10 Must See Sights in Yellowstone National Park

With over 3,500 square miles to cover, it is hard to see it all in Yellowstone. I even found the process of planning our trip and sorting through all the options a bit stressful. Everyone has heard of Old Faithful, but did you know there is a Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone?  What about that in addition to Old Faithful there are 500 active geysers, 290 waterfalls and 10,000 thermal features? Feeling overwhelmed yet? I decided to share what we learned about what you must see in Yellowstone to make your planning a little easier.

10 Things you Must See in Yellowstone

So here are my suggestions on the what you must do in Yellowstone:

1 – West Thumb Geyser Basin — this is one of my favorite areas in Yellowstone. It isn’t as crowded as some of the other geyser basins and it is combined with gorgeous views of Yellowstone Lake. The Abyss Pool may only be 53 feet deep, but it does seem like it could go on forever. I also found the Fishing Cone pretty fascinating — as it is a place where early visitors used to fish in the lake and then cook the fish in the hot water of the hot spring.

2 – Artist Point — you can either drive and park or walk along the South Rim Trail along the Yellowstone River to get to Artist Point. From here, you can look up the Canyon to see beautiful views of Lower Falls.

3 – Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone — the view from Artist Point is beautiful but for better views of the 20 mile long Canyon and the Upper Falls, try a hike along the South Rim Trail or the slightly more precarious North Rim Trail. You can also do Uncle Tom’s Trail, but be prepared for stairs! (My friend Bryanna from Crazy Family Adventure has some advice about this trail.)

4 – Hayden Valley — Hayden Valley between Canyon Village and Fishing Bridge is the prime area for bison viewing and you may also spot eagles, bears, and even coyotes or wolves. You will want to also check out my post about where to find wildlife in Yellowstone.

5 – Tower Fall — in the Tower-Roosevelt area, the 132-foot Tower Fall is definitely worth a stop.

6 – Mammoth Hot Springs — the travertine terraces in Mammoth Hot Springs are beautiful and unique and really worth a visit. But you should also hang out in town in the evening when the elk come to graze.

7 – Roosevelt Arch — if you are staying up by Mammoth Hot Springs, it is really worth a drive up to the North Entrance to see the historic Roosevelt Arch. This is the first major entrance to the park and you can just imagine the horse-drawn carriages that used to pass under the famously-inscribed words “For the benefit and enjoyment of the people.”

8 – Grand Prismatic Spring — one of the most photographed spots in the park, Grand Prismatic Spring in the Midway Geyser Basin is worth the hype…but it is also really crowded so be prepared (and be sure to check out my Yellowstone tips.)

9 – Old Faithful — another crowded spot but still a must do in Yellowstone. Old Faithful erupts every 51 to 120 minutes and shoots up about 106 to 180 feet, lasting 1.5 to 5 minutes. Afterwards, check out the historic Old Faithful Inn.

10 – Norris Geyser Basin — you will get your fill of geothermal features including small geysers (unless you get lucky with a major eruption at Steamboat Geyser), hot springs and mudpots. Just don’t plan on visiting more than one geyser basin in a day as it can get very repetitive.

Do you have any sights you must see in Yellowstone?

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