Yellowstone National Park

Yellowstone National Park is one of the most remarkable stretches of land on the planet recognised by the fact that it was the World’s First National Park. It is enormous; 2,219,789 acres (about the size of Cumbria and Lancashire combined) and home to one of the world’s largest calderas with over 10,000 thermal features and more than 300 geysers. A vast amount of wildlife lives in the park too but none of this prepares you for the sheer beauty of the place. The waterfalls, the petrified forest, Old Faithful, the rivers and valleys just leave you breathless.

The easiest way to see the park is to drive the grand loop road and stop at the various highlights along the way.  You should allow at least two days so that you can drive the northern loop and southern; it will take you longer than you think to get around as the speed limit is only 35 mph through most of the park, a speed not normally achieved as you slow to see yet another amazing view or be caught in a bear jam.

The highlights of the northern upper loop include Tower Falls, a 132 foot waterfall, Inspiration Point where you can marvel at the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone River, the Mammoth Hot Springs and the array of thermal features in the Norris Geyser Basin.

The Lower Loop takes in Old Faithful itself, the Black Sand Basin where despite the name the colours of the Emerald Pool and Sunset are stunning. The Lower Geyser Basin is well worth the detour especially the Fountain Paint pot and the Firehole Falls.  Visit the geyser basin at West Thumb before arriving at Yellowstone Lake, North America’s largest mountain lake, which will quite simply take your breath away!

You can stay either at one of the lodges in the park or in one of the towns on the edge such as West Yellowstone, Montana or Cody, Wyoming.