Yellowstone National Park: Hiking Tips

Yellowstone has been a popular tourist destination for over 135 years ever since it was established. Of the many parks in existence in the United States, Yellowstone is the oldest, drawing approximately 3 million visitors annually. It is a spectacular place to be and quite mystical. It's also a place that promises wonderful discoveries at every turn. If you're visiting Yellowstone for the first time, here are adventure tips you can use to maximize your trip:

Hiking

The best way to experience Yellowstone is to hike from one location to the next. However, remember that there is a wide expanse of wilderness for you to explore and to try to fit all the sights in just one go would be ineffective.

A good thing to do is to choose the hikes that fit your preference and capability. To avoid becoming overwhelmed, a good hiking trail to use is Washburn Spur. It starts at Dunraven Pass to end with a spectacular view of Mt. Washburn and Glacial Boulder. The trail up Mt. Washburn offers unending views of incredible beauty, so bring a camera with you. You can capture images of wildlife such as marmots, red foxes and bighorn sheep along the way.

The Yellowstone view

Yellowstone is an endless feast for the senses and there's plenty to drown yourself in. There are over 1,000 miles of trails here that are excellent for horseback riding and hiking. There are also numerous streams and lakes that offer excellent opportunities for fishing and boating.

And of course, there's the view. Even if you don't leave your car, you can simply drive along the Grand Loop, which curves within the area for a good 140 miles. But why limit yourself? The adventure is in the exploration of the park itself.

Easily some of the most popular destinations are the geysers, found mostly in the western area of the park. The most famous of these is Old Faithful, so named because it erupts in regular intervals of 30 – 90 minutes. The Old Faithful area also offers skinny-skiing in winter, a unique experience that is also offered by the Yellowstone Institute for beginners and experienced adventurists.

There are also numerous hot springs within the park, famous for their terraces and cones. The most popular of these is Mammoth Hot Springs, which has the highest peak at 90 m.

Another adventure you shouldn't miss during a visit to Yellowstone is wildlife spotting. First-timers are often treated to incredible sightings of animals big and small including bison, coyotes, elk, bighorn sheep, squirrels and eagles. And with the reintroduction of gray wolves in the park, there is so much to see. Bring a good pair of binoculars and a camera with a decent zoom lens.

If you want to learn a little about history, the park also maintains a number of landmarks and places of interest.

Getting involved

If you want a more interactive adventure trip, sign up for classes at the Yellowstone Institute. Classes revolve around teaching students outdoor skills such as tracking, fishing, horseback riding, camping and wildlife photography. There are also courses that introduce students to the history and unique ecosystem of Yellowstone. If you can spare the time, these courses are well worth it.