Route Overview
The definitive Yellowstone experience covering all major areas: Lower Loop geysers, Grand Canyon, Lamar Valley wildlife, and the scenic northern reaches. Expert-paced for maximum discovery without exhaustion.
Itinerary
West Entrance
Enter at West Yellowstone. Get park map and check geyser prediction times.
Gas up in West Yellowstone - park gas stations are expensive.
Norris Geyser Basin
Norris Geyser Basin is one of the hottest and most acidic of Yellowstone’s hydrothermal areas. It is part of one of the world’s largest active volcanoes. Many hot springs and fumaroles here have temperatures above the boiling point (200ºF / 93ºC).
Yellowstone's hottest and most dynamic geyser basin. Walk both Porcelain and Back Basin loops (2+ miles total).
Steamboat Geyser is the world's tallest - erupts unpredictably. Check if Echinus is due to erupt.
Mammoth Hot Springs
Unique travertine terraces created by limestone-depositing hot springs. Walk the upper and lower terraces.
Terraces change constantly - some may be dry while new ones form. Elk often graze on the lawns here.
Mammoth Hotel Dining Room
Historic dining room with classic American fare. Also has a general store and grill for quicker options.
Try the bison burger - locally sourced.
Tower Fall
132-foot waterfall framed by volcanic pinnacles. Short walk to overlook.
The trail to the base may be closed - check conditions. Great view from the overlook regardless.
Lamar Valley Evening Wildlife
America's Serengeti. Prime habitat for wolves, grizzly bears, bison herds, and pronghorn. Evening is optimal.
Bring binoculars and spotting scope. Join a wildlife guide or look for crowds with scopes - they've spotted something. Wolf activity peaks at dawn and dusk.
Grand Canyon of Yellowstone - Sunrise
Look out across the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone or take in the beauty of the Yellowstone River and its waterfalls.
Sunrise at Artist Point paints the canyon in golden light. Walk to various viewpoints along the South Rim.
Arrive 30 min before sunrise. The canyon glows as light hits the yellow walls.
Uncle Tom's Trail
328 steel steps descending into the canyon for a close-up view of Lower Falls. Strenuous but spectacular.
Take your time on the climb back up. Early morning means fewer people on the stairs.
Hayden Valley
Morning wildlife viewing. Bison herds often graze here, and grizzlies hunt in the meadows.
Pull over safely. Never approach wildlife - use binoculars.
Mud Volcano
A loop trail leads you by turbulent pools of hot, muddy water; hillsides strewn with trees cooked by steam; strange odors; and a bizarre landscape—welcome to the Mud Volcano area.
Boardwalk loop through bubbling mudpots and fumaroles. Dragon's Mouth Spring roars and steams.
Strong sulfur smell - normal! Great introduction to volcanic activity.
Fishing Bridge & Yellowstone Lake
Hike to a high mountain meadow for a commanding view of the West Thumb of Yellowstone Lake and the distant Absaroka Mountains.
Lunch at Fishing Bridge General Store. Walk the bridge and enjoy views of North America's largest high-elevation lake.
No fishing from the bridge anymore (cutthroat trout protection). Watch for cutthroat spawning in spring.
West Thumb Geyser Basin
Stroll through a geyser basin of colorful hot springs and dormant lakeshore geysers situated on the scenic shores of Yellowstone Lake.
Hot springs and geysers on the shore of Yellowstone Lake. Unique lakeside thermal features.
Quick but beautiful stop. Fishing Cone is a famous hot spring in the lake shallows.
Old Faithful Area Deep Dive
Explore beyond Old Faithful. Walk the Upper Geyser Basin boardwalks to Morning Glory Pool (3 miles RT). Catch multiple geyser eruptions.
Get eruption predictions at visitor center for Castle, Grand, and Daisy geysers. Grand Geyser is spectacular if you can time it.
Midway Geyser Basin Sunset
Walk the boardwalk at sunset when crowds thin. Grand Prismatic from ground level with dramatic evening steam.
Less crowded than midday. Steam creates ethereal atmosphere at sunset.
Grand Prismatic Overlook
Hike to the overlook for the iconic aerial view. Morning light with less steam obstruction.
The overlook trail starts from Fairy Falls parking. Arrive early for parking.
Biscuit Basin
Smaller, quieter geyser basin with beautiful pools. Sapphire Pool is a stunning blue.
Less crowded than Old Faithful area. Also trailhead for Mystic Falls hike.
Black Sand Basin
Small basin with colorful pools including Emerald Pool and Sunset Lake.
Quick stop with easy boardwalk. Rainbow Pool often has beautiful colors.
Firehole River Swimming Area
One of the only places you can swim in Yellowstone! River warmed by hot springs.
Open summer only. Bring towel and swimsuit. Check current conditions - sometimes closed.
Gibbon Falls
Beautiful 84-foot waterfall right off the road. Easy pullout stop.
Quick photo stop. Best light in morning or late afternoon.
Final Wildlife Loop
One more pass through Lamar Valley for afternoon wildlife. Different animals active than morning.
Bears often forage in afternoon. Bison herds may have moved to new grazing areas.
Creates a copy you can customize
3
Days
20
Stops
moderate
Difficulty
Best Season
Late May through September. September offers best wildlife and fewer crowds.
Tags