Yellowstone FAQ

Yes, at several locations in the park, including at Mammoth, Old Faithful, Lake, Grant Village, Canyon, and Roosevelt. See the Lodging Page for more information.

Yes, there are 11 campgrounds in the park. See the Camping Page.

Yes, at several areas, including Mammoth, Old Faithful, Lake, Grant Village, and Canyon.

Yes, at Mammoth, Old Faithful, Grant, Fishing Bridge, Canyon, and Tower.

There are visitor centers at virtually every developed area in the park, including Mammoth, Old Faithful and Canyon.

There are two main seasons, the "summer" season, approximately late May to late October, and the winter season, mid December to late March. Late June through late August is the busy season when the large majority of the visitors come.

No. The North Entrance Road, the Mammoth to Tower section, and the Northeast Entrance Road are kept open all year. The rest of the park roads start closing in October and some do not reopen until May. During the winter season the closed roads are groomed and maintained for snowmobiles and snowcoaches.

An absolute minimum of three days to see the major scenic areas. One day for Mammoth and Tower, one for Canyon, Lake, and West Thumb, and a very full day for Old Faithful and Norris. A visit should ideally be at least one week long, and there is literally enough to see and do to occupy months, if not a lifetime.

Yellowstone is frequently referred to as the "American Serengetti" for good reason. Every native large mammal survives here today. This includes bison, elk, mule deer, wolves, coyotes, pronghorn, black bears, grizzly bears, moose, mountain lions, bighorn sheep, and mountain goats. Many of these are frequently seen from park roads. The park has a much smaller variety of reptiles and amphibians. Reptiles include the western rattlesnake and the painted turtle. There are four species of amphibians including the Boreal Chorus Frog. Over 300 species of birds have been sighted in the park. These include bald eagles and the extremely rare whooping crane. Other species include the common loon, harlequin duck, osprey, and peregrine falcon.

Over 1,700 species of plants are within the park. Lodgepole Pine covers over 80% of the forested area. Douglas Fir and Whitebark Pine are also present in smaller groves. Aspen and Willow are the most common non-conifers. There are a large variety of wildflowers, which typically bloom between May and September. One of the more unique forms of plant life common in Yellowstone are its many forms of bacteria and algae in the thermal areas. These variants, called thermophiles, thrive in warm to hot water, and are responsible for many of the colors seen in the thermal areas.

In 1871, Ferdinand Hayden lead a large, government sponsored expedition to Yellowstone. He made a detailed report on the area, which included photographs by William Henry Jackson and paintings by Thomas Moran. His report convinced Congress to remove this region from a public auction. On March 1, 1872, President Grant signed a bill that created Yellowstone National Park, the nation's and the world's first.

The short answer is the entire park. However, the Lamar Valley, along the Northeast Entrance Road, is especially good. Bison are common all over, but are particularly abundant in the Lake area. Elk are partial to Mammoth Hot Springs, including the developed area. Mountain goats are commonly seen on the cliffs along the Gardner River on the North Entrance Road.

It can be, or it can be extremely dangerous. You are traveling within an active volcanic system. It is very important to heed all National Park Service rules and regulations here. It is important to do this in all parks, but in Yellowstone failure to follow them can easily be fatal. The thermal areas in particular are very volatile and dangerous. Stay on boardwalks at all times. Wildlife is very unpredictable; visitors have been hurt or killed by everything ranging from bison to bears to elk. Stay well away and view from a distance.