Top Things to do in Yellowstone National Park
What to do and see in Yellowstone National Park, Yellowstone National Park: The Best Outdoor Activities
Established in 1872, Yellowstone National Park is a national treasure. Located primarily in Wyoming, the park also extends into Montana and Idaho. Yellowstone has active geothermal features with geysers and boiling mud pots throughout the park. The most famous is Old Faithful, a geyser that has erupted on the clock for decades. Travelers be warned, July is the busiest month of the year, with almost a million visitors alone. The park has a tour bus system, nine visitor centers, and 2,000 campsites.
1. Artist Point
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 1,292 reviews
Reviewed By Tommy599 - Two Rivers, United States
We crossed Chittenden bridge across the Yellowstone river; stopping first at Uncle Toms to view the smaller upper Falls, then on to Artist Point to view the MAGNIFICENT lower falls and the unbelievable colors of the canyon. It is IMPOSSIBLE to describe the majesty of this waterfall and canyon colors, so we will not even try,
2. Osprey Falls Trail
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 17 reviews
Reviewed By TractorDoc76 - Ashland, United States
The trail down into the canyon consists of many switchbacks -- some rather steep. Going down is not so bad. . . just remember you have to climb back up! I hiked down to Osprey Falls after making my way down the backside of Bunsen Peak. The Falls tickle all the senses. . . the sound of water crashing down the rock face, the feel of mist on your skin, the smell of wet earth and pine, the sight of the falls themselves, and the taste. . . of my trailside lunch as I sat with the falls to myself for about an hour. :) Osprey Falls is a stunning backcountry spectacle that you will likely have to yourself should you make the effort to reach it. While not as voluminous as the Upper and Lower Falls of the Yellowstone Osprey is much more intricate. . . and can be experienced on a much more personal level. Climbing back out of the canyon can get warm on sunny afternoons. Luckily several small trees provided some shade while catching a breather on the way up. The walk back to the trailhead followed an old roadway in mostly open terrain -- about halfway back a great view of the Canyon and Gardiner River are visible to the South.
3. Lamar Valley
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 2,998 reviews
Reviewed By FancyFree55 - Florida, United States
This route is an amazing drive into the park, with large herds of buffalo grazing in vast fields on both sides of the northeast entrance road. It seemed that our visit coincided with birthing season, when lots of calves were just joining families. They're an unusual orange-brown color, compared with the very dark fur of their parents.' Tourists parked all over the sides of the highway to stop for close-up photos these incredible animals. When I say close-up, I mean with a good zoom. Park signage warns you not to get nearer than 75 yards because the animals are very fast and, if they feel like their babies are threatened, they will charge. We were very fortunate to also spot a small herd of pronghorn elk grazing not far from the road and got some great pix. The drive itself is beautiful, with mountains off in the distance, and a river winding through vast green along and around the roadway.
4. Avalanche Peak Trail
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 14 reviews
Reviewed By DQShaw - York, United States
Great hike with amazing views. It is moderate to strenuous and you need to be prepared with the right hiking boots. Bring water, food, give yourself enough time to enjoy the hike and bring bear bells. We didn't see any bears this time but just down the road closer to the East Entrance we saw three grizzly bears.
5. Natural Bridge Trail
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 12 reviews
Reviewed By DQShaw - York, United States
Easy three mile round trip to see this natural arch. This is a leisurely stroll through the forest and alongside a meadow. The hike begins at the Bridge Bay Marina parking area. We went early in the morning and they were very few people around. Didn't see any bear signs, but we carried bear spray and wore bear bells to be safe.
6. Clear Lake Artist's Point Loop Trail
7. Observation Point Trail
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 39 reviews
The perfect spot to view Old Faithful from a distance.
Reviewed By jesseo582 - Jackson, United States
It’s so close to the developed area yet gets you deeper into Yellowstone for such little extra effort! Call the geyser recorded line to coordinate Old Faithful’s eruption with your time up there. Solitary Geyser, down the trail, won’t make you wait more than eight minutes but you may have to try again to get a photo, there’s only one brief warning splash then sploosh it’s over! Warning, some of the reviews to follow are not of this attraction, I don’t know what they were thinking. One is Mt. Sheridan where there’s a fire lookout, though they underreport I’m the mileage, and another is at Canyon.
8. Lone Star Geyser
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 130 reviews
Famous geyser in Yellowstone National Park.
Reviewed By lillians594
I loved the steam phase, it was really cool! Also, it never stopped, or, at least that's what it seemed like.
9. Grand Loop Road
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 758 reviews
A 140-mile scenic drive past some of Yellowstone's most famous sites.
Reviewed By 0617merS - Columbus, United States
We had one day to explore Yellowstone, we had never been there before and we wanted to take advantage of the day we had and see the most. We did our Yellowstone day on June Monday, June 10. It was very early in the season which was great in that the crowds were low and the traffic was as well and easy in and out of parking lots, allowing us to navigate the park at a good pace. Also, it is SO WORTH the $6 to get the GYPSY app of yellowstone. Download it before you go and enjoy the commentary along your drive through the park. We were staying in Teton Village, we got up around 2:30 and got on the road. We decided to only do the lower loop. We arrived at Old Faithful about 5:45 and it was perfect timing, because it erupted at 6am. We then walked the upper geyser board walks and made our way back to the car and on the way to the upper view point of grand prisim. It's about a mile walk and the view of grand prisim is perfect from up there. We then headed to the artist paint pots and walked the mile trail there. This was well worth our stop, the topography and colors are just very unique. We then stopped at Gibbons Falls and checked out the view from there. By this time we were heading to the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone and took the one way road off the beaten path to check out Virginia falls (thanks to GYPSY app) this is a beautiful drive and I highly suggest it, however you can only do it if you're traveling clockwise around the loop, or you can back track your drive. We got to Canyon Village about 11:15 and ate at the dinner in the general store, and did a quick little shopping and headed out to the trail that leads to lower falls, a spectacular view from the look outs there, went to inspiration point, and then over to artist look out and then made around way to our last stop on the loop, to West Thumb, parked and did the board walk 1 mile walk, this is a stunning look at lake yellowstone, it's blue waters and the geyesers that boarder it. We then left at the same south gate we entered and headed back. I believe we left the park around 5:30 and hit jackson Hole around 7:30 and ate there before heading back to teton village. We were nervous about doing YS in a day, but if you're able to get there early enough, it's more than doable....and early morning is when the wildlife is out. There's bathrooms at almost every trail head and if you pack food, and are able bodied, you can do this. I think we clocked 10 miles this day, but we all said, it was worth it!!
