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Planning a trip to Yellowstone can be a daunting task with how much the park has to offer, but this guide can help get you started. From Old Faithful to spotting wildlife and chasing waterfalls, Yellowstone has it all.
The end of the Yellowstone adventure has come and I wanted to share a little collection of some of my favorite pictures from my time around Yellowstone from the bison to the falls and the hot springs to the geysers.
Tips for visiting:
- Grab a guidebook for a better idea of what the park has to offer.
- Tennis shoes aren’t totally necessary for most basic hikes since they are usually on boardwalks. The Hike to the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone would be the only thing where they might be necessary. Chacos or Tevas would be perfect for most things.
- Stay hydrated. It can get pretty hot in the summer. This is the perfect time for an insulated water bottle. It’s totally worth the money and keeps your water ice cold all day.
- Don’t touch the wildlife. The animals are, well, wild. Don’t touch them!
- Don’t get too close to them either, they need their space.
- Stay on the boardwalk, you don’t want to ruin the springs or fall in.
- Don’t walk on the Grand Prismatic Spring, pleeeeeeease.
- Give yourself a couple days to see everything. The park is HUGE and it can take a couple hours just to drive from end to end.
- I would suggest starting at one end, I’ll say closer to Jackson, then drive up to Mammoth, starting at Old Faithful making the stops along that side of the park. Stay near Mammoth then drive down the other side of the park, by the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone. That’s the side we saw the bison on. The park is roads are like an 8 and this is an easy way to see a lot of it. It is possible to see a lot in one day, but it would be a long day.
Have you been to Yellowstone? What was your favorite thing there? Do you want to go?
Beautiful photos! Hope to get there one day.
Thank you! 😀 I loved it there!
Beautiful photos! 🙂 Yellowstone is one of my favorite places!!
Thank you! 😀 I wish I could have spent a little more time there, but I’d love to go back!
These photos are incredible. If only we lived closer.
Thank you! If it makes you feel any better, I live like an hour from it right now and haven’t been back. (roads are closed to cars in the winter)
Oh wow Yellowstone looks so wonderful! It’s somewhere I’d love to visit; just a shame it’s so far away! (I live in the UK). Just saw your comment above that you live only an hour away, so lucky!
Yes! Unfortunately I haven’t gone back this winter since it’s tough and a little pricey, but I’ve gotten to explore the Tetons and Gros Ventre area to my hearts content!
Ahh this is super useful! And these photos are unreal wow.
Thank you! 😀 I’m glad you found it helpful, too!
Your photos are spectacular! I’ve always wanted to visit Yellowstone. It’s been on my bucketlist for years! Now I wanna go even more 🙂
Thank you! 😀 I would looove to go back and see more of it. The park is huge and I didn’t realize that until we were there really haha. It’s amazing though
wow, great photos!! I haven’t made it to Yellowstone yet.I would love to go in Winter.Have you been in Winter?
Thank you! 😀 I liveso close to it right now, but no. You can only go by snowmobile or snow coach and both are a little pricey so I didn’t go. Pictures I’ve seen of it in winter look amazing though!
I have a friend who lives in Gardiner, who I met on the JMT a few years ago. I have heard the wildlife photo opps are amazing in winter.
Yes! I had never seen a moose until I got here and now I’ve probably seen a hundred! Tons of bison and coyotes now and I saw my first wolf last week! 😀
wow, yes , that’s what my friend was saying.I’m more of an off-season adventurer, i like the quiet and chance to explore areas without too much foot traffic
I definitely agree. I’m starting to work on a DIY wildlife safari thing for Jackson and the Teton area too that will hopefully be out soonish. It’s an awesome (if cold) time to visit.
great idea, keep me posted!
I really love all the suggestions on how to make the best out of your days there! Great pictures too!
Thank you! 😀 I’m glad you liked the suggestions in there
Great photos, Megan! This definitely makes me want to visit! 🙂
Thank you! 😀 It was amazing there! Busy, but amazing.
This is one of the parks I am yet to visit. When I tell people I have been to the USA like 10 times, everyone assumes I have seen this park. No, still getting there. I have read a lot about it how it’s one of the supervulcanoes and how it can explode any moment, as well as seen the movie with the scenario where it does, so I remember reading that running bison are a sign that trouble is coming. The bison in your pictures seem calm enough 🙂
The bison were very calm, just hanging out in the road haha. I always enjoy watching things about Yellowstone, too. Last year all of a sudden I just really felt the need to go visit so I did. It was a long drive, but totally worth it!
That photo with the valley cutting through is such a perfect shot! I have been, but it’s on my list now!! Those champagne pools are soo lovely!
Thank you! 😀 I loved seeing all the hot springs. I’ve never seen anything like them before, so I think that’s part of why I liked it so much, along with it just being amazing!
It must be huuuge! Great that you got to see the bizons. Is it possible to camp within the park and go on multiple days hike?
Beautiful pictures! I always wanted to visit this part of the USA! Super convinced now!
Thank you! 😀 It’s soooo pretty up here! And it’s right by the Tetons, so it’s an awesome trip
Gorgeous photography! Looks incredibly beautiful
Thank you! 😀 It’s so pretty up here
These are gorgeous! I’m from Montana, so it’s a good way to get a glimpse of home being far away. Thanks for posting!
Thank you! 😀 I’m glad you enjoyed it and got to see a little bit of home
breathtaking photos and great tips! I have yet to make it out to Yellowstone, been on my list for ages… especially since it’s not too far from my brother who lives in the bay area! no excuses next time
Yes! I’m not sure what, but last year I just decided I really need to see it haha
Unfortunately I have never been to Yellowstone or to the States for that matter but it’s on my list, I will keep the tips in mind when planning a trip there 😉
For sure! There’s so much to see in the park and just the states in general!
Great pictures! I definitely need to get there one day. Once I start a US road trip hopefully!
Thank you! 😀 This area is good for road trips with the Tetons, too and even Glacier
We were already impressed by Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland in Rotorua, New Zealand, but Yellowstone NP is obviously several leagues higher! The colours and views are absolutely impressive. Yellowstone just got bumped a couple of spots higher on our bucket list. 😉
It was definitely a little otherwordly feeling in a a couple of the geyser basins
Beautiful photos! I haven’t been to Yellowstone since I was a teenager, and my kids went without me last summer! I can see a spring or fall road trip in our future, summer just sounds too busy!
It wasn’t as crazy as I imagined in summer, it still was, but the park is so big it doesn’t feel like it (with a few exceptions – Old Faithful and Grand Prismatic Spring for sure) but the Tetons felt super crowded since the park is much more limited in space. Still totally worth it.
WOW. These photos are otherworldly!! I can’t believe how much colour variance there is in the rock. I’m sure to see these IRL takes your breath away.
Definitely! I took sooooo many pictures that I waited 8 months to go through them because my pile of them intimidated me haha. I love them though
I have ALWAYS wanted to go to Yellowstone!! And now thanks to these pictures, I want to go even more!!! What do you use to edit your pictures? They are amazing
Thank you! 😀 It was wonderful there! I use an old Photoshop Elements. I’m not even sure which one honestly haha. I adjust shadow/highlights, then play with brightness/contrast, and saturation a bit.
woww.. amazing collection! Its so refreshing and calming and exciting , all at the same time!
Haha, thank you 😀 That’s nice to hear!
I loved all of your pictures so much! I’m going to Yellowstone with my family for my dad’s birthday in May so this post definitely got me very excited!
Thank you 😀 That’ll be super fun! I’m glad you enjoyed it!
I’ve been wanting to visit Yellowstone SO badly and now I’m even more keen to get there. It doesn’t even look like a part of this planet! Your photos are so beautiful 🙂
http://travelmatters.co
Thank you! 😀 It was never somewhere I needed to go, then I really wanted to last summer for some reason so I went and now I’m dying to go back!
We went a couple of years ago and had a wonderful time. What an amazing place!! You took some great pictures of your trip!
Thank you! I loved it there
Awesome photos! Ive heard nothing but great things about Yellowstone!
Thank you! 😀 It is wonderful there. Crowds, not so much (it’s not actually terrible most places there) but it’s totally worth it still if you can only go when it’s busy
Absolutely amazing photos! I love the colors the geysers create, you captured it just perfectly. This is one of my favorite parks in the U.S.! Thanks for the virtual tour and tips.
Thank you! 😀 It’s probably one of my favorites as well
These photos are amazing! I especially love the shots of the bison. We have them in our national parks in Canada, too, and their sheer size always makes my jaw drop.
Thank you! 😀 They’re so big, it’s crazy! I was super excited when we saw them since it was the only wildlife we saw. I saw a bunch this winter too and was just as excited! We also saw 5 baby ones together and they were soooo cute!
Yellowstone is on my bucket list since forever! Your photos make me wanna go so much 🙂
I really wanted to go here when I was in the US but I didn’t make it! These photos definitely make me want to put in the effort to go though!
It’s definitely worth it! The whole area with the Tetons (and Glacier farther north, I haven’t been yet) is amazing!
WOW your photos are brilliant. Keep up with the great photography. Can’t wait to visit 🙂
Thank you! 😀 It’s wonderful there
Wow! My husband keeps telling me about how lovely yellowstone is. Unfortunately I am not sure when I will get a chance to visit USA let alone Yellowstone. I’m craving for a road trip. One where I can pitch my tent and watch the stars. It almost seems like the park is calling out my name. 🙁
Yes! This would be an awesome area for seeing the stars and the west is perfect for roadtrips! Hopefully someday you’ll make it here! 😀
I love this!! Such beautiful photos. I’d love to go back. I went years ago with my family, but I was only about 13 at the time so I was totally uninterested in everything we did and just wanted to go home haha. I’d SO appreciate it more now though. That valley with the river in it 😍
Thank you! 😀 Hahah, I know how that is. Isn’t it so pretty!?
Awesome! I’ve started being more interested in National Parks and Yellowstone looks so cool. Great captures!
Justine
https://www.theiridescentwings.com/
Me too! I’ve spent the last year exploring more of the US and it’s parks and will be this year too!
Your pictures totally support the article title. Now I want to go to Yellowstone!
Haha, thank you! 😀 I’m dying to go back!
Your photos are stunning – totally make me wanna go 🙂 Do you know the BBC mini series on Yellowstone NP? It’s a four-part series following several animals throughout the four seasons and it’s soon gorgeous!
Thank you! 😀 Ohh I haven’t heard of that, but I’ll have to look into it!
This is a great article for those wanting to visit Yellowstone! I loved it 🙂
Thank you! 😀 I’m glad you enjoyed it!
Beautiful photos! I was here when I was in high school, but I would love to go back as an adult. Thanks for the tips as well!
Thank you! 😀 I’m glad you enjoyed it
Isn’t it just the best park in the western US? So much diversity! Yellowstone ties Glacier and Zion as my favorite NPs on that side of the country.