To honor the 100th anniversary of the National Park Service on August 25, USA TODAY is celebrating by focusing on a different national park each week leading up to the centennial. For more on Yellowstone National Park, check out our full coverage here:
Established on March 1, 1872, Yellowstone National Park has the distinct honor of being the world’s first national park. Last year, more than 4 million people visited the park that spans more than 3,472 square miles over three states – Idaho, Montana and (mostly) Wyoming. With such a massive size and varied terrain, there’s plenty to do in Yellowstone, and plenty for kids, too. We checked in with Rick Hoeninghausen with Yellowstone National Park Lodges for an insider’s perspective of the park and 10 tips on how to best visit – just don't miss Old Faithful, of course.
1. Rise and Shine: Get up with the sun to catch some of the best wildlife viewing in the park. According to Rick, the park’s wildlife is most active during the early morning when most of the park’s visitors are not, and Lamar Valley in Yellowstone’s Northern Range is one of the best places for spotting wildlife. Not a morning person? No worries – early evenings are good for viewing, too.
2. Beat the Crowds: The early bird gets ... the geyser basins to themselves, in this case. The boardwalks and trails through the geyser basins are again less crowded in the early mornings before the day trippers arrive, or in the evenings after they’ve gone for the day.
3. Take a Hike: “Most people never leave the developed areas or roadways,” said Rick. “A short hike can offer up a more intimate experience and backcountry scenery, waterfalls, geysers and more.” Yellowstone has plenty of hiking trails mapped out – more than 900 miles, in fact.
4. Explore with a Ranger: Park rangers offer myriad programs throughout the year to help visitors have more in-depth experiences in all of the different areas of Yellowstone National Park. From walks and cruises to wildlife viewing and astronomy and much more, there’s bound to be a program right for you. Check the park’s calendar for upcoming programs to see which interest you most.
5. Go on Safari: Led by a professional photographer, take off in the early morning hours for a five-hour photo safari to catch the perfect light and snap photos of wildlife and the striking landscapes of Yellowstone National Park.
6. Gone Fishin’: Volunteer to help the National Park Service by fly fishing in Yellowstone. You’ll experience the peace and tranquility of fishing along Yellowstone’s 2,650 miles of streams and 150 lakes while collecting biological information on the park’s fish populations through the catch-and-release program.
7. Get On the Bus: “Touring with a guide on an interpretive tour ensures visitors will understand a lot more about what makes Yellowstone special,” said Rick. “There are many tours to choose from, ranging from one hour to an entire day, and the guides know the best spots for wildlife viewing, photography, wildflowers and more. The historic yellow buses provide a nostalgic flare, and the 1930s vintage cars are perfect for touring, with roll-back tops to enjoy on warmer days.”
8. On the Water: Another terrific vantage point when visiting Yellowstone is out on the water. Whether on a motorized boat on Yellowstone Lake or Lewis Lake, or canoes or kayaks on any of the lakes found throughout the park, boating in Yellowstone is boatloads of fun.
9. Rustic Architecture: The Old Faithful Inn was built by architect Robert C. Reamer and opened to the public in June 1904. Reamer’s design of the inn is credited for popularizing what would become known as “rustic architecture.” Take a free, hour-long walking tour of the inn to see not only Reamer’s design, but hear about how visitors from the last century experienced Yellowstone.
10. Starry Night: Without light pollution, the night sky over Yellowstone seems to be filled with millions of stars visible by the naked eye. Go out on your own and just look up, or join a ranger program that uncovers the mysteries of the night sky. Stargazing is at its finest in Yellowstone National Park.
