Park Yellowstone

In many ways, Yellowstone is the epicenter of everything that\'s still wild and untamed in the United States, and everything that\'s right and wrong about modern-day tourism.

Yellowstone is the oldest park in the U.S. park system and is its flagship. Each year, it draws 3 million visitors; by some estimates, one-third of the U.S. population will visit this place during their lifetime. They come to experience the park\'s restless geology; to see grizzlies, gray wolves, and herds of buffalo; to fish legendary trout streams like the Madison and the Yellowstone River. Most of all, they come to reconnect in some way with a sense of primordial America, the larger-than-life landscape that existed before railroads, highways, telephones, and a host of other technologies began to cut everything down to size.

Yellowstone is home to 60 percent of the world’s geysers. There are over 10,000 geothermal features here. Over 250 geysers erupt every year. Most famous is Old Faithful, which erupts every 70-90 minutes and shoots water over 130 feet into the air.

Yellowstone’s main geyser areas are Upper Geyser Basin, Lower Geyser Basin, Midway Geyser Basin and Norris Geyser Basin.

No where in the Lower 48 is there more abundant wildlife than in the Greater Yellowstone region. Yellowstone Park is home to the largest concentration of large and small mammals in the lower 48 states. And most of the animals that live in Yellowstone Park also inhabit regions of Grand Teton National Park and the states of Wyoming, Montana and Idaho.
Following is a summary of some of the more popular wild animals that live in Yellowstone Park and where visitors might best view each.

The Yellowstone region is home to 210-610 GRIZZLY BEARS and many BLACK BEARS. A historic BISON (also called American buffalo) population also makes its home here. About 3,500 bison inhabit the park. Bison are respected not only for their size, but for their resilience. At the turn of the century, America’s wild bison – which at one time numbered60 million – had dwindled to about 25 animals. These last few animals took refuge in Yellowstone National Park. The bison visitors see today are descendants of those survivors. Bison can weigh 2,000 pounds – a ton – and although they seem docile, they are unpredictable and have been known to charge at visitors who approach them too closely. About 40,000 ELK inhabit Yellowstone. Adult bull elk weigh 500-1,000 pounds, while adult females may weigh anywhere from 400-600 pounds. The animal’s head is dark brown in color, and males’ coats are lighter than those of females. facing half moons. TRUMPETER SWANS are the largest waterfowl in the world, and the biggest flyers in Yellowstone. Male trumpeter swans’ wingspans can reach seven feet. Usually heavier than eagles, males can weigh 25-30 pounds, while females can weigh 23-27 pounds. They are the world’s heaviest flying birds. They are long-necked and all white, except for their black bills and webbed feet. Trumpeter swans are graceful and swim with their necks straight up. They have a “koh-koh, koh-koh” call and are hardy, sometimes enduring temperatures of 40 and 50 degrees below zero during winter.

Yellowstone Park is one of the premier places to see WOLVES from the roadside. The gray wolf is Yellowstone’slargest canid. The wolf hunts and kills animals that are often larger than itself. In Yellowstone, the wolves’ diet is composed primarily of elk. But some have taken down bison and moose. During the winters of 1995 and 1996, a combined 31 gray wolves were reintroduced to Yellowstone from Canada. As of late winter, there were approximately 185 wolves inhabiting the Greater Yellowstone region. Visitors might also see MOOSE, the largest member of the deer family. With the exception of bison, moose are the largest animal in Yellowstone. They can weigh as much as 1,000 pounds and stand as high as seven feet at the shoulders. Moose frequent streams, ponds and marshes in the summer, feeding on succulent vegetation.

The Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone is 4,000 feet wide and 1,300 feet deep in places. It is a spectacular sight and is home to the LOWER FALLS, which tumble 308 feet into the canyon, and the UPPER FALLS, which tumble 109 feet into the canyon. These, along with other waterfalls that are near the main driving loop in Yellowstone Park, are all breathtaking in their beauty. TOWER FALLS is another favorite.

A great way to see Yellowstone country from a different vantage is to take a rafting trip. There are numerous rafting companies throughout the region that offer scenic or whitewater trips, half-day or full-day trips.

Slam through waves with the Flying Pig Raft Company while helping to navigate your raft through the notorious rapids; Man Eater, Pickets Wave, and Sleeping Giant. Then relax as you float past scenic views of Yellowstone National Park, passing by Electric Peak, Devils Slide, and possibly stopping to soak in LaDuke Hot Spring.

Did you know that 98 percent of Yellowstone is “backcountry?” In fact, the roads and developed areas only occupy two percent of the park! Enjoy 1,300 miles of trails in Yellowstone Park. Be sure to take precautions in bear country, and also to tell someone about where you plan to hike and when you plan to return. To camp in Yellowstone’s backcountry you must reserve a backcountry camp site. Stop into a Ranger Station to get more information about getting a permit to camp in Yellowstone’s vast and beautiful backcountry.
A vacation out West wouldn’t be complete without taking a horseback ride. There are several companies throughout the Greater Yellowstone region that offer horseback rides by the hour or on a half-day basis.

Wyoming is home to the biggest outdoor rodeo in the world, the Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo, in Wyoming’s capital city, Cheyenne. Or, in Cody, Wyoming, which is just 50 miles east of Yellowstone’s East Entrance, is home to the Cody Nite Rodeo, a nightly outdoor rodeo that will knock your socks off if you’re looking for good old-fashioned night out in the West! Another great rodeo is the Pioneer Days Rodeo, in Lander, Wyo., over the 4th of July holiday.

Many Indian powwows, which feature a variety of dances, drumming and songs, are scheduled in the Greater Yellowstone area throughout the summer season.

Powwows are social events that attract tribal members from across the country to dance, sing and visit with each other. The colorful events also serve to preserve the rich heritage of Native culture and allow tribal members to participate in the old traditional ways. It’s also a way to make a few extra dollars as contest powwows feature cash and other prizes.

Wyoming’s biggest powwow is the Eastern Shoshone Indian Days, which includes an All Indian Rodeo and horse racing held in Fort Washakie, Wyoming, the fourth week of June each summer. (Click here for information). In mid-June, the Plains Indian Museum Powwow in Cody features dancers not only from the Northern Plains, but also from Oklahoma, New Mexico and Arizona. Many of these dancers also attend the Eastern Shoshone Indian Days.

When it comes to museums, the Greater Yellowstone area is tough to beat. In fact, the entire area itself is a natural history museum of sorts.
As for specific museums consider the Buffalo Bill Historical Center at Cody, Wyo., which is actually five museums under one roof. The Draper Museum of Natural History is the newest of the Center’s world-class museums joining the Buffalo Bill Museum, the Whitney Gallery of Western Art, the Cody Firearms Museum and the Plains Indian Museum. This massive facility is widely regarded as the finest western museum in the United States, and it’s just one hour from the east gate of Yellowstone Park. This impressive museum complex grew out of a simple log structure built in 1927 to house artifacts from the life of the famous western showman, Buffalo Bill Cody and his Wild West Show.

There’s no better way to spend quality alone-time, or quality time with your family and friends than to go on a camping trip. Whether it’s for one night or several nights, at a campground in a camper, or in a tent staked 15 miles back in country shared with wild animals, a camping trip will be a highlight of your Yellowstone vacation.