For the outdoor lover, Yellowstone National Park is the ultimate destination. Spanning about 3,500 square miles, this wilderness hot spot is on well, an actual volcanic hot spot. Yet, its spewing geysers are only one unique feature. From canyons, rivers, to forests aplenty, Yellowstone hosts hundreds of animal species, including its famous bears and wolves.
Read on to find out some favorite spots and activities to make your time at Yellowstone unforgettable.
Yellowstone has five entrances, so depending on where you go in and in what order, you enjoy the sights. Let us say then that you enter through the South entrance, you can head west and hit up Old Faithful. Known for its predictable eruptions, Old Faithful is a great stop to fill your water bottles, grab a bite to eat, or even stay at the lodge. Always an option to take the loop to the east and end at Old Faithful at sunset and bunker down in accommodations there.
Next stop: Grand Prismatic Spring, the largest hot spring in the US of A, where, with a short hike, you can enjoy a hilltop view looking down or stop a bit further and walk out to see it at eye level. The many colors produced by the heat-loving bacteria will leave you in awe. With all of the driving, it's important to get out and enjoy the trees, so continue on to a sweet hike at Harlequin Lake trail. If you can’t get enough of geysers, carry on and stop at the Norris Geyser Basin.
If hiking is your thing, then Yellowstone is your place. Try Mount Washburn, Fairy Lake, and Grizzly Lake. Stop in Hayden Valley to stretch your legs and spot some animals, although chances are high there will be an elk or bison crossing along the way. The Grand Canyon of Yellowstone is another great stop with food, water, and bathroom options. Explore Mud Volcano, aptly named for its bubbly mud pots. Famous for the Mud Cauldron, you can hike around, but you may want to hold your nose.
It will be hard to miss Yellowstone Lake, an expansive and gorgeous body of water that is known for its cutthroat trout. A fun Yellowstone activity is to kayak the lake, but make sure you book in advance. Maybe pop into one of the restaurants there to dine with some great Yellowstone sights.
