Explore the natural wonders among the mountains, waterfalls and wildlife of Yellowstone National Park. This 890,308-hectare (2.2 million-acre) wilderness was officially protected in 1872 to preserve its rugged natural beauty.
Although the area hasn’t seen an eruption for 640,000 years, volcanic activity constantly bubbles beneath and on the surface in the form of mud pools, steam vents and geysers. Walk the boardwalks at Mammoth Hot Springs and witness the beauty of these hydrothermal events.
Hike on the paths around Old Faithful, the park’s most famous geyser. This well-known crowd-pleaser spurts water and gas high into the air about 17 times a day, with intervals between eruptions ranging from 1 to 2 hours. You can time your visit using the predicted eruption timetable posted at the Old Faithful Visitor Centre. This particular geyser lies in the Upper Grey Basin, a 2.5-square-kilometre (1-square-mile) natural geological attraction that features about 150 other geysers.
Explore some of Yellowstone’s 1,770 kilometres (1,100 miles) of hiking trails. There are graded paths for easier walks and steeper, more challenging hikes. Try one of many popular walks such as the Geyser Hill Loop and day hikes around the canyon. Send your own echo into Yellowstone’s breathtaking canyon, which extends 32 kilometres (20 miles) long and drops 305 metres (1,000 feet) deep in some parts.
You’ll need experience to hike the Observation Peak trail. This strenuous path rises 425 metres (1,400 feet) in 4.8 kilometres (3 miles). At the top of the mountain peak hikers are treated to a bird’s-eye views of Old Faithful Village and its scenic surroundings.
Yellowstone National Park is open every day, year-round. Each of its five entrances provide access to the main Grand Loop Road that connects many of the park’s main attractions. In the cold winter months, there may be some road closures due to heavy snowfall.
See the Yellowstone page on the U.S. National Park Service’s official website for details on camping, attractions and advice for navigating the park safely.
