Yellowstone
Wyoming, Montana, Idaho
The world’s first national park—geysers, hot springs, canyons, and abundant wildlife.
Photos
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Weather & forecast
Highlights
Old Faithful
The world’s most famous geyser, erupting roughly every 90 minutes.
Grand Prismatic Spring
A rainbow-ringed hot spring, the largest in the United States.
Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone
A colorful gorge with two dramatic waterfalls.
Lamar Valley
The “American Serengeti,” prime territory for wolves and bison.
Famous routes & hikes
Grand Loop Road
The park’s main loop connecting geyser basins, canyons, and wildlife valleys.
Upper Geyser Basin Trail
Boardwalks winding among the greatest concentration of geysers on Earth.
Lamar Valley Wildlife Drive
A slow drive through open valley for the park’s best wildlife viewing.
Practical guidance
Best time to visit
Late spring through early fall; many roads close for winter.
Typical visit
3–5 days
Come prepared
- Book lodging up to a year ahead
- Keep 100 yards from bears and wolves, 25 from other wildlife
- Fuel up—distances between services are long
Good to know
- Most roads close early November to late April
- Thermal areas require staying on boardwalks
Fun facts
Yellowstone, established in 1872, was the first national park in the world.
The park sits atop one of the largest active volcanic systems on the planet.
It contains roughly half of the world’s active geysers.