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Yellowstone National Park, what to see: a guidebook for the most ancient National Park in the USA. Information and tips to better plan your tour. What to do, how many days to stay, where to sleep and eat. What to see around.
Yellowstone National Park, what to see: a guide to the oldest National Park in the USA
When John Colter, a member of the Lewis & Clark Expedition discovered the present Yellowstone in 1807, he could not believe his eyes.
Before him opened an enchanted scenery, until then undisputed kingdom of the Shoshoni Sheepeater Natives. Place of powerful and strong animals. Of jets of water and smoke that from the bowels of the Earth threw themselves towards the sky. Of lakes in shades of blue and orange, of waterfalls, lakes, mountains, valleys and canyons of a disarming beauty.
When he returned to the “civilization” and told what he had seen, he was not believed. Because it seemed impossible that such a land could really exist. But his reports intrigued other explorers and artists who took the same path, confirming once got back with detailed writings and paintings Colter’s words.
Yellowstone National Park, what to see: a guide to the oldest National Park in the USA
65 years later, on March 1st, 1872, President Ulysses Grant created the Yellowstone National Park. The first USA National Park, “to preserve and protect landscapes, cultural traditions, wildlife, geological and ecological systems, and processes in their natural condition for the benefit and enjoyment of the present and future generations”.
And it is exactly how it has come to us today, 152 years later!
To visit the park, keep in mind at least 2/3 full days will be needed. It is better with an overnight stay inside – see paragraph /where to sleep and eat/ – to optimize the long distances between one area and the other.
Admittance to the Yellowstone NP is included in the America the Beautiful Pass, of course. You can buy it at the entrance of any US national park and monument, it lasts one year, and it includes access to all the National Parks and Monuments, and costs $80.
Otherwise, the single rates for the Yellowstone are: $35 per car, $30 per motorbike and $20 each for pedestrians and cyclists.
Yellowstone National Park, what to see: a guide to the oldest National Park in the USA
To better plan your days at the Yellowstone National Park and other US National Parks and Monuments, you can download The Official NPS App.
It is a new official application of the National Park Service, in many parts can also be used off-line, with useful tools and practical tips in real time to explore more than 400 parks and areas. Inside you will find interactive maps, organized tours, trekking, information on accessibility on site, opening and closing roads, and much more.
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Always remember to keep a safe distance from the animals in the park, and not feed them at all, as indicated in the hundreds of signs throughout the park. That they are not there – as tourists wrongly believe – for beauty or to be photographed.
Don’t get too close to the pools, the geysers and hot springs. Do not park in areas where parking is not allowed and drive within speed limits. It is not uncommon for animals to cross the road or even rest on them.
These are necessary warnings for your personal safety and for the respect the local fauna and flora, of course.
Yellowstone National Park, what to see: a guide to the oldest National Park in the USA
Most of the roads in the park are closed to motorhomes from the beginning of November to the end of April, while they are exclusively open to snowmobiles and snow coaches from mid-December to mid-March. Always remember to visit the official website of the park concerning the practicability of the roads if you travel in Winter or in particular weather conditions.
Within the park telephone and internet coverage are considerably limited, especially for international mobile phones.
In this case, you can use Wi-Fi stations of the lodges and repeaters in Mammoth Hot Springs, West Yellowstone, Old Faithful, Grant Village, Lake Village and Mount Washburn. However, always consider that in Summer, due to the mass tourism, they tend to overload and go in blocks for hours.
Yellowstone National Park, what to see: a guide to the oldest National Park in the USA
We are talking about 9000 km2 of park, 5 entrances and 5 regions crossed by the 230km of the Grand Loop Road. All in 3 states.
94% of the park is located in the state of Wyoming, 3% in Montana and 1% in Idaho.
The Mammoth Country, identified as the spa area of the park, is located together with the Lamar Valley the northeast of the park.
The Roosevelt Country is estimated to have the highest concentration of Wapiti and Bison.
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The Canyon Country includes the Yellowstone Grand Canyon and the lower waterfall twice as high as the Niagara one.
The Lake Country is the area around Yellowstone Lake and the region, along with the Lamar Valley, with the greatest concentration of wild animals.
In the Geyser Country you will find the Old Faithful, one of the most famous geysers in the world, as well as numerous natural pools of sulfurous hot water, including the popular Grand Pragmatic Spring and Morning Glory. In this area is geologically located the original Caldera of Yellowstone.
My tip is to divide the days according to the different areas, evaluating loops, or concentric laps in the different regions, to optimize the time.
Don’t forget to consider – with more time available – also a guided hike in the Lamar Valley.
Personally, I consider this one of the bonus of the trip discovering the Yellowstone National Park. Especially if you want to explore some of the most remote prairies of the park to see the wild animals going there habitually. As always, all accompanied by expert guides, updated daily on the movement of the animals in the area.
Yellowstone National Park, what to see: guide to the oldest National Park in the USA
The Continental Divide runs through a trait the Yellowstone National Park.
What is it?
It is the continental watershed of the Americas dividing the water catchment area of the rivers ending in the Atlantic Ocean from that of the rivers ending in the Pacific Ocean.
You will find the sign celebrating its passage on the Hwy 89, near Yellowstone Spring Creek.
Yellowstone National Park, what to see: a guide to the oldest National Park in the USA
The Yellowstone National Park Lodges runs 9 lodges with over 2,000 rooms. All are open from late Spring to Fall.
Old Faithful Snow Lodge is also open in Winter. Be sure to book well in advance, as accommodations within the park quickly sell out. During my latest stay I stayed overnight at the Canyon Lodge and Cabins: find here the official website of the park, where you can choose and book your accommodation according to availability.
Remember that, adjoining to the main facilities, you will always find some refreshment stations for breakfast, lunch and dinner. In the major villages, minimarkets, gas pumps, car assistance and other services, too.
Yellowstone National Park, what to see: a guide to the oldest National Park in the USA
Do not forget to reserve a lunch/dinner in the Old Faithful Inn restaurant. An extremely suggestive and highly recommended experience!
Yellowstone National Park, what to see: a guide to the oldest National Park in the USA
Yellowstone National Park: what to see around, itineraries and road trips in the Great American West
Usually, the tour of the Yellowstone National Park is included in a wider road trip between Wyoming and part of Montana.
Having more days available then you can consider including also an itinerary discovering the Dakotas.
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For further information about the time of your tour, please visit the official website of National Park Service and The Great American West.
Experiences and article created in collaboration with Visit Wyoming, Yellowstone National Park and Great American West.
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