Exploring Yellowstone National Park

Considering the immensity of this state-sized park, Yellowstone is remarkably easy to see by car. The Grand Loop Road, which circles the central plateau area, touches or comes very near to almost every major attraction. This road covers nearly 150 miles and with access roads to and from your entrance and exit points, plan on covering close to 250 total miles within the park itself. We recommend that you allow close to seven hours for travel time alone. You can’t go fast on these roads, and you’ll want to take in the scenery.

Mammoth Hot Springs

As the road is a complete loop it doesn’t matter which park entrance you use or where you start the tour. For purposes of this discussion, we will begin from the park headquarters at Mammoth Hot Springs. Mammoth Hot Springs features the administrative offices of the park and the Mammoth Visitor Center, which can provide information on the natural and human history of the park. There are six other visitor centers and/or museums in Yellowstone, all of which are noted as we follow this tour.

The main features of Mammoth Hot Springs are the multicolored terraces – limestone formations being acted upon by geothermal forces. The effect is both stunning and eerie. Easy walking is provided by way of boardwalks.

You can see everything worth seeing from the designated routes. Some of the major formations in the terrace area are the Liberty Cap, Devil’s Thumb, Cleopatra’s Terrace and Minerva Terrace. After you complete the trail, a short one-way auto loop covers the Upper or White Elephant Back Terrace. Allow at least an hour to visit the Mammoth Hot Springs area.

Obsidian Cliffs and Norris Geyser Basin

Proceeding south now on the Grand Loop Road past the glasslike Obsidian Cliffs, your next stop along this other-worldly journey is the Norris Geyser Basin. Just a few steps from the parking area is the Norris Museum, which explains the geology of the area. To the left of the museum is the Back Basin Trail. You will pass some 27 geysers and, unless you are very unlucky, one or more of them will be erupting during your visit. There are benches or logs to sit on at most of the larger geysers while you’re waiting.

Porcelain Basin Trail

Return to the museum and begin the boardwalk trail to the right of the building. This is the Porcelain Basin Trail and it contains many other beautiful examples of the more than 10,000 geysers in the park. But more important here are the exquisite colors seen on the ground. They are caused by algae growing in the warm water that combines with soft minerals on the surface. It looks as if a giant artist spilled his palette. Allow about 1½- 2 hours for the two basins and the museum, excluding any time you have to spend waiting for a geyser to put on its show.

Madison

Continuing our Grand Loop tour, the next stop is in Madison, where the Madison Explorers Museum has interesting exhibits on the park’s earliest visitors. You will then pass by the Firehole Falls and continue your drive next to the Firehole River before arriving at the Lower and Midway Geyser Basins. The key features here are the colorful paintpots and mud volcanoes, where strange gurgling sounds emanate from the earth and strong aromas as well. Both children and adults will delight in them all.

The Grand Prismatic Spring (Midway Basin) is exceptionally beautiful. Thirty to 45 minutes should be adequate for this area.

Old Faithful

Just a few miles farther ahead is Old Faithful Village. There is a major visitor center here and just outside the building is the best area for viewing eruptions of Old Faithful (which occur approximately every hour and last from two to five minutes). The next predicted eruption will be posted at the visitor center.

A trail in this area leads to the Giant Geyser (whose eruption schedule will also be on display). Allow one hour minimum for this trail.

About 15 miles past Old Faithful on the Grand Loop Road, you’ll reach the Rockefeller Parkway and your route goes to the north.

Yellowstone Lake

If you continue along the Grand Loop, however, you’ll now be riding along the edge of huge Yellowstone Lake. Just before getting to Lake Junction there is a short spur road leading to Natural Bridge, a 10-minute walk. It is worth the time to see this huge formation in its forested canyon. At Lake Village are magnificent views of the blue lake with mountain backdrops. There is another short trail that leads through more thermal areas. The lake provides an interesting backdrop to these features. A visitor center with information about the lake is also here. Allow 30 minutes for exploring the lake area.

Canyon Area

Sixteen miles north of Fishing Bridge Junction, the Grand Loop Road will bring you to the remarkable Canyon Area. A spur road leads along the south rim of the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone River. The spectacular coloring, especially the golden and yellowish hues of the rock, combined with the deepness of the canyon and the rushing waterfalls make this one of the most beautiful sights in all the world.

Just over the bridge that connects the two sides of the canyon is Canyon Village. After stopping at the Canyon Visitor Center, take the one-way road leading along the north rim. Red Rock, Lookout Point, Grand View Point and Inspiration Point are the must-see features here. From Lookout Point the views of the over 300-foot Lower Falls (twice as high as Niagara) and the 109-foot Upper Falls are fantastic. You’ve probably seen this famous view in many pictures, but there’s nothing quite like experiencing it firsthand. At least 1½ hours should be allowed for the Canyon Area.

Continuing north, the terrain becomes more mountainous as you pass Mount Washburn (10,324 feet). At Tower Junction, head westward for the final leg of the Grand Loop back to Mammoth Hot Springs. Although there are no unusual features along this stretch, the overall scenery is quite beautiful; this is especially true once Mammoth Hot Springs comes into view as the road descends.