Yellowstone National Park
Yellowstone National Park is America's first national park. It was established in 1872. Yellowstone extends through Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho. The park's name is derived from the Yellowstone River, which runs through the park. It's unclear if the name first referred to the sulfurous yellow rocks below the falls of the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone River or to the sandstone bluffs that border its shores.
Within the massive park boundaries, you can find mountains, rivers, lakes, and some of the most concentrated geothermal activity in the world. The park has 60% of the world’s geysers as well as many hot springs and several mud pots. Perhaps the most famous feature of the park is the geyser Old Faithful.
You can also see the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone River, one of the world’s largest petrified forests, and countless waterfalls. The park is also home to diverse wildlife, including grizzly bears, wolves, bison, and elk.
Outdoor recreation is boundless in this iconic national park. Madison and Yellowstone River are stocked with brown and rainbow trout and mountain whitefish. The many bike trails include an abandoned railroad bed that winds along with the wild Yellowstone River. You can backcountry camp or hike on the extensive trail system throughout the entire park, or boat on Yellowstone Lake. Stock outfitters lead horse and llama trips into the backcountry.
Historic points of interest include Fort Yellowstone, the permanent post of the cavalry when they managed the park in the late 19th century before the National Park Service was established in 1916. Old Faithful Inn is one of the last log hotels in the United States and is an impressive seven-story building of beautiful rustic architecture.
The original American national park and an icon of the entire National Park System, Yellowstone National Park is an American gem with millions of park visitors each year. Because of its magnitude and diversity, it is a park that really requires several visits to appreciate all it has to offer. Created in 1872 as the first national park in America, it set the standard for the entire national park system and is for many the most iconic park in the country.
—Caroline Griffith and Felicia Carr
Did You Know
The Yellowstone to Yukon (Y2Y) region is a 2,000-mile-long wildlife migration corridor encompassing the Columbia, Mackenzie and Rocky Mountain ranges of Canada and the United States. The Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative works to preserve the mountains, ecosystems, wildlife and human communities of Y2Y.
Trips
New Year's in Yellowstone
Yellowstone National Park is a revelation in the wintertime. Enjoy unparalleled opportunities to watch and photograph wildlife in the transformed snowy landscapes of the world’s first national park.
State:
Idaho, Montana, WyomingNPCA REGION:
Northern Rockies Regional OfficeAcreage:
2,219,791Category:
National ParkEstablished:
03/01/1872WHAT DO YOU THINK?
Post a Comment
Share your park story today. Post your park experiences, recommendations, or tips here.*
* Your comments will appear once approved by the moderator. NPCA staff do not regularly respond to postings. We reserve the right to remove comments that include profanity, personal attacks, or are off-topic. Opinions expressed here do not necessarily reflect the position(s) of NPCA. By submitting comments you are giving NPCA permission to reuse your words on our website and print materials.





giggles1200
February 6, 2012
Azail
February 2, 2012
YNP Lover
February 2, 2012
bitsy999
January 28, 2012
victor71113
January 22, 2012
billy
January 20, 2012
tguan
January 11, 2012
jlen
January 8, 2012
tdog
January 3, 2012
Camptown Ladies
December 31, 2011
alina
December 21, 2011
TANNER (girl) (:
December 19, 2011
Chrash25
November 10, 2011
Mkm
November 10, 2011
Fionalillian
November 10, 2011