35 Best Things to Do in Yellowstone National Park

There’s so much to see and do in Yellowstone that it’s hard to know where to even begin! Not to worry, I’ve put together all the best things to do in Yellowstone National Park to help you plan the perfect vacation.

With over 2 million acres of unspoiled wilderness, it’s no surprise that Yellowstone National Park draws millions of visitors each year. But with so much to see and do, where do you start?

From geyser basins to scenic drives, waterfall hikes to unique stops, I’ve compiled a list of the best things to do in Yellowstone National Park. While it’s not a complete list of all the amazing things you can find in Yellowstone, it’s enough to get you started.

Yellowstone’s Best Geyser Basins

Geysers and hydrothermal features are what Yellowstone National Park is known for, so get ready for geysers galore! Here are the major geyser basins you won’t want to miss in your Yellowstone itinerary.

1. Old Faithful

Old Faithful is Yellowstone’s most iconic geyser. True to its name, Old Faithful erupts approximately every 90 minutes, making it one of the most predictable geysers in the park. Each eruption lasts about five minutes, with water reaching impressive heights of 106 to 180 feet.

You can watch the eruption at the designated viewing area on the boardwalk for an up-close experience. Expect a big crowd as people come from around the world to see Old Faithful erupt. You’ll want to arrive 20-30 minutes before the predicted time in order to get a good seat.

2. Grand Prismatic Spring

The Grand Prismatic Spring is Yellowstone’s incredible rainbow hot spring. At 370 feet across and 121 feet deep, this is the largest hot spring in the park. Its vibrant rainbow colors are created by thermophile bacteria that thrive in the extreme heat. This kaleidoscope of blues, greens, yellows, and oranges makes it one of Yellowstone’s most photographed attractions.

You can get up close to Grand Prismatic Spring at the Midway Geyser Basin Trail. This trail is usually very steamy, which is a lot of fun to walk through but can also obscure the colors of the spring. For the best view, you’ll want to head to the Grand Prismatic Spring Overlook on the Fairy Falls Trail to see the hot spring from above in all its glory.

3. Upper Geyser Basin Trail

The Upper Geyser Basin Trail is home to the above-mentioned Old Faithful, as well as the largest concentration of geysers in the world. With about 4.5 miles of boardwalks and trails, this area has an array of geothermal activity, from geysers to hot springs.

There are some predictable geysers (though they aren’t as reliable as Old Faithful) like Daisy, Grand, Castle, and Riverside geysers. You can also see the colorful hues of Morning Glory Pool and uniquely shaped structures like Grotto Geyser.

4. Mammoth Hot Springs

Mammoth Hot Springs is unlike anything else in Yellowstone. With its stepped terraces and cascading ridges resembling frozen waterfalls, this limestone formation stands out in shades of white, brown, and gold. The area is fed by around 50 hot springs, which continuously reshape the terraces with mineral deposits.

The area is split into the Lower Terraces and Upper Terraces. The Lower Terraces are accessed by boardwalks and stairs, and while the climb can be steep in places, the payoff is worth it. Stairs connect the Lower to the Upper Terraces, but you can also drive to the Upper Terraces to access them without a climb.

5. Norris Geyser Basin Trail

The Norris Geyser Basin is Yellowstone’s oldest and hottest geothermal area, where waters can reach over 450°F. This basin is home to Steamboat Geyser, the tallest geyser in the world, capable of 400-foot eruptions. It’s irregular and unpredictable, but minor eruptions of 10 to 15 feet are more common right now while the geyser is in a bit of an active period.

This geyser basin has two distinct landscapes: the Porcelain Basin, a stark and otherworldly expanse of barren land; and the Back Basin, with geothermal features are surrounded by a pine forest. You’ll find Steamboat Geyser in the Back Basin.

6. West Thumb Geyser Basin Trail

The West Thumb Geyser Basin Trail is a unique geothermal area along the shores of Yellowstone Lake. This short and easy trail has geysers, hot springs, and bubbling mud pots, with some thermal features even within the lake itself.

Here you’ll find Abyss Pool, the park’s deepest hydrothermal pool, and interesting formations like the Fishing Cone, whose steam was once used to cook fish.

7. Mud Volcano Trail

Mud Volcano is Yellowstone’s most pungent and acidic geothermal area. It’s a short walk through bubbling, steaming, and gurgling formations. While the sulfurous smell isn’t pleasant, this trail gives you a good look the park’s most volatile side.

The Mud Volcano itself churns with thick, bubbling mud. Sour Lake has water that’s like battery acid and has a poisonous green hue. And Dragon’s Mouth Spring growls and steams like a dragon about to emerge from its cave.

8. Firehole Lake Drive

Firehole Lake Drive takes you through the Lower Geyser Basin. This is an easy 3-mile one-way drive with multiple pull-offs for viewing geysers and hot springs.

Here you’ll find the predictable Great Fountain Geyser, known for its eruptions of up to 100 feet, and the cone-shaped White Dome Geyser. The namesake Firehole Lake is a large hot spring with a colony of thermophiles that create its unusual reddish-brown color.

9. Fountain Paint Pot Trail

The Fountain Paint Pot Trail is a short boardwalk loop in the Lower Geyser Basin. The trail’s namesake, the Fountain Paint Pot, showcases bubbling mud in shades of pink and gray. Along the trail, Clepsydra Geyser emits near-constant steam and splashes, with a huge plume of steam that you can see from all across the basin.

You’ll also find Fountain Geyser, which erupts sporadically but will last for 20 minutes or more. Many of the geysers in the area seem to be linked to Fountain Geyser, so if you catch it erupting, you’re likely to see others erupting before and after it.

Scenic Drives and Wildlife Spotting

Yellowstone is known for its incredible wildlife. You’ll have opportunity to see animals like bison, bears, and elk all throughout the park, but these scenic drives are well known for being the best places to find view wildlife.

10. Hayden Valley

Hayden Valley is one of the best places in Yellowstone National Park to spot wildlife. These grasslands serve as a gathering spot for bison, elk, coyotes, and even grizzly bears. Various roadside pullouts and lookout points provide excellent vantage points for observing wildlife from a safe distance.

Dawn and dusk are the prime times to catch wildlife activity, especially grizzly bears. As you drive along at all times of the day, be prepared for bison-jams as bison do occasionally wander across the roads. You can also just drive until you see a lot of cars, because where there are cars pulled over, there are sure to be animals. Drive slowly and keep an eye out for both wildlife and people.

11. Lamar Valley

Lamar Valley is often called “America’s Serengeti” for its incredible abundance of wildlife. Driving through this valley, you can often see bison, elk, pronghorn antelope, coyotes, grizzly bears, and wolves.

Like Hayden Valley, dawn and dusk are the best times to see wildlife in action, particularly bears and wolves. Be prepared for bison-jams and watch for other cars pulled to the side of the road to know where a good viewing spot is. Bring along some binoculars so you can view animals from a safe distance.

Waterfalls and Scenic Overlooks

Yellowstone has views for days! There are so many beautiful scenic overlooks and stunning waterfall hikes. Add these stops into your Yellowstone road trip as you drive through the national park (plus, these help to break up the monotony of looking at geysers all day long).

12. Moose Falls

Moose Falls is just inside the South Entrance to Yellowstone. This is a short and easy hike that takes you to a 30-foot waterfall. When the waterfall was discovered, moose were plentiful in this part of the park, hence the name — Moose Falls.

13. Fairy Falls Trail to the Grand Prismatic Spring Overlook

The hike on the Fairy Falls Trail to the Grand Prismatic Spring Overlook is easy at first with a moderate incline toward the overlook. But the payoff is an incredible view of the Grand Prismatic Spring that really lets you admire the expansiveness of the hot spring and its rainbow of colors.

14. Gibbon Falls

Gibbon Falls is a cascading 84-foot waterfall over. It’s an easy walk on a paved path from the parking lot, and most people will stop at the main viewing area; go a little further down the trail for a clearer view of the waterfall rushing over the caldera rim, surrounded by a tree-lined canyon.

15. Firehole Falls

Firehole Falls is a rushing 40-foot waterfall that you can access from the one-way Firehole Canyon Drive. The pull-off area can be crowded, so drive slowly and watch for people. Then watch for cars as you view the waterfall from the road.

16-21. Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone River

The Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone River is breathtaking, carved over thousands of years by the Yellowstone River. Stretching about 20 miles long, the canyon ranges from 1,500 to 4,000 feet wide and plunges 800 to 1,200 feet deep. Its walls display stunning hues of yellow, red, and orange, with occasional steam rising from hydrothermal vents within the canyon.

There are several stops and viewing points along both the South Rim and North Rim where you can see the canyon’s two waterfalls, hike trails, and get the full scope of the canyon. Below are some scenic stops you won’t want to miss:

Artist Point

Artist Point is a short walk on a paved path to get the best view of the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone. You’ll be able to see the 308-foot Lower Falls and the rushing Yellowstone River carving its way through the canyon. This view is located on the South Rim.

Upper Falls View

Upper Falls View gives you a look at the 109-foot Upper Falls from a short walk on a paved path. This view is located on the South Rim.

Brink of the Upper Falls

The Brink of the Upper Falls is a walk on a short paved trail that takes you to an overlook right at where the waterfall crests the canyon. This view is located on the North Rim.

Lookout Point

Lookout Point is an easy walk on a short paved path that gives you another great view of the canyon and the Lower Falls. This view is located on the North Rim.

Grand View

Grand View is an overlook on a short paved path with panoramic views of the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone. This view is located on the North Rim.

Inspiration Point

Inspiration Point is another panoramic view on a short paved path. There are a few different levels of overlooks here so you can get different angles. This view is located on the North Rim.

22. Washburn Hot Springs Overlook

The Washburn Hot Springs Overlook is a great pull-off along the Grand Loop north of Canyon Village. From here, you can see the Yellowstone Caldera, the supervolcano that forms Yellowstone National Park that’s responsible for all the hydrothermal activity.

23. Tower Fall

Tower Fall is a 132-foot waterfall that flows between these towering rock column formations that give the falls its name. It’s just a short walk on a paved trail from the Tower General Store to the Tower Fall Overlook.

24. Undine Falls

Undine Falls is a beautiful 60-foot waterfall flowing over a series of three drops along Lava Creek. The overlook for this waterfall is just off of the parking area.

Unique Stops

Here are some more unique stops and fun things to do in Yellowstone that you won’t want to miss.

25. Stay at the Old Faithful Inn

The Old Faithful Inn is the best place to stay within Yellowstone National Park. It’s a historic hotel that opened in 1904 and was built with local logs and stone from inside the park. Its towering 76-foot ceiling is absolutely iconic (Disney’s Wilderness Lodge was modeled after this hotel), and there’s no more authentic place to stay than this.

If you get an Old House room, you’ll be in the hotel’s original rooms (they have shared bathrooms, so you can see what it was like to stay in the park at the turn of the century). If you get a room in one of the wings (built in 1919 and 1927), you’ll be in a more traditional hotel room.

Read my review of staying at the Old Faithful Inn here.

26. Tour the Old Faithful Inn

Even if you can’t stay at the Old Faithful Inn, you can still visit and tour it. They offer free guided tours throughout the day. You’ll learn about the history of the inn and see inside on of the Old House rooms.

Tours last about 45 minutes, and you get to see the lobby, the front entrance, a historic guest room, and the second floor mezzanine overlooking the lobby and the dining room.

27. Continental Divide at Isla Lake

The Continental Divide separates which rivers flow into the Pacific Ocean and which flow into the Atlantic Ocean.

What’s interesting about the Continental Divide at Isla Lake is that Isla Lake straddles the divide. So water from the lake actually flows from the divide in both directions.

28. Star-Gazing

Yellowstone National Park is the perfect place to go star-gazing! There’s no light pollution, so you get incredibly clear skies where you can actually see the Milky Way with just your eyes. Binoculars can also help sharpen the focus.

I recommend heading to the Old Faithful boardwalk. Even this close to the lodges, the light doesn’t take away from the stars. Plus, here you can see the geysers steaming in the night, and it’s pretty cool.

Whether you stay close to the lodges or go out away from it all, be sure to bring along a flashlight and keep an eye out for animals.

29. Glacial Boulder

You’ll pass the Glacial Boulder on your way to and from Inspiration Point on the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone North Rim.

This huge granite boulder was scooped up by a glacier in the Beartooth Mountains 15 miles away and deposited here 80,000 years ago. These out-of-place boulders are called erratics.

30. Canyon Village

Canyon Village is just north of the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone. You’ll find a small museum, a lodge, a general store and gift shop, and a few different eateries.

The Canyon Visitor Education Center will teach you all about the geologic history of the area, the Yellowstone volcano, and its geysers and hot springs. There are interactive exhibits, a room-sized map of Yellowstone, and a 20-minute film.

31. Petrified Tree

The Petrified Tree was created millions of years ago when Yellowstone’s ancient volcanos erupted and buried this forest in ash and water. This petrified the tree before it could rot, leaving a perfectly preserved tree trunk.

32. Roosevelt Arch

The Roosevelt Arch is a historic landmark that once marked the north entrance to Yellowstone National Park in Gardiner, Montana. The arch served as the entrance from 1903 and was named after President Theodore Roosevelt, who laid the cornerstone.

Though it’s no longer an official entrance, you can can still drive or walk through the arch.

33. Fort Yellowstone

Fort Yellowstone at Mammoth is where the US army stayed when they managed Yellowstone National Park in the 1890s and early 1900s. The fort’s historic buildings now serve as housing for National Park Service employees.

The Albright Visitor Center & Museum, located in a historic building that was once bachelor officers’ quarters, has exhibits on Yellowstone’s history, wildlife, and geothermal features. Visit the museum and then take a self-guided tour of the historic buildings.

34. Yellowstone Tribal Heritage Center

The Yellowstone Tribal Heritage Center at Old Faithful Village is a museum that honors and shares the cultural heritage of the Native American tribes historically connected to the Yellowstone region.

The center has exhibits, storytelling, and interactive programs led by tribal members. You can learn about the traditions, history, and ongoing relationship that Indigenous tribes have with the park.

35. Use the Tinggly Once in a Lifetime box to find top experiences in Yellowstone

Treat yourself to an unforgettable adventure in Yellowstone with the Tinggly Once in a Lifetime box. Use code PaigeMTG for 22% off all gift boxes!

Tinggly boxes are essentially gift vouchers for experiences all around the world. But you can give yourself the gift of adventure, too. Especially because Tinggly has some Yellowstone experiences you can’t find anywhere else!

With the Once in a Lifetime box, you can treat yourself to unique Yellowstone experiences like a Yellowstone Lake Sunset Paddle or a Glass Top / Convertible Van Tour.

Get yourself the Once in a Lifetime box here, or check out other Yellowstone experiences from Tinggly here.

Where to Stay in Yellowstone National Park

Want to stay inside Yellowstone National Park? It’s the best place to stay when visiting! There are 9 lodges inside the park:

• Where We Stayed: Old Faithful Inn
• Old Faithful Snow Lodge & Cabins
• Old Faithful Lodge Cabins
• Canyon Lodge & Cabins
• Lake Lodge Cabins
• Lake Yellowstone Hotel & Cabins
• Grant Village
• Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel & Cabin
• Roosevelt Lodge Cabins

Yellowstone also has 12 campgrounds that you can reserve in advance.

More Wyoming Travel Tips

Plan your Wyoming vacation with these other helpful articles:

• Perfect 7 Day Yellowstone & Grand Teton Itinerary
• Old Faithful Inn Review: Is It Worth It?
• 19 Best Things to Do in Grand Teton National Park
• Rustic Inn Creekside Resort & Spa Review: Jackson Hole Hotel

Cheers!

Paige

What are your favorite things to do in Yellowstone National Park? Let me know in the comments!