Yellowstone National Park Bucketlist

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Are you planning on visiting Yellowstone National Park in 2021? Yellowstone has always been a dream trip of mine and in 2020, I got to cross it off my own bucketlist, There is something special about Yellowstone, after all, this part of the Rockies is 75 million years old! There is so much to do and so many things to see that you may feel overwhelmed, have no fear, this Yellowstone National Park Bucketlist can help!

Although this park has no shortage of visitors it feels wild compared to other parks, and that has a lot to do with the fact that hundreds of species of animals call Yellowstone home.

There are so many unbelievable things to do at Yellowstone National Park. You could probably stay for 6 months and still only scratch the surface. As it was, I had 3 days in Yellowstone on my first trip to Montana and Wyoming. Most people only have about 3 days and max about 5 days in Yellowstone so make sure to figure out what is most important for you to see.

If you’re looking for the dreamy things you need to see in Yellowstone National Park, I’ve got you! I hate the word bucketlist, but it perfectly describes this list…it could go on and on forever but if you’ve only got 3days to a week max in Yellowstone, this list is perfect for you.

Yellowstone National Park Bucketlist

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The Basics:

Where Is Yellowstone National Park?

Yellowstone National Park encompasses nearly 3,500-square miles of wilderness recreation area atop a volcanic hot spot. The park lies mostly in Wyoming, but spreads into parts of Montana and Idaho too.

What Can I Expect At Yellowstone?

Yellowstone features spectacular canyons, amazing alpine rivers, lush forests, awesome hot springs and even gushing geysers, including its most famous, Old Faithful and Grand Prismatic. It’s also home to over 200 species of animal, including bears, wolves, bison, elk, coyote, moose, and antelope.

When Should I Visit?

Yellowstone is open year round and you can visit during any season but here are a few things to keep in mind.

Winter:

Much of the park closes down during the winter months. Only Lamar Valley is accessible in your own vehicle and even those roads close if the weather gets bad enough. However, there are several advantages to visiting in winter, you get to see the park by snow coach or snowmobile, which gives it a completely different feel. Keep in mind that the record low in Winter is -66 degrees (fahrenheit). Find out more here.

Tip: Wolves are also more active and easier to spot during the winter months. I cannot wait to visit Yellowstone in winter!

Spring:

Perhaps a little later than you are thinking, Spring hits Yellowstone sometime toward the end of May. The awesome thing about visiting the park in spring is getting to see all the new babies! You are more likely to spot red dogs (baby bison), elk calves, and even grizzly cubs in spring! I’m hoping to get back to Yellowstone in the spring of this year!

Summer:

Summer in the park will bring beautiful weather but insane crowds. Visiting Yellowstone during the summer months in NOT for the faint of heart. Most visitors come to the park between June-August.

Fall:

My first visit to Yellowstone was at the end of September/beginning of October, and I can’t recommend it enough! I loved fall because the animals were really active in Lamar Valley. I got to see thousands of bison, a grizzly, a moose, tons of elk (during rut so I got to hear the dreamy bugles and 30+ wolves! What’s not to love?

Did You Know Yellowstone National Park?:

Did you know that half of the world’s hydrothermal features are in Yellowstone? Well, they are! There are more than 10,000 hydrothermal features in the park.

Yellowstone is, in fact, a supervolcano. Yep, it sure is! One of the largest active volcanoes in the world lies under Yellowstone. It’s been about 2.1 million years since the first major eruption of this volcano. However, it’s been about 70,000 years since the last lava flow at Yellowstone.

Did you know that Yellowstone is the only place in the United States that bison have continuously lived since prehistoric times? Well, it is! Bison injure many people at Yellowstone because they are incredibly unpredictable and can run three times faster than any human.

Yellowstone is also home to the largest concentration of mammals in the lower 48 states. That’s right, there are over 67 species of mammals including grizzly bears, wolves, moose, elk, and fox.

Know Before You Go: Yellowstone National Park Edition

You will need a park pass for visiting Yellowstone.
- It’s $35 for a week.
- Or you can purchase America The Beautiful Pass for $80 and have unlimited access to all National Parks. You can buy your America The Beautiful Pass here.

For the 2021 Season – There are planned road closures in the park on the Grand Loop Road between Tower Falls and Chittenden Road. It will be closed until May of 2022, and it was closed during my visit last year as well.

You are probably severely underestimating the size of Yellowstone. It takes hours and hours of driving to get around the park. Don’t get me wrong, it’s all beautiful but it’s way bigger than you think.
- It’s 2.2 million acres, just to put that into perspective.
- Find a map here.

Yellowstone is actually in 3 different states. Most of the park lies within Wyoming, but there are small parts in both Montana and Idaho.

I didn’t know this until my trip last fall, but bison eyes do not glow in the dark as deer and elk do. So, if you are visiting a bison heavy area (Lamar or Hayden Valley) make sure to leave before it gets completely dark. You will never see them.

Pets are prohibited in most areas at Yellowstone National Park. They are permitted in Mammoth Village and Old Faithful (just not on the boardwalk).

Yellowstone National Park Bucketlist

Drive Grand Loop Road –

Honestly, if you are in Yellowstone there is no way you are going to miss Grand Loop Road. This loop is 142-mile circular route that passes every major landmark and visitor center in the park.

Tip – There are planned road closures in the park on the Grand Loop Road between Tower Falls and Chittenden Road. It will be closed until May of 2022.

Don’t Miss A Yellowstone Waterfall –

There are many waterfalls to choose from inside the park. Of course, the most popular are the Lower and Upper Falls of the Yellowstone River, and yes, they will be crowded. But don’t let that stop you, check them out anyway because they are so impressive and stunningly beautiful.

If you aren’t in the Upper and Lower Falls area you could also check out Tower Falls or Mystic Falls. And if you want a really pretty waterfall with next to no hiking involved definitely check out Gibbons Falls.

Fairy Falls is another great option, but it is an easy 5.4-mile round trip. Bonus: it’s one of Yellowstone’s tallest waterfalls.

Visit A Hydrothermal Feature –

There are an incredible number of hydrothermal features, 10,000 to be exact, in the park. Visit as many as you can, but make sure to check out at least one.

Here are a few that you shouldn’t skip:

Old Faithful –

Keep in mind that there is no scheduled when it comes to Old Faithful, and she’s not quite as faithful as her name suggests. If you end up catching the end of the eruption you may have to wait 30+ mins for the next.

This is a dog friendly area, but they are not allowed up on the viewing boardwalk. There is plenty of seating behind the boardwalk where you can see Old Faithful go off.

If you aren’t into crowds skip the boardwalk for Observation Point where you can get a bird’s eye view of Old Faithful. It’s only a 1.1 mile hike!

Tip – Plan to get here 20 to 30 mins early because the boardwalk gets incredibly packed.

Grand Prismatic Springs –

Tips For Geysers & Geyser Safety –

If you miss the Old Faithful and have some time to kill check out the Upper Geyser Basin.

Upper Geyser Basin gives you a lot of bang for your buck. In this boardwalk area, you will find several geysers including Giantess and The Lion Group.

Midway Geyser this one is hit or miss because it’s a regular stop for tour buses. You need to hit it at the right time for it not to be crazy packed with people.

Another can’t miss is the Norris Geyser Basin.

At hydrothermal features stay on the boardwalks. These features have injured or killed more people in Yellowstone than any other natural feature.

Pets are prohibited in all thermal areas because there is such a risk of them being injured.

Toxic gases can build up to dangerous levels in some of the hydrothermal areas. If you feel sick leave the area immediately.

The Grand Canyon Of Yellowstone –

The Grand Canyon of Yellowstone varies from about 800 to 1200 feet in depth and is between 1500 and 4000 feet wide. It’s about 24 miles long and if you look closely you can see that steam vents and geysers are still active on the canyon walls. Inspiration Point and Artists Point were my favorite lookouts.

Yellowstone Lake –

This is actually the largest high elevation lake in North America. And it’s insanely beautiful! This lake is also the home to the highest population of cutthroat trouts in North America. Not only that but, the earliest archeological evidence in the park was found on the shore of this beautiful lake. While it may not be the most impressive area you will see in Yellowstone, it is absolutely worth a visit.

Spot As Much Wildlife As You Can In Lamar Valley –

There is NO better place to do that than Lamar Valley. In just a sunrise and sunset drive through Lamar I was able to see 1 grizzly, 1 moose, 45+ wolves, hundreds of bison.

Check Out: The One Place In Yellowstone You Can’t Miss: Lamar Valley

Remember to be respectful while wildlife viewing. I know it’s hard to resist getting close to these big beautiful animals. But they are not pets, these are wild animals that can harm you.

Tips For Spotting Wildlife in Lamar Valley –

Do NOT stop on the road unless you are in a bison jam and it is unavoidable. There are so many pullouts in Lamar Valley. See the photo below because bison jams are very real things. These guys move at their own pace but Park Rangers will help nudge them along.

Pack a great pair of binoculars, particularly if you want to spot wolves or bears you will most likely need binoculars. Don’t worry if you don’t have a great pair – many of the wolf spotters will let you look through their amazing gear to see wolves and bears. I also suggest a spotting scope if it’s in your budget.

If you are into photography, make sure to pack a telephoto (zoom) lens. Or you can do what I did and rent a ridiculous zoom lens. It was amazing to take pics of the wolf pack where you can actually see that they are wolves. This was with a 600x zoom.

Click here for wildlife viewing gear

You will know where the wolves are while driving through Lamar. Anytime you see a massive group of people with the longest camera lenses you’ve ever seen – you can bet there are wolves there! I have a special connection with wolves, and it was amazing to see them in person. They are more active in the morning and evening hours. I highly recommend sunset and sunrise drives through Lamar.

Elk usually hang out in the Mammoth Hot Springs area. Especially during the rut, please, be careful of how close you get to ANY of these animals. Bulls are incredibly aggressive during rut and cows are aggressive in spring after they’ve given birth to their calves. Just be careful if visiting in spring because cow elk have been known to hide their calves near cars or buildings. NEVER EVER touch a calf if you find it.

No matter how calm the animals at Yellowstone may appear they are wild animals and are unpredictable at best.
If you see wolves near any developed area tell a Ranger ASAP.

Wildlife Distances –

Wolves & Bears – at least 100 yards
Bison & Elk – at least 25 yards
All other animals at Yellowstone – 25 yards

Visit Hayden Valley Too –

Hayden Valley is a really popular place to see bison. If I’m being honest, I saw hundreds of bison in Lamar and maybe 75ish in Hayden. It’s located between the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone and Yellowstone Lake so people who are trying to see wildlife but don’t want to drive the whole way to Lamar Valley head to Hayden. Try visiting Hayden Valley for a sunrise or sunset.

Check Out Mammoth Hot Springs –

Mammoth Hot Springs is a popular area and is usually crazy packed at all hours of the day. But on the plus side, you can almost always spot elk here, especially during rut (end of Sept). Mammoth is where the elk hang out, plain and simple. I got to see this big beautiful bull and his very impressive harem 2 days in a row.

Tip – if you want a quick lunch, grab a bison brat at the Mammoth Grill. They also have burgers, sandwiches, brats, and hotdogs.

Tip– Mammoth Village is also dog friendly with plenty of green space for your pups to explore. Just keep your distance from any elk. Particularly during rut.

Don’t Miss The Northern Entrance Of The Park –

The Roosevelt Arch is located at the Northern Entrance of Yellowstone. I stayed in Montana during my visit to Yellowstone, so I only ever entered through the Northern Entrance. If you are staying in West Yellowstone this will be a trek, but you will also get to experience some gorgeous scenery on the way. The arch was built in 1903 and was meant to be a grand entrance into the north side of the park, and oh is it ever!

Tip – If you leave the park at the Northern Entrance late at night and are scrambling for a quick but yummy meal, try out Yellowstone Pizza Company. The Soda Butte Elk Pizza is amazing!

Take A Lesser Known Scenic Drive –

There are several options for scenic drives that will be less crowded than Grand Loop Road.

Dunraven Pass – There are tons of overlooks where you can stop and take in those amazing Yellowstone views.

Blacktail Plateau Drive – This 7-mile scenic drive is a one way dirt road that runs along Grand Loop Road. There is a possibility of fighting wildlife on this road.
- I’m not sure if this will be accessible in 2021 due to road construction in the Tower area.

See A Sunrise or Sunset In The Park –

Sunrise, Sunset, Or Both. Yellowstone has some truly epic sunrises and sunsets. Trust me, you don’t want to miss these! If you know me or follow me on Instagram, you know I LIVE for a good sunrise or sunset. Lamar Valley is a great spot for each, but there are tons of amazing places in the park.

Perfect sunrise locations: Hayden Valley, Grand Loop Road, Artists Point, West Thumb Geyser Basin, geysers, and hot springs add to the drama of the golden hour.

Magical sunset locations: Firehole Lake Drive, Yellowstone Lake, and Duck Lake, Lower Geyser Basin*, Firehole Lake Drive and the boardwalks at Fountain Paint Pots

Check Out The Night Sky –

On clear nights stars fill the skies over Yellowstone. The Milky Way is visible from April through October, and the aurora borealis makes an appearance once or twice a year from September through March. On my last trip, I was there during a full moon, which was really cool.

Want A Free Printable Checklist To Take With You To The Park?

A Little History:

This part of the Rockies is incredibly old. 75 million years old to be exact. For about 11,000 of those years, Native American’s called Yellowstone their home. Well not the actual park, for fear of “evil spirit” who lived among the geysers and hot springs. But four main tribes lived around the park and all wanted to claim the area as their own.

That’s right, Yellowstone was a battleground of sorts for the tribes who lived around it, namely: the Crow, Blackfeet, Bannocks, and Shoshone. However, after becoming both America’s and the world’s FIRST National Park on March 1, 1872 things changed dramatically.

Unfortunately, for the Native Americans who lived near the park, they were pushed out by the government after the park was established. The Army was instructed to keep the natives out. And the public was fed the idea that Native Americans were never there. Ya know because they were afraid of the geysers.

Yellowstone National Park is nothing short of magical, and as cheesy as it may sound, it’s special. There is something very wild about the park although it welcomes millions of visitors each year. It’s one of my favorite places I’ve ever been, and I can’t wait to go back. Have you been to Yellowstone? What was your favorite part of your trip?

Yellowstone National Park Bucketlist