Best Things to See in Yellowstone National Park

Thank you to President Ulysses S. Grant for signing the Yellowstone National Park Act which established Yellowstone as the very first national park in the United States. This national park opened back in 1872 and people have been thoroughly enjoying visiting there ever since. How large is Yellowstone National Park you ask? Keeping in mind that Yellowstone is 3,742 square miles, which makes it larger than Rhode Island and Delaware put together.  There are so many geological wonders within this gorgeous park. You can see them all as you participate in the numerous activities and adventures that take place at Yellowstone. However, you must plan your family vacation carefully or you won’t check off every item on your list. One thing I do know for sure, a vacation to and around Yellowstone will allow your family to disconnect from your busy lives and create memories that your family will talk about for years to come.

Best Things to See as You Explore Yellowstone National Park

1. Old Faithful

No one can possibly visit Yellowstone National Park and not spend time at Old Faithful. In fact, most visitors like yourself will make sure this is the first thing on their list of things to do, so they do not run out of time! Old Faithful is the most famous geyser inside the park that erupts about 20 times per day. While there is no steadfast schedule for the eruptions, most of the time, Old Faithful erupts every sixty-five to ninety-one minutes. The eruptions last between one and a half minutes and five minutes. There are plenty of viewing spots so don’t worry about not seeing it.

2. Grand Prismatic Spring

The largest hot spring in the country is the Grand Prismatic Spring. The middle of the hot spring is bright blue, but the rest of the water is a rainbow of colors. Those rainbow colors change day to day and are dependent on the temperature of the water. This water is too hot to relax in, so please do not try to take a dip during your visit.

3. Paint Pots

The Gibbon Geyser Basin is not as active as many of the other basins in Yellowstone. However, that doesn’t mean you won’t appreciate the Paint Pots that are located there. The Paint Pots are a group of more than fifty geysers, springs, vents, and mud pots. You can see many of the Paint Pots sites by walking on a trail that is slightly longer than a half-mile.

4. Grand Canyon of Yellowstone

Nothing can top the Grand Canyon out in Arizona, but the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone comes pretty close! This canyon is twenty miles long and is between eight hundred and twelve hundred feet deep. As for the width, it is between fifteen hundred and four thousand feet, depending on where you are looking. You must see this canyon from both the north and south sides if you truly want to appreciate the beauty. While you are visiting this area of the park, you must walk down the short pathway to the Lower Falls. The view of the rushing water from that spot is simply breathtaking.

These four things are not the only things you should add to your list when you are vacationing in Yellowstone. However, they are the four best things to see as you explore Yellowstone National Park.

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