The world’s first and most famous national park, Yellowstone has a long list of “largest,” “longest” and “tallest” style facts to crow about. The site of one of the planet’s biggest volcanic eruptions, Yellowstone is home to the world’s largest population of elk and it’s tallest geyser, along with the country’s longest free-flowing river and largest high-altitude lake. On top of that, it plays host to an incredible array of hydrothermal features – more than 10,000 at last count, including, naturally, the world’s largest collection of active geysers.
All that considered, it comes as no surprise to hear that Yellowstone stretches out over a huge area of northern Wyoming and slivers of Montana to the north and Idaho to the west. Indeed, the park is larger than Rhode Island and Delaware combined. With so much to see and so much to cover, Yellowstone can be a daunting place to visit. That’s where the Guide steps in, splitting the park by area and activity into easy to manage sections.
Yellowstone coverage includes:
- In depth tours of the varied sites along Yellowstone’s fabled Grand Loop Road. The list of must-see sights is too long to list, but if something is worth visiting – or worth avoiding – it’s covered in the guide. All of the many boardwalks leading through hydrothermal wonderlands are described, as are more secludes areas like the Cascade Corner where you could easily spend days in peaceful solitude.
- Essays on the park’s geology, flora and fauna, including descriptions of the all the major animals living in the park today – including grizzly bears, bison, elk and wolves – and the most likely places to spot them.
- Detailed descriptions of the park’s numerous historical attractions – including Fort Yellowstone, Buffalo Ranch, Old Faithful Inn and Lake Yellowstone Hotel – along with all of Yellowstone’s vital visitor centers.
- Reviews on every place to stay, from the park’s numerous campgrounds to the finest indoor accommodations like the Old Faithful Inn and Lake Yellowstone Hotel. Similarly, all of Yellowstone’s eateries – from delis and diners to fine restaurants – are reviewed.
- Full color essays on wolf watching and Yellowstone’s amazing hydrothermal features, each loaded with color photos.
- Thorough write-ups on twenty-six Yellowstone hikes, from the short trail to Mystic Falls to an overnight trip to the hidden wonders of the Shoshone Geyser Basin, along with everything you need to know about backcountry camping and bear safety.
- The scoop on the best fly-fishing and lake fishing in the park – including the best local guides and stores – to go with information on where to safely swim, boating options, areas perfect for cycling, and details on horseback riding and scrambling.
- An in-depth look at visiting Yellowstone in winter, including where to stay and what see, driving and snowcoach routes, the latest information on snowmobiling, where to cross-country ski and snowshoe, and tips on winter wildlife spotting.
- An exhaustive history of Yellowstone, from the earliest hunter-gatherer inhabitants and early exploration parties to the Army years and up to modern times. Find out the keys roles played by the railroad and automobile, plus learn about Yellowstone’s most fascinating characters, including early trappers like John Colter, Jim Bridger and Osborne Russell; explorers like Henry Washburn, Nathaniel Langford and Ferdinand Hayden; and early officials like Philetus Norris, Harry Yount and Horace Albright.
- Chapters on Yellowstone’s gateway towns, including West Yellowstone, Gardiner, Cody, Cooke City and Jackson further the south.
- Loads of detailed maps.