Yellowstone National Park

Established as the first national park in the United States in 1872, Yellowstone National Park is the crown jewel of them all.  Teaming with wildlife, geysers, diverse plant life, and culture, there is something for everyone here.

Overview

The park is the centerpiece of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem which is the largest intact ecosystem in the Earth’s northern temperate zone.  The park sits on top of a caldera which is the largest supervolcano on the continent.  Half of the world’s geothermal features are found in Yellowstone.  Yellowstone Lake is one of the largest high altitude lakes on the planet.  Wolves, grizzly and black bears, bison, elk, deer, moose, badgers, fox, coyotes, raptors, song birds, and fish all share a home here.

Hours/Seasons

Yellowstone is open everyday of the year.  Most entrances close in November except the North and Northeast entrances which are plowed for vehicles during the winter.  All other entrances are closed to wheeled-vehicles.  All facilities are open from May until September/October.  Please see the park website for more details as closures can be weather dependent http://www.nps.gov/yell//   

Fees/Cost

Entry fee for a sedan type vehicle (holds 1 - 6 people) is $25 plus $12 per person

If you plan on visiting other national parks or federal recreation areas, consider buying the Interagency Pass for $80.  This pass covers you and everyone in your vehicle.  

If camping is on your agenda, expect to pay any where from $12 to $30.  Showers and laundry are available at certain campgrounds.

Contact

The best place to find all information for Yellowstone National Park is their website: http://www.nps.gov/yell// or call the main park line at 307-344-2117.

Xanterra Parks & Resorts operates campgrounds at Bridge Bay, Canyon, Fishing Bridge RV Park, Grant Village, and Madison.  Same-day reservations can be made by calling: 307-344-7901.  Future reservations can be made by calling: 307-344-7311 or 1-866-GEYSERLAND (439-7375).

Highlights

Old Faithful
In the olden days, Old Faithful was used as a place to do your laundry.  Today, it is not as faithful as it once was.  Over the years, the eruption interval has increased.  It is estimated that the eruptions take place every 91 minutes give or take a little.  If you happen to just miss an eruption, there are plenty of other attractions to check in the area to help you pass the time.

Old Faithful Inn
This inn is one of the few remaining log hotels remaining in the United States.  Built in 1904, it is 7 stories high and has 327 rooms.  Old Faithful Inn is a National Historic Landmark.  

The Grand Canyon of Yellowstone
Roughly 20 miles long, 800 to 1,200 ft. deep and 1,500 to 4,000 ft. wide, this canyon is breathtaking.  It is considered a very recent geologic feature as it is no more than 10,000 to 14,000 years old.

Hayden Valley
The best place to view wildlife in Yellowstone.

Mammoth
There are no woolly mammoths here.  Mammoth includes Mammoth Hot Springs, Gardiner River, and the 45th Parallel Bridge.

Backcountry Travel
Take a hike to see geothermal features in the backcountry.  You can reserve backcountry sites in advance for a fee of $20.  The park website has Backcountry Trip Planner page to help you plan your travels.  Scared of bears?  While you should take all the necessary precautions for bear country, statistics show that there are more people hurt by bison than by bears each year in Yellowstone.

Getting Here

From the Black Hills area, head West on I-90 until you get to Buffalo, WY.  The quickest route from Buffalo is to take Hwy 16 through Cody.  You can also take the long way by heading north from Buffalo towards Sheridan and then, head west from there on Hwy 14.  Either way, there is no direct route from the Black Hills to Yellowstone National Park.  That is an adventure in itself!