YELLOWSTONE National Park in northwestern Wyoming
📋 Key points to remember: Yellowstone is the oldest national park in the world (1872) and one of the largest (8,983 km², larger than Corsica). The park contains 50% of the world’s geothermal activity: geysers (Old Faithful), colorful springs (Grand Prismatic), bison, bears, wolves. Plan for at least 4-5 days. Ideal season: May-June and September. Avoid July-August (extreme crowds).
There are places on Earth so particularly strange that one wonders if we are really on the same planet when traveling through them. This is the case with the wonderful Yellowstone National Park, the most fascinating, the most beautiful I have had the chance to see during a language study trip to the United States, and above all the oldest in the world.
Around the site, it is with great emotion that one ventures slowly along winding roads, in the heart of this vast valley of pastures and hills adorned with wildflowers, home to herds of hundreds of bison and elk living here in complete freedom.
It is not uncommon to encounter some traffic jams when these animals decide to cross the roads calmly by the dozens. But what a magic it is to be able to contemplate this wild richness so dear to Yellowstone. The park even claims to be the territory of the bison.
YELLOWSTONE: Discovering the Park
The large stone gate marking the park entrance is quite impressive and immediately sets the mood. Its “Jurassic Park” vibe gives us the feeling of entering another world where we will be able to discover things that cannot be seen anywhere else. And that is indeed the case.
It is recommended to stop at the various “village-centers” where you can find, depending on the importance of the site, places to eat, souvenir shops, a post office to send your postcards, museums and collections on the park’s history, and especially an office where you can get guides and meet many “rangers” to best plan your excursions during your language study trip.
The rules regarding camping and hiking are also very strict but understandable given the increasing number of visitors to the park. It is naturally forbidden to camp outside the designated areas. All food and toiletries must be stored in airtight containers provided for this purpose.
Trash bins are also sealed. It is also forbidden to leave food in vehicles. These safety measures are implemented to avoid attracting wild animals near frequented areas, especially bears, and to prevent any potentially fatal incidents. Because even if tourists primarily come to Yellowstone to admire the geothermal phenomena, they will be equally impressed when encountering an elk, a black bear, or one of the 500 grizzlies present in the park during their explorations. Cougars, coyotes, and wolves partially reintroduced during the last decade are rarer to observe but are indeed present.
🗣️ My experience: At sunrise in Lamar Valley, we observed a herd of 200 bison crossing the road, followed 100 meters behind by 3 wolves stalking a weak one. Pure spectacle of the American wilderness. Tip: arrive before 6 a.m., binoculars essential. The park is completely different at dawn (animal time) vs. during the day (tourist time).
🌍 Did you know?
Yellowstone sits on one of the largest active supervolcanoes in the world. The caldera measures 70 by 45 km. Its last major eruption was 640,000 years ago. A full eruption would disrupt the global climate for years, but the current risk is statistically very low (1 chance in 730,000 per year).
Wildlife and Flora at Yellowstone
The wildlife and flora there are incredibly captivating, even to the least expert eyes and for all generations combined. There are so many colors (the mint-green of chlorophyll, the red-orange of sulfur, the emerald-blue of the hot springs literally called “pools,” the gradients of pinks and ochres of the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone…), shapes (these geysers like chimneys emerging from the ground, these dead trees with sharp trunks, these pools with mysterious depths, these cascading limestone basins…) and very special smells… (the foul-smelling smoke of fumaroles near the geysers reminds one of rotten eggs…).
🍀 Yellowstone
- 50% of the world’s geothermal activity
- Exceptional wildlife
- Park entrance: $35 for 7 days (excellent value)
- Trails for all levels
🔻 Limitations
- Extreme crowds in July-August
- Lodges in the park fully booked 6 months in advance
- Long distances (300 km loop)
- Limited connectivity (poor network)
Yellowstone: The Top 3 Sites Not to Miss
- The “Grand Canyon of Yellowstone” offers various fairly easy routes to admire its many viewpoints. The final point of all these trails bears the sweet name of “painting point” and it is indeed a true painting before your eyes with, in the distance, the magnificence of the Yellowstone River falls.
⚠️ Classic Trap
Camping without locking food in the waterproof box. Grizzlies and black bears can smell food from 4 km away and can smash a car door. All park campgrounds provide bear boxes: use them systematically. Never keep food, toothpaste, or sunscreen inside the tent.
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- The “Old Faithful” geyser is the second most powerful in the world. It is also the emblem of the park. It erupts at regular intervals, allowing visitors to anticipate this giant in action. It’s quite an opportunity offered by Yellowstone’s supervolcano.
- The “Grand Prismatic Spring” basin is even more beautiful than in magazine photographs. A small wooden trail is set up all around to get as close as possible and safely to these colorful waters heated to 70°C. But the best is to climb the East hill overlooking the site to get a view from above. It’s simply magical…
For the overall American West road trip, the American West road trip includes Yellowstone in a complete itinerary. USA travel tips covers practical aspects (ESTA, rental, etc.). And USA under 1500 € offers a tight budget.
Find other articles about North America here
How many days to visit Yellowstone?
When to visit Yellowstone?
Where to sleep in Yellowstone?
| Area | To see | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Old Faithful + Upper Geyser Basin | Occasional geyser + 100 active geysers | Half a day |
| Grand Prismatic Spring | Most photographed colorful spring | 2 hours (with elevated trail) |
| Mammoth Hot Springs | White limestone terraces | Half a day |
| Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone | Waterfalls + colorful canyon | Half a day |
| Lamar Valley | Bison, wolves, bears (dawn/dusk) | 1 day |
| Yellowstone Lake | The largest high-altitude lake | Half a day |
| Hayden Valley | Bison and grizzlies | 1 day |
