NATIONAL PARKS LAMAR VALLEY 3 Seeing Old Faithful erupt into a fountain of water and steam Geysers are natural hot springs that periodically erupt under pres-sure, and Yellowstone has more of them than anywhere else in the world. Watch the park’s most famous geyser, Old Faithful, erupt every 60 to 110 minutes, or see if you can catch one of the other incredible — though less predictable — geysers, such as Grand, Castle or Steamboat. Insider tip: Watch the eruption at night. It will just be you, Old Faithful and a sky full of stars. YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK TOUR BUS 4 Sleeping in the rustic Old Faithful Inn, touted as the largest log structure in the world YOUR HOME BASE (HINT: BOOK NOW) Find the perfect headquarters for your Yellowstone getaway and book it as soon as possible. Depending on the season, the best spots get booked months — or sometimes even a year — in advance. Bask in the spirit of the American West at this National Historic Landmark, crafted from logs and stone in 1904. Its soaring grand lobby, oversized fireplace, comfy rooms and observation deck overlooking Old Faithful make it the most requested lodging facility in the park. 5 Strolling the boardwalks along Mammoth Hot Springs Lodges, Hotels & Cabins From the elegant Lake Hotel to the Roosevelt Lodge inspired by Teddy himself, there are nine different lodging facil-ities in Yellowstone. Campgrounds There are five reservation camp-grounds with more than 1,700 sites and seven first-come, first-served camp-grounds with roughly 450 sites. Backcountry sites are also available with a permit. Outside the Park Whether you’re seeking a bed-and-breakfast hideaway, a cozy cabin or a Western-inspired inn, there are dozens of accommodation options within the gateway communities of Jackson (60 miles south), Cody (50 miles east) and Dubois (80 miles southeast). Get a glimpse into an otherworldly scene at these sprawling mineral hot springs, where white, tan and rust-orange colors splay across naturally terraced pools created by travertine deposits. The 1.75-mile boardwalks give you an optimal vantage point of the tub-like formations. 6 Discovering the rich military heritage at Fort Yellowstone Take a tour of historic Fort Yellowstone, which housed U.S. Army soldiers who occupied the area during the late 1800s to early 1900s to protect the national park from squatters, poachers and vandals. The Albright Visitor Center — which formerly served as officer housing — offers more historical insight. 7 Watching wildlife in Hayden and Lamar valleys For sweeping views of mountains, winding waterways and plenty of free-roaming wildlife like bison, grizzly bears, wolves and waterfowl, pull over at one of the outlooks in Lamar Valley in the northeastern corner of the park and Hayden Valley near the center of the park. 50 TravelWyoming.com
Wyoming Official Travel Guide 2019 Wyoming Official Travel Guide: Page 50
