My Yellowstone Recommendations

Posted on Author youtah

I had a co-worker who was visiting from Europe. While they were here, (they had a small child with them), they wanted to see Yellowstone. Having been there several times in the past, I gave them a few of my recommendations with ratings. The park is HUGE and you really need a good week to travel and see Yellowstone. There really is a lot to see, and I cannot list everything here, so these are my personal key recommendations. Hopefully you will get enough time to visit the park, and find some of your own favorite spots as well!

Given that context, here are my recommendations.

Mammoth Hot Springs (6/10 stars)

The Yellowstone Mammoth Hot Springs photography by Jeff McGrath
  • Great place to get something to eat, have a picnic and use restrooms.
  • Nothing incredibly fancy, just a really nice place. One of my favorite spots.
  • Smelly, lots of sulfur smells by the hot pots.
  • Lots of Elk, Moose, and Bison roam around typically
    • DO NOT GET CLOSE OR PET THE ANIMALS – THEY ARE WILD
  • The Mammoth Hot Spring has started to kind of run dry as of late

Tower Falls (7/10)

Yellowstone Tower Falls photographed by Jeff McGrath
  • Shop, food, restrooms
  • Really neat, short and easy hike.
  • Amazing water fall view.

Upper Falls View (5/10)

The Yellow Stone Upper Falls as seen from the Upper Falls View, photograph taken by Jeff McGrath
  • Pretty, but view is kind of far away
  • Wheelchair accessible – flat crushed gravel/dirt pathway

Brink of the Lower Falls (10/10)

Wide angle photo of the Lower Falls as seen from the Brink of the Lower Falls, photographed by Jeff McGrath
  • Wow, just wow. Absolutely amazing
  • Steep switch back hikes
  • Do not take a stroller
  • Incredible View

Old Faithful (10/10)

Old Faithful being back lit by the sun on a stormy day, photographed by Jeff McGrath
  • Really neat to watch.
  • Favorite time to watch it is Sunset, any time of day will work
  • Get there early
  • The Old Faithful Lodge has a rather decent cafeteria with ice cream nearby
  • Walk around the Upper Geyser Basin while you are in the area.

Grand Prismatic Spring (10/10)

Photography of a Hot Pot at the Grand Prismatic by Jeff McGrath
  • Incredibly huge and beautiful spring.
  • There are a TON of amazing hot pots you need to see along this entire stretch of Road.
  • Plan on several hours.

Artists Paint Pots (7/10)

  • Fun and easy hike
  • Really weird pits of bubbling mud, I think they look cool
  • Imagine Mud Boiling

Norris Geyser Basin (7/10)

  • Huge area, lots of boardwalks
  • Small Visitors Center

Gibbon Falls (6/10)

  • Parking can be packed, but very centrally located in the park
  • Easy access from West Yellowstone
  • Short hike down to the overlook or view
  • Wheelchair accessible

All photographs are Copyright 2015 Jeff McGrath Photography