You’re obviously here because you want to visit Yellowstone National Park.
You’re not sure where to even start. As the first National Park in America, you know Yellowstone lives up to the hype and you don’t want to miss anything!
I completely get that because I’ve been in your boat. Lucky you, I’ve taken away all of that stress so that you can just look below and plan your dream itinerary to see all of Yellowstone.
I’ve come up with the most important spots for you to see and what you should pack so you don’t have to!
Yellowstone Packing List
Trust me, you’ll want to read this. You may not realize that summer in Yellowstone has a range of temperatures. Think: 40 degrees in the morning and 80 in the afternoon. You gotta pack accordingly!
- Layers – think jackets!
- Sunglasses
- Sunscreen
- Good walking shoes
- Brochures/maps (these can often be collected at the entrance, but GPS service is often glitchy in the park)
- Backpack (for hikes and walks on the boardwalk)
- Water bottle
- Camera
- Car charger/portable charger
- Snacks (there are not many places in the park to grab food)
- Cooler bag to keep snacks fresh during the day
Places to See in Yellowstone National Park
Mammoth Hot Springs
The Mammoth Hot Springs Terraces are pretty wild if I say so myself. They’re also some of the fastest changing features in Yellowstone.
The travertine terraces give off a chalky white look, almost like a snowy cascade, because of the water and limestone reactions. Because the water is constantly moving, the small springs will change where they are seen as time passes. While all of this is happening, rocks are actually forming in real time!
Norris
There are two spots in Norris itself that are worth visiting: Norris Geyser Basin and Artist Paintpots.
Norris Geyser Basin
One of my favorite parts of this basin is Steamboat Geyser, which has the tallest geyser eruption in the world.
In addition to Steamboat Geyser, there are so many other geothermal features to walk around and see, including some pretty smelly ones and some of the hottest ones in the park.
Artists Paintpots
The Artists Paintpots were my second favorite part of Norris Geyser Basin. These mudpots are extremely acidic hot springs working off of the volcanic gases that decompose rock into clay and mud. The pots are constantly bubbling and making noises, which shows just how active Yellowstone truly is. It’s a short hike to get to them, so plan accordingly!
Canyon Village
Although not as Grand as the ACTUAL Grand Canyon, the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone is pretty extraordinary itself. The two waterfalls (upper and lower falls) lead to a beautiful river flowing through the canyon. The sides of the canyon display vibrant orange and pink colors surrounded by lush greenery.
The best view of the two falls is from North Rim. You can drive along to Lookout Point and take a peak or continue down a short hiking trail (yet very steep) to Red Rock Point to get a closer look at Lower Falls.
West Thumb
West Thumb Geyser Basin is full of mudpots, hot springs, and geysers.
It is a unique basin because the hot springs actually flow into Yellowstone Lake. Although the lake temperature is cold, you can see on the edge of the lake the discoloration from the springs runoff.
Walking around the boardwalk of this Basin doesn’t take very long, but it’s interesting to see the different geothermal formations with the beautiful backdrop of Yellowstone Lake. The deep blue lake provides a break from the more barren lands of Yellowstone.
Things to do in Yellowstone: The Old Faithful Area
There’s a lot condensed in this small area of the park. Realistically, these three areas could all be discussed as their own subtopics, but I’ll let you discover all they have to offer after giving you a brief synopsis.
Old Faithful
Old Faithful is one of the most popular geysers because of how frequently it erupts – about every 90 minutes and people will sit around waiting for the show to start. Old Faithful is not the only thing in the Upper Geyser Basin, however. There are about 1.5 miles of boardwalk leading all the way to Morning Glory Pool, which is my favorite part of the Upper Geyser Basin. Along the way there, you’ll also pass many active geysers and other hot springs.
Grand Prismatic Spring
In Mid Geyser Basin, you’ll find another popular site: Grand Prismatic Spring. Full of vibrant colors, this cannot be missed. You can wander around the boardwalk to see it up close, or you can drive slightly past it to the South to get to the Fairy Falls parking lot. From here, you can take a quick 2 mile round trip hike to the Fairy Falls Overlook to look at the Spring from above.
