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Yellowstone, the first National Park, is a remarkable landscape – the most geysers anywhere in the world, bubbling mudpots, brilliant turquoise hot springs, wisps of smoke emerging from hillsides, rushing waterfalls, steep canyons, steaming creeks, a huge lake and abundant wildlife. Kids are mesmerized by smelly blurping pools, hot springs like a bottomless abyss, frozen waterfalls of rock, the sight of a grizzly bear or huge bison. Yellowstone really is an amazing place. |
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Yellowstone National Park covers a big area (it’s the size of Connecticut). In planning your trip, allow several days, we recommend at least three. In summer, the roads are crowded and it’s some distance to get to different parts of the park. You’ll want time to enjoy the sights (not just drive and drive), and don’t cram too many things into one day. |
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Wildlife – The wildlife you’ll see up close is unforgettable. We saw elk herds grazing in the meadows, bison everywhere (sleeping in the sagebrush or walking down the middle of the road), plus moose and two calves, bald eagles, chubby marmots and white pelicans. Grizzly bears and black bears are often seen also. Hayden Valley and Lamar Valley are especially good for wildlife spotting, especially early in the morning or later in the day. Be sure to bring binoculars, as you want to keep your distance. |
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Yellow Bus tours – Take a tour on a vintage yellow bus (1930’s style), with canvas top that rolls back for spectacular views. Your best bets are the geysers and wildlife watching tours (parents can enjoy the scenery instead of driving). Tours depart from lodges and campgrounds, and West Yellowstone. A wonderful park tradition, click here for more information. |
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Madison Junior Ranger Station – At the Madison Trailside Museum are ranger-led programs, just for kids (ages 5 –12). May to August, programs focus on different wildlife, geysers, history and lore of the park. For the daily schedule, stop into the West Yellowstone Visitor Center, or in Madison. |
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Snowcoach tours – Take a snowcoach tour in the winter landscape, December to March. Snow covers the ground, lakes and rivers freeze over, but hot springs steam in the cold and the wildlife is amazing. The tours are accompanied by naturalist guides, who know where to spot elk or bison in their winter grazing grounds. |
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Tips for enjoying Yellowstone National Park |
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Get an early start – Yellowstone is such a popular place in summer that parking lots get filled up, especially Old Faithful. Go early in the morning, it's easy to park and less crowded on the trails around the geysers and hot springs. |
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Stay on the trails and boardwalks – There are no exceptions. The ground underneath the crust may be very hot and kids must understand that they can’t wander off to investigate what’s in that bubbling pot. And don’t throw anything into the pools. |
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Hikes – Bring lots of water and drinks in your day packs. Insect repellent is also helpful (even in high summer we found the mosquitoes were quite thick in the forest). Wear closed-toed shoes for hikes, have sunscreen and hats. |
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Changeable weather – Although it's warm during the day in summer, thunderstorms can come up, so have a light jacket. Daily temperatures vary – in July it can be 44 degrees in the morning, but 80 degrees by noon. |
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Pack a picnic lunch – There’s plenty of picnic areas around the park, with picnic tables and glorious scenery. In the morning stock up on picnic supplies (supermarkets or delis). Then at lunchtime you can enjoy lunch by a sparkling stream or lake, instead of driving miles to buy lunch within the park. |
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Don't feed the animals – The chipmunks know they're cute, and will even pose for you, but don't feed them. At lunch time, chubby marmots will magically appear, but don't share your lunch. Chips and snacks are bad for many of the animals here – feed them people food and they can end up dead. |
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Don’t get too close to the wildlife – Bison herds are an amazing sight, but don’t get too close; bison can run fast and charge, are wild and unpredictable, and visitors have been hurt. Use your binoculars instead and stay at a safe distance. |
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Fabulous photos of young animals in Yellowstone National Park – bison calves rubbing noses, fuzzy brown moose calf, foxes playing, grizzly cubs following their mom, mule deer fawns in the meadows, and more. (Picture book)
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“One wolf howls in the January moonlight, deep in the woods where the moon hangs high.” Gorgeous illustrations and lyrical verse, it’s a year in the life of gray wolves – playing in the snow, fuzzy pups in spring, napping in a summer meadow, hiding under autumn trees, plus fun facts about the wolf. This is a gem! (Picture book)
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Fascinating story of how gray wolves play an essential role in Yellowstone. In the early 20th century, wolves were hunted to extinction in the park; as a result, coyotes and elk became too numerous, destroying trees and wrecking habitats of other animals. When wolves were re-introduced to the park, the ecological balance was restored. (Picture book)
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Moose
Anthony D. Fredericks
Before you start searching for moose in Yellowstone, learn out about these odd-looking animals. Moose have a short tail, large ears, skinny legs, can weigh up to 1,800 pounds, eat only plants, run very fast, are good swimmers, and more. (Illustrated chapter book)
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Bison are big and you’re sure to see them in Yellowstone. Find out how bison are the largest land animal in North America, have good hearing and sense of smell, but don’t see well, live in herds, and are fierce fighters. (Illustrated chapter book)
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Explore Yellowstone with the Parker family – go camping in the back country, listen to wolves howling at night, ride out a thunderstorm, encounter a charging grizzly bear. An adventure story combined with park nature and lore, ideas for family hikes and camping spots, and tips for wildlife and outdoor safety. (Illustrated chapter book)
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Thomas Moran came to Yellowstone in 1871, not as an explorer, but a painter. He painted the weird and wonderful geysers, and splendor of the waterfalls and sandstone canyons. Moran’s stunning portrayal of the wilderness influenced the decision to designate Yellowstone the first National Park. (Picture book)
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Adventures of James and his sister Alice in Yellowstone – uncovering a plot to kill off the buffalo herds, surviving in the wilderness alone, learning the ways of the Shoshone, and exploring the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone. (Illustrated chapter book)
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Find out about animals that live in Yellowstone National Park by following their tracks and scat (poop) – grizzly bear, mule deer, elk, moose, bison, gray wolf, mountain lion and badger. (Picture book)
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All about Yellowstone, starting with the geology (shaped by volcanoes and glaciers), Native Americans who lived here year-round, explorers in this “land of wonders,” thermal features, landmarks (Old Faithful, Mammoth Hot Springs, Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone), fires and wildlife. Good for older kids. (Illustrated chapter book)
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Fun facts about Yellowstone National Park – geysers, fumaroles, mud pots and hot springs, petrified forests, wildlife (bison, pronghorn, elk, wolves), lakes and waterfalls, Indians and explorers. (Easy reader)
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This is our favorite guidebook for day hikes in Yellowstone. Each hike has the level of difficulty distance, trail directions, and detailed notes about plants and animals, geology, and observations by early explorers. (Guidebook)
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More children's books on other Wyoming pages |
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