Yellowstone National Park
Yellowstone National Park
Yellowstone is the world's first national park and one of the largest in the contiguous United States. Sprawling across volcanic plateaus in the northwest corner of Wyoming, Yellowstone contains more than 2 million acres of steaming geysers, crystalline lakes, thundering waterfalls and panoramic vistas.
At A Glance
In The Park
Superintendent: Suzanne LewisPhone Number: 307-344-7381
Entrance Fees: Individual Pass (valid for 7 days): $12; Motorcycle or Snowmobile Pass (valid for 7 days): $20; Vehicle Pass (valid for 7 days): $25; Annual Park Pass: $50
Sights: Mammoth Hot Springs; Old Faithful; Norris and Firehole River Geyser Basins; Grand Prismatic Sping; Morning Glory Pool; Yellowstone Lake; West Thumb Geyser Basin; Tower Fall; Petrified Forest; Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone; Hayden Valley
Endangered Species: Grizzly Bear; Bald Eagle (threatened); Canada Lynx; Gray Wolf
Important Dates
Established as Park: March 1, 1872By The Numbers
Acres: 2,221,770.00Highest Point: Eagle Peak (11367 feet)
Annual Visitation: 2,870,295 (2006)
Location
Latitude / Longitude :44.771240 / -110.550370 (map it)
State: WY
Nearby Big City: Yellowstone National Park, WY
Gateway Communities: West Yellowstone, MT; Gardiner, MT; Silver Gate, MT; Cooke City, MT; Macks Inn, ID; Island Park, ID; Moran, WY; Emigrant, MT; Wapiti, WY; Pray, MT; Moose, WY; Squirrel, ID; Roscoe, MT; Big Sky, MT; Felt, ID; Tetonia, ID; Nye, MT
Nearby Airports: Billings Logan International Airport (BIL); Gallatin Field Airport (BZN); Yellowstone Regional Airport (COD); Jackson Hole Airport (JAC); Idaho Falls Regional Airport (IDA); Yellowstone Airport (WYS)
Green Features
Has Recycling? : YesHas Shuttle System? : No
Has Volunteer Program? : Yes
Upcoming Events
- Aug 21 2008 - 10:00am - Aug 21 2008 - 7:00pm
- Aug 22 2008 - 10:00am - Aug 22 2008 - 7:00pm
- Aug 23 2008 - 10:00am - Aug 23 2008 - 7:00pm
- Aug 24 2008 - 10:00am - Aug 24 2008 - 7:00pm
Park Photos
Bison Herd Geyser
Robynrg
Coyote Sitting
Sascha Burkard
Emerald Pool
Sascha Burkard
View More Yellowstone Photos
In Detail
Activities & Programs SPRING, SUMMER AND FALL Listen to the sound of long summer days calling you to experience adventure in Yellowstone's mountain wilderness. The backcountry beckons anglers to streams shimmering with fis ... read more.
At Your Fingertips Emergency 911 NPS General Information (307) 344-7381 NPS TDD (307) 344-2386 NPS Camping Information (recorded message) (307) 344-2114 NPS Special Services - (307) 344-2017 Sign Language Interpreters ... read more.
Bears at Yellowstone The grizzly bear once claimed much of the North American continent as its territory, roaming as far east as the Mississippi River and south into Mexico. With the influx of settlers in the mid to late ... read more.
Campgrounds at Yellowstone YELLOWSTONE CAMPGROUNDS Fee Number of Sites Firewood Sold Flush Toilets ... read more.
Camping at Yellowstone Of Yellowstone's 12 campgrounds, seven are operated on a first-come, first-served basis by the National Park Service. Five of the campgrounds, encompassing more than 1,400 sites, may be reserved one ... read more.
Continental Divide Trail The construction of the Continental Divide Trail (CDT) is one of the most significant conservation initiatives ever undertaken. Designated by Congress in 1978, a focused effort to complete the trail ... read more.
Drive to Yellowstone Driving to Yellowstone Cody, Wyoming -- 52 miles East Jackson, Wyoming -- 57 miles South Bozeman, Montana -- 77 miles North Billings, Montana -- 129 miles Northeast Salt Lake City, Utah -- 320 miles W ... read more.
Five Countries For convenience purposes, Xanterra Parks & Resorts® divides the park into different regions, or "countries." Locations of park features and facilities in the countries are indicated by these ... read more.
Flora & Fauna A greater number and variety of plants and wild animals live here, in their natural habitat, than anywhere else in the 48 contiguous states. Some of these are described below. Plants The following ... read more.
Further Reading Yellowstone — The Official Guide to Touring America's First National Park. Yellowstone Association, 2006. It Happened in Yellowstone: Turner.Globe Pequot, 2001. For information, go to: www.Yel ... read more.
Geology of Yellowstone Hydrothermal activity results when surface water seeps down to meet the heat of the earth's molten rock. Because molten rock may be as close as three to eight miles below the surface in Yellowstone, ... read more.
Geology Timeline 2.7 billion to 570 million years ago Precambrian History: The most ancient rocks in North America form during the Precambrian era. Huge mountain ranges form and erode away, until Yellowstone is a re ... read more.
Green Practicies of Yellowstone In recent years, Yellowstone has adopted innovative and effective sustainability practices. As the world's first national park, Yellowstone is still making history by introducing creative initiatives ... read more.
Harry Yount In 1880, Yellowstone's superintendent set Lamar Valley aside as a game reserve to protect the remaining herds of deer, elk, antelope and bighorn sheep, whose numbers had been devastated by market hun ... read more.
Hayden Expedition Dr. Ferdinand V. Hayden, director of the U.S. Geological & Geographical Survey of the Territories, decided to explore the Yellowstone area at the urging of Nathaniel P. Langford and his cohorts. ... read more.
Highlights of Yellowstone Established: In 1872, legislation was passed making Yellowstone the world's first national park. Land Area: 2.2 million acres of forests (80 percent), grassland (15 percent) and water (five percent). ... read more.
History of Yellowstone Throughout its dynamic history, Yellowstone has inspired awe in all its visitors—American Indians, mountain men, explorers and modern- day adventurers. The Earliest Humans in Yellowstone The ... read more.
Hydro Thermal Features Yellowstone has the largest and most varied collection of hydrothermal features on Earth. Geysers, hot springs, mud pots and fumaroles bubble, gurgle, hiss and spout throughout the area. The presence ... read more.
In A Nutshell PLANNING YOUR STAY General Park Information The road from Gardiner, MT at the North Entrance to Cooke City, MT is open year-round. Park interior roads close to the public at 8 a.m. on Monday after th ... read more.
Just For Kids A host of ranger-led activities are especially designed for young visitors to Yellowstone. Fun, educational films are also shown daily at several visitor centers. For more information about National ... read more.
Recent News
- Toyota Helps Yellowstone National Park Create Sustainable Connections Between Visitors and Natu August 18, 2008, 4:40 pm
- Yellowstone National Park recovers from 1988 fires August 13, 2008, 10:27 am
- Calmer weather slows wildfire August 7, 2008, 11:36 am
- Destination: Yellowstone National Park August 6, 2008, 11:59 am
- Yellowstone National Park fire burns 600 acres August 1, 2008, 11:16 am
- Funds used to restore Yellowstone hiking trails July 30, 2008, 11:21 am
- Second bear killed in Yellowstone in recent weeks July 25, 2008, 11:10 am
Yellowstone In Depth
News from the Parks
Park Service Employee Earns a Lifetime of Stories
August 18, 2008 - 4:49pm
Regina Jones-Brake remembers the day she met Lady Bird Johnson. Jones-Brake was 22 and setting type at the Benjamin Franklin print shop in Philadelphia's historic district. "I was called a printer's devil," said Jones-Brake. "I wore a mop cap and 18th century attire. I set type, I inked the ink balls, I wet the paper and I ran it through. I was so excited about the job that I worked on Sundays; nobody else wanted to work on Sundays."
August 18, 2008 - 4:49pm
Regina Jones-Brake remembers the day she met Lady Bird Johnson. Jones-Brake was 22 and setting type at the Benjamin Franklin print shop in Philadelphia's historic district. "I was called a printer's devil," said Jones-Brake. "I wore a mop cap and 18th century attire. I set type, I inked the ink balls, I wet the paper and I ran it through. I was so excited about the job that I worked on Sundays; nobody else wanted to work on Sundays."
Maplewood Boy Scouts Are Evacuated near Grand Canyon
August 18, 2008 - 4:29pm
A group of Boy Scouts from Maplewood on a backpacking and rafting trip near the Grand Canyon were evacuated by helicopter Sunday after an earthen dam failed and flood waters threatened their campsite. The six boys and three adult leaders were among scores of people rescued from campgrounds and tribal lands after days of heavy rains caused flooding along two creeks that flow into the Colorado River. "Some boys had enough time to grab their backpacks and some did not," said Bridget Lai, whose husband Michael and son Kyle, 13, are on the trip. "There's not a whole lot you can do about a dam breaking. There's not a lot you can prepare for."
August 18, 2008 - 4:29pm
A group of Boy Scouts from Maplewood on a backpacking and rafting trip near the Grand Canyon were evacuated by helicopter Sunday after an earthen dam failed and flood waters threatened their campsite. The six boys and three adult leaders were among scores of people rescued from campgrounds and tribal lands after days of heavy rains caused flooding along two creeks that flow into the Colorado River. "Some boys had enough time to grab their backpacks and some did not," said Bridget Lai, whose husband Michael and son Kyle, 13, are on the trip. "There's not a whole lot you can do about a dam breaking. There's not a lot you can prepare for."
National Parks Are Offering Podcasts
August 18, 2008 - 4:26pm
Why go to a national park if you can experience one via an Internet podcast? Park officials across the country are hopeful the podcasts themselves will make people want to visit their parks. But if a trip just isn't possible, podcasts are seen as the next best thing.
August 18, 2008 - 4:26pm
Why go to a national park if you can experience one via an Internet podcast? Park officials across the country are hopeful the podcasts themselves will make people want to visit their parks. But if a trip just isn't possible, podcasts are seen as the next best thing.
Pot Farm Found in Park
August 18, 2008 - 4:21pm
A park service pilot on a routine flight over the North Cascades National Park service area helped discover a large marijuana farm worth nearly $48 million -- the first such grow operation found in a national park site in the state. Officials said the farm, which law enforcement officials raided this week, contained more than 16,700 plants. It was well established and resembled the elaborate grow sites run by Mexican drug traffickers plaguing national parks in California, authorities said.
August 18, 2008 - 4:21pm
A park service pilot on a routine flight over the North Cascades National Park service area helped discover a large marijuana farm worth nearly $48 million -- the first such grow operation found in a national park site in the state. Officials said the farm, which law enforcement officials raided this week, contained more than 16,700 plants. It was well established and resembled the elaborate grow sites run by Mexican drug traffickers plaguing national parks in California, authorities said.
Celebrate Zion Wonders
August 18, 2008 - 4:16pm
Next year will be a big celebration for Zion National Park and all who value the majestic views that can be seen within this natural landmark. Zion didn't receive national park status until 1919, but it was recognized for its beauty in 1909, when it was designated as Mukuntuweap National Monument. According to "A History of Washington County: From Isolation to Destination," by Doug Alder and Karl Brooks, The monument designation came after a survey report by St. George resident Leo A. Snow shared the secret of what has become a place of sanctuary befitting its name.
August 18, 2008 - 4:16pm
Next year will be a big celebration for Zion National Park and all who value the majestic views that can be seen within this natural landmark. Zion didn't receive national park status until 1919, but it was recognized for its beauty in 1909, when it was designated as Mukuntuweap National Monument. According to "A History of Washington County: From Isolation to Destination," by Doug Alder and Karl Brooks, The monument designation came after a survey report by St. George resident Leo A. Snow shared the secret of what has become a place of sanctuary befitting its name.
