Category: Yellowstone Tours

Planning Your Trip to the Famous Old Faithful Geyser

Jim Holstein |

Of all the incredible Yellowstone National Park attractions, there is none more famous than the Old Faithful geyser.

Old Faithful has been featured in all kinds of pop culture, and has been reliably spouting since its discovery. It was the very first of the nearly 500 Yellowstone geysers to receive a name, during the 1870 Washburn-Langford-Doane Expedition (which eventually led to the establishment of Yellowstone National Park in 1872).

Just about everyone can agree that Old Faithful is an absolute must-see attraction during your Yellowstone visit, no matter how many people you might have to contend with.

A world-famous landmark

Old Faithful gets its name from the reliability with which it erupts. Eruptions occur at approximately 90-minute intervals, so it’s easy for you to plan your visit to ensure you see an eruption.

It is important to be patient—there are times where it might erupt a few minutes later than expected. However, when it happens, the eruption is large and long, giving you plenty of time to get some great photographs.

Keep in mind that the world-famous nature of the landmark means it will always be busy, without any exceptions. No matter what time you come, expect to have a lot of other people around you hoping to get a good look at the geyser in action. Its fame, combined with its scheduled eruptions, means there will always be people concentrated in the viewing area in the time leading up to the eruption.

There are benches in the viewing area, and if you want to get one of the best spots, you should plan to arrive at least 20 or 30 minutes ahead of the next scheduled eruption. Of course, you can always stand elsewhere in the viewing area and still get a great look at the eruption when it occurs. You will be able to see it from a distance just fine.

If you only wish to stay for the geyser eruption, you might wind up only spending half an hour at the site. However, if you wish to explore the Upper Geyser Basin area, you should set aside two or three hours for a visit, as there are other sites worth seeing in the area. There are plenty of amenities in the area for you to enjoy as you wait for the eruptions, including a visitor center with bathrooms, a gas station, shops and restaurants.

You have probably seen a video of the eruption at some point, but trust us—there’s nothing like seeing it live. There’s a reason why it’s one of the best-known geysers in the world, and the most-visited by far in Yellowstone National Park. It’s large and satisfying, and a great “touristy” attraction to add to your trip that the entire family will enjoy.

Looking for more specifics about what to expect at the Old Faithful geyser site, or for more tips about how you can get the most out of your Yellowstone excursion? Contact Yellowstone Tour Guides today and we will be happy to provide you with all the info you need about Yellowstone National Park attractions.

Check Out Grand Prismatic Spring in Yellowstone National Park!

Jim Holstein |

Are you planning a trip to Yellowstone National Park at some time in the near future? If so, be sure to check out Grand Prismatic Spring while you’re there. While there are plenty of famous sites that are must-sees (Old Faithful comes to mind), this spring is right up there in terms of beauty and fascination—and as the largest hot spring in the United States (and third largest in the world), it is considered one of the planet’s most unique features and one of the most-photographed Yellowstone National Park attractions.

Experience the natural beauty of this hot spring

What’s truly awe-inspiring when you see the Grand Prismatic Spring for the first time is its sheer size. The pictures cannot do it justice—when you’re actually standing there in person, you realize the sheer scope of it. It’s a spring that’s larger than a football field, and deceptively deep—deeper, in fact, than a 10-story building.

The spring is also more colorful than many people might expect. Even if you’ve seen professional photos of the site before, you’re bound to be surprised at just how vibrant it is in person. The hot springs get their colors from various species of bacteria that live around the spring and thrive on the heat it creates. Deep in the center of the spring you’ll see blue colors, and then there are green and yellow tints. As you get to the cooler outskirts of the springs, you’ll see warmer yellows and oranges.

If you do decide to go to the Grand Prismatic Spring during your Yellowstone trip, make sure you plan ahead. You may want to visit early in the morning or late in the evening, as this is going to be one of the more crowded sites in the park. If you go closer to the middle of the day, you can expect a lot of tour buses and lots of other travelers who have come to check it out for themselves. By visiting outside of the peak hours, you can avoid the rush.

Of course, there are times when the colors might be most vibrant when there is a lot of bright sunshine on warm days, so going in the middle of the day does have its benefits. Consider also that on cooler days, the early morning hours and evening hours can have steam that covers the spring, which can make it difficult for you to see just how beautiful it is. And on cloudy days, you can expect the colors to be duller all day.

But no matter what time, what type of weather and what conditions you’re dealing with, you can expect to be blown away by the sheer beauty and grandeur of the Grand Prismatic Spring. Of all the hot springs found in Yellowstone National Park, this is certainly the most impressive.

For more information and tips about planning your visit to the Grand Prismatic Spring or other Yellowstone National Park attractions, contact the team at Yellowstone Tour Guides today!

A Backpacking Checklist for Your Next Adventure

Jim Holstein |

Backpacking always makes for a fantastic adventure. There’s something invigorating and refreshing about going out into the backcountry trails with only the necessities on your back.

Of course, if you’re going to have a safe and enjoyable time backpacking in Yellowstone National Park, you’re going to need to make sure you pack properly. What you bring with you (and how much) will depend largely on the length of your excursion—a one-day or one-afternoon journey will not require nearly as much gear as a trip where you’ll be having multiple overnight campouts.

Here is a quick overview of the most essential items you should always have with you:

For more tips about what you should place on your checklist for backpacking in Yellowstone National Park, we encourage you to contact the team at Yellowstone Tour Guides today. We’d be glad to answer your questions!

September Is a Great Month for Backpacking!

Jim Holstein |

Have you been waiting for an opportune time to hit the trails and go backpacking in Yellowstone National Park? You’ll have a great experience doing so at just about any time of year, but from our perspective, September is one of the best times of year to do it.

Here’s a quick overview of why we find September to be such an ideal month for backpacking:

These are just a few examples of some of the biggest benefits of going for a backcountry hike in September, rather than planning it during the summer months. If you’re interested in learning more about how you can plan out the backpacking adventure of a lifetime in Yellowstone National Park, we encourage you to contact Yellowstone Tour Guides today with any questions.

Is Yellowstone the Largest National Park?

Charlie |

At 2.2 million acres, Yellowstone National Park would seem to be a good candidate for “largest national park.” However, Yellowstone does not currently hold this title. Read on to discover which park tops the size scale and learn other fun facts about Yellowstone National Park and its sister parks.

Largest national park

The largest park in the National Park System is Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Reserve in Alaska. In fact, more than half of the national parks in Alaska are larger than Yellowstone National Park. In the contiguous United States, Yellowstone did hold the title for largest national park until 1994. At that time, Death Valley National Monument became a national park. It was also expanded to its current 3 million-plus acres, which beats Yellowstone in size.

Most visited national park

Yellowstone National Park ranks among the top five national parks for the number of visitors it welcomes every year. Great Smoky Mountains National Park typically takes the title.

Highest peak in the park

The highest peak in Yellowstone National Park reaches 11,358 feet. Named Eagle Peak, this crest can be found in the southeastern region of the park.

Features of the park

Yellowstone National Park is home to Yellowstone volcano. The underlying body of magma from this volcano creates a unique hydrothermal system that features five types of hydrothermal landscapes. In total, the park boasts more than 10,000 hydrothermal features:

Animals of the park

Yellowstone National Park is famous for its bison population. This is the only location in the U.S. where these animals have lived continuously for thousands of years. It is the home of the largest bison population in the country on public land.

The park is also home to 66 other mammals. These include grizzly bears, black bears, gray wolves, elk, white-tailed deer and bighorn sheep. In the waters of Yellowstone National Park, you’ll find 11 native species of fish, including trout, whitefish, suckers and graylings. Throughout the park, you can encounter 300 species of birds, including the common loon, golden eagle and trumpeter swan.

Discover more

Learn even more about the park by exploring it in person! Contact Yellowstone Tour Guides for tours, sightseeing and hikes throughout Yellowstone National Park. Since 2001, our experienced guides have been dedicated to showing visitors the beauty of Yellowstone. We look forward to exploring the park with you and helping you discover all its incredible wonders that can’t be found anywhere else on the planet. Reach Yellowstone Tour Guides today at 406-995-2399.