In this page, you will find informations and advices we can give, based on our experience
Yellowstone National Park - Wyoming
What to do if you have little time : Grand Prismatic, Mammoth Hot Springs and Old Faithful
Yellowstone was the first of the american National Park, created in 1872. This park is a giant underground volcano about 9000 km². Intensive volcanic activity that occurs under our feet has strewn the park with multitudes of ponds, geysers and pools of water in surprising colors.
There are many things to see in this park and it would be difficult to describe all of them. All tours are marked and are on boardwalks from which you should not depart for safety reasons but also to protect plants.
We recommend to spend at least 3 days to the visit of Yellowstone.
Like all national parks, a contribution is requested at the entrance to the park. It is $ 35 per vehicle. If you have the "America the beautiful" pass, access is included.
Old Faithful Area
Old Faithful Area is the most interesting but also the busiest area of Yellowstone. It is full of geysers and "pools" of all colors. Some geysers erupt very regularly, including the famous Old Faithful Geyser. If you want to witness this phenomenon, ask about the schedules at the Visitors Center. This area is also home to a world-famous hot spring, which was photographed by the greatest photographer like Yann-Arthus Bertrand : Grand Prismatic Spring. Old Faithful Area is divided into 3 parts : Upper Geyser Basin, Midway Geyser Basin and Lower Geyser Basin.
At least 1,9 miles one way
At least half a day
30$ / vehicle / week
Upper Geyser Basin
To visit Upper Geyser Basin, it is best to start at the Old Faithful Lodge and take the Upper Geyser Basin Trail which will take you in about 1,8 miles (one way) to Morning Glory Pool. Another alternative is the Upper Geyser Hill Trail which starts from the lodge and also arrives at Morning Glory Pool but passes through other geysers and pools.
The first geological curiosity is the Old Faithful Geyser. It is the best known geyser in the park. It erupts regularly at an interval that can vary between 45 and 80 minutes. For specific times, contact the Visitors Center. The power of this geyser is variable and the water can rise up to 165 feet. Along the way, you will come across several sources, the most remarkable being Chromatic Pool, Crested Pool, Castle Geysers ...
Secondary trails lead to 2 basins a bit apart: Biscuit Basin and Black Sand Basin. They really deserve a visit, especially Black Sand for Opalescent Pool, Emerald Pool and Sunset Lake.
It is possible to access these 2 pools from a proper car park without doing the whole trail from Old Faithful.
At least 0,6 mile one way
2 hours
30$ / vehicle / week
Midway Geyser Basin
Midway Geyser Basin is the most famous area of Yellowstone, notably thanks to Grand Prismatic Springs. This basin is remarkable for its yellow and orange colors that surround a turquoise blue. Obviously, the view from the pontoons is restricted and frustrating because we would like to contemplate it from above. So do not miss the path that overlooks Grand Prismatic. The trailhead is located at the Fairy Falls Trailhead parking lot. You have to walk about 0,6 mile and then climb the hill on the left. An official trail with viewpoint is being built on this hill. Work began in May 2016 and is expected to last 1 to 2 years. During this time, the Fairy Falls Trail is closed and you have to be satisfied with the view from the pontoons.
Excelsior Geyser, Turquoise Pool and Firehole River can also be visited in this area.
At least 0,6 mile one way
2 hours
30$ / vehicle / week
Lower Geyser Basin
Lower Geyser Basin is another section of colorful pools located roughly halfway between Madison and Old Faithful. The most famous part is Fountain Paint Pot and its 0,6 mile trail which passes through Silex Pool, Bacteria Mat ... There are also some active geysers like Clepsydra Geyser and Foutain Geyser which wakes up every 3,5 to 7, 5 hours.
Across the Grand Loop Road from the Fountain Paint Pot parking lot is the Firehole Lake Drive. This one leads in particular to Great Fountain Geyser which erupts twice a day but the forecast of eruption are reliable to more or less 2 hours. A sign indicates these schedules at the beginning of the trail. Several other stops are possible near Hot Lake, Surprise Pool, Firehole Spring ...
Mammoth Hot Springs Area
0,3 mile one way
1 hour
30$ / vehicle / week
Unlike other pools full of colors, white dominates here. It's just beautiful. The water flows from basins to basins. Despite the great presence of white, some colors are present like green, orange and brown. But these are not always there. From one year to the next, they can change, making Mammoth more or less interesting. On our trip in 2009, it was truly beautiful. But in 2012 we were a little disappointed as everything was completely white.
There are 2 areas to see: Lower Terraces and Upper Terraces, Lower being the most interesting with Canary Spring.
Coming from Madison Area by the Grand Loop Road and before reaching Mammoth, is Rustic Falls.
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Norris Geyser Basin Area
2,2 miles one way
2 hours
30$ / vehicle / week
Norris Geyser Basin Area is located between Mammoth Hot Springs and Madison Area.
The pools are also very colorful. Two areas are worth visiting: Back Basin and Porcelain Basin.
The presence in Back Basin of Steamboat Geyser can be noted. Of course it is not the most colorful or the most remarkable, but it is the largest geyser in the world.
Porcelain Basin is characterized by a large number of turquoise blue pools.
West Thumb Area
Loop of 1 mile
2 hours
30$ / vehicle / week
West Thumb Area, located to the south east, is home to Yellowstone Lake, the largest altitude lake in North America.
The most notable formations are Abyss Pool, Black Pool and Seismograph Pool. We can also see some cones (Fishing Cone and Big Cone) that flush the surface of the lake, witnesses of a volcanic activity under the waters of the lake. Depending on the water level, these cones can be completely submerged.
Madison Area
Loop of 1 mile
1 hour
30$ / vehicle / week
Madison Area is best known for the area of Artits' Paintpots, which, as the name suggests, recalls a palette of painter. Although classified in the Madison area, Artists' Paintpots is midway between Madison and Norris.
Two beautiful waterfalls are visible in the area, one on the Firehole River, named Firehole Falls and the other on the Gibbon River called Gibbon Falls.
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Fishing Bridge Area
Depending on wish
1 hour
30$ / vehicle / week
Fishing Bridge Area is not the most well known area of Yellowstone and for good reason: here there are no pretty colors or geysers but a few bubbles of mud bubbling in the area of Mud Volcano. A stop at Lake Butte Overlook is necessary to have a view of the Yellowstone Lake.
Canyon Village Area
1,4 mile one way
1 hour
30$ / vehicle / week
Canyon Village Area is home to Upper and Lower Yellowstone Falls, the park's 2 largest waterfalls that flow into an impressive canyon also known as the Yellowstone Grand Canyon. Several viewpoints allow you to see the waterfalls and the canyon, including Artist Point which is 2,9 miles round trip.
Yellowstone wildlife
Wildlife is omnipresent in Yellowstone. It is impossible to miss it. You will inevitably see herds of bison and mules deer sometimes on the road. Moreover, it is not uncommon to spot bears. When they approach too close to the roads, this causes slowdowns and generally rangers are present to ensure the safety of tourists and animals. Even though we have never seen one, there are also wolves in Yellowstone.
The greatest caution is recommended: these animals are all wild and their reaction is unpredictable. It is advisable for those who venture off the beaten path to equip themselves with a whistle and a bomb to bear, that is to say a spray that vaporizes a repellent. Finally, we remind you that it is forbidden to feed animals... even squirrels!
To see around
Lodging
We have tested :
Copyright Magali and David BELLEC