Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Contemplate the gigantic scale of the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone (
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)
and its thundering Lower Falls
Marvel at the ethereal floating rainbow colors of Grand Prismatic Spring (
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)
, Yellowstone's beautiful thermal feature
Wander the colorful travertine mounds of the Lower Terrace and see elk
walk around the historic buildings in Mammoth (
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)
Feel your hair stand up as you spot your first wild wolf or grizzly in the
Lamar Valley (
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)
Sniff the sulfur and feel the ground bubble on a boardwalk tour of Norris
Geyser Basin (
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)
, home to the world's tallest geyser, Steamboat
Savor the views of Yellowstone Lake (
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)
at sunset from Lake
Butte Overlook, from the beach at Sedge Bay or over a Teton Ale from Lake
House restaurant
Backpack or canoe the beautiful waters and remote thermal features of
Shoshone Lake (
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)
, the largest backcountry lake in the Lower 48
Orientation
Seven distinct regions comprise the 3472-sq-mile park (starting clockwise from the
north): Mammoth, Roosevelt, Canyon, Lake and Geyser Countries, the Norris area, and
remote Bechler region in the extreme southwest corner.
Conceived by Lt Daniel C Kingman in 1886, the 142-mile, figure-eight Grand Loop Rd
passes most of the park's major attractions. The 12-mile Norris-Canyon road divides the
Grand Loop Rd into two shorter loops: the 96-mile Lower (South) Loop and the 70-mile
Upper (North) Loop.
A clockwise drive from the North Entrance begins at Mammoth Hot Springs in the dry,
low-elevation northwest corner of the park. East of here is the sagebrush country of
Tower-Roosevelt Junction, a center for Wild West cookouts and trail rides. Further east is
Roosevelt Country, the wildest part of the park accessible by road and home to wolves
and bison in the Lamar Valley. From Tower-Roosevelt Junction the mountain highway
climbs south past Mt Washburn (10,243ft) and over Dunraven Pass (8859ft) to Canyon
Junction, where the views of the 1200ft-deep canyon and central location make it a popu-
lar logistical base.
Continue south along the Yellowstone River through wildlife-rich Hayden Valley and
the hot springs of Mud Volcano to Fishing Bridge Junction. This is Lake Country, beloved
