Yellowstone National Park for newbies. Tips, tiPs & tipS

Yellowstone National Park located mostly in Wyoming, but spreads into parts of Montana and Idaho, is a nearly 3,500 square mile wilderness recreation area. Popular attractions such as its hot spots, geysers, and supervolcano are what make Yellowstone unique. Yellowstone is a must-see national park as it is America's first national park, and offers incredible scenery at any location throughout the park. 

When traveling to Yellowstone National Park it is recommended to fly to Jackson Hole Airport (JAC), the cheapest option to fly from both East & West Coast. But, the closest airport is Yellowstone Regional Airport (COD) located in Cody, Wyoming which is 55 miles outside of the east entrance into Yellowstone. There is no public transportation to Yellowstone or around Yellowstone. The closest train station is the Amtrak, located in Salt Lake City, Utah. Several companies offer 5-day tours of the park that start in Salt Lake City and provide all the transportation and accommodations. Renting a car is essential as it would be impossible to explore some of the sights without a vehicle. There are 5 entrances to Yellowstone National Park. The north entrance is located in Gardiner, Montana, the northeast entrance is located in Cooke City, Montana, the south entrance is located in Jackson, Wyoming, the east entrance is located in Cody, Wyoming, and finally, the west entrance is located in West Yellowstone, Montana. During the winter months, only the north entrance is open year-round. 

Yellowstone offers camping accommodations for visitors. The park has 12 campgrounds with 2,000 established spots. All campsites must be reserved in advance with the exclusion of Mammoth Campground which has a first come first serve basis site from October 15th - April 1st. It is recommended to make your campsite reservations far in advance. Fishing Bridge RV Park is the only campsite allowing RV’s. Tents or tent campers are not allowed in the Fishing Bridge campsite because bears frequent the area. 

Yellowstone offers lodging for those who are not interested in camping. There are nine hotel and lodge-style places for visitors to stay with 2,000 rooms. All lodges are open from late spring through fall. With Old Faithful Snow open in the Winter. Some lodges are close to popular attractions in the park like Old Faithful and Towerfalls. Be sure to check out b0arding.com for other ideas on where to stay for your trip to Yellowstone National Park.

There are quite a few must-see sites in Yellowstone. Old Faithful geyser is the park's most recognizable site. Old Faithful Geyser is located in the southwest section of the park. The geyser erupts 20 times a day, with the average time between eruptions being about 90-127 minutes. The eruptions can last a little over a minute or five minutes. The eruptions have reached over 130-140 feet and have once reached heights over 180 feet. The water is also known to reach temperatures as high as 203 degrees Fahrenheit. Mammoth Hot Springs is the main attraction in the Mammoth District. This thermal feature is different from the other thermal features located in the park. This attraction is open year-round and is very popular amongst Yellowstone visitors. Yellowstone Lake is a popular destination in the park and is the largest freshwater lake, about 7,000 feet in North America. Yellowstone also has numerous hiking trails. Mt. Washburn trail, trail starts from Dunraven Pass on an old road and then switches back to the top of Mt. Washburn. The North Rim Trail follows the north rim of the Grand Canyon. The trail begins at the north side of Chittenden Bridge and follows the river downstream along an old road.  

During your trip to Yellowstone, there is a great chance you will encounter some unique wildlife. Bison are very popular and native to the park. Yellowstone is home to the largest wild bison herd in the United States. The herds can often be seen grazing in the meadows or wandering along the roads. Elk will likely be seen around areas such as the Mammoth Hot Springs and the northern range. Grizzly bears and black bears are also commonly seen in Yellowstone. The bears usually hang out in areas such as Lamar Valley and Hayden Valley. Wolves are also seen frequently due to the conservative efforts enforced by the park to protect them. Many other unique species call Yellowstone their home, which makes it an excellent place for animal and wildlife lovers to visit. 

Yellowstone offers a great mix of activities to pique the interest of all members you're traveling with. The park offers guided ski tours of Mammoth and snowshoe tours in the winter months. If you like to stay away from the snow, Yellowstone offers snow-coach transportation tours where you can see popular attractions and stay warm. In the warmer months, the park offers bicycle rentals to visitors who want to cruise around and explore the park. Yellowstone's most popular tour is the Circle of Fire Tour, which highlights most of the park's famous attractions, such as Old Faithful Geyser, Yellowstone Lake, and Hayden Valley. Exploring Yellowstone on the water is another great option. Boat rentals and tours are available. As well as guided fishing boat tours of Yellowstone Lake. Those wanting the whole Yellowstone experience should check out their Wild West tours. Visitors can horseback ride along popular trails. Or sit in a stagecoach and energize your pioneer spirit. There are activities for everyone in Yellowstone. 

Navigating national parks can feel overwhelming. Especially a park like Yellowstone, which has so many amazing attractions to see. Here are a few insider tips to make your time at Yellowstone enjoyable. See Old Faithful Geyser in the early morning or the evening. Almost everyone visiting Yellowstone has Old Faithful on their list of things to see. Beat the crowds of tourists by getting up early and going or waiting till the evening hours for a less crowded experience. Another tip involving time of day is visiting Yellowstone Lake in the afternoon. Since visitors often head to see Old Faithful, spend this time exploring Yellowstone Lake for a calmer experience. About 98% of Yellowstone cannot be seen from the road. Insiders recommend getting out of your vehicle and walking around to see and explore your surroundings. Even if this means walking half a mile from your vehicle, you are still seeing things you would not be able to see while in the car. Wildlife is everywhere in Yellowstone, but there are certain times of day when more animals can be seen. Getting up early or heading to Hayden Valley late at night gives you the best chance to see some incredible species living in Yellowstone. If you find yourself at Yellowstone in the winter months, check out Lamar Valley. Lamar Valley is known to be one of the best places to watch wolves. 

If you want to avoid the crowds, the best months to visit Yellowstone are April, September, and October. These are the “off” season months and will provide you with better opportunities to see wildlife and experience fewer crowds. Peak season in Yellowstone starts around the end of April and will run to about mid-September. May, June, July, and August draw the biggest crowds. Despite when you are traveling to Yellowstone, here are some tips for navigating a less crowded experience. Arriving early will give you the best shot at seeing all the landmarks you want. Peak travel times for people arriving at the park are mid-morning and afternoon. Choose the hidden and less-known spots to visit. Yellowstone offers hundreds of geysers and natural landmarks. Choose a few that are less well-known to see for a more private experience. 

It's essential to be prepared for your trip to Yellowstone. Here are some things to consider packing. Binoculars can help see wildlife without getting too close. It's important to stay cautious of your surroundings while in Yellowstone, as you may encounter some dangerous animals. Keeping bear spray on you is a great way to keep yourself and the others you are traveling with safe at all times. Bug spray is also important to keep away annoying bugs and insects. Bringing camera whether it be on your smartphone or tablet you are going to want to capture your experiences at the beautiful Yellowstone Park. And lastly, a pair of comfortable hiking or tennis shoes is necessary. To truly experience Yellowstone, you must get outside and explore. Having the right pair of shoes will make your experience more enjoyable. 

Yellowstone is a must-see national park and has something to offer for everyone of all ages. The beautiful scenery and amazing wildlife are just a glimpse into what makes Yellowstone so amazing. Yellowstone is the perfect destination for your next family vacation. Whenever you decide to visit Yellowstone make sure to remember these helpful tips to make your trip amazing!