Top 12 Things to Do in Yellowstone National Park

In 1869, the Cook-Folsom-Peterson Expedition rode into the Yellowstone region and returned with stories that sounded like they came from another planet. There were boiling springs, steaming ground, a rainbow of colors and mighty beasts grazing the landscapes. In fact, the things they’d seen felt so out-of-the-world that when Charles Cook tried to publish what they’d experienced, Lippincott’s Magazine sent it back with a polite brush-off: “Thank you but we do not print fiction.”

A century and a half later, Yellowstone still has that effect. If you’re planning a first trip to Wyoming, Yellowstone is one of the places you cannot miss. This list gives you a clear, no-regrets route through the park’s greatest hits, including geysers, canyons, waterfalls and wildlife sightings.

Quick tips before you go

• Give yourself time. Yellowstone is huge (over 2.2 million acres), and the drives add up fast. The speed limit inside the park is typically 45mph, making it difficult to do everything in one day. 
• Book a tour. To get the most out of your experience, consider booking a tour with a local expert who can share insights and observations you may miss on your own. 
• Stay on boardwalks in thermal areas. The ground can be thin, and the water can be dangerously hot.
• Wildlife has the right of way. Watch from a distance, never approach animals for a photo, and stay in your vehicle if you encounter a wildlife jam. You’ll find plenty of pullouts throughout Yellowstone where you can safely watch wildlife with your vehicle off the road, allowing other cars to pass safely. 
• Reservations are not required. To enter Yellowstone, all you need is a park entrance pass. Keep in mind that summer is busy, so pack your patience and be prepared for crowds at popular areas and lines at entrance stations, construction areas and roadside wildlife sightings.
• Check the status of park roads. Most park roads open to personal vehicles in mid-April and close in early November. Weather may cause temporary closures at any time, so check the status of park roads for more information, including potential traffic delays due to road improvement projects.

Now, the good part: the things to do in Yellowstone National Park that belong on every first-timer’s list.

The 12 best stops in Yellowstone

1. Grand Prismatic Spring

Where: Midway Geyser Basin
When to Visit: Go early for fewer crowds, or try the afternoon in summer for less steam and a better view of the colors

Bright, vibrant, and often steaming, Grand Prismatic is Yellowstone’s largest hot spring, and the biggest hydrothermal pool in the United States. With shifting bands of color caused by heat-loving microbes, it ranges from hot lava-like orange to a center of brilliant blue.

Good to Know: If you want a bird’s-eye view of the spring after walking its boardwalks, make your way up the Fairy Falls Trail to the Grand Prismatic Overlook. 

2. Upper Geyser Basin

Why Visit: Upper Geyser Basin is home to half of the world's geysers, including the most famous geyser on Earth
When to Visit: Early morning for breathing room, or late afternoon to stroll the boardwalks at a calmer pace. 

If you want geysers without having to hunt for them, start here. Spanning around 2 miles of the park’s landscape, the Upper Geyser Basin is home to over 250 geysers, making it one of the most extensive formations in the world. The boardwalks thread past steaming vents, bubbling pools and enough eruptions to keep you looking up. 

This is also where you’ll find the Morning Glory Pool, a famous hot spring in the park. 

Yellowstone Fact: Over the years, the water temperature in the pool has resulted in shifting hues in Morning Glory’s color. No matter the shade, however, Morning Glory is always worth a visit. 

3. Old Faithful Geyser

Where: Upper Geyser Basin
When to Visit: Old Faithful erupts approximately 20 times a day. Come in the early morning for fewer crowds, but you can be flexible.

Yes, it’s popular. Yes, it’s still worth it. While there are larger geysers to view in Yellowstone National Park, Old Faithful has considerable staying power, and it’s all thanks to its mysterious consistency. 

Old Faithful’s cascading hot waterfall erupts on a fairly regular schedule, for a period of up to 5 minutes every hour and a half to two hours. It’s one of the most reliable eruptions in the park, and the anticipation is half the fun.

Pro Move: Check the predicted eruption window when you arrive, then wander nearby until it’s close.

4. Old Faithful Inn

Where: Upper Geyser Basin
Why Visit: The world’s biggest log building features a breathtaking design matched only by its views of Old Faithful. 

Even if you don’t sleep here, step inside the Old Faithful Inn and explore a bit. The lobby feels like an old Western cathedral built from timber. It’s a good place to warm up and people-watch between geyser walks. If you’re hungry, stop by the Dining Room or the Bear Paw Deli. And if you want to toast to your day, grab a drink in the Bear Pit Lounge. 

Fun Fact: While some rooms have been updated to provide visitors with modern conveniences, others are delightfully rustic, allowing folks to stay as they did when the hotel was built in 1903.

5. Yellowstone Lake

Where: West Thumb, Bridge Bay, and Lake Village
When to Visit: Summer for fishing, fall for quieter views and a more relaxed pace 

Scaling the heights at Yellowstone National Park is part of the experience, and there’s one body of water that sits higher than you might expect: the beautiful Yellowstone Lake. With over 140 miles of shoreline, this exceptional lake spans about 20 miles in length and is the largest high-elevation lake in North America at nearly 8,000 feet above sea level.

Insider Tip: While the water is typically too cold for a dip, it is an excellent spot for a day of boating and fishing. In fact, Yellowstone Lake has the largest population of wild cutthroat trout in North America.

6. Grand Canyon of Yellowstone

Where: Canyon Village area
When to Visit: Morning or late afternoon for color in the canyon walls and softer light

Yellowstone’s geothermal side gets all the attention, but this canyon is the park’s showstopper in a different way. The Yellowstone River has carved its way through rock that’s been shaped by hydrothermal activity, which is why the walls look almost painted in places. Between the overlooks, trails, and the constant sound of water moving through the canyon, it’s the kind of stop that can run long (in a good way) as you feel the pull to check out one more viewpoint, and then another.

Insider Tip: You can access phenomenal viewing points easily from both North Rim Drive and South Rim Drive, and there are plenty of trails to hike throughout the Canyon.

7. Artist Point

Where: South Rim Drive (Grand Canyon of Yellowstone)
When to Visit: The view tends to look its best in late afternoon

Artist Point is the overlook people remember, even if they can’t remember the name. You get a wide, clean view into the canyon with the Lower Falls right in front of you, plus those mineral-stained walls that shift from yellow to rust depending on the light. 

Yellowstone Tip: Artist Point is a short walk from the South Rim Drive parking area, meaning it’s an easy addition to any itinerary, even on a packed day.

8. Lower Falls of the Yellowstone River

Where: Grand Canyon of Yellowstone
When to Visit: Mid-morning through late afternoon for visibility, or earlier if you want quieter viewpoints

You’ll hear the Lower Falls before you really see them. The river drops hard into the canyon and throws mist up into the air, which is part of the experience. This is the largest volume waterfall in the Rocky Mountains and the tallest in Yellowstone. If you’re choosing between viewpoints, Artist Point is the easy crowd-pleaser, but there are multiple angles on both sides of the canyon worth sampling.

Good to Know: When finding the right spot for watching the falls, you have several options depending on which side of the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone you’re on, including Inspiration Point, Grandview Point, and Lookout Point from the east and Artists Point from the west. If you want an up-close view, take one of the short trails down toward the overlooks — it’s a bit of effort, but the payoff is the roar and the mist.

9. Wildlife Watching in Lamar Valley

Where: Northeast Yellowstone (the Northern Range)
When to Visit: Early morning or evening for the best chances

If you’re looking for the fun things to do in Yellowstone National Park that don’t involve boardwalks and parking lots, go to Lamar. Lamar Valley feels like a different Yellowstone. It’s wide, open, and built for scanning. You’ll see cars pulled over in clusters, people on spotting scopes, and the occasional hush that means something’s happening out there. The cast changes by the day, but bison and elk are frequent, and Lamar is especially known for wolf watching. Bring binoculars (minimum), and don’t be shy about politely asking what others are looking at; most people are happy to share. No matter what you spot, wildlife viewing comes with real rules. We recommend staying 100 years away from bears and wolves and 25 yards from other animals.

Yellowstone Tip: Lamar Valley is an area where having a tour guide can make all the difference. They are very knowledgeable about when and where to find the best wildlife viewing spots. 

10. Mammoth Hot Springs

Where: Mammoth area (north end of the park)
When to Visit: Year-round

Mammoth doesn’t look like the rest of Yellowstone’s thermal areas. Instead of neon pools, you get chalky terraces and rippled formations made of travertine (limestone) that builds up as spring water releases carbon dioxide at the surface. The wild part is how fast it can change, sometimes noticeably within a day.

Good to Know: You can explore on boardwalks or take Upper Terrace Drive, a short one-way route that winds past several formations.

11. West Thumb Geyser Basin

Where: Along the edge of Yellowstone Lake (near the West Thumb area)
When to Visit: Morning for calmer water and clearer views across the lake

West Thumb is one of those stops that surprises people. The boardwalk keeps you close to the lake while also threading past steaming pools and geyser features — a cold, blue horizon on one side, geothermal heat on the other. Fishing Cone is the famous name here, mostly because people used to cook freshly caught fish in the vent (not allowed anymore, and for good reason).

Good to Know: This is an easy loop if your group has mixed energy levels, as it’s scenic without being strenuous.

12. Norris Geyser Basin

Where: Near Norris Junction (Grand Loop Road)
When to Visit: Earlier in the day if you want a quieter boardwalk experience

If you want unique things to do in Yellowstone, Norris feels a little wilder than the other basins, thanks to more steam, sharper smells, and an atmosphere that changes fast. It’s also the hottest, oldest, and most dynamic thermal area in Yellowstone, with recorded temperatures in a scientific drill hole reaching 459°F (237°C) below the surface.

This is also where you’ll find Steamboat Geyser, the world’s tallest active geyser. Its major eruptions are unpredictable, but even when it’s not in full show mode, the area is still worth a stop.

Yellowstone Tip: Stay on the boardwalks here. Norris is one of the most active basins in the park, and the ground off-trail can be unstable.

FAQ: Yellowstone trip planning

Plan Your Visit to Yellowstone National Park Today!

There’s no one way to do Yellowstone, only the version that fits your crew and your tolerance for early mornings. If you’re short on time, start with the Grand Prismatic area, the Upper Geyser Basin (yes, Old Faithful), and one big wildlife drive through Lamar Valley. If you’ve got a second day, add the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone and a thermal basin like Norris or Mammoth. Just remember to keep your expectations flexible. After all, wildlife and geysers don’t run on our schedules.

Request your free Vacation Guide and plan your Yellowstone National Park trip.