My husband and I spent 3 days exploring Yellowstone National Park in June 2021. We stayed in West Yellowstone in Montana since it’s the gateway to the park. From geysers and canyons to incredible wildlife, Yellowstone has it all. No wonder it was the world’s first national park! Here are our favorite things to do from our trip:
1. Grand Prismatic Spring
Why Visit:
The largest hot spring in the US, famous for its vivid rainbow colors.
Highlights:
- Boardwalk Loop → 0.8 miles (1.3 km) loop that takes you to the main viewing area.
- Grand Prismatic Overlook → 1.2 miles (1.9 km) round trip from the Fairy Falls Trailhead where you’ll get the famous aerial view.
2. Old Faithful & Upper Geyser Basin
Why Visit:
Old Faithful is the most famous geyser in the world, with powerful and predictable eruptions. It’s located in the Upper Geyser Basin, one of Yellowstone’s most concentrated geothermal areas with over 150 geysers!
Highlights:
- Watch Old Faithful erupt roughly every 90 minutes. Check the Old Faithful Visitor Education Center or the NPS website for the next predicted eruption time.
- Walk the Upper Geyser Basin Trail to see Morning Glory Pool, Castle Geyser, and Grotto Geyser.
- Visit Old Faithful Inn, built in 1904 and one of the largest log structures in the world. It’s also the most requested lodging facility in the park.
3. Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone
Why Visit:
Dramatic waterfalls, colorful canyon walls, and sweeping viewpoints make this area one of the park’s most stunning spots.
Highlights:
- Artist Point → the most famous and photographed view, with golden canyon walls framing the Lower Falls.
- Brink of the Lower Falls Trail: short but steep hike (0.8 miles / 1.3 km round trip, 600 ft / 183 m descent) to stand right beside the roaring edge.
- Upper Falls Viewpoint → panoramic view of the upper falls from across the canyon.
4. West Thumb Geyser Basin
Why Visit:
One of Yellowstone’s most peaceful thermal areas, right on the edge of Yellowstone Lake.
Highlights:
- Abyss Pool → deep, dark teal-blue hot spring that’s perfectly clear.
- Fishing Cone → a hot spring right on the lake’s edge. Early explorers once cooked their catch here by dipping fish straight into the boiling water (now prohibited).
5. Wildlife Watching
Why Visit:
Yellowstone is home to an incredible variety of animals, including bears, wolves, bison, elk, and antelope. Even in busy areas like Old Faithful, we saw plenty of bison and even a few bears right along the roadside!
Highlights:
- Hayden Valley → best known for huge bison herds.
- Lamar Valley → often called “America’s Serengeti” with wide open meadows and frequent predator-prey activity. Unfortunately this was a long drive and we didn’t see much when we went in the afternoon. I recommend going at dawn (5–8 a.m.) or dusk (7–9 p.m.) instead when animals are active.