There is an abundance of Yellowstone activities and attractions for visitors to Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming. Whether you watch the eruption of Old Faithful geyser or fish on Yellowstone Lake, there is something for everyone to do in Yellowstone.

Scenic Areas:

Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone: Stretching for 20 miles, 100 feet deep, and 2500 feet wide, this beautiful canyon looks as if it has been painted with reds, coopers, and oranges. The Upper and Lower Falls of the Yellowstone have inspired many artists and photographers. Along the North Rim of the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, hikers can experience the Grand Point Trail, Inspiration Point Trail, or the Red Rock Trail. Grand Point Trail is an easy paved trail.

NPS Photo: Lower Falls on the Yellowstone River; Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone River.

Visiting the Thermal Features of Yellowstone:

NPS Photo: Punch Bowl Spring; Upper Geyser Basin

NPS Photo: Morning Glory Pool; Upper Geyser Basin

NPS Photo: Lone Star Geyser Basin

Geysers and Geyser Basins in the Old Faithful Area

Upper Geyser Basin: This basin in the Old Faithful area includes Old Faithful geyser, Anemone Geyser, Plume Geyser, Beehive Geyser, Lion Group of Geysers, Giantess Geyser, Castle Geyser, Grand Geyser, Daisy Geyser, Riverside Geyser, and the Morning Glory Pool.

Old Faithful: Old Faithful is one of the most popular and most photographed geysers in Yellowstone. The geyser was named because of its predictability of eruption. While not the largest geyser in Yellowstone National Park, Old Faithful sprays water and steam up to 184 feet in the air. Eruptions occur approximately every 80 minutes.

Anemone Geyser: Eruptions of this geyser occur every seven to ten minutes. The pool fills with water that begins splashing, the water is thrown ten feet into the air, and the pool drains to begin the cycle again.

Plume Geyser: The eruption of this geyser consists of a few bursts 25 feet in the air. Eruptions occur about every twenty minutes.

Castle Geyser: While eruptions are only every ten to twelve hours, they reach 90 feet in the air and last for approximately twenty minutes.

Daisy Geyser: Eruptions from this geyser are at an angle, reaching a height of 75 feet. Eruptions occur every 90-115 minutes.

Riverside Geyser: As the name suggests, Riverside erupts with a cascade of water into the Firehole River. Eruptions are every five to six hours.

Morning Glory Pool: Once one of the most beautiful pools in the park, Morning Glory was destroyed by vandalism.

Black Basin: Near the Old Faithful area is the Black Sand Basin which consists of beautiful pools, including Emerald Pool, Sunset Lake, and Rainbow Pool.

Biscuit Basin: This basin located three miles from Old Faithful includes Jewel Geyser, Shell Geyser, Avoca Spring, Mustard Spring, and the beautiful Sapphire Pool.

Norris Geyser Basin: The hottest thermal area in Yellowstone and also the most unpredictable area in the world. Norris is also the oldest of Yellowstone's active geyser basins.

Back Basin: This area includes Emerald Spring, Steamboat Geyser, Echinus Geyser, Green Dragon Spring, Porkchop Geyser, and Minute Geyser.

Emerald Spring: Beautiful green color in this 27 foot deep spring with an average temperature of 190 degrees Fahrenheit.

Steamboat Geyser: In recent years this geyser has erupted, but eruptions are rare and completely unpredictable. The eruptions are over 300 feet, which makes Steamboat the world's tallest active geyser.

Echinus: A favorite of returning visitors, this geyser erupts every 35-75 minutes. The pools gradually fill with water and burst in the air 40-60 feet. This is the largest acid-water geyser in the world.

Porkchop geyser: An example of the changing features in the Norris Geyser Basin, Porkchop was once an occasionally erupting hot spring, then it continuously erupted beginning in 1985, in 1989 it exploded and is now a boiling hot spring.

Fountain Paint Pot Trail: This trail features all four types of thermal features found in Yellowstone: geysers, mud pots, hot springs, and fumaroles.

Firehole Lake Drive: This drive includes the Great Fountain Geyser, White Dome Geyser, Pink Cone Geyser, Steady Geyser, and the Firehole Lake. Firehole Lake is a large hot spring with temperatures of 158 degrees Fahrenheit.

Great Fountain Geyser: Eruptions of this geyser occur every 8-10 hours and average 100 feet in the air.
White Dome Geyser: While eruptions only reach about 30 feet in the air, the eruptions occur every 15-30 minutes.

Mud Volcano: Mud pots are turbulent pools of hot, muddy water with a strong sulfur smell. The Mud pot features include Dragon's Mouth Spring, Mud Volcano, Sour Lake, Churning Caldron, Mud Geyser, and Mud Caldron.

Mammoth Hot Springs: The terraces are created by heat, water, limestone, and rock fracture. The micro-organisms and bacteria create beautiful shades of pinks, oranges, browns, yellows, and greens. Mammoth Hot Springs is divided into the Upper Terrace Loop and Lower Terraces.

Upper Terrace Loop: This loop includes an overlook, which provides views of the entire terrace, as well as Canary Spring, White Elephant Back Terrace, and Angel Terrace.

Lower Terrace: Lower Terrace is made up of Opal Terrace, Liberty Cap, Palette Spring, and the popular Minerva Terrace.

West Thumb Geyser Basin: Located within the volcanic crater, or caldera, of Yellowstone, this area includes the Twin Geyser, Abyss Pool, Black Pool, and Surging Spring. Twin geyser is currently dormant.

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Wildlife Viewing:

Hayden Valley located just south of Canyon Village is home to bison, black bears, elk, grizzly bears, and white pelicans. Lamar valley located just east of Tower-Roosevelt has the largest concentration of grizzlies and wolves in the park. Bison, elk, moose, and black bears can also be seen here. The best times to view wildlife in these areas are often in the early mornings or late evenings. Remember, all animals in the park are wild and it is unlawful to approach wildlife. You must stay at least 100 yards away from bears and at least 25 yards away from all other animals, including elk, bison, deer, moose, and wolves.

NPS Photo

Fishing and Boating:

NPS Photo: Yellowstone Lake with Flat Mountain in the Distance

Yellowstone Lake is a popular spot for motorized and non-motorized boating. All boaters must have permits and a Coast Guard approved wearable personal flotation device for each person boating. Boating is not allowed on park rivers and streams. In addition, this freshwater lake has the largest population of wild cutthroat trout in North America. All anglers must have a license to fish in Yellowstone National Park. In the summer of 2001, all native sport fish species including cutthroat trout, Montana grayling, and mountain whitefish became subject to catch-and-release-only fishing rules.

Yellowstone also has a non-toxic fishing program using non-toxic tackle which means tackle such as leaded split shot sinkers, weighted jigs, and soft weighted ribbon are prohibited. Fishing season generally opens the last weekend in May and continues through the first weekend of November. Check fishing regulations for the fishing season dates.

Camping in Yellowstone

There are 12 campgrounds in Yellowstone Park. Seven of these campgrounds are operated by the National Park Service at Indian Creek, Lewis Lake, Mammoth, Norris, Pebble Creek, Slough Creek, and Tower Fall. Sites at these campgrounds are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Xanterra Parks & Resorts operates campgrounds at Bridge Bay, Canyon, Fishing Bridge RV Park, Grant Village, and Madison. These campgrounds can be reserved by calling 307-344-7311 for reservations in advance or 307-344-7901 for same-day reservations. There are a limited number of campsites for large RV's (over 30 feet long) located at Flag Ranch, Fishing Bridge RV Park and West Yellowstone. Fishing Bridge RV Park is for hard-sided vehicles only, no tents or tent-trailers are allowed.

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