7 Things Yellowstone Is Known For and People Love and Hate About It

Yellowstone National Park was established in 1872 making it America’s oldest national park. There is nowhere on earth quite like it and there truly is something for everyone there. It extends into Montana and Idaho and attracts millions of visitors each year. It is known all over the world for its natural beauty and rich biodiversity but there can be a downside to its vast and untamed expanses. Let’s take a closer look at the top 7 things that Yellowstone is known for and what people love and hate about it.

It’s Huge Size

Top of the list of things that people like about Yellowstone is that you can get away from it all in an area of outstanding natural beauty. There are stunning landscapes around each corner and if you want to get lost in nature, you can. The vast park covers 3,472 square miles which is 2,221,766 acres. That’s larger than Rhode Island and Delaware put together.

Ironically, this also provides the very thing that some people hate about the area – poor cell phone coverage. The limited service is mainly focused around the junction hubs such as Lake Village. Free Wi-Fi is even more scarce and limited to Mammoth’s Albright Visitor Centre. Don’t panic though because once you get to gateway towns, like West Yellowstone, you can get back online.

The Animals That Live There

Animals are found in abundance in Yellowstone but there are a few species that it is most well known for. The first has got to be the bison. They were named the national mammal of the United States in 2016 and have a long history with the park. The fate of these magnificent animals is inextricably intertwined with Yellowstone. As the bison teetered on the edge of extinction in the US (thanks to hunting and habitat loss), Yellowstone played a key part in their survival. It is the only place in the US where they have continuously lived since prehistoric times. As of 2021, around 5,500 bison made their home there making it the largest bison population on public lands.

You also cannot talk about Yellowstone without mentioning bears! It is home to both grizzly bears and black bears. Grizzlies are larger and more aggressive. You are warned to stay at least 100 yards away from all bears and it is against the law to feed them in the park. The best places to see grizzlies are in the Hayden and Lamar valleys, on the north slopes of MT. Washburn, and from Fishing Bridge to the East Entrance. Head there at dawn or dusk. Black bears are most often spotted in the Tower and Mammoth areas.

Its Geysers and Hot Springs

There are 10,000 hydrothermal features in Yellowstone and, for many people, this is what the park is known for. It contains the greatest concentration of geysers, hot springs, mudpots, and steamvents on the planet. These are all created by the hydrothermal system and underlying hot ground and magma storage deep below the park. The most well-known of these features is Old Faithful – the world’s most famous geyser. It currently erupts around 20 times a day, lasting between a minute and a half and five minutes and sending a plume of water up to 180 feet in the air. Each eruption contains up to 8,400 gallons of water at 204⁰F.

People also love the Grand Prismatic Spring which is one of the three largest on the planet. It is best known for its spectacular colors that change with the seasons.

The Waterfalls and Rivers

The geothermal features may be the major attractions in the park for many but the rivers and, more importantly, the waterfalls are also spectacular. The park contains around 50 named waterfalls, the tallest being the Silver Cord Cascade at 1200 feet. The most well-known, however, is the Upper Falls. Here the Yellowstone River cascades 110 feet and can be viewed from the South Rim Trail and Uncle Tom’s Trail. The iconic Lower Falls is 308 feet high and is one of the most photographed and visited locations in the park.

Miles of Hiking Trails

Yellowstone is well known as a hiking destination and with over 1,000 miles of trails that is hardly surprising. Hikes overlooking the main attractions, such as Old Faithfull, are always popular. Other popular choices are hiking to waterfalls including the Fairy Falls Trail. There are hikes for all abilities ranging from under a mile to backpacking trails of over 40 miles.

A hike through the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone is not to be missed!

Getting Close to Nature

Let’s face it – this is the main reason that people visit the park but it can turn out to be something that you love and hate at the same time. Every year visitors are injured in Yellowstone and some have even been killed. Looking at data recorded since 1872, two people have been killed by bison and eight have been killed by bears within the park boundaries. In more recent times, there are on average a few injuries caused by animals every year. Also, since 1872, 22 people have been scalded to death by hot springs. With the temperature of some of the park’s hot springs reaching over 185⁰F, it takes just seconds to cause fatal scalds.

Ultimately, most of the injuries and fatalities could have been avoided by people giving nature (animals, raging rivers, steep cliffs, and hot springs) the respect that they deserve and not getting too close to them!

Being Hugely Popular

The main thing that people hate about Yellowstone is other people! Over four million people visit the park every year. That, in itself, is not a problem because of its vast size. However, they all tend to visit at the same time and in the same places which means that things can get crowded. The heaviest crowds are found in July and August but from mid-June to Labor Day is pretty hectic, especially at popular locations like Old Faithful. You can get around this by visiting at the very beginning or end of summer. If you have to visit during the peak season, avoid visiting top attractions between 9 am and 3 pm. Week days are usually quieter than weekends and there are loads of other attractions away from the most popular spots. Just do your research first or ask a ranger when you get there.

The photo featured at the top of this post is © sboice/iStock via Getty Images