A 2 Day Travel Guide to Yellowstone National Park
Every National Park that I have visited has amazed me in some way or other. The world is full of beauty, but these corners are so precious that they are deemed national treasures. There is something extra special about Yellowstone, the park that started it all. You can hardly believe your eyes as you stare at incredible geothermal features. And the wildlife leaves you both enchanted and entranced. However, as I’ve said before, the park is HUGE! If you only have 2 or 3 days to spend in the park, then this Yellowstone travel guide is for you!
Day 1: The North End of The Park
The Roosevelt Arch
The best way to view the park in general without too much driving is to split it up into sections. The north end of the park starts with the famous Roosevelt Arch. The arch reads, “For the benefit and enjoyment of the people,” which helps set the tone for the incredible things you will witness throughout the day. Stop and take a few moments to marvel at the arch and snap a few pictures. If you can make it there for sunrise, all the better.
Mammoth Hot Springs
After about 30 minutes of driving from the north end, you will come upon Mammoth Hot Springs. These terraces of springs are a must see when visiting Yellowstone. As you walk around on the boardwalks each terrace reflects different colors of white, yellow, or orange depending on the minerals contained therein. Some of the springs are old and their waters have dried up, while some are brand new and just beginning to build their terrace. The boardwalk trails are about 1.5 miles of easy hiking, making for a perfect way to spend the morning. Moreover, you may even get lucky enough to see some wildlife among the springs.
The Grand Canyon Of Yellowstone
No Yellowstone travel guide is complete without at least a half day spent admiring the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone. There are several trails that can take you to many different points of interest in the canyon, but the North rim trail to inspiration point gives you an amazing view of the Lower Falls. The trail is short but tough, with lots of elevation changes and switchbacks, but absolutely worth it. You can take a picnic lunch and allow the vibrations of the falls revive you as you eat.
Another great view of lower falls comes from Artist’s Point, which gives you an amazing overlook view of the canyon and the falls. Honestly, the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone is very large and you can spend the whole day (or days) hiking trails that explore it from top to bottom. It’s also a wonderful day to end the first day in the park.
Day 2: The Upper Geyser Basin (Old Faithful) and The Midway Geyser Basin (The Grand Prismatic Spring)
The Upper Geyser Basin
No visit to Yellowstone is complete without seeing Old Faithful’s incredible display of erupting water several feet into the air. It is definitely the park’s most popular attraction, which thousands of people witness every day. And yet, I found the park’s Upper Geyser Basin almost neglected in comparison. Since Old Faithful erupts every 90 minutes (faithfully!), the time in between eruptions can be used to explore the rest of the amazing geysers in the basin.
Further, Bison roam around the Upper Geyser Basin and can often put on a spectacular display of their own. While we were waiting for Old Faithful, a massive Bison walked up and started grazing. Then, he turned into a complete ham! Getting up on the boardwalk, rolling in the dirt, and stamping his hooves. Finally, Old Faithful starts to erupt, and he walks over and just lays down in front of it. Almost like he was saying, “Hey, I’m the star here!” It was a wonderful experience that we were lucky enough to witness. I’m not sure we would have if he hadn’t lingered around Old Faithful and explored the rest of the geysers to see another eruption.
Midway Geyser Basin
The Midway Geyser Basin holds the awe-inspiring Grand Prismatic Spring, another very popular spot in the park. Almost every Yellowstone travel guide will include this marvel. The colors of the geysers in the Midway Geyser Basin are really cool. The bluest of blue waters that you have ever laid eyes on. Again, the boardwalks around the basin are crowded but give you good close-ups of the geysers.
However, to get a really incredible view? Head to the overlook. You’ll get a birds eye view of the Grand Prismatic Spring, and then get to hike to the Fairy Falls. The Fairy Falls trail is an easy and relatively flat trail that leads to a calm waterfall and water hole. It’s a great way to spend the afternoon with another picnic lunch!
Travel Tip: The Yellowstone app has self-guided audio tours of both the upper and midway geysers basins! Don’t forget to download the app so you can listen as you explore.
The Lamar Valley
The Lamar Valley is the perfect way to end the day. Get there before sunset so you can see the golden rays roll across the valley. Seriously, it’s so pretty it will make your eyes melt out of your face. The valley will be littered with bison, sheep, and deer grazing. And with any luck you’ll get caught in a bison jam!
The Lamar Valley is also your chance to see bears and wolves (from a safe distance of course). On our way to the valley, we saw a small black bear. My kids were so excited because they had never seen a bear outside of a zoo. There were plenty of rangers there to keep us safe and make sure the bear didn’t get too close to the road or cars. No grizzlies or wolves, but the Lamar Valley will still go down as one of my favorite spots in Yellowstone.
Bonus Day: Artist’s Paint Pots
There are a few different kinds of geothermal features in the park. And if you have extra time, make sure the mud pots of the Artist’s Paint Pots are on your Yellowstone travel guide list. This is a quick stop as the boardwalk trail is only 1/2 mile around, so you can even make this a stop on your way out of the park. Which is what we did. The mud pots are interesting and it’s kind of calming to sit there and listen to them burble.
Of course there are tons of other things to do and see in the park. You can bathe in natural hot springs or learn how to fly fish. Take numerous trails to numerous waterfalls or other points of interest. But if you are pressed for time (as most of us are) this is the best way to make the most of it.
Are you planning on heading to Yellowstone National Park this year? If so, let me know in the comments what you are most looking forward to experiencing!
