Things to see and do Yellowstone National Park

The Grand Prismatic Spring is 122 meters wide and 75 meters wide, and its flat bottom reflects all the colors of the rainbow in vapors that rise in swirls.

It is the largest hot source in Yellowstone and probably also the most beautiful basin in the park. To better observe the color differences and to measure this performance out of standard, we need to take height. Unfortunately, no facility allowed, for years visitors parked at the Fairy Falls parking lot and borrowed the small trail to finally sink into the forest. From there, they were languishing between dead trunk traps to the ground to find the right point of view on the basin. In addition to the most secure side of the climbing, it has had a heavy impact on local vegetation. The park thus rehabilitated the damaged hill and worked on the construction of a pathway to enjoy the view safely.

Prismatic Spring Overlook Trail. To reach it, park at Fairy Falls Parking and take the Fairy Falls Trailhead to Prismatic Spring Overlook Trail.

The Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone River extends over 38 kilometers, between the falls, upper and the mouth of the Lamar River. It reaches a depth of 60 to 245 meters and a width of 300 to 1,400 meters. In the upper part, where the throat is deepest and narrower, rocky walls offer beautiful tones ranging from yellow to orange and red brown.

Fine rock needles from erosion flow, isolated, depths, and sometimes a white vapor escapes from hot springs and geysers located at the bottom of the canyon. At the bottom, the Yellowstone River appears to be quiet. In fact, it mutates into rapids which, twice, rush into the depths of huge waterfalls: to the south, at the beginning of the canyon, the Upper Falls (33 meters high), and about 900 meters downstream the Lower Falls or Great Falls (94 meters high).

The most famous geysers in Yellowstone are more frequent than other large geysers. The average interval between two rashes varies from 65 to 92 minutes. It lasts 1.5 to 5 ¾ minutes, expels 14 ¥ 000 to 32 ± 000 ¥ liters of boiling water and reaches heights of 30 to 55 ¾ meters. Although the average interval has elongated over the years due to earthquakes, Old Poli is always as spectacular and predictable as it was a century ago. The attraction is very popular, so wait not to be alone.

In Biscuits Basin, the mineral deposits formed, until the 1959 earthquake, as a stack of biscuits. The Sapphire Pool has been a geyser since 1955.

This is the Yellowstone area where geothermal demonstrations are hottest and most variable. Throughout the 4 ½ km of trails, we can discover the largest active geyser in the world (Steamboat Geyser, 90 to 120 meters) and the most acidic (Echinus Geyser, pH 3.5), hot springs of all colors and microscopic manifestations in one of the most important environments extremes of the earth. The Norris Museum describes the geological origins of the sources. From there there are two trails to safely observe the areas of Porcelain Basin and Back Basin. Arches, whistle vapors and stinging odors combine to create a unique environment. In Porcelain Basin, in an open setting, we walk amidst a high density of geothermal phenomena (hundreds) while in Back Basin, through wood, these phenomena are more dispersed. Exploration of the One Hundred Springs Plain area is discouraged without guide, because very acidic, rugged and without trails. Artist Paint Pots is a small, but pretty geothermal zone just south of Norris Junction. A walk of a mile in the surrounding area leads to very colorful hot springs, two large volcanoes and part of the forest burned in 1988. Other nearby areas, Sylvan Springs, Gibbon Hill Geyser Basin and Geyser Creek Thermal, are not advised without guidance.

South of Canyon Village, Hayden Valley is the bed of an old lake formed in the ice age. Its fatty herb and some swampy points attract abundant wildlife (bears, bison, elk) and birds (swans, herons, Canada geese).
It is one of the best places in the park to observe wildlife, including the grizzly bear that, in the spring and early summer, is looking for bison and elk babies. Large bison herds can be admired from spring to early fall. Coyotes notice in the valley. Birds abound along the river. There are many in the Alum Creek vases. America's white ducks, geese and pelicans swim on the river. You can also follow the flight of the white-headed eagle and the northern harrier falcon.

Artist Point offers an impressive view of the Upper waterfalls and Lower Falls. Panoramic path along the edge of the canyon directly. Of Canyon Village, Canyon Rim Scenic Road wins the north wall of Grand Canyon with several beautiful viewpoints including Lookout Point, from where a path to the foot of the canyon, and by a junction, Inspiration Point, from where you have a splendid view of the latter.

Yellowstone Lake (elevation 2,357 meters), one of the world's largest mountain lakes is traversed from the south to the north by the Yellowstone River. It measures 32 km in its longest length, 22.5 kilometers in its widest width. With 176 kilometers of banks, it covers a total area of 360 km ². Its maximum depth is 91 meters in West Thumb Bay. This fish lake, surrounded by high mountains, is the refuge of countless waterfowl.

It is frozen almost half of the year (from late December or early January to late May or early July), with ice thicknesses ranging from a few centimeters to more than 60 centimeters. Situated at an altitude of 2 ¾ 300 meters, the lake remains cold all year long; its average temperature is 5 ° C, the upper layer rarely exceeding 19 ° C. This lake has the largest population of North American 'ferocious trout'. Lake trout, an exotic species that is illegally introduced, threatens its existence. In the larger part there are three small islands: Frank Island, Dot Island and Stevenson Island. From West Thumb, following the north shore, the road leads to Lake (38 km). Lake Yellowstone Hotel dominates the lake and offers magnificent views of the Absaroka Range.

On the left, a 2.4 km road rises to Natural Bridge, a rock arch created by erosion.

The rangers distribute a map and a practical information log to the park. The Visitor Centers are located at the entrance or main parts of the park, in every re-establishment. It is essential to go back to the park in order to obtain canned brochures and all information on the park, i. e., hiking trails, hours of guided tours, closed roads, site activities (rash of geyyosis) serve)… You can also buy books and souvenirs there. Five centers are installed in Yellowstone.

A 40-meter waterfall of the Tower Creek, framed by eroded volcanic summits, it was described from the earliest voyages of Europeans to the Yellowstone region. His idyllic framework inspired many artists, including Thomas Moran, whose paintings presented to Congress played a decisive role in the creation of Yellowstone National Park in 1872. Trails lead to scenic platforms at the top and bottom of cataract and near to Undercliff Springs in the Yellowstone River canyon. The Narrows is the narrowest passage of the Yellowstone River Gorge with the Calcite Springs, whose gypsum and limestone deposits cover the canyon wall (petrified tree remains).

Upper Geyser Basin covers a surface of about 10 km ², over 180 of the 200 (250) geysers of the park, including the largest and most impressive of the park, and many hot springs. A circuit, the Geyser Hill Nature Trail (starting at the Old Faithfull Full Geyser, approx. 2.5 km), allows you to admire the main geysers and other attractions. The five largest geysers are regularly submitted by the staff: Castle, Grand, Daisy, Riverside, Old Poli.

North-west of the Old Faithhole River, on the other side of the Firehole River, the Giantess Geyser, which runs irregularly up to 60 meters high for periods up to 36 hours, is reached. Nearby you can see the Boakettle boil water (kettle) and Geyser Sponge (sponge), which owes its name to the shape of its crater. Isolated, isolated, Solitary Geyser. Beyond the Desert Sponge, northwestern, Geysers Lion Group, Lioness, Big Club and Little Club.

The main road leads to Liberty Pool, Sawmill Geyser and Spasmodic Geyser. A path crossing the Firehole River allows you to go to Crested Pool and Castle Geyser, probably the oldest active source of the park.

The main trail then obtains to the Grand Geyser (jet of 60 meters high), which communicates with the close Turban Geyser. Later, Beauty Pool and Chromatic Pool are in turn. Then we cross the Firehole River again to reach Inkwell Springs near Giant Geyser, broken crater. Farther away, the Grotto Geyser, whose dome has several niches almost to man's height, leads to water jets.

Next, the trail runs along the bank of the Firehole River and leads to Riverside Geyser (on the other shore) that spreads its jet into the stream and then beyond another bridge to the Fan and Mortar Geysers, connected by underground; Later, the Morning Glory Pool is a tinted basin of the most tender colors, named because of its resemblance to the ipomée (morning glory) flower.

Its name comes from its impressive depth. The distance to which the objects are visible in its abysses is truly amazing. The tone overseas blue of its deep transparency under the light of the sun and its walls similar to coral in formation offer a rare and magical spectacle.

Le Black Sand Basin forms a plain with countless petrified trees, particularly beautiful. L'Emerald Pool, sparkling and green, in which grow coloración algae.

Mammoth's hot springs are the main attraction of the district. Their characteristics are very different from other thermal zones present in the park. Large deposits of travertine (calcium carbonate) give a wide variety of shapes, always spectacular and sometimes magnificent. This décor is constantly evolving, flows and positions from sources that are constantly varying. Don't miss the Minerva Terrace, one of the nicest with its monumental marches with beautiful white colours. Later, the Jupiter Terrace, such impressive size but with complex colours and irregular forms. Canary Spring owes its name to its yellow colour due to the presence of specific sulfur and bacteria. Finally, the White Elephant suggests the back of a huge white elephant.

The eruption of the Grand Geyser, the largest foreseeable geyser in the world, takes place every 7 to 3 hours. Classic geyser fountain, a gigantic water column springs from a large basin into powerful gusts. The rash lasts on average from 9 to 12 minutes and consists of one to four gusts reaching sometimes 60 ¾ meters.

Close to Roosevelt Lodge, this hot springs pool along the Yellowstone River signals the end of the Grand Canyon rapids. Modified géothermie by geothermal also inspired painter Moran. The imposing cliff of basalt columns across the river, facing from the panoramic point of view, is a remnant of an ancient lava lava lava flow that shaped largely the landscape of the park. These gorges and cliffs are protected habitat for many wildlife species, such as sheep, red-tailed falcon and osprey.

At a half mile walk, upstream of the parking area, large clouds of steam mark its location.

A large hot source is mixed in the Gardiner River, allowing swimming regardless of the surrounding temperature (permitted daily swimming only and in summer because in spring the water level is too high).

Gibbon Geyser Basin is a source zone from the north edge of Gibbon Meadows to Gibbon Canyon: We will see Gibbon Hill Geyser at the foot of Gibbon Hill (2,621 meters) and Artists Paint Pots at the foot of Paintpot Hill (2,455 meters). A bridge on the Gibbon River and a trail (2 hours) lead to the permanently active Monument Geyser. A little further away, Beryl Spring is one of the most beautiful sources of the park. The Gibbon Falls are beautiful 26 meter waterfalls.

At rest since 1888, this once most powerful source, once the most powerful in the park, launched a water column of 8 m thick at 60-90 meters high. The crater is filled today by a lake of deep blue, 120 meters long over 60 to 70 meters wide and whose shores rise up to 6 meters above the boiling water. The creaming crater creates over 15 m ³ of water per minute in the Firehole River.

West Thumb, South Disturbance Road from the south along the Lewis River meets the big Loop Road. Northeast of West Thumb Junction on the shore of the lake: several geysers, many hot springs colored by microscopic algae, the Thumb Paintpots and Fishing Cone, a crater of a source that stands on the lake waters. Craig Pass (2,518 meters) west, is located on the continental water divide: Little Isa Lake sends the waters from its source to the Pacific and to the Atlantic.

On the southern limits of the lake there are a large number of hot springs, some of which are boiling and others producing the most beautiful clay, resembling a pot of boiling that is projected to a height of 6 to 9 ¾ meters. Clay is white and pink and water seems unfathomable. In other places, pure sulfur is projected in abundance. At times, the soil trembles sharply and then produces an explosion resembling thunder. There are several hundred sources, some along the shoreline, others more indoors and others in the very lake, the size of which varies from mini fountain to wells of 20 ± meters in diameter and deep depth. The water, with pale violet color, is very clear, which makes it possible to discern small objects up to 15 meters below the surface. Another small group presents sources filled with a mud resembling thick paint, different colors ranging from pure white to nuanced shades of yellow, pink, red and violet. At certain times of the day, these sludge are projected to more than 4 meters.