Yellowstone National Park - With a Local's Insight

When to Visit

Visiting Yellowstone National Park is wonderful year round. Below are the advantages of visiting during each of the seasons.

Spring 

Early spring is a great time to visit the park because the wildlife is very active, and there are many baby animals.

Summer

The summer is the most popular time to visit because all of the roads are open and so are  the attractions and restaurants. However, this also means more people will be visiting, and that the costs will be higher.

Fall

The fall is also very nice because the weather can be warm and beautiful and the crowds have diminished. This is one of my most favorite times to visit!

Winter

The winter is the most unique time to experience the park. Many of the roads are closed to cars, but you can still explore on skis and snowmobiles. It feels like you have the park to yourself. 

Top Attractions

Grand Prismatic Spring

@amandasmith

The largest hot spring in Yellowstone is a must visit. Go early in the morning or late in the evening. This is one of the most popular places in the park, and the parking area is too small. Another option, and one I would recommend, is to go to the viewpoint from up above Grand Prismatic. You can get there by hiking a short distance on the Fairy Falls trail.

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Old Faithful

@amandasmith

Old Faithful is a geyser you should visit at least once. It can be very crowded, but you can’t come to Yellowstone without seeing it erupt at least one time. Going early or later is best because it is one of the most popular spots in Yellowstone. Did you just miss the eruption? Explore the area surrounding Old Faithful. There are a multitude of trails and other smaller, less faithful geysers and pools to explore.

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Lamar Valley

@amandasmith

Lamar Valley is the best place to watch for animals, especially wolves and bison! Come at dawn or dusk. This is when the animals are most active! Bring binoculars to get a closer view. It is always important to keep a safe distance from the animals. They are still wild! If you want to see wolves, look for wolf watchers. These wolf enthusiasts will congregate with their lawn chairs and spotting scopes in places with wolf activity.

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Hayden Valley

@amandasmith

A great valley to visit if you are looking to spot animals, especially grizzly bears in the spring and early summer. The road to Hayden Valley is only open early May to November 1st. Be sure to check the National Park website for up-to-date road conditions.

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Mammoth Hot Springs

@amandasmith

Mammoth Hot Springs is a very unique area of Yellowstone National Park. The village area is like a little town where the primary residents are elk, hotel guests, and park employees. 😄 The Mammoth Hot Spring terraces don’t take long to explore, but are worth a trip up to the North of Yellowstone to see them.

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Yellowstone Lake

@amandasmith

Yellowstone Lake is beautiful. Its grandeur with the backdrop of the mountains makes it a very enjoyable place to hang out or go boating.

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Family Friendly Activities

One great thing about Yellowstone is that every attraction is good for the whole family! (Besides maybe the long hikes, but that depends on the age of your kiddos!) Below are some bonus attractions that we think are perfect for young kids.

Upper Geyser Basin

@amandasmith

Upper Geyser Basin is a great place to explore with kids where you can see multiple geysers. The trails are flat or wooden walkways. Don’t miss out on Morning Glory Pool, the farthest pool from the parking lot. If it’s cool outside, walking through the Upper Geyser Basin is very nice because the thermal features warm the area up.

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Beartooth Highway

@amandasmith

Take the Beartooth Highway for 360-degree views in the summer. This pass is only open from mid-May to mid-October. There are multiple stops where the littles can run around while you take in the beauty around you. Winter weather can close the pass at any time. Check the Montana Department of Transportation website before planning a trip to the Beartooth Highway.

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Baby Animals at Blacktail Plateau

@amandasmith

Who doesn’t love seeing baby animals? Go to the Blacktail Plateau in the spring and check out all the baby bison. It’s like a North American safari. Another spot to see the babies is Lamar Valley!

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Biking in Yellowstone

Before the road opens to cars, there is a window of time in the spring and fall where you can bike on the roads. Check out the National Park's website for dates. 

Biking - Yellowstone National Park (U.S. National Park Service)

www.nps.gov

Junior Ranger Program

A great way for your kids to learn more about Yellowstone on their trip or before is to have them participate in the junior ranger program. You can view and download the booklet before arriving. After completion, the kids can get a Junior Ranger badge.

Become a Junior Ranger - Yellowstone National Park (U.S. National Park Service)

www.nps.gov

Top 5 Hikes

Mount Washburn

@amandasmith

Distance: 10.9 km / 6.8 mi Elevation gain: 425 m / 1395 ft Average time: 3 hours and 30 minutes This is a nice moderate hike. The best thing about this hike is the amazing views from the top. Plus, there’s a nice parking lot.

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Bunsen Peak

@amandasmith

Distance: 7.1 km / 4.4 mi Elevation gain: 391 m / 1282 ft Average time: 2 hours and 30 minutes This hike is a little steep at the top, but the views of the northern part of the park are worth it.

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Lone Star Geyser

@amandasmith

Distance: 8.5 km / 5.3 mi Elevation gain: 38.7 m / 127 ft Average time: 1 hour and 40 minutes This trail is great for hiking and relatively flat. It can also be biked most of the way. The geyser erupts on a regular basis, every three hours or so. It’s a great alternative if the crowds at Old Faithful are too much!

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Fairy Falls Trail

@amandasmith

Distance: 7.7 km / 4.8 mi Elevation gain: 51.8 m / 170 ft Average time: 1 hour and 35 minutes This is a beautiful hike to a 200-foot waterfall. Check out the viewpoint of Grand Prismatic along the way. Young kids can do this flat hike.

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Lamar River Trail

@amandasmith

Distance: 52.9 km / 32.9 mi Elevation gain: 1099 m / 3605 ft Average time: Depends on how far you go You’ll see lots of bison during this hike to the famous Lamar River. This trail is very long and you can hike for as long or as short as you would like. It is beautiful throughout!

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Places to Stay

Explorer Cabins at Yellowstone

@amandasmith

Best place for families to stay in West Yellowstone. Great locations, fire pit outside for cooking s'mores and a pool!

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ClubHouse Inn West Yellowstone

@amandasmith

Great location in West Yellowstone near the park entrance and the Grizzly and Wolf Discovery Center. Has a pool too which is always a hit with the kids!

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Dreamcatcher Tipi Hotel

@amandasmith

For a unique experience of staying in a tipi!

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Madison Campground

@amandasmith

It has a lot of summer shade and is right on the Madison River. It’s nice to walk down to the river, get your feet wet, do some fishing, and skip rocks. Madison is relatively close to West Yellowstone if you need food or want to go shopping.

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Old Faithful Inn

@amandasmith

If you want to stay in the park, staying at the Old Faithful Inn is the place to be. You can experience the geyser without the crowds and the Inn itself is beautiful and historic.

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Slough Creek Campground

@amandasmith

If you want something smaller and quieter.

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