Explore Yellowstone National Park
Established in 1872, Yellowstone is the nation’s first national park. Its 2.2 million acres form the caldera of a giant volcano. The energy from this geologic hot spot makes the ground water literally boil, creating Yellowstone’s famous geysers. In such a grand park, there’s surely more to see than you’ll have time for in one trip. Here’s make the most of your visit.
Instructions
1. Try to visit the park at off-peak times. In July, popular sites like Old Faithful teem with enough people to fill a small city. Go in September when the weather is cooling, and the crowds have faded away.
2. Start your tour from the south entrance and work your way clockwise around the park's grand loop road. Don't rush through the park or try to pack in too many sights.
3. Take the boardwalk around Grand Prismatic Spring. Vibrantly colored algae mats make this gem sparkle in hues of sapphire, emerald and tangerine.
4. Appreciate the smaller features of the park. Norris Geyser Basin is not nearly as famous as Yellowstone Lake or Old Faithful, but its features are nonetheless fascinating.
5. Admire the melted ice cream formations of Mammoth Hot Springs. Mineral-rich waters have deposited their cargo on this spot for years, resulting in a gleaming white alien landscape.
6. Watch for wildlife in the Lamar Valley. This wide-open terrain lets you see for miles, and there is a good chance that you’ll see bison and elk grazing and wolves hunting.
7. Watch the sun light up the golden rock walls of the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone. This impressive canyon, carved by glaciers, features two spectacular waterfalls.
8. Have a picnic along the shores of Yellowstone Lake. This massive expanse of water is North America’s largest freshwater lake located above 7,000 of elevation.
Tags: Explore Yellowstone, Explore Yellowstone National, Yellowstone Lake, Yellowstone National, Yellowstone National Park
