Yellowstone — the world’s first national park — has almost 3,500 square miles to discover — more than the states of Rhode Island and Delaware combined! It’s a world of wonder full of geysers, rivers, waterfalls, forests, and wildlife in different ecosystems.
My Posts on Yellowstone National Park
I’ve broken down my posts into the eight different touristic districts of the park:
- Canyon Village and the Grand Canyon
- Fishing Bridge, Lake, and Bridge Bay
- Madison and the West
- Mammoth Hot Springs and the North
- Norris Geyser Basin
- Old Faithful (including the Upper Geyser Basin)
- Tower-Roosevelt and the Northeast
- West Thumb, Grant, and the South
Overview of Yellowstone National Park
Yellowstone National Park is one of our planet’s most fascinating natural areas. A UNESCO World Heritage site since 1978, it covers over 2.2 million acres and has endless opportunities for recreational activities. Yellowstone is also the world’s oldest national park.
One of the most popular parks in the United States, Yellowstone boasts over 1,100 miles (1,800 kilometers) of mapped trails. It encompasses the Yellowstone Caldera, which is the largest volcanic system in North America, and contains over half the world’s geysers, including the famous Old Faithful.The park is 63 miles (101 kilometers) north to south, and 54 miles (87 kilometers) west to east.
Over 69,000 species of trees and plants are native to Yellowstone. Considered the finest wildlife habitat in the lower 48 states, it’s home to nearly 60 species of mammals — including bison, elk, grizzly bears, black bears, cougars, and wolves — and over 300 species of birds have been reported. In addition, 18 species of fish and seven species of reptiles live there. As for its human history, around 1,000 archaeological sites have been discovered.
History of Yellowstone National Park
Native Americans began to fish and hunt in the region at least 11,000 years ago. The Bannock, Shoshone, Nez Perce, Blackfeet, Crow, Salish, and Kootenai all continued to visit until the 1870s, and a few had treaty rights to hunt there until 1889.
During the winter of 1807–1808, mountain man John Colter (c. 1770/1775–1812 or 1813) passed through a portion of what’s now Yellowstone National Park. He later described it as a place of “fire and brimstone”. Reports from other mountain men over the next 40 years told of boiling mud, steaming rivers, and petrified trees, but many were dismissed as myths. Even accounts by trapper Jim Bridger (1804–1881), who explored in 1856, were largely ignored. Only acting Montana Territorial Governor Thomas Francis Meagher (1823–1867) took them seriously, when in October 1865 he urged the region be properly explored and documented.
It wasn’t until 1869, when the privately-funded Cook–Folsom–Peterson Expedition passed through, did people begin to understand the accounts were true. This inspired the Washburn–Langford–Doane Expedition in 1870, after which one of its members — Montana lawyer Cornelius Hedges — proposed the region should be set aside and protected as a “national park”.
Geologist Ferdinand Vandeveer Hayden (1829–1887) led the government-sponsored Hayden Geological Survey of 1871. His comprehensive report, including photographs by William Henry Jackson (1843–1942) and paintings by Thomas Moran (1837–1926), convinced Congress to protect the region from public auction. President Ulysses S. Grant, Vice President Schuyler Colfax (1823–1885), and Speaker of the House James G. Blaine (1830–1893) signed The Act of Dedication, creating Yellowstone National Park, on March 1, 1872:
AN ACT to set apart a certain tract of land lying near the headwaters of the Yellowstone River as a public park. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the tract of land in the Territories of Montana and Wyoming … is hereby reserved and withdrawn from settlement, occupancy, or sale under the laws of the United States, and dedicated and set apart as a public park or pleasuring ground for the benefit and enjoyment of the people; and all persons who shall locate, or settle upon, or occupy the same or any part thereof, except as hereinafter provided, shall be considered trespassers and removed there from …
Approved March 1, 1872.
Signed by:
- ULYSSES S. GRANT, President of the United States.
- SCHUYLER COLFAX, Vice-President of the United States and President of the Senate.
- JAMES G. BLAINE, Speaker of the House.
Early Years of the Park
Nathan P. Langford (1832–1911), who later became known as National Park Langford, became the first superintendent of Yellowstone National Park. Denied a salary, funding, and staff, this left the land vulnerable to exploitation. Locals also feared the economy would be unable to thrive, and many advocated for the reduction of park boundaries to allow for mining, hunting, and logging.
Langford resigned in 1877, and Philetus Norris (1821–1885) volunteered for the superintendent position. In June 1878, Congress implemented a salary and provided minimal funds for the park’s operation. Norris used them to improve access, building simple roads and facilities. In 1880, he also appointed Harry Yount (1839–1924) as the first national park ranger, with the aim of controlling poaching and vandalism. Norris also built a fort in 1879 to prevent Native Americans from entering the park. He was dismissed from his post in 1882 for political maneuvering.
Uncontrolled poaching and vandalism continued until 1886, when the U.S. Army built Camp Sheridan — later renamed Fort Yellowstone — at Mammoth Hot Springs. The Army oversaw the park until October 31, 1918, when it was turned over to the newly-formed National Park Service, created in 1916.
Park visitation greatly increased in 1883, when Northern Pacific Railroad built a train station in Livingston, Montana, to connect with the northern entrance. The line was extended to Gardiner Station in 1902, where passengers switched to stagecoach. A Chicago, Burlington & Quincy line opened via Cody in 1901, and Union Pacific opened a connection to West Yellowstone in 1908.
Administration Under the National Park Service
Automobiles were first allowed to enter the park in 1915, but roads were still primitive and more suitable for horses. Between 1933 and 1942, the Civilian Conservation Corps built the trails, campgrounds, visitor centers, and the current road system. They also participated in reforestation and fire hazard reduction.
With greatly increased visitation in the 1950s, many facilities were modernized. Regular train service ceased by the 1960s due to the popularity of car travel. Management of the park’s elk population was recommended in 1963.
Wildfires during the summer of 1988 were the worst in Yellowstone’s history, impacting 36% of its land. This led to a re-evaluation of fire management policies.
Planning Your Trip to Yellowstone National Park
We spent a mere three days at Yellowstone. All of us agreed that we could have spent many, many more and it still wouldn’t have been enough.
Here’s some essential information to help you plan your trip. Check the official website for more info:
Entrance Fees to Yellowstone National Park
The entrance fee to Yellowstone varies depending on your mode of transportation. Prices are current as of January 2026:
- For private vehicles, it’s $35.
- For motorcycles, $30 admits up to two motorcycles with up to four total passengers.
- For visitors entering on bicycle or on foot, it’s $20 for adults and free for kids under 16.
- Non-US residents age 16+ must pay an additional $100 per-person fee IN ADDITION to the standard entrance fee, unless entering with a non-resident annual pass.
- Holders of any interagency pass are covered for one vehicle, up to two motorcycles, or up to four per-person fees.
Entrance fees are good for seven days. The park is open year-round, but roads are closed to wheeled vehicles from early November through late April. Also expect limited services during the winter.
Yellowstone has five entrances. I entered the park at the East Entrance from Cody and exited at the South Entrance on my way to Grand Teton National Park. The North Entrance is in Gardiner, Montana; the West Entrance is in West Yellowstone, Montana; and the Northeast Entrance is outside Cooke City, Montana.
Visitor Centers at Yellowstone National Park
There are ten visitor centers, information stations, and museums throughout the park. All are closed during the winter except the three noted below:
- The Albright Visitor Center, at Mammoth Hot Springs, has exhibits on the wildlife and history of Yellowstone. You can buy a fishing permit, shop for souvenirs, and join a ranger-led program. It’s open year-round.
- The Canyon Visitor Education Center explores the geology of the area, including the Yellowstone supervolcano. You can watch a 20-minute film, shop for souvenirs, and buy a fishing permit. It operates as a warming hut in the winter.
- The Fishing Bridge Visitor Center and Trailside Museum highlights the ecology of Yellowstone Lake, focusing on birds. You can buy a fishing permit and shop for souvenirs.
- At the Grant Visitor Center, you can learn about the important role of fires, join a ranger-led program, shop for souvenirs and buy a fishing, boating, or backcountry permit.
- At the Madison Information Station, you can buy a fishing permit, join a ranger-led program, and shop for souvenirs.
- The Museum of the National Park Ranger celebrates the history of park rangers and features a selection of videos about the park. It’s staffed by volunteer retired rangers.
- The Norris Geyser Basin Museum features exhibits on geothermal activity.
- The Old Faithful Visitor Education Center, open year-round, contains exhibits on the park’s nature and offers views of the geyser. You can shop for souvenirs, watch one of the short films, and join a ranger-led program.
- At the West Thumb Information Station, you can join a ranger-led program or go souvenir shopping.
- You’ll find a National Park Service desk at the West Yellowstone Visitor Information Center where you can get park information and buy backcountry and fishing permits. It’s open year-round.
Lodges at Yellowstone National Park
Yellowstone National Park Lodges operates nine lodges throughout the park, with over 2,000 hotel- and cabin-style rooms available. They feature restaurants, cafeterias, and fast food stands. My advice is to book early as they tend to sell out months in advance. All are open from late spring through fall, unless otherwise noted below:
- Canyon Lodge and Cabins contains more than 400 rooms spread across five hotel-style lodges and rustic accommodation in over 100 cabins. Dining options include a food hall at Canyon Eatery, the Falls Café, the Ice Creamery, and the Washburn Lookout. There’s also a gift shop.
- Grant Village consists of six hotel-style lodges with 300 rooms. The complex features two restaurants — Grant Village Lake House Restaurant and Grant Village Dining Room — as well as a lounge and general store.
- Lake Yellowstone Hotel and Cabins is an elegant lodge with 194 hotel rooms and 110 cabins. Dining options include the Lake Hotel Dining Room and Lake Hotel Deli.
- Lake Lodge Cabins features 186 cabins with private bathrooms. You can dine at Wylie’s Canteen.
- Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel and Cabins has a total of 211 hotel rooms and cabins. Dining options include the Mammoth Hotel Dining Room, the Terrace Grill, and the Map Room Bar.
- The Old Faithful Inn is a rustic lodge with hotel rooms. You can grab a bite at the Old Faithful Dining Room or the Bear Paw Deli.
- Old Faithful Lodge features about 100 cabins with and without bathrooms as well as the Old Faithful Lodge Cafeteria and Bake Shop.
- The Old Faithful Snow Lodge and Cabins is a large lodge with a total of 134 hotel rooms and cabins. You can eat at the Obsidian Dining Room or Geyser Grill.
- Roosevelt Lodge Cabins features a cluster of cabins and the Roosevelt Lodge Dining Room & Saloon.
Camping at Yellowstone National Park
Yellowstone features 11 developed campgrounds. They’re typically open late spring through early fall, but Mammoth Campground is open year-round. Nightly fees are current as of April 2025:
- Bridge Bay Campground, near Yellowstone Lake, is the largest campground in the park with 432 sites. They cost $33 with a vehicle or $10 for hikers and cyclists.
- Canyon Campground, with 273 sites, lies in a pine forest at Canyon Village. It’s $39 with a vehicle or $10 for hikers and cyclists.
- Fishing Bridge RV Park is the only campground offering water, sewer, and electrical hookups. Because of frequent grizzly bear activity in the area, no tents are allowed. It features 310 sites at $89.
- Grant Village Campground features 430 sites at $39 with a vehicle or $10 for hikers and cyclists.
- Indian Creek Campground, about 8 miles south of Mammoth Hot Springs, costs $20. The 70 sites sit away from the main road, offering a quieter experience.
- Lewis Lake Campground, about 8 miles from the south entrance, has 85 sites at $20.
- Madison Campground, about halfway between the town of West Yellowstone and Old Faithful, features 276 sites at $33 with a vehicle or $10 for hikers and cyclists.
- Mammoth Campground has 85 sites at $25. It’s reservation-only from early April to mid-October and first-come, first-served from mid-October to late March.
- Pebble Creek Campground features 27 sites near the northeast entrance. They cost $20. (Note: Pebble Creek has been closed since sustaining flood damage in 2022 and will remain closed for the foreseeable future.)
- Slough Creek Campground is the smallest in the park with 16 sites. They cost $20.
- Tower Fall Campground has 31 sites at $20.
Reservations are required for all campgrounds. Book early if possible — some campgrounds are fully booked months in advance.
Grant Village Campground
We chose to stay at Grant Village Campground, which is centrally located. We were able to book a site a week before our visit in the middle of September. The rate included two showers per night. Bear boxes are provided and rangers suggested we either use them or keep everything in the car.
Our site was spacious and near the bathrooms. There was plenty of room to spread out and relax, and we had a picnic table with enough space to cook our meals. The only negative — the site was exposed and very windy, and we returned to a collapsed tent two nights in a row. Thankfully, there were no leaks on the day it rained heavily.
Services at Yellowstone
In the developed areas, you’ll be able to find all kinds of visitor services:
- Gas stations and varying levels of auto repair are located at Grant Village, Fishing Bridge, Canyon Village, Tower/Roosevelt, Mammoth Hot Springs, and two at Old Faithful.
- General stores are also located in the areas listed above.
Keep in mind cell phone service is limited throughout the park. You’ll get the best coverage near developed areas and entrances.
Services at Grant Village
Grant Village has several different services available, including restaurants and auto repair.
- We visited the restaurants when the weather wasn’t cooperating for our camp cookouts. Both provided very good meals at reasonable prices. We needed reservations for the Grant Village Dining Room, where I had a steak and salad. The Lake House was on a walk-in basis — I had a build-your-own pasta bowl. We grabbed breakfast at the Grant Village General Store on the morning we left the park.
- The auto repair shop at Grant Village was able to remove a hunk of metal from another car that somehow got attached to the bottom of my car. Although we showed up just a few minutes after closing, the mechanic agreed to help us out and didn’t charge for the work. It was a very nice gesture and it saved us a lot of time and hassle.
Activities at Yellowstone
Fishing, backcountry hiking and camping, cross-country skiing, snowmobiling, and boating are just a few of the recreational activities possible at Yellowstone National Park. Check the official website for more information and a schedule of ranger-guided programs.
Safety Advice for Yellowstone
Here are some essential safety rules to follow during your visit:
Wildlife Safety
Many potentially dangerous animals live in the park.
- Respect animals by keeping your distance. Never approach, follow, or feed wildlife.
- Park rangers take bear and wolf safety very seriously. Stay at least 100 yards (91 meters) away from these animals.
Although we didn’t personally see any bears, we heard about an incident from a few visitors during our stay: a crowd had gathered near a bear and rangers had to get physical to move people back to a safe distance — one man tried to get closer for photos and got into a fistfight with a ranger.
- Bison, elk, deer, and other large animals can also pose a threat. It’s best to keep a safe distance from these animals as well — at least 25 yards (23 meters). We saw a few geniuses get out of a car to take selfies with a bison along the road — not smart!
Hiking Safety
- Check weather and trail conditions before heading out.
- Bear spray is recommended for hikes. You can find it at any park store.
- Hike in groups and make noise.
- Stay on the trails and take your garbage back with you.
Thermal Area Safety
- Stay on boardwalks and marked trails — the ground can have boiling water just underneath the surface.
- Never touch hot springs or runoff.
Road Safety
- Obey speed limits and watch out for animals on the road.
- Only use pullouts for viewing wildlife — never stop in the middle of the road.