Yellowstone
Location: Wyoming, Idaho & Montana
Established: March 1, 1872
I could go on and on about the beauty, vastness and diversity of Yellowstone National Park, but here are a few fast facts that capture this natural wonder. Established as a national park by Ulysses S. Grant in 1872, Yellowstone (1) is the world’s first national park and the second largest national park in the contiguous 48 United States (Death Valley National Park is larger), (2) is an active super volcano, (3) is home to bison, moose, elk, bighorn sheep, wolves and grizzly bears, as well as many other mammal, flora and bird species, and (4) has a grand canyon, more than 300 geysers, the largest high-altitude (i.e., more than 7,000 feet) lake in North America (Lake Yellowstone), 5 park entrances, a 142-mile grand loop that could take two full days to drive, and 9 hotels / lodges. Below are a few key insights.
Geysers
Geysers are hot springs with constrictions in their plumbing, usually near the surface, that prevent water from circulating freely to the surface where heat would escape. There are more geysers in Yellowstone than anywhere else on earth, the most famous of which is Old Faithful. Famous for its regularity and awesome power, Old Faithful erupts roughly every 90 minutes, spouts from 106 to 184 feet high, and discharges up to 8,400 gallons of water per eruption.
Hot Springs
Hot Springs are similar to geysers, but their underground channels are large enough to allow rapid circulation of water. Many of the bright colors found in the pictures below come from "thermophiles" -- microorganisms that thrive in hot temperatures. So many microorganisms are grouped together that they appear as masses of color.
The Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone
The Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone is roughly 20 miles long and up to 4,000-feet wide and 1,200-feet deep in some places. The canyon was formed by erosion as Yellowstone River flowed over progressively softer, less resistant rock. Two great hikes that will give you breathtaking views of the canyon are Artist Point and Uncle Tom’s Trail. Artist Point is one of the must-see views at Yellowstone and, luckily, it’s easy to view as it’s a short 1/10th mile walk on a paved trail. However, Uncle Tom’s Trail is a strenuous series of more than 300 steel stairs that drop 500 feet toward the base of the Lower Falls, but the views of the Lower Falls from this point are spectacular.
Hayden Valley
The Hayden Valley, known for its lush, green meadows that surround the Yellowstone River, is one of the premier places to see wildlife in the entire park and the location of the largest rut of free roaming bison in the world.
Geysers
Hot Springs
Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone
