Yellowstone National Park (USA)

Yellowstone National Park is located in the United States and is recognised as the world’s first national park. It was established by the 42nd United States Congress through the Yellowstone National Park Protection Act and was officially enacted by President Ulysses S. Grant on 1 March 1872. Yellowstone is situated at the junction of the US states of Wyoming, Montana and Idaho. While the majority of the park (96%) lies within Wyoming, 3% extends into Montana and 1% into Idaho. Yellowstone National Park covers a total area of 3,468.4 square miles (8,983 km²), comprising lakes, canyons, rivers and mountain ranges. This park, which covers a vast area, takes its name from the Yellowstone River, the largest river in the region. Although it is widely believed that the river’s name derives from the yellow rocks visible in the Yellowstone Grand Canyon, the origin of the name given to the region by the Indigenous peoples remains unclear. Although Native Americans have lived in this region for at least 11,000 years, organised exploration of the area had not yet begun until the late 1860s, apart from visits by mountain men. Today, this magnificent park, brimming with natural beauty, is one of the world’s most fascinating and most visited destinations.

Sixty-two per cent of the world’s hot springs are located in the Yellowstone region, and approximately 10,000 of these are geysers. The most popular geyser is Old Faithful. It ranks among the world’s most significant geysers. It erupts its extremely hot water and steam into the air approximately every 1 to 1.5 hours. The park is renowned for its natural scenery, featuring geysers, fumaroles, mud pots and hot springs. In addition to Old Faithful, it is home to Steamboat Geyser, the world’s largest active hot-water geyser. Grand Prismatic Spring, the largest hot spring in Yellowstone National Park and the third largest in the world, is situated in the Central Basin.

The national park is largely situated within the caldera of the Yellowstone volcano, which formed between 640,000 and 70,000 years ago, above a magma chamber more than 8 kilometres deep. The park’s highest point is Eagle Peak at 3,462 metres. The plateau’s most famous mountain is Mount Washburn, standing at 3,122 metres. Part of the Yellowstone Plateau is Lake Yellowstone, North America’s largest mountain lake. Lake Yellowstone is one of North America’s largest high-altitude lakes and lies at the centre of the Yellowstone Caldera, the continent’s largest supervolcano. The park’s highest waterfall is the 94-metre Lower Falls. The Upper Falls, meanwhile, flow through the Yellowstone Grand Canyon.

The park is renowned not only for its geothermal features but also for its wildlife, including bison, grizzly bears and wolves. Yellowstone National Park is the largest and most famous megafauna site in the United States. It is home to hundreds of species of mammals, birds, fish and reptiles. The Yellowstone bison herd is the oldest and largest publicly accessible bison herd in the United States. Unfortunately, most wildlife incidents involve bison. As bison are wild animals, it is advisable to keep a safe distance. Black bears, which became accustomed to tourists and began eating rubbish and human food in the 1970s, are now successfully kept away from campsites and picnic areas thanks to educational leaflets and a ban on feeding wildlife.

Forests cover 80% of the park’s area. A wide variety of plant species are found throughout the park, and some species are found nowhere else in the world except within the national park. As hot springs affect the park’s vegetation, direct contact with the silicate-rich warm water is destructive for most plants. It is prohibited to kill any animals in the park. Trees, minerals and natural rarities must not be damaged. To this day, one of the National Park Service’s duties has been to strike a balance between visitor satisfaction and the protection of nature.

In Yellowstone, visitors can enjoy a variety of activities such as hiking, camping, boating and fishing. Paved roads provide safe access to the main geothermal areas, some lakes and waterfalls. During the winter months, visitors can reach the park via guided tours, typically using snowmobiles or snowmobiles. The number of motorised snow vehicles in the park is limited, and driving without a recognised guide is prohibited. Hikers have access to approximately 2,000 kilometres of marked walking trails spread throughout the park. There are also numerous campsites within the park. The towns are linked by the Grand Loop Road network, which forms a large figure-of-eight. Depending on the season and snow conditions, some roads and towns within the park may be closed for safety reasons. Sudden changes in weather can be expected throughout the year. In summer, daytime temperatures of 25 °C–30 °C are common in the lowlands. Even in summer, nights are cool. In the mountains, temperatures can drop below freezing. In winter, daytime temperatures typically range from -20 °C to -5 °C.

Throughout the park, you can observe wildlife in an unspoilt ecosystem, explore geothermal areas that host approximately half of the world’s active geysers, and see geological wonders such as the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone River. To fully enjoy all these magical moments, you must strictly adhere to all recommended safety precautions. It is advisable to maintain a safe distance to avoid burns from hot water. Do not approach bears or wolves within 100 yards (91 m), or other wildlife within 25 yards (23 m), and do not surround them. Always maintain a safe distance. Unfortunately, many visitors who fail to follow these rules are injured by wildlife.

Yellowstone offers a variety of accommodation options to suit different needs (nine lodges, including hotels and cabins, with over 2,000 rooms). All are open from late spring through to autumn. The Old Faithful Snow Lodge, however, is open during the winter months. As most of the park’s campsites are booked in advance and fill up quickly, it is advisable to make reservations early.

Although an entry pass is required to enter Yellowstone National Park, there is no need to book a vehicle in advance. If you wish to save time, you can purchase an entry pass before you arrive. However, it is also possible to buy a pass at any entry station upon arrival. When Yellowstone National Park is open seasonally, the park entrances remain open at night. This allows visitors to enter and exit the park 24/7. Road conditions can change rapidly due to weather and certain restrictions may apply. You should therefore check road conditions before arriving. For a comfortable and safe journey, it is recommended that you take part in activities in groups. Be sure to visit the park’s official website to ensure you have all the necessary documents and equipment with you before your visit!

Just a few of the amazing activities you can enjoy in Yellowstone National Park:

• Enjoying the unique hydrothermal and geological features of nature
• Visiting the Albright Visitor Centre, the Canyon Visitor Education Centre, the Fisherman’s Bridge Visitor Centre, the Grant Visitor Centre and the Madison Information Station
• Go for a nature walk
• Go horse riding
• Go skiing
• Riding a snowmobile or snow bike
• Camping and sleeping under the stars
• Fishing (Fishing is permitted throughout the park, but only without nets.)
• Watching the fish from Fisherman’s Bridge
• Going on a boat trip
• Going on a bike ride
• Joining guided tours
• Have a picnic (Yellowstone offers a range of picnic areas throughout the park.) 
• Hiking to Natural Bridge
• Photography
• Observing wildlife in Hayden Valley
• Viewing wildlife in Hayden and Pelican Valleys
• Visiting Yellowstone Lake
• Enjoying the magnificent views of the Yellowstone River
• A walk through the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone River
• Exploring the Mammoth Hot Springs Terraces
• Marvel at the extraordinary rainbow colours of the Grand Prismatic Spring
• A visit to historic Yellowstone Castle
• Watching the Old Faithful Geyser
• Observing wildlife in Lamar Valley
• Watching the flow of Tower Falls (Tower Falls can be viewed from a vantage point a short walk from the Tower General Store.)
• Exploring the West Thumb Geyser Basin
• Taking a stroll through Norris Geyser Basin