Sights Overview

Few places in the world can match Yellowstone National Park's collection of accessible wonders -- a "window on the earth's interior" is how one geophysicist described it. As you visit the park's hydrothermal areas, you'll be walking on top of the Yellowstone Caldera -- a 28-by-47-mi collapsed volcanic cone. The geyser basins, hot mud pots, fumaroles (steam vents), and hot springs are kept bubbling by an underground pressure cooker filled with magma. Above ground, the terrain yields rugged mountains, lush meadows, pine forests, free-flowing rivers, and the largest natural high-elevation lake in the United States.

The park has five entrances, each with its own attractions: the south has the Lewis River canyon; the east, Sylvan Pass; the west, the Madison River valley; the north, the beautiful Paradise Valley; and the northeast, the spectacular Beartooth Pass. Along the park's main drive -- the Grand Loop -- are eight primary "communities" or developed areas. Grant Village, near West Thumb, is the farthest south; Old Faithful and Madison are on the western side of the Lower Loop; Norris and Canyon Village are in the central part of the park, where the two loops intersect; Mammoth Hot Springs and Tower Roosevelt Fall lie at the northern corners of the Upper Loop; and the Yellowstone Lake area is along the eastern segment of the Lower Loop.

Grant Village,along the western edge of Lake Yellowstone, is the first community you'll encounter from the South Entrance. It has basic lodging and dining facilities and gives you easy access to the West Thumb Geyser Basin. It takes about two hours to hike to Lake Overlook and explore West Thumb Geyser Basin.

Old Faithful,the world's most famous geyser, is the centerpiece of this area, which has extensive boardwalks through the Upper Geyser Basin and equally extensive visitor services, including several choices in lodging and dining. It is the one area of Yellowstone that almost all visitors include in their itinerary. In winter you can dine and stay in this area and cross-country ski or snowshoe through the Geyser Basin.

Madison,the area around the junction of the West Entrance Road and the Lower Loop, is a good place to take a break as you travel through the park, because you will almost always see bison grazing along the Madison River, and often elk are in the area as well. You'll find limited visitor services here, though there is an amphitheater for programs as well as a Yellowstone Association bookstore and a picnic area. There are no dining facilities, and the only lodging is a campground.

Norris,at the western junction of the Upper and Lower Loops, has the most active geyser basin in the park. The underground plumbing occasionally reaches such high temperatures -- the ground itself has heated up in areas to nearly 200°F -- that a portion of the basin is periodically closed for safety reasons. There are limited visitor services: you'll find two museums, a bookstore, and a picnic area. Allow at least half a day to explore Norris Geyser Basin. It's a good idea to consult with rangers at the Norris Geyser Basin Museum about when different geysers are expected to erupt and to plan your walk accordingly. Rangers also will know whether any areas of the geyser basin are closed.

Mammoth Hot Springs is known for its massive natural terraces, where mineral water flows continuously, building an ever-changing display. You will almost always see elk grazing here. In the early days of the park, it was the site of Fort Yellowstone, and the brick buildings constructed during that era are still used for various park activities. The Albright Visitor Center has information and displays about the park's history, including some of the original paintings Thomas Moran created on an 1871 government expedition to the area. There is a complete range of visitor services here as well. Schedule about half a day for exploration. There are lots of steps on the lower terrace boardwalks, so plan to take your time there.

Tower-Roosevelt,the northeast region of Yellowstone, is the least-visited part of the park, making it a great place to explore without running into lots of other people. You can hike or ride horseback to sights in the area, such as a petrified tree and a ridge filled with fossil specimens. This is where wolves were first reintroduced to the park; packs are often seen in the Lamar Valley.

Canyon has waterfalls and steep canyon walls surrounding the Yellowstone River. This central part of the park is one of Yellowstone's most spectacular places. You will find all types of visitors' services and lots of hiking opportunities -- as well as lots of other visitors.

Yellowstone Lake area,in the park's southeastern segment, is permeated by the tranquility of massive Yellowstone Lake. Near Fishing Bridge you might see grizzly bears. They like to hunt for fish spawning or swimming near the lake's outlet to the Yellowstone River. Visitor centers include Lake Yellowstone Hotel, Fishing Bridge RV Park (for hard-sided vehicles only), and Bridge Bay Campground, the park's largest, with 432 sites.