As America's first national park, established in 1872, Yellowstone may be one of the world's most unique places to visit. It is a place not only appealing to those who understand the workings of such nature, but to people of all ages and all nations.
Locations of Yellowstone
The park spreads through parts of Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho and can be entered into through five separate entrances around the perimeter of the park.
The summer season for Yellowstone typically runs from mid-April to the start of November. Because most of the park lives above 7,500 feet, the weather can be unpredictable with changing temperatures and storms. During the summer, temperatures range between 70 and 80 degrees and thunderstorms are likely in the afternoon.
Entering the park through the North entrance, a line emerges from the ranger's station where people must first purchase a pass in order to get in and explore the park. The entrance fee for a private, noncommerical vehicle is $25.
The mountainous nature at its finest begins to emerge. The park is not yet swarming with visitors during the Memorial Day weekend, and the sights are breathtaking.
Likely Sights
A few miles into the park, cars start to slow down and then traffic starts to back up as the movement of vehicles stops. Visitors are getting their first glipses of the wild bison that live there. There is one bison walking along the road, seemingly paying no attention to the many eyes and cameras upon him.
Bison are the most commonly seen animals in Yellowstone and can be found walking or lying next to the road in many different places. Occasionally, traffic must slow as the bison cross the street to the other side. Other wildlife is more scarce, or perhaps just less obvious.
The beauty of Yellowstone is hard to describe. The park stretches across 3,472 square miles and, according to the Yellowstone National Park web site (www.yellowstone.national-park.com), is larger than the states of Rhode Island and Delaware combined.
The park consists of four major lakes, ten or more rivers and creeks, and over 290 waterfalls. It also holds an active volcano and geysers and has approximately 2,000 earthquakes a year.
The most famous of the geysers is Old Faithful. It is a cone geyser, "which erupts in a narrow jet of water, usually from a cone (Yellowstone National Park web site)." Between 3,700 and 8,400 gallons of water are expelled per eruption, which occur about every 94 minutes on average. Old Faithful alone is worth the visit to Yellowstone.
It is hard to see all of Yellowstone in one day, or even two days. The park has many camping sites and cabins that can be utilized, as well as places to eat. It is well worth the while to spend at least a day or two exploring this magnificent park.
From the beauty of the mountains to the heights of the waterfalls, from the pristine colors of the pools to the array of wildlife that lives there, Yellowstone has something for everyone.
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