On March 1, 1872, Yellowstone became the first national park for all to enjoy the unique hydrothermal wonders. Today, millions of people come here each year to camp, hike, and enjoy the majesty of the park.
Junior Ranger booklets at every visitor center. Top trails by age — filtered by our hand-checked minimum age, shade and restrooms:
Dogs are restricted to paved roads, campgrounds and parking areas — almost no trails. Where they can't go, we map the nearest boarding and 24/7 vets.
See the full dog guide →Backcountry camping permit · advance reservations open early; walk-ups limited
Official details →Coverage exists near a few developed areas only. Plan navigation offline.
West Yellowstone / in-park stations
Village EV chargers (limited)
A section of the West Thumb Geyser Basin boardwalk will be closed to Fishing Cone and Lakeshore Geyser through mid-October while crews replace damaged support structures along the shoreline. The remaining sections of...
More →Bull elk are fast and unpredictable this time of year and can seriously injure people. If an elk charges, run. In addition to staying at least 25 yards (23 m) away from elk and bison, always stay at least 100 yards...
More →The parking lot, boardwalk, and Firehole River at Biscuit Basin, located north of Old Faithful, is closed to all travel until further notice due to the possibility of another event at the site of a hydrothermal...
More →Expect a single lane of traffic with up to 15-minute delays, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, from April 1 through late October 2026. Oversized/overweight vehicles (8'6"+ wide, 75'+ long, 80,000 lbs+ gross vehicle...
More →Although an entrance pass is required to enter Yellowstone National Park, vehicle reservations are not needed. You are encouraged to purchase an entrance pass before arriving, but you may also purchase passes at any...
More →The sweet spot for Yellowstone National Park is June & September — right now: elk rut echoes through the valleys; crowds thin, mornings crisp.
6 trails
| Trail | Length | Gain | Dog | Kids | Stroller | Shade | Restrooms |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Old Faithful & Geyser Hill Loop | 1.6 mi | 60 ft | No | 0+ | Yes | 5% | Yes |
| Grand Prismatic Overlook | 1.6 mi | 105 ft | No | 6+ | No | 10% | No |
| Storm Point Trail | 2.3 mi | 40 ft | No | 6+ | No | 40% | No |
| Fairy Falls | 5.4 mi | 190 ft | No | 8+ | No | 30% | No |
| Uncle Tom's / South Rim | 2 mi | 500 ft | No | 8+ | No | 20% | Yes |
| Mount Washburn | 6.2 mi | 1400 ft | No | 10+ | No | 10% | Yes |
Which side of Yellowstone National Park actually saves you drive time — with live rates, not "top-10 from nowhere".
Wake up inside the gate — first light at the trailhead, no morning commute.
Check availability →Rooms minutes from the entrance with pools, breakfast and parking.
Check rates →PARTNER LINKS · RATES SHOWN ON THE PARTNER SITE
Where to fly in, as the National Park Service lists them.
Yellowstone Regional Airport, Cody WY
Jackson Hole Airport, WY
Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport, MT
+3 more · NPS directions
A car is essential at most parks — book early for summer and holiday weekends.
Compare cars →Where lots fill by 8 AM and which shuttle skips the stress — see "Know before you go" above.
Boat, wildlife and scenic tours matched to Yellowstone National Park.
See tours →Vets, urgent care and groceries around Yellowstone National Park — the block you hope you never need.
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6 trails, each with its own page — distance, elevation gain, water and restroom data where the park publishes it. Old Faithful & Geyser Hill Loop is the first in the table above.
Mount Washburn — 1,400 ft of gain over 6.2 miles. Gain is what decides how hard a day feels; the mileage on its own is the number that misleads people.
Yellowstone National Park grades D on our A–D pet-policy scale. Dogs are restricted to paved roads, campgrounds and parking areas — almost no trails. Leashes (6 ft max) are required everywhere.
Our age-rated trails here start at 0+, and 5 of them suit kids 8 and under.
Yellowstone Regional Airport, Cody WY. We list 6 gateway airports for this park.
Yes — 3 official National Park Service webcams are embedded on this page, so you can see the conditions before you drive.
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