-7311 or online.
- Indian Creek Campground: 70 sites. Open mid June through mid September. Sites are filled on a first come, first served basis.
- Lewis Lake Campground: 85 sites. Open mid June through early November. Sites are filled on a first come, first served basis.
- Madison Campground: 278 sites. Open late April through mid-October. Reservations can be made by calling (307) 344-7311 or online.
- Mammoth Campground: 85 sites. Open year round. Sites are filled on a first come, first served basis.
- Norris Campground: 11 sites. Open late May through late September. Sites are filled on a first come, first served basis.
- Pebble Creek Campground: 27 sites. Open mid-June through late September. Sites are filled on a first come, first served basis.
- Slough Creek Campground: 23 sites. Open mid-June through early October. Sites are filled on a first come, first served basis.
- Tower Fall Campground: 31 sites. Open late May through late September. Sites are filled on a first come, first served basis.
Backcountry Camping:
Permits for backcountry camping may be obtained in person, no more than 48 hours in advance of your trip. Permits are available from backcountry offices located in most ranger stations or visitor centers. Backcountry campsites may be reserved in advance. Reservation applications for backcountry permits are accepted from January 1 to October 31 of each calendar year. To learn more about making reservations as well as additional information about backcountry camping and hiking, visit the park's website.
Lodging:
Xanterra Parks and Resorts operates nine lodging facilities in the park with more than 2,000 rooms. All nine lodges are available during the summer and two are open in the winter (Old Faithful Snow Lodge and Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel). Reservations can be made by calling (307) 344-7311 or online.To learn more about the lodging options located in the park, click here.
Food & Drink
Other Activities
Gems in Yellowstone National Park - 15
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Recommended Routes in Yellowstone National Park - 31
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Mystic Falls Loop
3.5 mi 5.6 km • 597' Up 182.07 m Up • 596' Down 181.64 m Down
Fairy Falls-Imperial Geyser
7.2 mi 11.5 km • 290' Up 88.43 m Up • 290' Down 88.42 m Down
Mount Washburn
7.3 mi 11.7 km • 1,384' Up 421.81 m Up • 1,383' Down 421.56 m Down
Avalanche Peak
4.6 mi 7.4 km • 2,009' Up 612.21 m Up • 2,008' Down 612 m Down
Grand Canyon South Rim
2.6 mi 4.2 km • 321' Up 97.72 m Up • 319' Down 97.27 m Down
Observation Point-Geyser Hill
2.3 mi 3.6 km • 258' Up 78.53 m Up • 257' Down 78.44 m Down
Hellroaring Creek
6.8 mi 10.9 km • 905' Up 275.8 m Up • 905' Down 275.89 m Down
Yellowstone National Park Running
- 1,115 Miles 1,794 Kilometers of Trail
- 31 Recommended Routes
- 15 Gems
- 110 Easy Trails
- 154 Intermediate Trails
- 37 Difficult Trails
Areas Within Yellowstone National Park
Weather Averages
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Trails in Yellowstone National Park - 270
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0.4
mi
0.6
km
#1Brink of Lower Falls Trail
Canyon Village, WY
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Canyon Village, WY | 54 | ||
0.3
mi
0.5
km
#2Grand Prismatic Overlook
Yellowstone, WY
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Yellowstone, WY | 48 | ||
0.5
mi
0.8
km
#3Midway Geyser Basin Trail
Yellowstone, WY
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Yellowstone, WY | 38 | ||
2.1
mi
3.3
km
#4Upper Geyser Basin Trail
Old Faithful Village, WY
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Old Faithful Village, WY | 38 | ||
0.1
mi
0.2
km
#5Artist Point Overlook Trail
Canyon Village, WY
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Canyon Village, WY | 28 | ||
0.6
mi
1.0
km
#6Fountain Paint Pot Trail
Old Faithful Village, WY
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Old Faithful Village, WY | 33 | ||
0.8
mi
1.4
km
#7Mud Volcano Trail
Lake Village, WY
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Lake Village, WY | 30 | ||
1.3
mi
2.1
km
#8Mammoth Terraces Trail
Mammoth Hot Springs, WY
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Mammoth Hot Springs, WY | 35 | ||
0.3
mi
0.5
km
#9Red Rock Point Trail
Canyon Village, WY
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Canyon Village, WY | 19 | ||
1.3
mi
2.2
km
#10Artist Point-Point Sublime Trail
Canyon Village, WY
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Canyon Village, WY | 26 |
Photos of Yellowstone National Park - 636
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