Yellowstone National Park’s largest hot spring, Grand Prismatic Spring, is one of hundreds of geothermal features in the popular park, which attracts about four million visitors every year. Photo by Albert de Bruijn

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Morning Glory Pool, located near Old Faithful, got its name in the 1880s from the trumpet-shaped flower that it resembles. Photo by Albert de Bruijn

Stunning panoramic vistas and copious wildlife are the showstopping hallmarks of Yellowstone National Park. The world’s first National Park, established in 1872, Yellowstone is home to the iconic Old Faithful geyser and so much more.  

My husband, Chris, and I recently embarked on a two-week National Parks bus adventure with Globus tours. We wanted to see it all while avoiding hours of research, planning and driving.  

While on a busy tour of five parks, we were treated to two days of exploring Yellowstone’s uniquely beautiful landscape.  

Grand Loop’s hot springs  

Navigating the park by car (or bus) is fairly simple. The 2.2-million-acre park, located mostly in northwest Wyoming and overlapping into Montana and Idaho, has five entrances. Hop on the 140-mile Grand Loop and be prepared to be amazed.  

Along the Upper Loop are several must-see stops. Mammoth Hot Springs is at the top of the list. Meander the boardwalk that traverses across steaming hot springs that trickle over white, stair-like hydrothermal features called travertine terraces.  

Tower Fall is a spectacular overlook stop. The waterfall, one of more than 300 here, plunges 132 feet, ultimately flowing into the Yellowstone River.  

The Grand Canyon of Yellowstone showcases the park’s namesake yellowish rocks, which rise on each side of the canyon. The moniker came from the Minnetaree tribe’s name for the Yellowstone River: Mi tse a-da-zi, or “Yellow Rock River.” 

Along the Lower Loop are more natural wonders that will leave your head spinning. West Thumb Geyser Basin has a half-mile loop walk along the shore of Yellowstone Lake, where you can witness an amazing variety of geothermal features.  

The path passes by the Thumb Paint Pots, a collection of bubbling clay mud pools. But the jewel-tone turquoise blue of the Abyss Pool, a 53-foot-deep pool with temperatures reaching over 180 degrees, is the highlight of West Thumb. 

The grand dame of Yellowstone, Old Faithful, spouts off approximately every 90 minutes. The geyser’s 180-foot plume was one of the highlights of our Yellowstone visit. Chris was thrilled to watch the dramatic eruption no less than five times during our stay.  

Follow the Geyser Loop path alongside Old Faithful to explore the Upper Geyser Basin, site of the most beautiful hot spring of them all, Morning Glory Pool. The array of bright colors encircling this natural wonder will stay in your memory forever.  

The grand kahuna of all hot springs is located at Midway Geyser Basin, a collection of geothermal pools that Rudyard Kipling aptly named Hell’s Half Acre.  

Wander up the boardwalk to reach the largest hot spring in North America, Grand Prismatic Spring. It is a popular spot, and the boardwalk can be crowded, but it is worth the effort to gaze at the massive turquoise pool ringed with rainbow colors. 

Dragon’s Mouth Spring is in the Mud Volcano area, home to some of the most acidic hydrothermal features in the park. The sulfur odor is strong here; however, it shouldn’t deter you from a quick stop at this funky little hot spring, a vertical cave that puffs smoke. 

Encounters with wildlife 

Perhaps even more impressive than Yellowstone’s hot springs are the jaw-dropping numbers of wild animals throughout the park. Driving along the Grand Loop, you will most likely see herds of bison, elk, deer, bighorn sheep, moose and pronghorn antelope.  

Lamar Valley is the perfect place to spot wildlife. You are almost guaranteed to see bison and pronghorn, and if you’re lucky, you may glimpse a bear or wolf prowling the meadows.  

You may spot predators (although they like to blend into the surroundings) like black bears, grizzly bears, mountain lions, wolverines, lynx, coyotes and wolves. The Yellowstone mammal count totals more than 60 species, including approximately 1,000 grizzlies. Birdwatchers note: There are 300 species here. 

We encountered a herd of elk in the parking lot at Mammoth Hot Springs. They kept the park rangers very busy stopping traffic as the animals crossed and re-crossed the streets and parking lot.  

Protecting both park visitors and the animals takes skill and patience, as the two-legged guests can be more unpredictable than the four-legged residents.  

That said, our encounter was particularly dicey, as it was mating season and a second male decided to crash the party. The two boys put on quite a show.  

We had another close encounter with the locals on the boardwalk circling the Upper Geyser Basin. A lone bison, happily munching grass, stood less than 50 feet from the elevated walkway.  

Tentative steps to bypass him (they can weigh up to 2,000 pounds) turned into quick footfalls as we got closer. Thankfully, visitors were able to pass by without incident. (A word of caution, though: Many people have been seriously injured because they strayed too close to the wild animals.) 

If you go 

A vehicle is required to explore Yellowstone; there are no shuttle buses. Several excellent tour companies offer itineraries allowing you to explore these natural wonders without having to drive or navigate. 

Making reservations at any of the nine Yellowstone National Park’s lodges takes a bit of pre-planning if you desire a specific lodge at the height of the season. The reservation booking window opens on the fifth of each month, accepting reservations for the following year.  

The beautiful Old Faithful Inn, at the foot of Old Faithful, is one of the most popular lodges. You can watch the dramatic geyser spout from the lodge’s open-air deck while sipping your morning coffee. Guard your nibbles, though; a quick-witted raven will snatch your breakfast in a wink.  

If you plan to hike, carrying bear spray is necessary. You can rent the potentially lifesaving spray at the Canyon Visitor Education Center or the Yellowstone Tribal Heritage Center for a nominal fee. 

Another busy spot is the massive Canyon Lodge complex of rooms and cabins. Yellowstone also has 12 campgrounds, and all but one (Mammoth is first-come, first-served) require reservations.  

Casual eateries dot the park, including cafeteria-style spots, cafés and quick bites. Several upscale restaurants, like the Lake Yellowstone Hotel Dining Room serve delicious local favorites such as bison tenderloin and chocolate lava cake. 

You’ll need at least two days to see the highlights of Yellowstone National Park. To hike and explore the park’s beautiful scenery at a leisurely pace, plan for a longer stay — and start planning several months in advance.  

For more information about where to eat, stay and play, visit nps.gov/yell/index.htm.