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NATIONAL PARK TRIP PLANNER

YELLOWSTONE

Travel RoutesHeading to the park through Wyoming or Montana? No mat-ter which route you choose, we have an itinerary for you.

Trip LogisticsHow to get to Yel-lowstone National Park, plus information on gateway towns, transportation, and permits.

ParkMapGet oriented before your trip with this overview map with info on the Mammoth, Old Faithful, Madison, and Lake areas.

Where to SleepInformation on all the park’s hotels, from rustic cabins to luxuri-ous lodges, and an overview of Yellow-stone campgrounds.

Natural WondersLearn more about bears, moose, elk, bison, wolves, and other all-star wildlife species. Plus: where to spot each one.

The Experts in National Park

Travel

MAP ILLUSTRATION BY PETER SUCHESKI

ALL-AMERICAN ROAD TRIP Days 12Miles 3,068This epic route encompasses the pioneer legends, natural wonders, and historic sites of seven states, from the Midwest to Yellowstone and back. You’ll enjoy South Dakota’s top sites—including Badlands National Park, Mt. Rushmore, Rapid City, and Deadwood/Lead—then travel across northern Wyoming to see Devils Tower, Thermopolis, and Cody. After touring Yellowstone, head back over the Beartooth Highway to North Dakota’s Theodore Roosevelt National Park.

BIG SKY HIGHWAY Days 7Miles 860From epic mountain peaks to peaceful hot springs, this classic Montana tour has it all. From Yellowstone, head north to Big Sky, Philipsburg, and Missoula. Then enter Glacier Country with a spin up to Whitefish and Glacier National Park. Drive across the park and head south via Great Falls and Helena, then end up back in Gardiner and Yellowstone.

GEM STATE SAMPLER Days 7Miles 964Idaho’s finest attractions include outdoor thrills,

cultural treasures, and superb mountain scenery. See them on this route starting in Boise and cruising on to Pocatello and the Shoshone-Bannock tribes’ Fort Hall Reservation. Visit Idaho Falls and West Yellowstone en route to Yellowstone National Park, then head south for the wildlife and high peaks of Grand Teton National Park. Swing through Jackson, then reenter Idaho for Craters of the Moon National Monument, Sun Valley, and

Stanley on the way back to Boise.

SAND AND SKY LOOP Days 9Miles 1,140Pair desert scenery with Yellowstone on this tour through Utah and Wyoming. Kick it off in Salt Lake City, then point yourself north into Wyoming and visit

Jackson and Grand Teton National Park. Explore Yellowstone, then swing south through the Wind River Range to Fossil Butte National Monument, Dinosaur National Monument, and Flaming Gorge Recreation Area. Finish with a trip to Park City before returning to SLC.

ROCKY MOUNTAIN HIGH LOOP Days 8Miles 1,358Trace the spine of North America, from Colorado’s central Rockies to Wyoming’s Wind River Range, on this Yellowstone-bound trip. From Denver, explore Rocky Mountain

National Park, then head to Cheyenne and Laramie. Drive through the Wind River Range, over the scenic Togwotee Trail, and into Grand Teton National Park. Stay awhile in Yellowstone, then head east to Cody, Thermopolis, Casper, and back to Colorado.

YELLOWSTONE ROAD TRIPSSee the best the West has to offer on our top five driving routes to and from Yellowstone National Park. For more details on these and other routes, visit yellowstonepark.com.

GRAND TETON NATIONAL PARK

BADLANDS NATIONAL PARK

DINOSAUR NATIONAL

MONUMENT

GLACIER NATIONAL PARK

CRATERS OF THE MOON NATIONAL

MONUMENT & PRESERVE

ROCKY MOUNTAIN

NATIONAL PARK

TOP 5 ROAD TRIPS All-American Road Trip

Big Sky Highway

Gem State Sampler

Sand and Sky Loop

Rocky Mountain High

VISITING YELLOWSTONEEverything you need to know about how, where, and when to best experience all the park has to offer. For even more helpful travel essentials, visit yellowstonepark.com.

PHOTO BY GRANT ORDELHEIDE

GETTING THEREYellowstone is located in northwestern Wyo-ming, with small sections in Idaho and Montana. There are five entrances; most are open from May to November.

››One, the North Entrance, is open year-round; it’s 56 miles south of Livingston, Montana, on US 89. The North Entrance is the only way to reach Cooke City, just over the park’s north-eastern border, in winter.

››The South Entrance is the closest one to Jackson, Wyoming. From Jackson, take US 191 north to US 287 north, passing through Grand Teton National Park.

››The East Entrance is located about 50 miles west of Cody, Wyoming, along US 14.

››The West Entrance is just outside of West Yellowstone, Montana, on US 20. It’s the clos-est option to Big Sky and Idaho Falls.

››The Northeast Entrance provides access to the park via the towns of Cooke City and Silver Gate in the summer; in winter, the roads east of the park shut down. From Billings, Montana, take I-90 west to US 212 west. Check road conditions for entrances at wyoroad.info and entrance status at nps.gov/yell.

ENTRANCE FEESAdmission to the park is $30 per private vehicle ($50 for entry to Grand Teton National Park too); $25 per motorcycle; and $15 per person who enters via bike, foot, or ski. One entrance fee is valid for 7 days. An annual pass to Yel-lowstone is $60. An annual pass to all national parks and other fee areas costs $80.

GATEWAY TOWNSGardiner (to the north), Cooke City (northeast), and West Yellowstone (to the west) are small towns that offer gas, groceries, lodging, food, and supplies. Other nearby towns include Big Sky and Livingston (MT) and Cody, Jackson, and Dubois (Wyoming).

TRANSPORTATIONAirThe closest airport to the park with year-round service is Yellowstone Regional Airport in Cody, Wyoming, 50 miles east of the park’s East Entrance. The larger Jackson Hole Airport in Jackson, Wyoming, is about 60 miles south of the South Entrance, and Idaho Falls’s regional airport is 110 miles west. International airports include Bozeman (80 miles) and Billings (125 miles) in Montana.

Bus/ShuttlePrivate shuttles run from Bozeman to West Yellowstone and Mammoth Hot Springs year-round (karststage.com). And in winter, park concessionaire Xanterra runs a shuttle from the Bozeman Airport to Mammoth Hot Springs ($56/adult, $28/child one-way; yellowstonena-tionalparklodges.com).

BicycleBikes are permitted on all roads at Yellow-stone. Two gravel routes—Old Gardiner Road and Blacktail Plateau Drive—allow two-way mountain bike traffic. And several routes near Mammoth, the West Entrance, Old Faithful, the Lake area, and Tower are reserved for bike and foot traffic only. Some park roads open to bikes before cars in the spring and stay open longer in the fall. Visit nps.gov/planyourvisit/bicycling.htm for more info.

BOAT & FISHING PERMITS››All boats and float tubes need a permit ($5/week or $10/season for nonmotorized boats; $10/week or $20/season for motorized boats) to enter Yellowstone. Buy them at the South Entrance, Grant Village Backcountry Office, or Bridge Bay Ranger Station.››Anglers ages 16 and up must also purchase a Yellowstone National Park Fishing Permit ($18/3 days, $25/week, $40/season) at any ranger station, visitor center, or park general store. Children 15 and younger can fish without a permit under adult supervision or with a free permit on their own.

MORE YELLOWSTONE FUN!Go to yellowstonepark.com/activities for more info on hiking, rafting, camping, tours, and other ways to enjoy the park.

CASTLE GEYSER

Y E L L O W S T O N E N A T I O N A L P A R K

NORTH

MammothHot Springs

Norris

Madison

Tower-Roosevelt

CanyonVillage

Old Faithful

Grant Village

LakeVillage

LowerGeyserBasin

UpperGeyserBasin

MidwayGeyserBasin

SHOSONE LAKE

WESTTHUMB

YELLOWSTONELAKE

HAYDEN VALLEY

LAMAR VALLEY

NorthEntrance

SouthEntrance

EastEntrance

NortheastEntrance

WestEntrance

Fishing Bridge

Approximate Caldera Boundary

Co

nt inenta l D iv ide

Continent a l Divide

G R A N D T E T O NN A T I O N A L P A R K

PARK MAPYellowstone is an enormous park. Get oriented with this at-a-glance guide.

LODGING, PARK ACCESS, REGISTRATION & MOREVisit yellowstonepark.com/plan for more information.

MAP ILLUSTRATION BY PETER SUCHESKI

MAJOR PARK THOROUGHFAREThe Grand Loop Road is a 154-mile, figure-eight corridor connecting Yellowstone’s at-tractions to the five entrance roads. Most of the park roads close in the winter, though some are groomed for commercial snow travel.

PARK AREASMammothLocated in the park’s northwest side, Mammoth features the striking travertine terraces of Mammoth Hot Springs, plus lodging, dining, and hiking trails to peaks and lakes.

NorrisHome to Norris Geyser Basin and close to several other ther-mal hotspots, Norris also offers waterfalls and an info station.

Tower-RooseveltThis area is the gateway to the wildlife-rich Lamar Valley and offers rustic lodging, horseback riding, dining, and waterfalls.

CanyonAnchored by the stunning Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, this area also has a large lodging complex, lots of dining choices, and a number of trails leading to canyon views, thermal features, and wildlife habitat.

Lake AreaOn the north shore of Yellow-stone Lake, the Lake area is the place for boat tours and pad-dling. It also includes elegant lodging, dining, and trails into prime grizzly bear habitat.

Grant VillageThe closest developed area to the South Entrance, Grant Village has lodging and dining near Yellowstone Lake and ac-cess to the West Thumb Geyser Basin.

Old FaithfulThe mecca for geysers (there are hundreds in several basins), Old Faithful is also home to the historic Old Faithful Inn, more lodging and dining, and lots of trails.

Lodging

Camping

Dining

Visitor information

Key

Geysers

LODGING, CAMPING & MOREWhether you want to sleep under the stars in a developed campground, go backpacking, or relax in a luxurious hotel, you’ll find what you need at Yellowstone.

LODGINGVisit yellowstonenationalparklodges.com for details and to book a room. Lodges are very popular and fill quickly, so reserve at least six months in advance.

Canyon Lodge & Cabins: Recently renovated lodges and cabins (with more under construction) in the Canyon Village area, plus restaurants. $122-$499

Grant Village: Two lodges on the southwest-ern shore of Yellowstone Lake; two restaurants, lounge, and gift shop. $211

Lake Lodge Cabins: Western cabins with cafeteria, fireplace, and gift shop; located on the northern shore of Yellowstone Lake. $88-$204

Lake Yellowstone Hotel & Cabins: 1920s-style resort with upscale restaurant on north shore of Yellowstone Lake. Also has a cof-feeshop and gift shop. $157-$690

Mammoth Hot Springs Lodge & Cabins: Grand lodging complex near limestone terraces and historic Fort Yellowstone site. Only car-accessible lodging open in winter. $98-$499

Old Faithful Inn: The park’s most popular place to stay, this rustic inn dates back to 1904 and is next to Old Faithful Geyser. Also features a restaurant, deli, and gift shop. $115-$572

Old Faithful Lodge Cabins: 1920s cabins and cafeteria-style lodge with bakery and gift shop near Old Faithful. $88-$146

Old Faithful Snow Lodge & Cabins: This complex is accessible only by snowcoach in the winter (also open in summer); restaurant, gift shop, and ski/snowshoe rentals. $114-$272

Roosevelt Lodge Cabins: This rustic lodg-ing and dining complex is located in the Tower-Roosevelt area. $84-$142

CAMPGROUNDSFive of Yellowstone’s 12 developed camp-grounds accept reservations; the remaining seven are first-come, first-serve and usually fill up by noon in the summer. To reserve a site, visit yellowstonenationalparklodges.com or call (866) 439-7375.

Bridge Bay: The park’s largest campground (432 sites) sits on the shores of Yellowstone Lake. Open late May to early September; accepts res-ervations. Will fit RVs up to 40’. $22.50

Canyon: 273 sites tucked into the woods. Open late May to early September; accepts reserva-tions. Will fit RVs up to 40’. $27

Fishing Bridge RV: More than 325 sites for hard-sided vehicles only on Yellowstone Lake. Open mid-May to late September; accepts reser-vations. Fits RVs up to 40’. $47.50

Grant Village: 430 sites on Yellowstone Lake. Open late June to late September; accepts reservations. RV max 35’. $27

Indian Creek: 75-site campground in a forested creek valley. Open mid-June to mid-September. RV max 35’. $15

Lewis Lake: 85 sites on a south-side lake. Open mid-June to early November; all RV sites 25’ or less. $15

Madison: Large (278 sites) campground on the Madison River on the park’s west side. Open late April to October; accepts reservations. Fits RVs up to 40’. $22.50

Mammoth: The park’s only year-round camp-ground has 85 sites near the North Entrance. Fits RVs up to 75’. $20

Norris: 100 sites near Norris Geyser Basin. Open mid-May to late September; limited sites for RVs over 30’. $20

Pebble Creek: Small (27 sites), primitive campground on the park’s northeast side. Open mid-June to late September; a few long pull-through RV sites and walk-in tent sites. $15

Slough Creek: 23-site primitive campground in the Lamar Valley. Open mid-June to early October; no RV generators. $15

Tower Fall: 32-site primitive campground near Tower. Open late May to late September; best for smaller RVs. $15

BACKCOUNTRY CAMPINGPermits are required. To reserve in advance, complete a Trip Planning Worksheet (nps.gov/yell/planyourvisit/backcountryhiking.htm) and return it in person or by mail or fax. Enclose the $25 reservation fee. Permits are also available to walk-in visitors no more than two days before your departure.

VISITOR CENTERSAlbright: Open daily year-round. Located at Mammoth Hot Springs, 5 miles from the North Entrance.

Canyon Visitor Education Center: Open daily from May to mid-October and for the winter season starting in December, 19 miles south of Tower-Roosevelt. Exhibits on the super-volcano.

Fishing Bridge: Open daily from late May to late September; located 27 miles west of the East Entrance. Backcountry offices are nearby at Lake Area and Bridge Bay.

Grant Village: Open daily from late May to late September; on the shore of the West Thumb of Yellowstone Lake. A backcountry office in Grant Village issues permits for camping and other activities.

Madison Information Center: Open daily, late May to late September. Located at Madison Junction, 14 miles from the West Entrance.

Norris Area museums: The Norris Geyser Basin Museum and the Museum of the National Park Ranger are open daily, late May to late September. Both are located 21 miles south of Mammoth Hot Springs.

Old Faithful Visitor Education Center: Open daily, April to early November. Located 16 miles south of Madison. An adjacent backcountry office issues permits.

West Yellowstone Visitor Information Center: Open daily, year-round. Located just outside the park boundary in the gateway town of West Yellowstone.

HAYDEN VALLEY

PHOTO BY GRANT ORDELHEIDE

PERFECT DAYPick one itinerary for 24 hours of fun—or see them both on the perfect weekend.

Wildlife- WatchingWAKE UP WITH WOLVES For your best chance of spying the park’s wolf packs in action, get up before sunrise and head to the Lamar Valley in the park’s northeast quadrant. Several pullouts on the road let you stop and set up a spotting scope or pull out your binoculars—or look for park volunteers with scopes and ask for a peek. As the sun rises, you might also see bison, badgers, osprey, bears, and deer.

EAT A HEARTY BREAKFASTWhen you’re ready for a break, grab breakfast at Roos-evelt Lodge. The rustic restaurant and hotel serves up breakfast burritos, hikers’ specials, biscuits, and huevos rancheros.

CRUISE TOWER ROADHead south from Roosevelt and stop at 132-foot Tower Fall, a thundering cascade. Continue on to climb the shoul-der of 10,243-foot Mt. Washburn. Stop at 8,859-foot Dun-raven Pass to enjoy the view and scan for bighorn sheep; if you have the time and the weather is nice, consider hiking the 3.1-mile (one-way) trail from here to Washburn’s sum-mit for even better views and wildlife ops.

GAZE AT THE GRAND CANYON OF THE YELLOWSTONEDrive through Canyon Village and turn on South Rim Drive for an up-close look at one of the park’s most outstanding natural features: 308-foot Lower Falls and 109-foot Upper Falls, two massive waterfalls in a colorful gorge. Up for a thrill? Head to Uncle Tom’s Point and descend the 328 metal steps bolted into the side of the canyon on Uncle Tom’s Trail. It’s not for the acrophobic, but the up-close view of Lower Falls is worth it.

WILDLIFE-WATCH IN HAYDEN VALLEYThis grassy valley in central Yellowstone supports huge herds of bison, plus grizzly bears, elk, coyotes, wolves, moose, and bald eagles. Stop in one of the numerous pull-outs along the road and scan the rolling terrain—you never know what you might spot. Or hike the 10-mile (round-trip) Mary Mountain Trail for even better scoping opportunities.

DINE BY THE LAKEFeast on wild game, fresh fish, or steak in the Lake Hotel’s elegant dining room (reservations recommended). For a more casual evening, head over to nearby Lake Lodge Cafeteria. Must-do: Sip a pint of a local microbrew or glass of wine from a rocking chair on the lakeview front porch.

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Geyser GazingSTART WITH OLD FAITHFULTwo options to kick off your day: One, sit down to the breakfast buffet at Old Faith-ful Inn’s Dining Room, then go outside to catch Old Faithful Geyser in action (the front desk posts eruption times). Two, get a quick breakfast from the Bear Paw Deli and eat on the second-floor porch for a picture-perfect view of Old Faithful.

STROLL UPPER GEYSER BASINA series of boardwalks leads from the visitor center into the heart of this thermal paradise—with more than 150 spouters within a square mile, it holds the highest concentration of geysers in the world. Highlights include the predicted geysers (Castle, Daisy, Grand, and Riverside), the Lion group, 150-foot Beehive, and bright Beauty and Chromatic Pools.

EXPLORE MIDWAY & LOWER GEYSER BASINSHead up the road to Midway Geyser Basin, home to one of the world’s largest, deepest hot springs (370 feet across and 125 feet deep)—Grand Prismatic Spring. Walk the boardwalk to get up close to it and neighboring Excelsior Geyser (once an enormous, active geyser, it’s now more of a hot spring). Next stop: Take Firehole Lake Drive past Great Fountain Geyser, then park at Lower Geyser Basin to see the fumaroles and geysers around Fountain Paint Pot.

VISIT NORRIS GEYSER BASINThe park’s oldest, hottest basin is another fantastic place to see geysers in action. Head into Porcelain Basin, a half-mile boardwalk trip, to see favorites like Constant Geyser and enormous fumaroles. Continue to Back Basin, a 1.5-mile walk pass acidic Echinus Geyser, sparkling Emerald Spring, and 300-foot-plus Steamboat Geyser, the tallest in the world. Steamboat’s major eruptions are highly unpre-dictable—though several lucky visitors caught them in July 2013 and September 2014—but chances are good you’ll see some minor splashes.

SEE MAMMOTH HOT SPRINGSFinish off your geyser gorging with a different kind of thermal feature. The hot springs at Mammoth don’t erupt, but they do build spectacular travertine terrace formations (as quickly as three feet per year in some places). Walk the boardwalk to watch the trickling springs at work.

DINE AT MAMMOTHFinish your day with bison burgers, trout tacos, prime rib, and other hearty fare at the Mammoth Hotel Dining Room.

MAMMOTH HOT SPRINGS

PHOTO BY GRANT ORDELHEIDE

WILDLIFEYellowstone is world-famous for its huge array of life-list animals.

Roughly 4,600 bison roam in Yellowstone. At the turn of the 20th century, America’s wild bison—which at one time numbered 60 million—had dwindled to about two dozen animals. The bison in Yellowstone today are descendants of those survivors. Bison can weigh up to 2,000 pounds, and although they may seem docile, they are unpredictable animals and have been known to charge at visitors who approach them too closely. ›› Where to see them: In Yellowstone, check out the Lamar and Hayden Valleys—both great places to watch bison. Also look for them near Pelican Valley.

As of early 2015, about 95 wolves roamed in 11 packs inside Yellowstone and around its bor-ders, with about 450 total wolves in the Greater Yellowstone area. The highly social predators, which mainly hunt elk, deer, and bison, have come a long way since 1995, when a reintroduc-tion program brought 14 Canadian wolves to the park after decades of hunting had effectively wiped the predator out.›› Where to see them: In Yellowstone, the most frequently spotted wolf packs haunt Lamar Valley, Hayden Valley, the Canyon area, and Blacktail Deer Plateau. Dawn and dusk are the best times to look.

The largest member of the deer family, moose have a long snout, bulbous nose, and a dewlap under the throat that distinguishes them from Yellowstone’s other hooved animals. They fre-quent streams, ponds, and marshes, where they feed on succulent vegetation. ›› Where to see them: Moose are most heavily concentrated in Grand Teton National Park. Look for them at Willow Flats, Chris-tian Pond, and around Oxbow Bend. Look for Yellowstone’s 100 or so moose in Willow Park, between Norris Junction and Mammoth, plus Yellowstone Lake, Fishing Bridge, West Thumb, and Hayden Valley.

Two types of bears call Greater Yellowstone home: grizzlies and black bears (above). Grizzly bears may reach 4 feet at the shoulder and can weigh up to 700 pounds. They have a distinctive hump between their shoulders, a long snout, and short, fuzzy ears. Black bears are two to four feet tall and weigh up to 400 pounds; they can be black, blond, or brown. The Yellowstone region is home to about 600 grizzlies and many more black bears. ›› Where to see them: Yellowstone’s grizzlies often wander through the Lamar and Hayden Valleys, around Yellowstone Lake and Heart Lake, and the Pelican Valley.

Trumpeter swans are the biggest birds in Yel-lowstone—in fact, they’re the largest waterfowl in North America. Males’ wingspans can reach seven feet, and they can weigh up to 30 pounds (heavier than eagles). Trumpeter swans have been known to live almost 30 years in the wild, though typical lifespan is 15 to 25 years. ›› Where to see them: In Yellowstone, the best place is near Seven Mile Bridge, between Madison Junction and the West Entrance of the park. Also look for them south of Mammoth Hot Springs on Swan Lake, and on the Yellowstone River between the Fishing Bridge area and Hayden Valley.

In summer, Yellowstone houses about 10,000 to 20,000 elk; the population drops to about 5,000 in winter. Adult bull elk weigh up to 700 pounds, while adult females may weigh up to 500 pounds. Their rear ends are white, and often give them away to passersby looking for elk in dry, brush-covered areas. Elk congregate at lower elevations during the rut from September to October, making fall the best time to spot them.›› Where to see them: Elk are commonly spot-ted throughout Yellowstone, but chances are especially good in Lamar Valley, Gibbon River, Norris Junction, Mammoth Hot Springs, and Madison Junction.

BISON

BEARS

WOLVES

MOOSE

TRUMPETER SWANS

ELK

PHOTOS BY GRANT ORDELHEIDE

PHOTO BY GRANT ORDELHEIDE

TOP DAYHIKESLace up your hiking boots: You haven’t seen Yellowstone until you see it from the backcountry.

6 Amazing TrailsOur favorite hikes deliver sweeping views, gushing cascades, and wildlife galore.

While there’s plenty to see from the roads, most of Yellowstone is rugged wilderness. Visitors who get off the beaten path and onto the park’s 1,000-mile trail system will be treated to epic views, wildlife-watching, and solitude. (Go to backpacker.com/trips for more ideas, maps, GPS content, and more.)

AVALANCHE PEAKLength: 4 miles round-tripDifficulty: ChallengingTrailhead: Eleanor Lake parking areaMap: backpacker.com/destinations/hikes/265792Take the direct route to views over Yellowstone Lake, the Tetons, and the Absaroka Range on this short-but-steep hike to a broad, 10,566-foot summit. From the trailhead, climb through a forest of spruce, fir, and whitebark pine (watch for grizzlies) to a wildflower-strewn meadow. Press on above treeline and across scree slopes to gain the dramatic summit. Drink in the panorama, then return the same way you came.

MT. WASHBURNLength: 6.2 miles round-tripDifficulty: ModerateTrailhead: Dunraven PassThis justifiably popular trail serves up fantastic wildflowers in July and August, wildlife-watching (look for bighorn sheep, elk, and black and grizzly bears), and big views from the summit fire tower. Start early to avoid summer afternoon thunderstorms. From the pass, switchback up to a ridge that leads to the 10,243-foot peak, where you’ll spot the Hayden Valley, several geyser basins, and the southern edge of the Yellowstone caldera.

CAVE & BECHLER FALLSLength: 7.3 miles round-tripDifficulty: ModerateTrailhead: Bechler Ranger StationTrace the Bechler River to a pair of backcountry waterfalls on this hike through remote southwestern Yellowstone. Take the South Boundary Trail across Wyoming Creek to reach Cave Falls, a 250-foot-wide, two-tiered cascade with a large cavern at its base. Continue on the Bechler River Trail to 15-foot Bechler Falls, a wide, turbulent cascade that’s a favorite hangout for moose and deer. Swing back west to close the loop and return to the trailhead.

GRAND CANYON OF THE YELLOWSTONE SOUTH RIMLength: 6.4 miles round-tripDifficulty: ModerateTrailhead: Wapiti Lake trailheadNo visitor should miss the 20-mile-long, 1,200-foot-deep gorge carved by the Yellowstone River. And while it’s easy to drive up to several view-points along the rim, the best way to savor the views is on this rim-side trail to two stunning overlooks. Start on the South Rim Trail with a look at 109-foot Upper Falls from the trailhead overlook. Then head east, tracing the chasm’s edge (a worthy side trip for the stouthearted: descending the metal staircase of Uncle Tom’s Trail), to Artist Point to see the even more impressive Lower Falls, an enormous, 308-foot cascade. Press on another mile, leaving the crowds behind, to Point Sublime. This higher, quieter view of the canyon and Lower Falls is especially scenic.

FAIRY FALLSLength: 5.2 milesDifficulty: EasyTrailhead: Fairy Falls trailheadThis mostly flat stroll past Grand Prismatic Spring and through a young lodgepole pine forest (and great bear habitat; the trail is in a bear man-agement area and opens to hikers in late May) leads to the park’s tallest frontcountry waterfall—Fairy Falls, a freefalling plume that plunges 200 feet. Hike the first mile along a wide gravel road, then head into the woods; mountain bikes are allowed on the road section, but you’ll have to stash your bike after mile one.

BLACK CANYON OF THE YELLOWSTONELength: 18.5 milesDifficulty: ChallengingTrailhead: Hellroaring trailheadThis riverside ramble makes for an excellent early-season overnight (or epic dayhike) through dry, sagebrush-filled terrain in the park’s Northern Range. Park a shuttle car at the North Entrance and start at Hellroaring trailhead for a mostly downhill trip. You’ll trace the Yellowstone River past prime campsites, catching views of Electric Peak and the Black Canyon; on hot days, take a dip in Crevice Lake or try your luck fishing. Watch for elk, badgers, and bald eagles; watch out for bears and rattlesnakes.

GRAND CANYON OF THE YELLOWSTONE

GUIDE TO THE GEYSERSLearn more about Yellowstone’s marvelous thermal features.

Geysers 101A visit to the thermal zones offers a lot more than spouting geysers: You’ll see boiling water, bubbling mud, hissing steam vents, and unique, milky-white rock formations, too.Yellowstone is one of the world’s most active geothermal areas, home to hundreds of geysers, hot springs, mud pots, and steam vents. Why? One word: heat. The park sits on top of an enormous supervolcano, and the immense heat from its underground magma powers the geyser basins (don’t worry—the volcano’s last major eruption was 640,000 years ago, and there’s no evidence it will blow again anytime soon). When water from precipitation seeps into the ground, it meets the superheated earth near the underground magma chamber. Heat and pressure build until the water is forced back to the surface in one of these dramatic ways.

HOT SPRINGS These colorful pools form where superheated water has no obstacles on its way back to the surface. The water rises, cools down on the surface, then sinks, and fresh hot water rises to replace it. Some of Yellowstone’s springs are literally boiling at 199°F (the boiling point at this eleva-

tion). Hot springs owe their bright colors to two factors: the scattering of sunlight to reflect blue wavelengths the most, and the growth of colorful, extremely heat-tolerant bacteria.

GEYSERS Yellowstone’s most famous features are hot springs with some kind of constriction in their underground “plumb-ing.” Water rises, pressure builds at the choke points, and finally, the liquid flashes into steam and shoots upward, carrying the water above it along for the ride. Some

geysers, usually the ones that have their own plumbing systems, erupt at predict-able intervals. Others share “pipes” with adjacent geysers and erupt much more erratically.

FUMAROLES Also called steam vents, fumaroles appear in places where underground temperatures are so high that all the water boils away before reaching the surface, leaving only steam to escape. Some fumaroles can get as hot as 238°F, and the park’s hottest, Black Growler Steam Vent in Norris

Geyser Basin, has reached almost 300°F.

MUD POTS These gurgling pools of mud form under acidic condi-tions, which break down the surrounding rock into clay and mud. Steam and gases rising from below the pots seep through, making the mud bubble.

TERRACES Mammoth’s travertine terraces owe their existence to the area’s limestone geology. Here, hot water rises through ancient limestone. When it reaches the surface, the water deposits calcium carbonate minerals to build rippled, stair-step terraces. These formations change very quickly,

with some depositing a foot of travertine per year.

PHOTO BY GRANT ORDELHEIDE

WHERE TO SEE GEYSERS BLOWActive thermal features can be found all over the park. Here are a few of our top spots.

Upper Geyser Basin: More than 150 geysers can be found here, and it’s the world’s greatest concentration of hot springs. Old Faithful is the most famous geyser here, but also keep an eye out for Castle Geyser, Grand Geyser, and Beehive Geyser. Don’t miss it.

Norris Geyser Basin: Yellowstone’s oldest, hottest thermal zone has two distinct basins featuring hot springs, fumaroles, and pools.

Midway Geyser Basin: Home to Grand Prismatic Hot Spring, the park’s single largest spring at 370 feet across and 125 feet deep, and Excelsior Geyser crater.

Lower Geyser Basin: Nearly 100 thermal features can be found here, including the multicolored Fountain Paint Pots and Great Fountain Geyser.

Shoshone Geyser Basin: Experienced backcountry travel-ers can escape the crowds in this remote backcountry basin, ac-cessible via an 18-mile (round-trip) trek from the Lone Star Geyser Trail. More than 80 geysers cluster here, and bison herds frequent the area.

GRAND GEYSER

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Exploring 8,200 square miles of public land. Soaking up the sunshine and catching the “Big One” on Lake Flaming Gorge. Mountain Biking through the high desert. Kayaking on the Green River. Hiking to the falls on White Mountain. Riding the second largest moving Sand Dunes. The only question is how long should you stay in Sweetwater County to fit it all in? TourWyoming.com

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