Yellowstone National Park - Colter's Hell
Yellowstone National Park is the first national park in the US. It was established in 1872 under President Ulysses S. Grant and became a model for national parks across the world. It became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1978. Known to the early Rocky Mountains explorers as Colter’s Hell, Yellowstone is an eerie blend of beautiful forests, boulder-strewn rivers, as well as boiling pools and steaming geysers.
Yellowstone NP is a unique park. Even though it’s located in the heart of the Rockies and the Continental Divide passes through it, you don’t see many peaks around. Instead, you are inside a caldera of an active super volcano with geysers exploding all around you. Be prepared, parts of Yellowstone smell like sulfur.
I’ve visited the park 7 times, so I feel like I know it fairly well. While the whole park is amazing, I would recommend 3 sites if you are pressed for time: the Old Faithful area, the Grand Prismatic Spring, and finally, the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone. If you have more time, read my detailed post on the most beautiful things in Yellowstone National Park.
Icon of Yellowstone National Park - The Old Faithful
The best known geyser in Yellowstone National Park is the Old Faithful. Its name comes from the fact that its eruptions are predictable. Basically, every 35 to 120 minutes the Old Faithful puts on a show for thousands of gathered visitors. It’s certainly a sight to behold. The water erupts as high as 180 feet. Find out when the eruptions happen and get a front seat view for the spectacle. Unquestionably, it’s a lot of fun. Occasionally, take a quick glance around at the people’s faces. Basically, you’ll see hundreds of people in awe.
After the show, take the loop trail and enjoy the view of various smaller and larger geysers, springs and pools. I really like the Morning Glory. It has beautiful colors and, to me, it seems like a miniature of the Grand Prismatic Spring.
Occasionally, you may see a buffalo in this area. It’s a treat to see them.
Grand Prismatic Spring
Even though I have been to Yellowstone National Park many times, I only visited this place for the first time last year. Because there are so many attractions to see in the park, it’s easy to miss amazing places. Don’t miss this one. The area with the two pools is astonishing. It is truly nature at its best. The colors are incredible and the sight will make you appreciate the beauty of this area even more. If the Grand Prismatic Spring is covered in steam, you can still see it from an overlook. You can find more information here:
The Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone
Finally, the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone is a sight to behold. The waterfalls look spectacular set against the yellowish canyon. If you happen to be there in the off-season, it’s amazing to sit at one of the viewpoints and admire the exquisite beauty of the canyon. The scenery is completely different from the other parts of the park and the rugged canyon makes you realize you are in the wild. In terms of overlooks, I particularly like Artist Point and Inspiration Point.
To do justice to the park, you will need to spend several days here. There are thousands of visitors in the park every day, especially in the summer, so be prepared for crowds. Plan well. There are a lot of things to see in the park and you won’t be able to see everything in one day. Do your research ahead of time and choose sites you absolutely want to see.
Yellowstone is an amazing park and you won’t be disappointed.
