Things to do in Yellowstone

The Upper Geyser Basin holds the world's largest concentration of geysers, and Old Faithful is the one everyone comes for. Boardwalks loop out to Castle Geyser and Grand Geyser, so plan on more than one eruption. Check the predictions at the visitor center, which is open from mid-April to the end of October and again from mid-December in winter.

Base yourself in West Yellowstone for the shortest drive here from outside the park.

This is the rainbow-ringed pool from the photos, the largest hot spring in the park. A boardwalk runs right around it. Parking is limited, and the National Park Service advises avoiding the main sights between 10 am and 4 pm, so go early or late in the day. Stay on the boardwalk: burns are a common cause of serious injury in the thermal areas.

The Yellowstone River drops over Upper and Lower Falls into a yellow-walled canyon, with overlooks and trails on the North and South Rims. June is when the falls run at full volume. Canyon Village is the most central place in the park to stay, and it is 35 minutes from Lake Village and 30 minutes from Norris Junction.

Lamar Valley is the park's best-known wildlife ground, and it is on the one road open to cars all year. Come at first light with binoculars or a spotting scope. The National Park Service lists black bears, bison calves, wolf pups, moose calves and pronghorn calves here in May, and wolves through winter. Stay at least 100 yards from bears and wolves.

The closest base is Gardiner, where to stay for Lamar Valley, and our best time to visit Yellowstone guide has which animals to expect each month.

Between Canyon Village and Yellowstone Lake, this wide valley is known for bison, with the rut in July and August, and raptor migration in September and October. Use the pullouts rather than stopping in the road, and stay at least 25 yards from bison and elk: they are wild and dangerous, however calm they look.

Stepped travertine terraces, boardwalks and the old buildings of Fort Yellowstone sit 15 minutes from the North Entrance. It is the one major thermal area you can drive to all year. Elk often graze the lawns here, with calves in May and June and the rut from September, and the Albright Visitor Center is within walking distance.

Boat tours and motorboat rentals run from Bridge Bay Marina, from June 12 in the 2026 season. Lake water is extremely cold, in the 40s Fahrenheit in June and only the 60s by late summer, and sudden winds can raise waves of three to five feet, so a guided tour is the easy option. All private craft need an inspection and permit first.

The park has more than 1,100 miles of trails, and day hikes need no permit. Most areas hold snow until late May or early June, and some high passes until late July, so stick to lower elevations early in the season. Carry bear spray, and rent it at Canyon or Old Faithful if you are flying in.

Tower Fall drops 132 feet, close to the road. Nearby Roosevelt has horseback and stagecoach rides, listed from June 5 to September 7 in the 2026 season, and it is a quieter corner of the park with rolling sagebrush hills and canyon scenery. The road south over Dunraven Pass is the last to open and among the first to close.

In winter the interior is reached only on guided snowcoaches and snowmobiles, and the geyser basins steam in deep snow. You can stay at Old Faithful Snow Lodge overnight, or take a day trip from West Yellowstone. Our guide to Yellowstone in winter has dates, roads and how to book.

See Yellowstone in winter before you book.

Sights, seasons, dates and drive times come from the National Park Service's Things To Do, Seasons, Directions and Safety pages, read November 2, 2026. Dates are for the 2026 season and change each year, so check operating dates before you go. Tour prices are as listed by each partner that day.