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Yellowstone National Park
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10 reviews for Yellowstone National Park
I feel like I had a very brief introduction to an amazingly impressive place I will come back to again and again. A friend told me "not to miss anything. It would be a lot of driving, but it was worth it." -- I couldn't agree more! Our trip was far too short to truly see everything, but I feel like we did get a fantastic and perhaps extended cliff notes version. This is one of the most wondrous places I have been. The pure beauty everywhere we went was astonishing. We stayed in the park long after dark on several days - trying to stretch out our ability to capture every moment and experience. Do spend a sunset out there - in certain areas you may have the evening 'migration' of some of the critters to their sleeping areas. The vast array of geysers and mineral springs were amazing and otherworldly. I am still perplexed by how active everything is under ground in this caldera.... um, really? It won't erupt again? Vastness of plains and valleys is overwhelming. I get the big sky concept.
There are a TON of people here -- and we went after summer season. Just be prepared for crowds and lots of cars; be zen about it and you will enjoy yourself a lot more. Truly - the traffic that I recall was that which was created by the bison. (Use caution - we were well prepared byt he folks at our hotel, but other idiots would seem to ignore the multiple cars in front of them slowly eeking along the road (um, a highway, btw), would pass speeding along and would honk. BAD idea -- we heard countless storied and saw photos of big SUVs that lost the battle against a po'ed bison. They were there first. Get over it. It is fun to experience as long as you don't play chicken with those guys- they are bigger than SUVs!)
Seriously - the sheer beauty that surrounds will be ample to take your mind off the fact this is not an undiscovered magical spot. Stop at some of the info spots - the folks there will provide great information. Don't forget to buy some of the "attraction" specific guides ($.50); they give such a great overview it is helpful.
Geysers - check.
Big Sky - check, check, check.
Bison - check.
Feeling like one Bison was stalking us - check. (gulp. please don't hurt our car...)
Moose - check (!)
Elk/Deer - check.
Mountain Goats - check.
Bears. No bears. Not even Yogi. But, we did not bring our pic-i-nic basket, so could have been our oversight!
Yellowstone National Park -- as big as it is -- isn't meant to be seen in a day or a week or a month. On one visit, you'll be in a line of cars that make their way from one end of the park to the other in a day and you can actually get a lot accomplished in that time if you stay focused and have your 'To Do' list with you. Seen a bear? Check. Seen a moose? Check. Seen a buffalo? Check. Sat patiently for Old Faithful to erupt? Check. Bought some souvenirs? Check, check, check. Yes, the determined can do a lot at Yellowstone in one day and feel pretty damn good about it, too.
Of course, as you drive off into the sunset in search of a motel, guilt sets in. Seeing Yellowstone in a day is like saying you've seen New York City when you missed your connecting flight to Omaha at JFK Airport. Yellowstone might as well be a country. It's so vast that no one can get a real sense of the place without spending months here. Few of us have that luxury and I envy anyone who comes to really know this place.
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For the landscape that we know as Midwest America, nothing is more scenic or as impressive than the very famous YellowStone National Park. Unlike other Nationally recognized areas, this land is vast, eclectic, colorful, and downright impressive. Its all nature, thankfully without much man-made assistance.
Its virtually impossible to see the entire area by day, its worth spending at least a few days to cover the major scope of the park. The Spring and Summer may be crowded, but good weather is ultimately the best time to visit. The hotels in Wyoming and Montana are still pretty cheap for such a touristy area, makes one wonder how inexpensive they are in the rest of the state.
Hiking is still allowed in some areas and the major peaks that surround the park are still great for landscape photography. Old Faithful is a must see for newcomers and all should watch out for the wildlife that can quickly become roadkill if one doesn't slow down (mainly deers, mooses, and bears). The bubbling, sulfur smells of the boiling mud and beautiful blue water of the Glory Pool is beyond fascinating.
As mother nature continues to punish the earth for our human mistakes, Yellowstone will hopefully continue to thrive with its natural beauty and immeasurable character. For those who cherish the landscape that is the diverse terrain of this country, make this destination a must see on the "To Visit" list, as it is simply unlike anything else.
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So here's how Yellowstone went down for my two friends and I:
5/13/2008- 6:34 PM-We arrive at the park via the south entrance intent on camping for a night or two while doing some exploring.
6:35 PM- A sense of apprehension builds due to the amount of snow on the ground.
7:25 PM- We finally find the old faithful geyser, check out the gift shop and inquire about camping options. When asked if we had an RV, my friend replied with a hearty "Nope, just a tent," only to be laughed at because the park was expecting about eight inches of snow to fall that night and that the roads won't be plowed till ten the next morning.
7:30 PM- Assess the situation, decide to see Old Faithful and head to Montana.
7:40 PM- Wait for old faithful to erupt.
7:53 PM- Waiting.
7:57 PM- BOOM! Awesome. Steam. Sweet. And a wandering herd of bison. Do they ever get too close to the geyser? If so, would it smell like barbecue?
9:04 PM- Left the park, entered West Yellowstone, Montana where we would drive until 1 AM and then camp at a rest stop on I-90.
So Old Faithful. Yeah, it was cool. The park probably deserves a five star rating, but since we were all fuck ups and didn't think snow would be in issue in May, the park only gets three stars. Maybe one day I will go back and then write an inspiring and exciting update.
Amazing. Soul-capturing. Enchanting. Mesmerizing. Breathtaking....I could keep going on....
Even though I was there for a week, I didn't get to see everything. But what I did get to see was spectacular...another great word to describe it. It's like being on a different planet. Mud volcano, Hot springs, Sulfer pools, Geysers that are 3 times as big as Old Faithful, the Lake, the Grand Canyon, Waterfalls galore.....
And plenty of wildlife within feet. It was great to see wolves, bears, and deer so up close- but the one thing I got so sick of really fast were the buffalo/bison. They would swarm in herds on the roads. We'd have to sit and wait for them to decide to pass. Then others would be out of their cars taking pictures within death's reach....
I can't wait to go back here again. Nature's wonders beckon my call.
Bears? What bears? I've been here twice and not once have I seen a bear. Darn it.
My most recent trip was just this past Thursday, when we came down and checked things out. I love it here; something about the sulfur fumes from the geysers really gets me goin!
Plenty to see and do. It gives you an excuse to visit Wyoming (besides Devil's Tower). Go visit it before the whole park erupts. Didn't you know it's just a big volcano? I am still alive to tell the tale. And I'll be going back again for a third time at some point.
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Imagine my excitement to go find YOGI BEAR when I was told I was going to go camping here when I was eight years old!
I figure that I'm still allowed to write a review about this park twenty years later because I'm guessing that the park hasn't changed so. You know, all the national park preservation will make sure no new nightclubs are being built everywhere.
So this is written from the viewpoint of a kid:
WOW! Mom, this is pretty cool. We're finally here! Okay, where are the rocks? I wanna throw some rocks.
WOW! Dad, is that a BISON crossing the road from us? Can we eat it? Will it come charging and hit our van? Can we take a picture? How long will it take to get to the other side? The chickens in our backyard are much faster than they are.
EEW! It stinks here! These sulphur springs are really cool to look at, but they smell like the stink bomb Johnny set off in the cafeteria on the first day of school. It looks like bubbling mud. And there's a cave? Wow! Do I have to hold your hand?
So it goes. There's lot to see, like the Old Faithful geyser (which wasn't all that but I had to buy my postcard of course), moose spotting, Minerva Springs (a calcified natural fountain. cool and beautiful.). My parents originally booked a whole week to go camping there but figured we saw everything after three days. So we split early and finished up camping at the Grand Canyon. Lots of history here and I thank my parents for making the 24 hour drive from L.A. to take us here. But alas, no Yogi sighting! I was sad when we left...
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Yellowstone, the park, is OK. But Yellowstone, the PARK, is kickin!
If it weren't for the concessionier, it would be both awesome and hellish. It's nice that they enable us, John Q. Public, to get there and get around and enjoy it and buy the magnets and hike while sipping our temperate coffee beverages, but.... it would be nice if not so many gosh darn John Q's were there.
That being said, this is the most wonderful, haunting, incredible spot on the enitre globe. And once I suck it up and buy the backpacking gear, I'm going back. And I'm going to get lost. And maybe stay.
No one, it seems, can ruin a Yellowstone experience.
Right, Rachel? ;)
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It was the first time I had ever seen Buffalo in my life which I thought was so cool. I loved driving through the mountains..it was quite lovely. I thought "old faithful" was one of the coolest things I had ever seen. I cannot wait to visit this park again.
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A huge park of spectacular boiling mud, water, shooting geysers, rivers and canyons, well deserving its fame.