Best Geothermal Basin

Norris Geyser Basin

Norris Geyser Basin is Yellowstone’s most dynamic geothermal basin.  It is the hottest and most acidic basin resulting in colorful pools, active geysers, and steaming grounds.  Norris Geyser Basin is part of one of the world’s most active volcanoes.

Norris Geyser Basin | Best Geothermal Basin

To visit:  Located almost in the central part of Yellowstone National Park, Norris Geyser Basin is just off the main road.  If you can find parking in the lot, it is just a short distance to the first overlook.  Because it is so popular, park rangers frequently close the parking lot until people clear out, which forces people to have to park on the road and hike up.  We visited twice during our visit and were lucky to find a spot in the lot right before they closed it for a period of time.

The vast expanse of this basin is stunning from above.  Walk the boardwalks all around the basin for great views in every direction.

Norris Geyser Basin | Best Goethermal Basin

There is a small museum here, sharing facts and information on the Norris Geyser Basin as well as information on all the types of geothermal areas in Yellowstone National Park.  

Most Beautiful Area

Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone

The Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone is a dramatic canyon cut by the snaking Yellowstone River, featuring waterfalls and epic views.

Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone | Most Beautiful Area

To visit:  We started at Brink of the Lower Falls, easily finding parking in the large lot after 4:00 pm.  This was also a great time to visit for photography!

From the parking lot, we hiked the trail down to the Lower Falls.  It is all downhill with switchbacks leading to the viewpoint right next to the Lower Falls. 

Trail to Brink of the Lower Falls – Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone | Most Beautiful Area

This means you will be climbing uphill the whole way back!  It is a short trail, though, and doable for most folks.

The views of the falls from this vantage point at the bottom are worth the hike.  You are standing right next to where the Lower Falls cascade over the edge with great views of the river in the distance.

Views from Brink of the Lower Falls | Most Beautiful Area

Back up at the top of the trail, we continued on, following the North Rim Trail.  The trail runs along the parking area and road with short walks to viewpoints along the way.  

More Viewpoints | Most Beautiful Area

We got back in the car and drove to South Rim Drive, where you will take a bridge across the Yellowstone River, parking at Artists Point (the end of South Rim Drive).  Again, we easily found parking here in the late afternoon and the lighting was perfect!

Artists Point | Most Beautiful Area

Artists Point is not to be missed.  From here, you get views of the Lower Falls with the blue Yellowstone River snaking through the yellow canyons.  

Artists Point | Most Beautiful Area

Most Unique Features

Mammoth Hot Springs

Located near the northern entrance of Yellowstone, this area of travertine terraces are the fastest changing features of the park.  The terraces vary in size and color with dry, chalk white terraces contrasted right next to bright orange terraces with water flowing down.

Mammoth Hot Springs | Most Unique Area

To visit:  Park in one of the lots right off the main road for the Lower Terraces.  Walk the series of boardwalks that wind throughout the terraces.  We visited in the late afternoon and found one spot in the lot.  

Mammoth Hot Springs | Most Unique Area

Most Iconic Sites

Old Faithful and Grand Prismatic Spring

You can’t go to Yellowstone without visiting its two stars, Old Faithful and Grand Prismatic Spring.

Old Faithful is a predictable geyser, erupting approximately every 90 minutes.  As you wait for the eruption, steam starts to rise, water starts to spew, and suddenly, the geyser erupts, putting on one of nature’s best shows, lasting for several minutes.

Old Faithful | Most Iconic Site

To visit:  Old Faithful has its own village as it is the most developed area of the park.  The parking area is massive, serving the lodges, restaurants, and stores here.  Park anywhere and walk around to the best visitor’s center in the park, grab items from the general store for a picnic lunch, and find a spot on the boardwalk as you wait for Old Faithful to erupt.

Grand Prismatic Spring is the world’s largest hot spring and another feature not to miss.  The pool is turquoise blue with thermophiles in the water causing the change in color along the edges, resulting in a dramatically colored hot spring.

Grand Prismatic Spring | Most Iconic Site

To visit:  The parking lot here is tiny for such a popular site.  Most people end up parking in the designated areas along the road.  We visited in the early morning so we found parking, however the steam was not yet burned off so we didn’t get to see the dramatic colors.  We recommend heading to the Fairy Falls Trail (which we share about below) midday (between 11 am – 3 pm) for the best colors and a birds eye view.

Best Short Hikes to Viewpoints

Observation Point to view Old Faithful

After viewing Old Faithful from ground-level with all the crowds, head up to Observation Point to get great birds-eye views. 

Observation Point at Old Faithful | Best Short Hike to Viewpoint

To visit:  Simply following the boardwalk around Old Faithful to the right, cross the river, and take a hard right when you get to the Observation Point sign.  It is a short, steep hike but worth it for the views.

Fairy Falls to view Grand Prismatic Spring

We recommend visiting here between 11 am – 3 pm to get the best colors, according to a park ranger we talked to.  The steam lifts off by then and on a sunny day Grand Prismatic Spring will be showing off its colors!

Grand Prismatic Spring Overlook | Best Short Hike to Viewpoint

To visit:  Park at the Fairy Falls trailhead and hike the short but steep trail up to the viewpoint of Grand Prismatic Spring.  This is absolutely worth it as you will get to see the full spring from above, much better than the boardwalk that goes through Midway Geyser Basin where you get up to close to Grand Prismatic Spring.

Best Place for Wildlife

Lamar Valley

Known as America’s Serengeti, this is the place to view a variety of Yellowstone’s wildlife, such as bison, pronghorn, bears, and wolves.  While there is no guarantee on what you will see, you will very likely see bison.

To visit:  If coming from the west, take a right at Tower-Roosevelt junction to continue to Lamar Valley.  This drive is best done in the early morning or late evening, when the wildlife is most active.  

Almost immediately we had a bison that caused a bit of a traffic slowdown as he stubbornly crossed the road and walked in the middle! 

Bison in the road in Lamar Valley | Best Area for Wildlife

If this happens, drive very slow, giving them as much space as possible, but do not stop your vehicle!  Stop only at pullouts to view the wildlife as stopping abruptly can obviously cause accidents and unnecessary backups.  

As we drove further into Lamar Valley, we saw more and more bison!  Moms and babies were walking on a hill and again crossing the road right in front of us!

Bison in Lamar Valley | Best Area for Wildlife

We continued on for a bit, driving slow as they would be running across the road and feeding right on the roadside.  We enjoyed a picnic dinner at a pullout while watching them for a bit.

Bison in Lamar Valley | Best Area for Wildlife

Driving back, we had the best lighting as the sky was turning pink, giving off an evening glow that made the scene so magical.

Beautiful evening light in Lamar Valley | Best Area for Wildlife

NOTE:  While doing this drive in the evening is best to see the wildlife and have great lighting for photos, plan your time carefully so you are not driving back to your lodging in the dark.  We stayed in West Yellowstone, which was almost two hours from Lamar Valley.  Sunset was around 9:00 pm so we planned to turn around by 7:00 pm.  Well, we got distracted and ended up spending more time viewing the wildlife than we had planned, plus a few times we were stopped due to bison crossing the road.  Because of this, the last 45 minutes of our drive was in the dark.  At one point a massive male bison casually crossed the road in front of us in the pitch black darkness!  We drove slow, used our brights, and kept a watchful eye out.  

Best Long Scenic Drive

Tower-Roosevelt Junction to Lamar Valley

This is the road to take if coming from the west (where most people come from) to visit Lamar Valley.  This entire stretch of road is where you will most certainly see herds of bison in the distance and up close.  We shared all about the drive above, but also think this deserves a spot on the “best list” as the scenery on this drive is magnificent.  

Lamar Valley | Best Long Scenic Drive

As you drive down into Lamar Valley, you are treated to incredible views of the landscape unfolding below.  We stopped at Calcite Springs Overlook and saw Pronghorn across the canyon.

Pronghorn in Lamar Valley | Best Long Scenic Drive

Sunset is especially beautiful here.  

Lamar Valley | Best Long Scenic Drive

Best Short Scenic Drive

Firehole

This was recommended to us by a park ranger and I’m so glad we did it.  The Firehole River winds throughout this canyon with beautiful views the entire drive. 

Firehole River | Best Short Scenic Drive

We pulled over almost at the end to check out the Firehole Waterfall.

Firehole Falls | Best Short Scenic Drive

To visit:  Located right after Madison Junction as you head south, it is a 2 mile, one way road, allowing you to drive slowly while taking in the views.