The Yellowstone Experience - Iconic Locations

National Parks

May 31

By: Sarah Reish

While it may seem like these locations are no brainers, this issue of Live WYld would be incomplete if we left the iconic landmarks of Yellowstone out. Each of these spots are an integral part of the Yellowstone experience. From the thermal features to landscapes teaming with wildlife and the waterfalls nestled with the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone. Your trip to Yellowstone National Park would be anticlimactic if you missed these.

As mentioned before in this issue, plan on a minimum of two days in order to get the most out of your time here. Remember, Yellowstone is 3,471 square miles! It is not a small park and it takes time to not only travel through the park, but also you need to factor in the time it takes to stop and see all there is to see. So, let’s get to it.

Photo Provided By: Yellowstone National Park

Gate Towns

There are five ways to get into Yellowstone. Choose your preferred Gate Town. If you are not staying in the park then plan your trip accordingly. Factor in the drive times and ensure you plan an early morning or late evening if you want to spot wildlife when they are most active. Steve and I tend to divide the days between the lower and upper loops that way we cut down on driving and can enjoy a more organized trip with more time to spend exploring.

The East Gate is Cody, WY - you get to travel through Shoshone National Forest - the 1st National Forest to access this gate.

North East Gate is Cooke City, Mt - access via the Bear Tooth Mountains.
North Gate is Gardiner, Mt.
West Gate is West Yellowstone, ID.
South Gate is connected to Grand Teton National Park via the John D. Rockefeller Memorial Parkway.

Let’s dive into the iconic natural features that set this area of the country apart, enough for congress to get President Ulysses S. Grant to sign the Yellowstone National Park Act into law in 1872.

Photos Provided By: Yellowstone National Park

West Thumb

This is one of my favorite locations because of the thermal features and shades of blues and coppers. After parking you can hit the paved trail to the board walks. Please, please I beg of you, do not leave the boardwalk. While the ground looks stable it is merely a crust over top of a large thermal feature and can break away. Stick to the boardwalk and enjoy the approximately 30 minute walk along side of the lake and get an up close look at the amazing and stunning thermal pools.

Fun Fact: Abyss Pool was named in 1935 by Chief Park Naturalist C.M. Bauer.

Old Faithful

The thermal icon of Yellowstone and true to its name, Old Faithful stays on schedule allowing visitors the opportunity to see a geyser in action. While visitors often flock to see the show, I recommend slowing down. There really is no bad viewing location, Old Faithful has height allowing optimal viewing no matter where you are. Old Faithful is one of the six geysers that park rangers predict timing for and is also one of 500 geysers that can be found within Yellowstone.

Fun Fact: Old Faithful has a twitter page announcing eruption times, I think we all would be remiss in not following!

Grand Prismatic

If you are looking for a photographic location for your Instagram page, here it is. This is one spot I absolutely love, but do not stop to see as often as I like because it is quite popular. There are some amazing details about this thermal feature. It ranges in width from 200-330 feet and it is 120 feet deep. As the super hot water rises and cools it sinks back down to reheat. It is due to this natural circulation that it cannot become hot enough to erupt like a geyser.

Fun Fact: The amazing colors featured at Grand Prismatic are caused by microorganisms called thermophiles, which means heat lover. The colorless and yellow thermopiles love heat and the orange, brown and green thermophiles love cooler temperatures.

Norris Geyser Basin

This is the hottest thermal feature in Yellowstone and it has reached 459 degrees. It is also home the the tallest geyser in the world, Steamboat Geyser which reaches between 300-400 feet. One of the amazing thermal details of this area are that the waters are acidic. Monument Basin and Artists’ Paintpots are other thermal features in the area that you can explore!

Fun Fact: Norris Geyser Basin is named after the second superintendent of Yellowstone, Philetus W. Norris.

The Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone

This location features stunning canyons with even more stunning waterfalls. Lookout Point and Artists’ Point can be found here. Once you have parked there is a paved walkways and stairs to overlooks where you can view the canyon and the falls. Don’t forget your camera or phone so you can take photos, it is a great location for a family vacation photo. During runoff season (snowmelt) water flow can reach 63,500 gallons/second. The epic views of the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone are not to missed.

Fun Fact: There are over 45 named waterfalls inside Yellowstone with hundreds of unnamed waterfalls.

Mammoth Hot Springs

There are really no words to describe this natural thermal feature other than jaw dropping. Seeing photos does not prepare you for the massive size of the terrace like hot springs. The terrace is actually travertine which YNP describes, “Hot springs that rise up through limestone, dissolve the calcium carbonate, and deposit the calcite that makes the travertine terraces”. It is truly incredible to see nature in action. You can drive around this feature or park and take the boardwalk for a closer look.

Fun Fact: I mentioned that Old Faithful was one of 500 geysers, well Mammoth Hot Springs is one of more than 10,000 thermal features within Yellowstone.

Explore the Park!

Honestly, it is hard to choose what to see. If I had to pick only of couple of these locations I would have a seriously difficult time. I love Yellowstone National Park and I wish it a very happy birthday. Be sure to share you photos on social media and tag us @LiveWYldMag and use #LiveWYld. We will see you out there!

Yellowstone National Park

steve reish