As far as supervolcano calderas go, Yellowstone is one of the best.  No other place in the world can you see so many geysers, hot springs and geothermal features.  And that’s not all.  The park also offers a plethora of wildlife, waterfalls and awesome landscapes.  So it’s not surprising that in 1872 Yellowstone became the first national park in the world.  

How can you get the most out of a visit to Yellowstone National Park?  Obviously I can’t speak for everyone, but if your interests lie in the hiking, biking or photography departments, then these tips will help you experience some of the best the park has to offer.  

Hiking

Chances are you are going to do plenty of walking on the boardwalks between hot pools and geysers.  But if you want to get off the boardwalks and put some distance under your belt, here are a few options. 

Visit Fairy Falls.  Fairy Falls arcs through the air and plunges nearly 200 feet from a cliff into a wide pool. You can reach the falls via a 2.5 mile hike, starting at the Grand Prismatic Spring parking area.  Take the bridge over Firehole River and head north with the Midway Geyser Basin on your right.  At the one-mile mark turn left on the Fairy Falls Trail.

Walk to Silver Cord Overlook on the Canyon North Rim.  Surface Creek flows 1000 feet down to Yellowstone River in a series of cascades from the southern rim.  You can catch a view of Silver Cord Cascade from the North Rim.  Start at Glacial Boulder, near Inspiration Point, for a couple-mile round trip.  Or for a longer outing, combine the trail to Silver Cord Overlook with a hike along the North Rim Trail.

Hike the shore of Yellowstone Lake.  Yellowstone Lake is the largest high-altitude lake in North America and has 110 miles of shoreline.  Walk along the sandy shores for some unique views of the park landscape and the opportunity for wildlife viewing.  Start your trek from Grant Village or from one of the many pullouts south of Bridge Bay Marina.

(view north over Yellowstone Lake from Grant Village area)

Cycling

In a previous post, I wrote that Yellowstone is not the most bike-friendly environment and that the NPS could do a lot more to make the park a better place for cyclists.  But if you do bring a bike, you can make use of a few sanctioned trips here and there.

Ride to Lone Star Geyser.  Lone Star Geyser Road leaves from near Kepler Cascades (the parking area is just east of Kepler) and heads south to Lone Star Geyser.  The road follows a stream most of the way and is a mixture of old asphalt and dirt.  Round trip is about 4 miles.  

Bike the Fountain Freight Road.  Here you have the unique opportunity to ride your bike right up to an active geyser and hot spring.  You may also see buffalo and wildlife from your bike.  Start from the the end of Fountain Flat Drive and ride south.  The road goes 5.5 miles to Grand Prismatic Spring, and you can either have someone pick you up there or ride back the same way.  Fountain Freight Road has sections of deep gravel and/or mud, so I recommend this for mountain bikes only.  

(Lower Geyser Basin from Fountain Freight Road)

Ride to the summit of Mount Washburn.  The summit of Mount Washburn is a little over 10,000 feet and gives you a 360-degree view of the entire park.  North of Canyon Village, start at the Chittenden Road parking area.  The summit is about three miles up a dirt road.  Many visitors hike the road to the summit, but frankly, it’s not a difficult ride.  And you’ll be glad you can just zoom down the road on the way back.  

Photography

Yellowstone National Park is probably one of the most photographed places in the world.  But you can make your photos stand out from the rest by following a few simple tips.  

Early morning landscapes.  As usual, the best landscape shots are to be had in the early morning.  And this holds especially true in Yellowstone.  In the cool air of early morning, you can get some awesome shots of steaming rivers and the streams fed by hot springs.  On a calm day, you’ll see towers of steam rising over the valleys from the many hidden geysers and hot pools.  

Midday hot pools and springs.  However, don’t go out too early (or too late) to see the hot pools and springs.  In the early morning and late afternoon, the most impressive pool will look like a  surface of flat, dark water.  The vibrant blues, reds, yellows and greens of the pools will only be visible in direct sunlight. So for the best shots of Emerald Pool, Morning Glory, Midway Geyser Basin, etc, head out between 10 and 2 o’clock. 

(Gradient Pool in midday sun)

Late afternoon wildlife.  Elk, deer and buffalo will normally be most active in the late afternoon, around sunset and dusk, and you can catch them feeding and moving in groups around these times.  If you’re lucky you may get a glimpse of a moose or one of the park’s predators.  And of course, remember to keep a reasonable distance and to never disturb the wildlife.  

(shaggy bison getting warmed up for his afternoon forage)

Remove the glare.  There is one important piece of gear you should bring along if you’re serious about getting good shots of the hot pools.  Bring your polarizing filter.  Properly adjusted, a circular polarizer can take the reflections and glare off the surface of the water and really bring out the colors.  

Best of the Best

Any city, state or park has attractions that you shouldn’t miss during your stay.  Here are some of my favorites in Yellowstone, and you can always talk to a park ranger for his or her recommendations.  

Mammoth Hot Springs terraces.  Mammoth Hot Springs is a geothermal area in the northwest corner of the park.  Over many thousands of years, hot spring water has flowed down hillsides and gradually deposited minerals to form a complex of pools and terraces.  

(travertine terraces at Mammoth Hot Springs)

Upper and Lower Falls in Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone.  Upper Falls is over 100 feet high, and Lower Falls is over 300 feet.  You can look down Upper Falls from the Brink of Upper Falls Trail.  And for Lower Falls, one of the best views is from Lookout Point, when the morning sunlight is hitting the water.  (if the sun and wind are just right, you may even see a rainbow)

Black Sand Basin & Midway Geyser Basin.  These are two of the best geyser areas.  Black Sand Basin is home to some very active, bubbling geysers and beautiful pools.  At Midway Geyser Basin you can walk by the largest hot pool in the park and take a boardwalk out over an expansive slope of red and orange algae.  

Photo Gallery

For more photos of Yellowstone sites and attractions, follow this link - Yellowstone National Park photo gallery

Have your own tips for a trip to Yellowstone National Park?  Leave a comment below!