Yellowstone National Park Guide
Yellowstone gave us days filled with contrasts: steaming springs and snowy trails, powerful waterfalls and quiet lakeside moments, familiar wildlife and a distant wolf pack we will never forget. You can explore by scenic drives, boardwalk walks, guided tours, or a challenging summit hike, choosing what interests you.
My wife and I visited in June 2018 to celebrate our 30th wedding anniversary. We stayed at Lake Yellowstone Hotel, began with a full-day bus tour to get oriented, and then explored independently in our rental pickup truck. That combination helped us discover places we wanted to revisit while leaving room for unexpected stops.
This guide brings together highlights from that trip and practical ideas for planning your own Yellowstone adventure. Whether you travel solo, as a couple, or with friends, give yourself time to enjoy the places that capture your attention. Our experiences reflect our 2018 visit; check current official information for access, services, and conditions before traveling.
Getting Oriented: A Guided Tour Followed by Independent Exploring
One of our best decisions was taking a full-day bus tour early in our stay. The bus picked us up at Lake Yellowstone Hotel, and our knowledgeable driver helped us appreciate the park’s immense size while introducing us to places we could explore further on our own.
Our tour included West Thumb, the Continental Divide sign, Old Faithful, Gibbon Falls, and the Lower Falls area, with additional stops along the way. We enjoyed meeting the other passengers, and the preferred tour parking at our tour stops made the day convenient.
At Old Faithful, we watched two eruptions and had lunch at the Old Faithful Inn. Inside its open log interior, a violinist played “Oh, What a Beautiful Mornin’.” It is one of those small moments that still brings the trip back to us.
The tour introduced us to the park without having to drive that day. Over the following days, we used our rental pickup to return to favorite places, take walks and hikes, and stop whenever something caught our attention.
Arriving in Yellowstone and Settling In
We flew into Bozeman, Montana, picked up our rental pickup truck, and bought an inexpensive cooler, water, snacks, and food before heading toward Yellowstone. Having supplies with us made it convenient to spend our days exploring.
Even before entering the park, we stopped to photograph Montana’s scenery. At the Yellowstone entrance sign, we traded photo-taking duties with another family. When we kissed for a photo, they asked if we were newlyweds. We smiled and explained that we were celebrating our 30th wedding anniversary.
We continued through Roosevelt Arch, stopped at Mammoth Hot Springs, and made our way through the park. We made more scenic stops, took in views of the Yellowstone River near Tower Junction, and even saw snow flurries and sleet at higher elevations.
Lake Yellowstone Hotel became our base for the visit. We loved its combination of elegance and rustic character, along with its incredible location beside the lake. Returning there after a day of exploring became part of the trip’s pleasure.
Grand Prismatic Spring and the Firehole Area
Grand Prismatic Spring was a highlight of our independent exploration. We visited the boardwalk area, then followed the Fairy Falls Trail to the Grand Prismatic Spring Overlook. Seeing the spring from above gave us a different perspective on its colors and surroundings.
We also explored the Firehole River area and took Firehole Lake Drive, stopping to see thermal features including Firehole Spring, Great Fountain Geyser, Pine Cone Geyser, and Artesia Geyser. Walking the designated paths and boardwalks gave us time to look closely and appreciate the variety of features.
Along Firehole Canyon Road, we stopped for photographs and short walks. The swimming area was closed during our visit, but we still had plenty to enjoy along the river.
On our way back to Lake Yellowstone Hotel, we stopped at Old Faithful again. Returning independently let us spend more time walking around the area after our earlier introduction on the bus tour.
Quiet Moments by Yellowstone Lake and a Sunset Tour
Some of our favorite moments in Yellowstone came when we slowed down. Near Pumice Point Picnic Area, we walked along the lakeshore and found a place to sit on the stones. We watched small waves roll in, with snow-covered mountains in the distance. It was a memorable stop simply because we gave ourselves time to enjoy it.
Back at Lake Yellowstone Hotel, we joined a historic yellow bus tour to Lake Butte Overlook for sunset. Along the way, we stopped near Fishing Bridge and took a short group walk beside the Yellowstone River to look for cutthroat trout.
Our guide shared stories from his travels and pointed out an area where a grizzly had recently been seen. We did not see the bear ourselves, but hearing about its presence added another dimension to the walk.
At Lake Butte Overlook, we spent time with the group, saw a golden eagle, and watched an unforgettable sunset over Yellowstone Lake. The tour gave us a different way to experience the park and a wonderful ending to the day.
Hiking Mount Washburn
Our hike from Dunraven Pass to the summit of Mount Washburn became a defining moment of our anniversary trip. We encountered snow along the trail, sweeping views, and colder, windier conditions as we climbed above the trees.
My wife was feeling a little under the weather that morning, and I initially imagined we might walk a short distance before turning around. Her determination, combined with how much we were enjoying the scenery, helped make the climb especially memorable.
At the summit, we discovered that the station was closed after wind damage the night before. We still took time to appreciate the views before heading down, carrying another unforgettable Yellowstone memory with us.
Read our Mount Washburn hiking story for the full experience, route information, photographs, and planning tips.
Wildlife Watching in Lamar and Hayden Valleys
We saw bison every day during our visit, along with other wildlife that made each drive feel like a chance to discover something new. After our Mount Washburn hike, we headed to Lamar Valley hoping to see wolves. We spotted pronghorn and spent time overlooking the Lamar River, enjoying the scenery even though we had not found a wolf pack.
A friendly visitor suggested trying Hayden Valley, which fit our return journey. There, we stopped at a turnout where people had spotting scopes and impressive binoculars. We had standard binoculars and our phones, but little experience finding wolves.
My wife noticed a young couple packing up their viewing equipment and suggested that we head in the same direction. At another pullout, I introduced myself and admitted that we were hoping to learn from them. They explained where they expected the wolves might appear, based on their previous observations.
Before long, a wolf pack came over a distant hill, hunting elk. At dusk, our phones could not capture the detail, but we could see the wolves and will never forget the experience. A friendly conversation with experienced wildlife watchers had helped us appreciate something we might otherwise have missed.
One Last Morning Before Grand Teton National Park
On our final day in Yellowstone, we drove east toward Cody to explore a little more before leaving the park. We returned to Lake Butte Overlook and spent time at Sylvan Lake and around the Avalanche Peak trailhead area.
These stops gave us another chance to slow down and enjoy the scenery. Our visit had included a summit hike, geysers, waterfalls, wildlife, and guided tours, but simply taking our time remained one of its greatest pleasures.
We stopped at Lewis Falls on our way south before continuing to Grand Teton National Park for the next part of our anniversary trip. We were excited about what lay ahead, but a little sad to leave Yellowstone. We still hope to return.
Will you be continuing south as we did? Explore our Grand Teton National Park guide for the next part of our anniversary trip, including scenic stops, moose sightings, and hiking around Jenny Lake.
Build a Flexible Plan Before You Go
Before our trip, we talked with people who had visited Yellowstone, did online research, and mapped out our days on a whiteboard calendar. We included places we especially wanted to see alongside optional stops, then photographed the board so we could carry the plan on our phones.
That preparation proved useful once we were exploring. When we encountered closures or discovered something interesting, we could adjust without losing track of our priorities. The plan gave us direction while leaving room to change our minds.
We often started early and stayed out late. During busier periods, we found places to pause and enjoy the scenery rather than spending every hour at the busiest attractions. Yellowstone’s long June evenings surprised us and gave us more time outdoors than we had expected.
We also learned to consider elevation, hydration, and changing weather when planning our days. Carrying water and allowing flexibility in our activities helped us prepare for the different places we explored.
We had planned an anniversary dinner at Lake Yellowstone Hotel’s restaurant, but canceled twice because we wanted to keep exploring until dark. Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches outdoors in Yellowstone won out over an elegant dinner inside. We never did try the restaurant, so we cannot compare the dining experience, but those outdoor meals became part of our anniversary memories.
What Helped Us Enjoy Yellowstone
Our visit combined guided tours, independent drives, short walks, and a challenging hike. These choices helped us make the most of our time:
Get oriented early. Our full-day bus tour introduced us to the park’s scale and helped us choose places to revisit.
Bring supplies for the day. A cooler, water, snacks, and food gave us flexibility while exploring.
Choose a mix of activities. We enjoyed quiet lakeside stops as much as the bigger attractions. Build your trip around your interests and energy.
Prepare for changing weather. During our June visit, we encountered sunshine, snow flurries, sleet, and strong summit winds. Layers were useful.
Leave room for discoveries. Conversations with guides and other visitors added to our experience, especially when watching wildlife.
Allow time to linger. Returning to favorite places and stopping without a packed schedule gave us some of our best memories.
Whether you prefer exploring independently or joining a group, choose an approach that helps you feel prepared and confident. You do not have to recreate our itinerary to have a rewarding Yellowstone visit.
Check Current Conditions Before Your Visit
Our memories and photographs come from June 2018. Roads, trails, tours, lodging services, and access to individual attractions can change, so check Yellowstone’s current conditions before planning your route.
Confirm seasonal road openings, weather forecasts, trail conditions, and operating dates for the services you intend to use. Check tour schedules and pickup arrangements directly with the operator.
In thermal areas, stay on designated trails and boardwalks. When watching wildlife, remain at least 100 yards from bears, wolves, and cougars, and at least 25 yards from other animals, including bison and elk. Give animals more space whenever needed, and never approach or disturb them for a photograph.
Review Yellowstone’s safety guidance before your trip, including advice on hiking in bear country and carrying and using bear spray.
Yellowstone gave us an anniversary trip filled with discovery, shared challenges, and quiet moments we still remember. Whether your highlight is a geyser eruption, a mountain hike, wildlife viewed from a distance, or time beside the lake, leave room to enjoy what makes the visit meaningful to you.
Explore our National Parks guide for more firsthand experiences, or browse our hiking guides for trail stories and preparation ideas.
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