Visit America’s 1st National Park

On March 1, 1872, America’s 1st National Park was established – Yellowstone National Park. Early explorers brought back tales of a land filled with “hidden fires, smoking pits, noxious steams, and the smell of brimstone.” Those tales resulted in preserving this remarkable piece of land.

Yellowstone is one of those National Parks you have to see to believe. Geysers gush hundreds of feet into the air, hurling hot water and steam. Beautiful aqua blue sparkling pools look inviting, until you realize what causes those beautiful colors! Lakes, with the acidity of battery acid, crackle. And mud pots burp and hurl hot mud into the sky, while herds of bison casually saunter by.

It’s easy to spend days exploring the park. And you don’t have to be an experienced hiker to enjoy all the park has to offer. In fact, many of the geyser basins have easy paved trails or boardwalks. With so much to see, here’s our Top 5 Yellowstone Picks:

1.See Old Faithful Erupt: Old Faithful is the world’s best known geyser. It’s so faithful that park rangers post eruption times daily. You won’t have to hike a mile to get to it. There are plenty of benches to snag before the big eruption. And park rangers give talks just before the big event.

2.Explore Upper Geyser Basin: There are plenty of geyser basins in the park, but this one is the granddaddy of them all. Old Faithful is here. But so are some of the park’s other famous features. Take the easy 1.3 mile loop trail past Beehive Geyser, Grand Geyser (the tallest and most predictable geyser in the world), Riverside Geyser, and the most famous pool in the park – Morning Glory. Don’t be surprised to see buffalo and elk wandering through.

3.Visit the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone: Take a break from geysers and witness the most breathtaking scenery in the park. This Grand Canyon is 4,000 feet across, 1,200 feet deep and 20 miles long. An added bonus – the spectacular Upper and Lower Falls. Picture Perfect!

4.Hike the Mud Volcano Area: Some of the park’s more unique features are found here. Cooking Hillside sizzles with temperatures occasionally hovering around 200 degrees. Sour Lake looks so inviting with that sandy shoreline and blue water, but its waters are acidic as battery acid. And Dragon’s Mouth Spring bellows and churns.

5.Hear the Call of the Wild: Head to Lamar Valley at dawn or dusk. You may be lucky enough to hear the howl of the elusive wolf. Over 400 wolves live in and around the park. This is the best chance to hear and even spot one of these beautiful, but dangerous creatures.

Are you ready to plan your ultimate Yellowstone adventure? Then you need our Great American Vacation Ideas Yellowstone National Park Guide! Complete descriptions of the park’s geysers and thermal features, driving tours, hiking suggestions, and off the beaten path adventures can be found inside the pages. Learn about staying in the park, camping, and even stagecoach tours. Buy it today at: greatamericanvacationideas.com/National_Parks.html.