Top Reasons to Go to Yellowstone National Park
- Hot spots: Thinner-than-normal crust depth and a huge magma chamber beneath the park explain Yellowstone's abundant geysers, steaming pools, hissing fumaroles, and bubbling mudpots.
- Bison sightings: They're just one of many species that roam freely here (watch for moose and wolves, too). Seemingly docile, the bison make your heart race if you catch them stampeding across Lamar Valley.
- Hike for days: Yellowstone has more than 900 miles of trails, along which you can summit a 10,000-foot peak, follow a trout-filled creek, or descend into the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone.
- Lakefront leisure: Here you can fish, boat, kayak, stargaze, bird-watch on black obsidian beaches, and stay in a grand historic hotel—just don't stray too far into the frigid water.
- Canyon adventures: The Yellowstone River runs through the park, creating a deep yellow-tinged canyon with two impressive waterfalls.
