Your Guide to the Natural Wonders of Yellowstone National Park
Yellowstone National Park sits atop one of the world’s most powerful geothermal hotspots. This supervolcano fuels a landscape unlike any other, filled with geysers, hot springs, rivers, and ancient lava flows. In 2024 alone, the park welcomed over 4.
74 million visitors, making it the second-busiest year in its history.
Mostly located in Wyoming but stretching into Montana and Idaho, Yellowstone is a magnet for nature lovers, adventure seekers, and photographers. If you’re planning a visit, here’s your guide to some of the park’s most awe-inspiring natural wonders.
The Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone River
This 20-mile canyon carved by the Yellowstone River features steep golden cliffs and the thundering Lower Falls, which drops 308 feet — almost twice the height of Niagara Falls. Seasonal flow variations create a constant mist that nourishes thermophilic bacteria, painting the canyon walls in yellows, greens, and reds. Artist Point provides an iconic view perfect for sunrise or sunset snapshots.
Hayden Valley
Known as one of the best wildlife viewing areas in Yellowstone, Hayden Valley is teeming with bison, elk, and grizzly bears. While moose and deer are spotted less frequently, visitors regularly see herds crossing the river at dawn or dusk.
Hiking is not recommended due to unpredictable terrain and active wildlife — instead, enjoy the valley from roadside pull-outs and lookouts.
Mammoth Hot Springs
This ever-changing limestone formation is a surreal, otherworldly sight. Hot water bubbling up through limestone deposits creates the colorful travertine terraces of Mammoth Hot Springs.
The constantly shifting Minerva Terrace is a visitor favorite, where vibrant bands of minerals and microbes form a natural staircase that’s both fragile and breathtaking.
Yellowstone Lake
Sitting at 7,733 feet above sea level, Yellowstone Lake is the largest freshwater lake in North America above 7,000 feet. It spans 132 square miles and reaches depths of over 400 feet.
Take a moment to enjoy the mountain reflections, or rent a boat from Bridge Bay Marina and fish for native cutthroat trout. Don’t miss the West Thumb Geyser Basin, where bubbling geothermal pools line the lake’s edge.