Things to do in Yellowstone National Park
A vast volcanic plateau of geysers, hot springs, wildlife valleys, waterfalls, lakes, and high-elevation forests.
Best months: June, July, September, October
What is worth your time in Yellowstone National Park
Grand Canyon of the YellowstoneDo not miss
The Yellowstone River cuts a colorful canyon around two major waterfalls, creating the park’s most dramatic non-thermal landscape.
Viewpoint · 3 hr4.9
Grand Prismatic Overlook TrailDo not miss
A short climb from Fairy Falls Trailhead gives the classic aerial view of Grand Prismatic Spring.
Hike · 1.3 hr4.9
Grand Prismatic SpringDo not miss
The park’s largest hot spring glows in bands of blue, green, yellow, and orange from the Midway boardwalk.
Viewpoint · 1.1 hr4.9
Upper Geyser BasinDo not miss
The basin holds the world’s densest collection of geysers, hot springs, and thermal pools on an extensive boardwalk network.
Hike · 3 hr4.9
Lamar ValleyDo not miss
The broad northeast valley is Yellowstone’s premier wildlife corridor for wolves, bison, pronghorn, and bears.
Wildlife · 3 hr4.8
Old FaithfulDo not miss
Yellowstone’s most famous geyser erupts predictably beside a visitor center, boardwalks, and historic lodges.
Viewpoint · 1.5 hr4.7
Mount Washburn Trail
A high-country climb reaches broad views over Yellowstone and a working fire lookout.
Hike · 5 hr5
Artist Point
The overlook frames Lower Falls and the canyon’s yellow walls in the park’s most famous waterfall composition.
Viewpoint · 45 min4.9
Hayden Valley
This central valley offers reliable bison herds, river views, and dawn or dusk wildlife watching between Canyon and Lake.
Wildlife · 1.8 hr4.8
Norris Geyser Basin
Yellowstone’s hottest, most changeable geyser basin has stark boardwalk loops through Porcelain Basin and Back Basin.
Hike · 2 hr4.8
Yellowstone Lake
The huge high-elevation lake adds open water, mountain weather, beaches, and a calmer counterpoint to geyser basins.
Viewpoint · 1.4 hr4.8
Mud Volcano
Short boardwalks pass churning mudpots, Dragon’s Mouth Spring, and strong sulfur smells in a compact thermal area.
Hike · 45 min4.7
Old Faithful Visitor Education Center
The indoor exhibits and eruption predictions make this the best bad-weather orientation stop in the geyser basin.
Ranger Program · 53 min4.7
Tower Fall
The 132-foot waterfall drops through volcanic spires near the northeastern road corridor.
Viewpoint · 45 min4.7
And 2 more, which the planner picks between based on your dates, pace and what you are into.
Worth knowing
- Yellowstone is the world’s first national park and the planet’s greatest concentration of geysers, anchored by Old Faithful, Grand Prismatic Spring, the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, and free-ranging bison and wolves.