I recently returned from an amazing trip to Yellowstone National Park. It’s been 19 years since my last visit and I felt it was time to experience the world's first national park again. This trip was more enjoyable because I was able to spend four days in the park. Being 26, I also had a better understanding of what makes Yellowstone one-of-a-kind.
At age seven, I saw Old Faithful as an upside-down waterfall. Nineteen years later, today, I know it’s a geyser which was named in 1870 during the Washburn Expedition. The water seen during an eruption entered the Earth nearly 500 years ago....around the time Columbus discovered America! In short, when you witness Old Faithful erupting, you’re witnessing history!The Grand Loop, the park’s main road, is nearly 150 miles around and leads visitors to the majority of the park’s attractions. It’s mind-boggling how quick the terrain changes. One minute you’re driving through a canyon, the next minute you’re driving through an area surrounded by boulders which looks like rubble from an explosion.
After four full sun-up to sun-down days of sightseeing, I feel I got a strong taste of Yellowstone National Park.
A special thanks goes out to @RangerBri who answered many of my questions before this breathtaking trip!
DigitalGreg’s Tips for a Successful Summer Trip to Yellowstone National Park:
- The sun rises around 5:30 a.m. and sets around 9:00 p.m. in the summer.
- Visit Lamar Valley at sunrise and sunset. It's the best place in the park to see wildlife.
- DON'T book with one lodge in the park. Book with various lodges to reduce the amount of time spent driving. If staying in one place is a must, Canyon is the ideal place. It’s centered in the park near Grand Loop Road and Norris Canyon Road.
I spent four nights in the park:- Night 1. Madison
- Night 2. Roosevelt Lodge
- Night 3. Canyon Lodge
- Night 4. Old Faithful Lodge
- Make sure to drink a lot of water, at least 75 ounces a day. The altitude in the park averages 8,000 feet above sea level which causes most people to exhale more frequently then they typically would. Being from Florida where it’s eight feet above sea level, I was feeling the thin air!
- Dress in layers... long-sleeve shirt, t-shirt and hoodie. Nights/mornings are cold and days are hot. By 10 a.m., you’ll want to strip down to your t-shirt and shorts.
- Bug spray and sun block are a must!
- General stores which sell souvenirs, food and items a drugstore would carry are located throughout the park.
- Pick up a copy of Yellowstone Today, the park’s official newspaper. It contains information about the park, including road closures and ranger lead programs.
- Make sure to attending the ranger lead programs. They cover various aspects of the park and are extremely informative. At Canyon Village, I learned about the super volcano which makes Yellowstone what it is. In the Old Faithful Visitor Center, I learned about the fire of 1988.
- Allow a MINIMUM of three to four days to experience Yellowstone.
- Rent a vehicle. DO NOT temp to experience Yellowstone via bus tour. You’ll be part of a heard and will miss out on many attractions of the park.
Photography Tips:
- Bring a tripod, polarizer and a ND filter.
If you go to bed and you're not exhausted,
you're doing something wrong!
you're doing something wrong!