West Thumb Geyser Basin
West Thumb Geyser Basin is located by Yellowstone Lake, formed 150,000 years ago. A fascinating landscape of mist emerged from the combination of hot springs and lake water. There are numerous geysers with different colors of water spouting intermittently, including green and black. Many elk often appear here, so friends who want to see them can visit this geyser basin.
Northeast Entrance Road
Except for West Thumb, friends living in the northeast of the park can also pay attention to both sides when entering the park, as it is possible to see moose.
Heyden Valley
Hayden Valley is located slightly north of the east side of Yellowstone, in front of the forest and filled with grassland. A river flows through, making it an ideal spot for animals to search for food in the morning or at dusk. With binoculars, visitors can often see grizzly bears wandering around. In addition to bears, there are also opportunities to spot wolves, elk, and bison in Hayden Valley.
Yellowstone Lake
Yellowstone Lake is the largest inland lake in Yellowstone National Park. It is actually the center of the Yellowstone volcano, and the volcanic rocks and magma that cover the land in the park were erupted from here. The only outlet for Yellowstone Lake is the Yellowstone River, which flows through Yellowstone Canyon to create the famous Yellowstone Falls. If lucky, visitors can spot grizzly bears on the shores of the lake.
Fishing Bridge spans the Yellowstone River and is an important channel for the outflow of Yellowstone Lake. Every year in June and July, visitors on their way to Fishing Bridge can enjoy the spectacular sight of wild trout struggling upstream through the Le Hardys Rapids to spawn. There is a visitor center near Fishing Bridge that primarily displays various types of birds. It is important to note that, despite its name, fishing is not allowed at Fishing Bridge, making it an excellent location for fish viewing.
YellowStone Falls
The river that flows out of Yellowstone Lake enters a canyon after passing through a gentle area, which is known as one of the most magnificent sights in Yellowstone. With a huge roar, it forms Upper Falls and Lower Falls. Thanks to the water, this is a popular spot for many wild animals, and there are often large groups of bighorn sheep.
The center of Yellowstone National Park is the Canyon area, and the most famous attraction is the Yellowstone Grand Canyon, which is 32 kilometers long and 360 meters deep. It boasts magnificent canyon scenery and waterfalls, with Lookout Point being the best viewing spot. The lower waterfall, which is 94 meters high, is one of the highest waterfalls in terms of drop height. The viewing spot is Artist Point, with trails including Uncle Tom's Trail and Brink of Lower Fall Trail. The former offers views of the Lower Yellowstone Falls, while the latter provides views of the Upper Yellowstone Falls. Uncle Tom's Trail is recommended to be walked first. In addition, there are viewing points on the other side of the Yellowstone Grand Canyon, including Lookout Point, Grand View, and Inspiration Point, which are excellent viewing locations, but the road is one way, so it is better to first drive to Canyon Village. If time is tights, these attractions should not be missed.
Norris Geyser Basin is located within Yellowstone National Park and is a collection of geysers. It is home to the world's largest geyser, Steamboat Geyser, which rarely erupts but when it does, reaches astonishing heights. The water also comes in a variety of colors, including clear blue-green and a soft blue-white resembling milk. Due to the instability of the geysers, new ones emerge every year while old ones may go dormant. Echinus Geyser is a famous acidic hot spring in the area, while most of Yellowstone's hot springs are alkaline. It has a very low pH, similar to lemon juice. Other famous geysers include Pearl Geyser, Porcelain Basin, Ledge Geyser, and Colloidal Pool. Visitors can also admire the orange or green rivers formed by bacteria, adding to the natural beauty of the area.
Mammoth Hot Springs
The landscape of this place is mainly composed of limestone terraces and is the largest carbonate sedimentary hot spring known in the world. This hot spring area is the most active and longest-standing geothermal area. Mammoth Hot Springs used to have multiple hot springs flowing down the slopes, generating a large amount of microorganisms and forming colorful terraces. Unfortunately, in a seismic movement in 2002, most of the hot springs stopped erupting, causing a large number of microorganisms to die. The dead microorganisms turned into gray-white powder, which remained on the dry large terrace. Bighorn sheep are also often seen here.
Old Faithful Geyser
Old Faithful Geyser is a must-see attraction in Yellowstone National Park. It erupts once every 93 minutes and lasts for over 4 minutes, with heights reaching up to 40-50 meters. Old Faithful erupts regularly throughout the year, earning its famous name. During the eruption, it looks like a galloping horse, and the sunlight reflecting off the water vapor creates rainbow colors, making it a spectacular sight. On the way to Old Faithful, you may often see bison lazily lying on the side of the road.
The United States has one of the world's largest hot springs, the Grand Prismatic, also known as "one of the most beautiful sights on the earth's surface." In 1871, geologists discovered this amazing natural wonder and named it the "Grand Prismatic." The hot spring water is rich in minerals, which allows colored bacteria to thrive in the algae and colonies near the water's edge, creating a variety of colors, from green and crimson to orange. However, the center of the hot spring is too hot for organisms to survive. The colors radiate from inside to outside in different tiers of blue, green, yellow, orange, orange, and red. There is a wooden walkway around the Grand Prismatic, which takes about 40 minutes to complete. To appreciate the best view, it is recommended to observe from high ground overlooking the Grand Prismatic. If conditions do not permit, climbing along a low slope can still produce satisfying photographs.
