Created over thousands of years, Mammoth Hot Springs is a large complex of otherworldly thermal terraces. The hot water comes from the Norris Geyser Basin after traveling underground from a fault line. Check out the Travertine Terrace and the Liberty Cap while you’re in this area. The Travertine Terrace is made of layers of calcium carbonate terraces that the water dissolves as it flows through the cracks of limestone. Meanwhile, the Liberty Cap is a 37-foot cone-shaped mineral deposit built over hundreds of years by the internal pressure of a hot .....spring that shot water from that one spot. Show less

If there is one place that you really have to see in Yellowstone, it is the colorful Grand Prismatic Spring, the star of the Midway Geyser Basin. It is not only the largest hot spring in the United States (and the third largest in the world), but also one of the most unique natural wonders on the planet. It is also the best recognized and most photographed landmark of Yellowstone. No matter how many times you saw the Grand Prismatic on pictures, it’s only when you stand there that you realize how .....large it actually is. It’s bigger than a football field and deeper than a 10-story building.  Chances are big that your trip to Yellowstone has been inspired by all those incredibly beautiful images of the Grand Prismatic Spring photographed directly from above that you see in so many travel guides and TV documentaries… If you come here with such high expectations, then seeing this famous landmark in real life might disappoint you a bit.  No matter how much you try, you can never get the same view of the Grand Prismatic as in those famous photographs. However, Grand Prismatic Spring is still absolutely incredible and it is also just as colorful in reality as it is in the pictures. If you come here on a sunny day, the rainbow of colors will take your breath away! Show less

Upper Geyser Basin, aka the Old Faithful area, is the most popular place in Yellowstone. It’s here that you’ll find the historic Old Faithful Inn and the biggest best-predictable geyser in Yellowstone, the Old Faithful Geyser. This area is a must in any Yellowstone itinerary! The Old Faithful Geyser erupts at quite regular intervals of about 90 minutes. Eruption times are displayed at the Visitor Center and in several different places throughout the park. While you wait for Old Faithful to erupt, make sure to visit the Old Faithful Inn. Its wooden interior .....is just as impressive as the exterior. READ MORE: Old Faithful Geyser Show less

Of all the thermal areas in Yellowstone National Park, the Norris Geyser Basin is the hottest—reaching 459°F just 1087 feet below the surface. Note that most geothermal activity and things to see in Yellowstone at this elevation are above boiling point. Yikes! The Norris Geyser Basin is also the oldest and most dynamic. Given this alone, it is definitely one of the sites that should be on your list of what to see in Yellowstone. If you don’t know what to do in Yellowstone when you reach the Norris Geyser Basin, you .....should know that it is divided into two areas, the Porcelain Basin and the Back Basin. The Porcelain Basin consists of a three-quarter mile of barren ground with boardwalk trails where you can have a sensory experience of sounds, colors, and smells. Meanwhile, the Back Basin consists of scattered wooded grounds with one and a half-mile of boardwalk trails to take you around the area. In addition, one of the most exciting things to see in Yellowstone is the Steamboat Geyser in the Norris Geyser Basin along the Back Basin trail. It is the world’s tallest active geyser and it is comprised of two water columns that are about 20 feet apart reaching up to over 300 feet tall when it goes off. Steamboat is active and unpredictable and can go off within a period of days to decades for anywhere from 3 minutes to 40 minutes on average. We weren’t lucky enough to be there while it went off but we searched videos of it and it was quite incredible. Don’t miss the Norris Geyser Basin Museum here at the entrance of the trails where you can learn about the science behind the thermal activity on the earth. Show less

To get to Hayden Valley, you will have to do some backtracking. Drive past Old Faithful and the West Thumb Geyser Basin to Hayden Valley. Hayden Valley is one of the best places in Yellowstone to see bison. If you are lucky, there will be a large herd on the roadside so you can get up close with these animals. Traffic jams in Hayden Valley are common. The bison tend to stop smack in the middle of the road, blocking traffic in both directions.

Yellowstone is home to so many different species of wildlife that you’ll inevitably run into some elk or bison in the park. However, none of those experiences can compare to visiting the Lamar Valley, North-East of Yellowstone. The Lamar Valley is a bit further from the main tourist routes in Yellowstone, but it’s definitely worth a detour and a couple of hours of your time. The best time to see wildlife in the Lamar Valley is at sunrise or at sunset. With kids, we couldn’t make it there early in the .....morning, so we went late in the afternoon. Driving through the Lamar Valley was one of the best things we did in Yellowstone and the kids loved it just as much as we did. There were bison EVERYWHERE. Not one, not tens, but hundreds of these incredible animals! They were crossing the road and creating major traffic jams, but nobody minded. For once, we didn’t have any problems keeping kids quiet in the car – they didn’t know where to look first and were not bored for a second! For a real feel, take a look at this short video shot on the road in the Lamar Valley. Show less

With only 600,000 visitors a year, this park remains beautiful and pristine. It protects stunning mountain scenery and diverse wildlife. The Teton Range is the centerpiece of the park with the highest peak, Grand Teton, standing at 13,770 feet. With these massive mountains, lakes, rivers, and wildflowers, it is a magnetic draw for hikers, photographers, and mountain climbers.

Walk the 0.8-mile boardwalk trail to get up close to the Grand Prismatic Spring. Along the way, you will also get to see a few smaller hot springs, such as Excelsior Geyser Crater, Opal Pool, and Turquoise Pool. The boardwalk trail is one-way only. Parking: Good luck finding a parking space if you arrive here between 9 am and 6 pm. The parking lot is ridiculously small for the number of visitors that the Grand Prismatic Spring gets. Most of the parking spills out onto the park road. Normally, I would .....recommend waiting for a space in the parking lot, but if everyone did this, it would create stand-still traffic on the park road. There are large turn outs on the park road very close to Midway Geyser Basin. If the parking lot is full, park in one of these turn outs. Parking in Yellowstone. Parking at the most popular sites has become a big issue due to high crowds. There is just not enough parking for the number of visitors. You can get real time updates on parking availability and traffic conditions on the Yellowstone National Park website. Show less

17:50 – Firehole Canyon Drive is a one way road that travels north to south on the way between Madison and Midway Geyser Basin. It’s very easy to add to your Yellowstone itinerary and is just a beautiful drive. If you are driving Firehole Canyon on a hot day or in the afternoon, there is a beautiful swimming hole that is NPS sanctioned. It’s one of the only swimming spots in Yellowstone. 19:00 – Midway Geyser Basin is small but beautiful. This is home to the Grand Prismatic Spring and several .....other beautiful pools. It’s a must-see stop and you MUST plan for it!! The main Midway Geyser area is just a boardwalk loop, so it doesn’t take a long time, and this will take you by the Grand Prismatic Spring. TO VIEW FROM ABOVE: hike the Fairy Falls Trail head to get to the overlook.  This is a really easy 1.2 mile round-trip hike. Allot 1.5 hours because the view really is spectacular! Show less

After lunch, our next destination was Lamar Valley. We went through Hayden Valley several times and saw hundreds of bison and other animals, so we were excited for Lamar Valley. We heard that Lamar Valley is known for having wolves roaming around, so we were really hoping to see one. Unfortunately we weren’t that lucky, but did see gorgeous landscapes. Just like Hayden Valley, this would be a great place to bring dinner to and watch the Valley come to life around dusk. Back to list

Artists Paintpots is a small but lovely thermal area just south of Norris Junction. A one-mile round trip trail takes visitors to colorful hot springs, two large mudpots, and through a section of forest burned in 1988. This is always busy, so be prepared to walk a little to get to the pots – but well worth the extra effort!  

Tower Fall is one of the most popular waterfalls in Yellowstone. It’s a beautiful waterfall and very easy to see. The viewpoint is located 100 yards from the Tower General Store and it only takes a few minutes to visit. There is also a trail leading to the base of the waterfall. However, it was partially closed when we visited and based on what I’m reading, it’s still not possible to hike all the way to the bottom of this waterfall. Anyway, with just two days in Yellowstone, I suggest that you .....simply visit the Tower Fall viewpoint and move on to explore the more impressive Yellowstone canyon area. TIP: If you need to stock up on food or drinks for lunch, you can do it here as well. The next place with shops and restaurants is Canyon Village. Show less

The Grant Visitor Center is located an hour away from the East Entrance Road in the west shore of the Yellowstone Lake. It has exhibits providing information about the fire ecology of the national park. It is open daily during the summer between 8 AM and 7 PM.

The Roosevelt Lodge area is like taking a step back in time to the Old West. There is a big porch out front all lined up with rocking chairs for hikers to rest their feet. The dining room at the lodge serves Old West faire including Wild Game Chili, their Famous Roosevelt Baked Beans, Wyoming Cheese Steak Sandwiches, sizzling steaks, mashed potatoes, and more. Across from the dining room there is the lounge bar. I’d suggest grabbing a glass of wine then making your way out to the rocking chairs on the .....porch. Along with the food, there are also Old Western things to do in Roosevelt. They have horseback riding as well as stage coach rides that operate several times a day. Back to list The Tower-Roosevelt area was really beautiful and we are glad we took a day to make the trip out there! There really isn’t a bad location in Yellowstone. Just another reason we recommend staying at least a week and taking your time to not only see the main attractions but to also drive through the park and see all that Yellowstone has to offer! We have also put together a guide showing 10 unique things to do in Yellowstone. These are not your typical tourist stops! Sign up to get it here. Show less

Located between Mammoth Hot Springs and the Roosevelt Arch is a naturally occurring hot spring where you can go swimming. Not far from Mammoth, a hot spring enters the Gardner River. This natural hot tub is a popular swimming hole. To get here, park at one of two parking lots on North Entrance Road. To get to the hot spring, it is a flat, half-mile walk.

This geyser basin is part of the Upper Geyser Basin. You can walk here from Old Faithful, but it’s a long walk, so I recommend driving here instead. This geyser basin is named for its black sand, which is formed from obsidian, which occurs when lava cools very quickly. This is a showcase of colorful pools and Cliff Geyser, which erupts every few minutes.

Like Red Lodge, Bozeman has an historic, walkable downtown, filled with fun shops and restaurants. We stayed in the funky, art-filled modern Lark Hotel, conveniently located in the heart of downtown Bozeman. People-watching from the Lark Hotel terrace overlooking Main Street was fun. So were the on-site cafe and – get this – gourmet ice cream shop.

Covering a vast 3,500-square-mile area, Yellowstone is a nature lover’s paradise. See Old Faithful, take in the mountain views from Yellowstone Lake, and hike across Lamar Valley. Whether you opt for camping or staying in a five-star lodge… you will fall in love with this incredible National Park.

Lower Geyser Basin contains about 100 geothermal features located across five square miles. This geyser basin sits to the north of Midway Geyser Basin. You can see most of these geysers, hot springs, and fumaroles along Firehole Lake Drive, a one-way road that is just over 3 miles long. Fountain Paint Pot Trail is a half-mile walk on a boardwalk that takes you past the four major hydrothermal features in Yellowstone: hot springs, geysers, mud pots, and fumaroles.

Artist Point—The most photographed spot in Yellowstone. Uncle Tom’s Trail—Down 300 steps to see the Lower Falls. Strenuous Upper Falls Viewpoint—See two different viewpoints of the Upper Falls. Easy South Rim Trail—Hike 1.75 trail to see Uncle Tom’s Point and Artist Point. Partially paved. Brink of Lower Falls Trail—A steep trail that drops 600 feet for a view of the Lower Falls. Red Rock and Lookout Points—See the canyon from paved overlooks next to the parking lot. Grand View—See the roar of the Lower Falls. Inspiration Point—Climb down 50 steps to views of the Lower Falls. Brink of .....Upper Falls—Walk down the steps to see water barrel over the Upper Falls. Show less

Most of the sites offer some sort of access for RVs. It’s best to check the site for details to see if your RV will fit. If you’re looking for full hook-ups, Fishing Bridge RV Park is the only site that offers that. Reservations book up extremely quick though. If you can’t find a place to stay in the park, here are a few nearby cities you can look to for accommodations (click on the links to compare hotel prices). Within 5 Miles

Biscuit Basin is another small basin that is worth a quick visit. The highlight here is Sapphire Pool, aptly named for its deep blue color. We were here in the morning, when the hot springs are still covered in mist. It’s a quiet, peaceful time to visit the basins, but it is impossible to capture the brilliant colors of the hot springs when they are still mist covered.

When Yellowstone first opened, the north entrance was the main entrance into the park. In 1903, this stone arch was erected. People would travel to Gardiner by train and then take horse-drawn carriages into the park. The cornerstone of the arch was laid down by President Theodore Roosevelt. The inscription at the top of the arch reads “For the Benefit and Enjoyment of the People.” A visit here is very quick and you can walk or drive through the arch. Right around the corner is Gardiner, a great place to get a .....bite to eat or use as a home base to visit the park. Show less

Located just a couple of miles south of Old Faithful Village, this gorgeous waterfall rushes through a narrow canyon. The overlook gives you a spectacular view of the cascading falls. Easily viewed from a stop along the roadway, the cascade consists of three tiers before crashing into a rocky basin. The base of the falls can be reached by strolling a steep path through the surrounding forest.

Boiling River is one of a few places where you can swim in Yellowstone. A soak in the warm waters here is the best way to relax after the whole day of sightseeing. However, it’s not always open, so it depends a bit on the weather and the season when you visit. READ MORE: Boiling River

The south entrance is located north of Jackson, Wyoming. It is the closest entrance to Lewis Lake and the adjacent campground. Like the east entrance, it is only open to vehicles from May to November. You will need a snowmobile if you’re planning to visit during winter.

The Canyon Visitor Education Center is located 50 minutes away from the East and Northeast Entrance Roads in Canyon Village. It’s an interactive facility where you will find an exhibit about the Yellowstone supervolcano. It is open every day during the summer between 8 AM and 8 PM.

After hiking back up the Tower Falls trail, which turned out to be a bit harder on the kids than we thought, it was time for lunch. We packed a picnic lunch before we left the RV and planned on finding an off-the-beaten-path place to eat. Enter Slough Creek. We drove north out of Tower Falls and turned right at Tower junction toward the northeast entrance. The Slough Creek campground is about 10 miles from the junction. We pulled in and drove about 2 miles on a gravel road to .....the parking lot. The parking lot is for the Slough Creek Trail, which seemed like a very cool trail to hike. We were more interested in eating at this point than hiking, so we skipped this trail. We did see a few people hiking with fishing rods and waders. There is a good fishing lake about 3 miles down the trail. You can also hike all the way into Montana if you’d like, it’s about 10 miles away. There were a few picnic tables at the far end of the parking lot, and being the reasonable man that I am, figured we’d set up over there to eat. The kids had a different idea. There were large boulders in a tall-grassed field next to the parking lot. They paired up and each found their own boulder to eat on. Hey, when in Rome, I guess… All I could do was crack a beer and eat my salad. Back to list Show less

Eight miles south of Mammoth Hot Springs, Indian Creek Campground (mid-June-mid-Sept., $15) has 70 sites, vault toilets, and a quiet ambience with views of Electric Peak in the Gallatin Range. This is a place to hear the haunting hoot of owls or bugling elk in fall. Most campsites are tucked into the forest with parking pads (35 feet or less). At 7,300 feet, the campground offers quick access to Swan Lake Flat for wildlife-watching, the trailhead to Bighorn Pass, and Bunsen Peak.

Curtis Canyon Campground is right outside of Jackson, but you will feel like you have found the wilderness you are coming to Yellowstone looking for. It is also right next to the National Elk Refuge, which means you are probably going to see some exciting wildlife. 

If you are not shy about having wildlife at your door (or tent flap) you will love Bridge Bay Campground. Right next to Yellowstone Lake, you just might wake up to find bison grazing within your view. Yellowstone Lake makes a majestic backdrop as one of North America’s largest fresh-water lakes. A forest of trees reaches for the sky, with mountains visible beyond.  Bridge Bay comes with food storage lockers, and campfires are usually permitted. You will want to check before you make a fire in case there are any seasonal restrictions .....in place, just to be safe. This campground also has three ADA accessible campsites, making it one of the more disability-friendly locations in Yellowstone. Show less

Located close to the Grant Visitor Center lies the Grant Village Campground. Conveniently located for your early Yellowstone adventures, it is equipped for RVs and Trailers. Even though it is barely inside the park, you will definitely feel like you have found the Yellowstone camping experience you are looking for. Nestled in the Yellowstone woods, this campground still has three ADA accessible sites. The main road is also paved.  This is one of Yellowstone’s largest campgrounds, but it still fills up. Get here early to get your spot (hint: this is going to .....be a theme with Yellowstone campgrounds). Show less

Hiking to the top of Mount Washburn is considered one of the best things to do in Yellowstone. The views from the 10,243 feet (3,1 km) top are incredible and if you are lucky you might run into some bighorn sheep or even bears (make sure you carry a bear spray if hiking in more remote areas of Yellowstone!). Visiting Mount Washburn requires a strenuous hike that takes about 2-3 hours one way, so it is definitely not for everyone. Interesting to know:  If you are up for this hike, you should .....know that there are two trails leading to the top. (1) The main hiking trail starts at the Dunraven Pass. It’s about 3,2 miles  (5,2 km)one way and offers better views along the entire route, but it is also more challenging. (2) The second option is the Chittenden Road Trail that follows a wide service road to the top of Mount Washburn. It’s 2,5 miles (4 km) one way and is easier to hike, but the views along this route aren’t that impressive. TIP: Carry lots of water and a picnic. Make sure you also have a jacket as it can get really windy and cold on top. Arrive early as car parking areas at both trailheads are not very big. Also, afternoon storms are common in summer, and you don’t want to be on top in the storm. Practical information: The trail is only open from June to September and even in summer can have some snow on it.  Show less

The Albright Visitor Center and Museum are located just under 10 minutes from the North Entrance Road. You will find it next to Mammoth Hot Springs. You can visit it to see wildlife exhibits, from 8 AM to 7 PM year-round, except for winter when it’s only open from 9 AM to 5 PM.

If you have a sensitive nose, you won’t like the smell at the Mud Volcano. Mud and pungent hydrogen sulfide gas burble up from the depths, making the whole place smell like rotten eggs. A 0.6-mile path winds through the features. Be sure to head across the road to visit Sulphur Caldron too. It’s the most acidic spring in Yellowstone.

Set on a steep hillside above Tower Fall, Tower Fall Campground (late May-late Sept., $15) has 31 campsites with parking pads (30 feet or shorter), plus a hairpin turn to negotiate. Some sites sit in the open while others tuck under large pines. At 6,600 feet in elevation, hiking up or down the hill to vault toilets or to the hand-cranked water pump may have you huffing and puffing. A trail drops from the campground to the Tower Fall observation area, but be prepared to climb back uphill. Horseback trail .....rides and a restaurant are two miles north at Roosevelt Lodge. The amphitheater has evening naturalist talks. Show less

At Madison Junction, below National Park Mountain, Madison Campground (307/344-7311 or 866/439-7375 advance reservations; 307/344-7901 same-day reservations, www.yellowstonenationalparklodges.com, May-mid-Oct., $25) has 278 sites on a flat plain spread around 10 loops. The Madison River flows past the campground, attracting anglers for iconic fly-fishing; wildlife-watchers often spot bison and elk. In fall, elk bugling fills the air. At the campground’s west end, G and H loops have 65 sunny sites for tents only. Some campsites can fit RVs up to 40 feet. Make reservations nine months in advance.

Yellowstone National Park contains 60% of the world’s geysers and you’ll find over 150 of them in the Upper Geyser Basin. This area not only includes the geysers but also the Old Faithful Inn and the Old Faithful Visitor Education Centre. Learn about Yellowstone At the Old Faithful Visitor Education Centre This is the best place to really get an understanding of the energy and power that Yellowstone National Park holds. Did you know that Yellowstone is a super volcano? You may think that you’re just in a pretty park but you’re actually inside a .....huge volcanic crater that is like one big cauldron of energy. The centre also has the estimated times for any known geyser eruptions as well as expert advice on what to do in the park. Show less

To make it easier to plan your time, I created this map indicating all the places that you should be able to see in Yellowstone in one day. You can do this trip arriving via the South Entrance (coming from Jackson/Grand Teton NP), via the East Entrance (coming from Cody), or via the West Entrance (coming from Bozeman/ West Yellowstone). Depending on where you enter and leave the park, you’ll have to adjust this itinerary a bit. But it gives you a good idea of what can be done in Yellowstone in .....a day. Note that you can do the loop in either direction and it doesn’t matter much where exactly you start or finish. Show less

Stretching along the Firehole River, from Geyser Hill to Morning Glory Pool, is a boardwalk trail that passes by an incredible number of geysers and hot springs. There are enough geysers in this short section that you will probably get to see at least one in action. The most notable geysers are:

Once in Bozeman our next destination is to Livingston, MT traveling along Interstate 90. Once at Livingston we jump on Hwy 89 driving south down through scenic Paradise Valley before reaching Gardiner, MT, a drive of about 52 miles. Also running through this valley is the Yellowstone Riveras it flows northward out of the park. As with previous years we saw hundreds of deer and elk who have chosen this beautiful valley as their winter range. Along this route you will come to a sign for Corwin Springs located 8 .....miles north of Gardiner, MT and the North Entrance to Yellowstone National park. Here you will find Yellowstone Hot Springs (yellowstonehotspringsmt.com), a mineral spring situated next to the Yellowstone River and a great place to relax and soak after a long day of adventuring. The hot springs is open on some weekends during the winter months. Show less

Northern entrance – at Gardiner in the south of Montana on the US-89 (accessible via the I-90). Open all year.Northeast entrance – at Silver Gate and Cooke City. On the US-212 (also accessible from I-90) on the border between Wyoming and Montana. East of Cooke City, the road to Yellowstone is closed from October – November to April – May.Eastern entrance – accessible from Cody (Wyoming). Closed from November to the beginning of May.South entrance – north of Grand Teton National Park on US-89, accessible from Jackson. Closed from the .....beginning of November to the beginning of May.West entrance – at West Yellowstone in Montana on the US-20 (accessible from I-15 and US-287). Closed from the beginning of November to the end of April.   Show less

Blacktail Plateau Drive is lightly-trafficked scenic drive. This 7-mile, one-way dirt road heads parallel along the Grand Loop Road between Mammoth and Tower. If you get lucky, you can spot bison, elk, and bear (we were not so lucky). Even so, it’s a fun, enjoyable ride with beautiful scenery. It takes about 30 minutes to do this drive. A 4×4 is not necessary but it does make the drive easier. We saw minivans and sedans on this road. I drove a Jeep Compass. RV’s, buses, and trailers are not permitted on .....this road. Blacktail Plateau Drive is open from June through September. Show less

A cozy mountain community that packs a punch with adventurous recreational activities 365 days per year. Located in southwest Montana roughly 45-miles away from Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport, Big Sky is the ideal beginning to your Yellowstone itinerary.

Hikers of all levels can adore the majestic scenery of Palisades Falls due to its paved trail. This short trek leads to towering basalt columns where the falls trickle along the rocky cliff. The streams fork off one another as they tumble along with the 80-foot drop, and you’ll spot dazzling colors within the mist on a sunny day. Walk to the base of the falls for a closer glimpse of its astounding geologic formations.

The rugged wilderness encompassing the path makes the journey to Pine Creek Falls a captivating experience. Just enough elevation to get your blood flowing, the trail meanders through dense forests. Black Mountain soars above the forest and highlights the backdrop of the path.

Grizzly and Wolf Discovery Center is a great place to see grizzly bears and wolfs in a safe environment. Some animals come from Yellowstone, the others – from as far as Alaska. All the animals who live here are unable to survive in the wild. This center gives them a second chance, while at the same time providing an educational experience to Yellowstone visitors. At the moment of writing, there are seven bears and five wolves in the Center, as well as some birds of prey and a Karelian bear dog. You .....can see the animals all year round. The bears at the Centre do not hibernate. Interesting to know: Admission tickets are valid for two consecutive days. So if you are staying in West Yellowstone, you could certainly visit two times. Practical information: Grizzly and Wolf Discovery Center is located in West Yellowstone, just outside the West Entrance of the park. It’s open 365 days a year. Count 1,5-2 hours for a visit. Show less

The Elephant Back Mountain Trail is a four mile trail that leads up a huge mountain in Yellowstone. There are a lot of trees and the path up is a little challenging, but the view from the top makes the long hike worth it. While my family and I were climbing, we saw plenty of wildlife and amazing views. When we reached the top, we saw a huge outstretched landscape filled with beautiful mountains and long flowing rivers. On our way down the trail it started to hail and my .....family had to quickly run back down! Although the hike up was very tiring it gave me a chance to see lots of animals and the beautiful sights of Yellowstone. Show less

The west entrance is located east of West Yellowstone, Montana. Like the north entrance, you will have to cross the state border between Montana and Wyoming when you come in from this entrance. It runs along the Madison River and it is the closest entrance to the Madison campground and the Old Faithful. You should also take this entrance if you want a view of the Purple Mountain and the National Park Mountain. This entrance is closed from December to March. Back to the Top

This was one of our favorite Yellowstone sights! The Bee Hive Geyser randomly started shooting while we were attending the Junior Ranger program at the visitor center. Named for the 4 foot cylinder cone resembling a beehive, it fires its water 200 ft straight up into the air. Eruptions last about 5-minutes and end with a roaring steam that can be heard a quarter-mile away. It’s a Yellowstone must see and I think way cooler than Old Faithful. Trouble is, no one ever knows when it goes off, but usually twice a day. May .....you be as fortunate as we were. Show less