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Extraordinary geothermal features, breath-taking canyons and abundant wildlife are just some of the natural wonders you can expect to see at the United States’ first national park: Yellowstone. It’s a place steeped in history and a must-visit for anyone interested in nature, science or wildlife. To do it justice, 5–7 days is needed here. We’ve rounded up the best ways to prepare for a full week in Yellowstone!
WHAT TO BRING
Wheels and fuel
With no shuttle services or public transportation options within the 2.2 million acres Yellowstone spans, a car is essential. And while hiking, biking or climbing is often the best way to explore a national park, driving is really your golden ticket to seeing the best of Yellowstone. We found that the drives from each part of the park were just as exciting as the landmarks we were headed to. Every corner features incredible landscape, and you’re bound to encounter wildlife from the safety of your vehicle. Keep your eyes peeled and make use of the plentiful pull-over bays for viewing and photographing wildlife. And remember to obey the park speed limits, which are in place to protect wildlife crossing the roads (in 2022 alone there were 56 vehicle-animal collisions). Lastly, although there are several service stations around the park, fuel can be costly. Save your money for spending at the visitor center gift stores and arrive with a full tank.
Cameras and binoculars
Yellowstone is a mecca for wildlife viewing. You’re almost certain to drive past groups of photographers with tripods set up, patiently waiting for that perfect shot. Any good camera will suffice for landscape photography, but if you’re serious about capturing the wildlife, a zoom lens is a must. Wolves and bears tend to shy away from people, but if you’re lucky you will see them in the distance and be able to take a clear photo with the right equipment. If you simply want to view the animals, a trusty pair of binoculars will come in handy. On our drive from Canyon Village to Mammoth Hot Springs we came by a group of photographers who had seen a pack of wolves feeding on an elk carcass earlier that morning. It was too far away to see with the naked eye, but our binoculars enabled us to see the carcass.
Good footwear
Yellowstone is slightly different to other national parks, in that there is less of a focus on hiking and more on wildlife viewing and visiting specific landmarks. While there are definitely beautiful hikes on offer if that’s your priority, you can easily get by exploring much of the park with a pair of good trail shoes, rather than full hiking boots. Most of the key areas feature paved or wooden terrain, or well-maintained gravel or dirt. They’re also relatively flat, and so poles and other hiking equipment aren’t needed. However, if you plan on doing one of the park’s large hikes, such as the 20-mile out-and-back Mary Mountain Trail, you’ll want to bring all your usual gear.
Food supplies
A week in Yellowstone means you will inevitably end up buying food at one of the park stores, however it pays to start your adventure with a few days’ worth of supplies. Do a grocery shop on your way in and buy some simple meal ingredients, plus snacks and breakfast foods. There are numerous stores and eateries within the park, but options are limited and costly. The grab-and-go sandwiches at the Canyon Village store are a great choice for picnics, but having a more substantial dinner option will go a long way.
WHERE TO STAY
Camping in Yellowstone is something else! It’s a great idea to stay at different campgrounds so you can explore each area. There are 12 campgrounds within the park, and all require reservations except Mammoth Campground. These book out months in advance, so secure your site as early as you can to avoid missing out. We entered through West Yellowstone, so first stayed at Madison Campground, which is a great base for seeing Old Faithful and the Grand Prismatic Springs. From there we headed to Canyon Campground, which is close to the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone and Hayden Valley. We finished at Bridge Bay Campground, as we were exiting the park through the South Entrance. All three campgrounds were fantastic and featured flushing toilets, fire pits and picnic tables. Bridge Bay was in walking distance of Yellowstone Lake, where we enjoyed a refreshing swim, and we were visited by elk grazing through the grounds each day. Madison and Canyon campgrounds were both surrounded by forest and beautiful places to relax in the company of squirrels. Canyon was the most sophisticated, with onsite showers and laundry facilities and in walking distance to the Canyon Village store. The other campgrounds didn’t have showers, so keep that in mind when choosing where to stay.
WHERE TO VIEW WILDLIFE
With roads covering only a fraction of the park, you might think your chances of seeing wildlife in Yellowstone are slim. Luckily, the wildlife is so bountiful you’re almost guaranteed to see something on your journey.
The Valleys
If you’ve done any research, you will have heard of Lamar and Hayden Valley. Lamar Valley is known as the Serengeti of America, and is famous for spotting wolves, grizzly bears and bison herds. Unfortunately when we visited Yellowstone, this part of the park was closed due to flooding. Luckily Hayden Valley delivered, with hundreds of bison visible each day we visited this beautiful area. “Bison-jams” are common here, so be prepared to wait in your vehicle for up to an hour while the big fluffy beasts meander across the road! While bison tend to hang out in the valley most of the day, visiting early in the morning increases your chances of seeing other wildlife, such as bears and wolves.
South-East Yellowstone
Park rangers told us there were grizzlies frequenting the Lake Butte area of Yellowstone, as well as moose. Unfortunately we weren’t lucky enough to see any, but we did see impressive elk herds and of course, more bison. The best piece of advice we can give is venture out early in the morning or at dusk, get off the roads and be patient. Take a picnic with you and set up camp!
MUST-SEE LANDMARKS
Yellowstone is home to more than half of the world’s geysers, and you could literally spend weeks just exploring its geothermal features. These are the key landmarks we recommend visiting if time is limited.
Old Faithful and the Grand Prismatic Springs
You can’t visit Yellowstone without seeing Old Faithful! This cone geyser erupts religiously every 1–2 hours, shooting between 100 and 180 feet of boiling water into the sky. The Old Faithful Visitor Center features a viewing boardwalk around the geyser, as well as information on when the next eruption will begin. A 30-minute drive from Old Faithful is the Grand Prismatic Springs, a dazzling pool of blue water and the largest hot spring in the US. Boardwalks allow you to walk right up to the springs and be gusted by its hot steam, while a 1.6-mile trail from the Fairy Falls parking lot takes you to a lookout platform over the springs. Both are worth doing for different perspectives of this stunning natural wonder.
Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone
Unreal colors, raging water and dramatic canyons make this an unmissable landmark. Running over 20 miles, the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone has several viewpoints, all of which we would recommend visiting. Artist’s Point is arguably the most scenic, featuring breath-taking views of the impressive Lower Falls.
Mammoth Hot Springs
There’s an otherworldly feel to the white and yellow terraces of Mammoth Hot Springs. Enveloped in steam and with a paint-like appearance, you can access the lower and upper terraces by wooden boardwalk. Information signs provide insight into how this feature came to be, and be sure to stop at the nearby visitor center for more detail. If you like what you see, pay a visit to West Yellowstone’s Artist’s Paint Pots, which contains more than 50 hot springs, geysers and vents in impressive colors and textures, all accessible by an easy 0.6-mile trail.