Route Overview
A 5-day Yellowstone plan that spreads out the big loops, adds wildlife windows, and keeps drives realistic. Best for first-timers who want geysers, canyon views, and Lamar Valley without rushing.
Itinerary
West Entrance
Enter early and check geyser predictions.
Fuel up in West Yellowstone before entering.
Old Faithful + Upper Geyser Basin
Old Faithful Geyser is the world's best known geyser. Its eruption intervals have varied from 40 to 126 minutes. Find out the eruption times of Old Faithful and other large geysers at the Old Faithful Visitor Education Center, following the @GeyserNPS twitter feed, or using the Geysers app.
Walk the basin and time an eruption.
Check eruption predictions at the visitor center.
Grand Prismatic Spring Overlook
Short hike to the iconic overlook.
Arrive before the midday rush for parking.
Biscuit Basin
Trailhead in the Old Faithful Area
Boardwalk loop with colorful thermal features.
Stay on boardwalks and watch for steam vents.
West Thumb Geyser Basin
Stroll through a geyser basin of colorful hot springs and dormant lakeshore geysers situated on the scenic shores of Yellowstone Lake.
Lakeside geysers with golden-hour light.
Quick walk with big views on Yellowstone Lake.
Grand Canyon of Yellowstone - Artist Point
Look out across the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone or take in the beauty of the Yellowstone River and its waterfalls.
Classic canyon overlook with morning light.
Arrive early for parking.
Hayden Valley wildlife
Prime wildlife viewing in open meadows.
Use pullouts and keep distance from bison.
Mud Volcano
A loop trail leads you by turbulent pools of hot, muddy water; hillsides strewn with trees cooked by steam; strange odors; and a bizarre landscape—welcome to the Mud Volcano area.
Boardwalk loop through bubbling mud pots.
Strong sulfur smell; stay on boardwalks.
Yellowstone Lake shoreline
Hike to a high mountain meadow for a commanding view of the West Thumb of Yellowstone Lake and the distant Absaroka Mountains.
Quiet shoreline views and bird watching.
Weather changes fast on the lake.
Norris Geyser Basin
Norris Geyser Basin is one of the hottest and most acidic of Yellowstone’s hydrothermal areas. It is part of one of the world’s largest active volcanoes. Many hot springs and fumaroles here have temperatures above the boiling point (200ºF / 93ºC).
Walk Porcelain and Back Basin loops.
Expect minimal shade; carry water.
Mammoth Hot Springs
Terraces with boardwalks and historic buildings.
Elk are common in the village.
Lamar Valley evening wildlife
Prime wildlife viewing at dusk.
Bring binoculars and keep 100 yards from bears and wolves.
Tower Fall
Short walk to a dramatic waterfall overlook.
Trail to the base may be closed; check conditions.
Dunraven Pass Overlook
Starting at the Dunravenn Pass Trailhead you ascend Mount Washburn on a trail with spectacular views. The Mount Washburn Trail and trailhead parking lot at Dunraven Pass will close for improvements August 6-27, 2019.
High-elevation viewpoint with sweeping vistas.
Pack layers; it can be windy.
Gibbon Falls
Short stop at a roadside waterfall.
Quick pullout with easy access.
Firehole Lake Drive
Short loop with thermal features and geysers.
Great late-afternoon light on the pools.
Lone Star Geyser Trail
The trailhead for Lone Star Geyser is east of Kepler Cascades pull-out, 3.5 miles (5.6 km) southeast of Old Faithful overpass on Grand Loop Road.
Easy out-and-back to a backcountry geyser.
Check eruption predictions before heading out.
Black Sand Basin
Compact boardwalk with colorful pools.
Less crowded than nearby basins.
Creates a copy you can customize
5
Days
18
Stops
moderate
Difficulty
Best Season
May through September, best in September for wildlife and fewer crowds
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