Top Things to Do in Yellowstone National Park

I fell in love at Yellowstone National Park. Not just in love with the park, but with my then-boyfriend, now-husband. I’m sure the natural beauty of the place had a big part to play in getting us together. Yellowstone will always be special to me for a million different reasons. I plan to visit it as often as I can for the rest of my life.

Where is Yellowstone National Park located? The park is located primarily in the U.S. state of Wyoming, although it also extends into Montana and Idaho.

Yellowstone National Park was the first national park ever established in America (in 1872.) This massive area is jam-packed with stunning scenery, unique geothermal features and wildlife. I can’t think of anywhere else on Earth that reminds me of Yellowstone. There is so much to see, you could literally spend a lifetime exploring this place.

One of my favorite and most mind-blowing things to think while I am at Yellowstone is: I am standing on top of a supervolcano! Pretty much the entire park is a volcano – that’s why you see so many geysers and other evidence of the geothermal activity going on right beneath the surface. The last time the Yellowstone supervolcano erupted was 640,000 years ago.

It is not easy to pick favorite spots in such a wonder-filled place as Yellowstone National Park. Our family has been several times over the years, and we try to see and do different areas each time. I want to tell you about a few of the iconic Yellowstone spots that you absolutely must do when you visit Yellowstone. And in case you hadn’t already planned on it, be sure to pack your best camera and binoculars on your trip.

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Top Things To Do in Yellowstone

Old Faithful. There are nearly 500 geysers in Yellowstone National Park, and Old Faithful is the most famous. You can’t miss seeing the best known geyser in the world. It’s one of the easiest geysers to see, plus Old Faithful’s eruptions are predictable. It goes off about every 91 minutes for one to five minutes.

The Grand Canyon of Yellowstone is the one of the most amazings sights at Yellowstone Park. Twenty miles long, the canyon is up to 4,000-feet wide and 1,200-feet deep in places. From several vantage points, you can view Lower Falls plunging steeply into the canyon 308 feet, or the Upper Falls tumbling 109 feet. Upper Geyser Basin – The Boardwalks at Old Faithful. There are countless Yellowstone hikes, but one of the easiest and most rewarding for families is The BoardWalks at Old Faithful . A 4-mile-long boardwalk trail winds among the highest concentration of geysers on the planet! You’ll see hot springs, water spouts, geysers and colorful pools. Lamar Valley. Yellowstone is also famous for its wildlife viewing opportunities. It is safe to say you have a 100% chance at seeing some of Yellowstone’s diverse species including large mammals like bears, bison, elk, wolves, and notable birds like bald eagles, loons and ravens. We recommend going to see the Lamar Valley Wolves. This area is famous for wolf-watching opportunities. Mudpots, Mud Volcano and Paint Pots. The sights, sounds, and smells of areas like Artist and Fountain paint pots and the Mud Volcano make these some of the most memorable features in the park. See and hear the sounds of gurgling, bubbling mud (and smell the sulphur, too)!

If you have children ages 5-12 years old, do the Yellowstone National Park Junior Ranger Program. The goal of the program is to introduce children to the natural wonders of Yellowstone and their role in preserving them for the future. To participate, go to any Visitor’s Center to get a 12-page activity paper, Yellowstone’s Nature. After completing the requirements and reviewing their work with a ranger, participants are awarded an official Yellowstone Junior Ranger patch.

What things do you want to do and see at Yellowstone National Park?