The Best Family Guide to Yellowstone National Park

Yellowstone National Park is a natural wonderland and one of America’s most iconic national parks. Established in 1872, it was the world’s first national park. Yellowstone is renowned for its stunning geothermal features, including the famous Old Faithful geyser, as well as colorful hot springs and a diverse range of wildlife. Bison, grizzly bears, wolves, and elk make it a top destination for wildlife enthusiasts. Its vast wilderness, pristine lakes, and rugged mountain terrain offer visitors endless opportunities for outdoor recreation. Hiking, camping, and wildlife watching make it a must-visit destination for nature lovers and adventurers alike.

Yellowstone is especially great for families. The majority of the major attractions can be easily accessed by wooden walkways or well-maintained trails. This makes it very easy for even young kids to see many of the attractions listed below. 

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Local Expert

Jody Olsen is an outdoor enthusiast who has lived in Bozeman, Montana, for nearly 30 years. Bozeman, Montana has easy access to Yellowstone National Park and many of the locals visit the park regularly.

Jody is a Communications Specialist at Montana State University and in her free time, she is outside enjoying nature. She has visited Yellowstone numerous times and is very familiar with what the park has to offer. 

Her favorite thing about Yellowstone National Park is the wildlife. Yellowstone is known as the American Serengeti because of its incredible animals. On any given day, you could see bison, elk, wolves, bears, pronghorn, coyotes, foxes, marmots, and eagles, just to name a few! 

The baby bison are her favorite. The bison are frequently on the road and will walk right by your car. Of course, you should always stay a safe distance from wildlife and carry bear spray when hiking. 

When To Visit

Early spring is a great time to visit the park because the wildlife is very active, and there are many baby animals. The fall is also very nice because the weather can be warm and beautiful, and the crowds have diminished.

Please note that you can visit Yellowstone National Park year-round, but not all roads are open through the winter. Check out the National Park website to figure out when the roads are open. 

Top Attractions In Yellowstone National Park

Here are the top things to do listed in multiple blogs from various websites with Jody’s thoughts and recommendations.

Grand Prismatic

Grand Prismatic is a must-visit. This stunning multi-colored pool is like no other.

Tips:

1. Go early in the morning or late in the evening. This is one of the most popular places in the park, and the parking area is too small. 
2. Go to the viewpoint from up above Grand Prismatic. You can get there by hiking a short distance on the Fairy Falls trail. The above picture was taken from there.

Old Faithful Geyser

Old Faithful is a geyser you should visit at least once. It can be very crowded, but you can’t come to Yellowstone without seeing it erupt at least one time. I gave it 4 stars because there is a lot of hype, and it doesn’t always live up to it.

Tips:

1. Going early or later is best because, like Grand Prismatic, it is one of the most popular spots in Yellowstone. 
2. Did you just miss the eruption? Explore the area surrounding Old Faithful. There are a multitude of trails and other smaller, less faithful geysers and pools to explore. 
3. Staying in the park? Stay at the iconic Old Faithful Inn and catch the geyser whenever is convenient for you. 

Upper Geyser Basin

Upper Geyser Basin is the area surrounding Old Faithful. Again, it is a great place to explore. It is so much more than Old Faithful.

Tips:

1. Don’t miss out on Morning Glory Pool, the farthest pool from the parking lot, pictured above right. 
2. If it’s cool outside, walking through the Upper Geyser Basin is very nice because the thermal features warm the area up.

Lamar Valley

Lamar Valley is the best place to watch for animals, especially wolves and bison!

Tips:

1. Come at dawn or dusk. This is when the animals are most active!
2. Bring binoculars to get a closer view. It is always important to keep a safe distance from the animals. They are still wild!
3. If you want to see wolves, look for wolf watchers. These wolf enthusiasts will congregate with their lawn chairs and spotting scopes in places with wolf activity.
4. The road is open all year long!

Grand Canyon of Yellowstone National Park

The Grand Canyon of Yellowstone is an overlooked section of Yellowstone. Its impressive canyon walls and majestic waterfalls are a must-see!

Tips:

1. Earth Trekkers has a great blog detailing everything you need to know about the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone! 

Hayden Valley

Another great valley to visit if you are looking to spot animals, especially grizzly bears in the spring and early summer.

Tips:

1. Same advice as Lamar Valley.
2. The road to Hayden Valley is only open early May to November 1st. Be sure to check the National Park website for up-to-date road conditions. 

Mammoth Hot Springs

Mammoth Hot Springs is a very unique area of Yellowstone National Park.

Tips and Highlights:

1. The village area is like a little town where the primary residents are elk, hotel guests, and park employees.  😄
2. The Mammoth Hot Spring terraces don’t take long to explore, but are worth a trip up to the North of Yellowstone to see them. 
3. Combine seeing the terraces with a hike up Bunsen Peak.

Yellowstone Lake

Yellowstone Lake is beautiful. Its grandeur with the backdrop of the mountains makes it a very enjoyable place to hang out or go boating. 

Tips:

1. Personally, other parts of the park are more interesting to me, so that’s why I gave it a few fewer stars. 
2. Want to go boating or kayaking in Yellowstone? I prefer Lewis Lake or get a permit to camp on Shoshone Lake.

West Thumb Geyser Basin

If you are going to visit Yellowstone Lake, you might as well stop by the West Thumb Geyser Basin as it sits right next to it. 

Tips:

1. Go early or late to avoid the crowds as it isn’t a large area to explore. 
2. Perfect for young children since it is flat and on a boardwalk the whole way. 

Boiling River

Due to the massive flood that wiped out the north entrance road to Yellowstone National Park in 2022, the road to the Boiling River is closed, and swimming is not permitted. 

Family Friendly Activities in Yellowstone National Park

Here are some amazing family-friendly activities barely mentioned in other blogs! Young children can also visit all the attractions above, so these are just a bonus. 

See Baby Animals

Who doesn’t love seeing baby animals? Go to the Blacktail Plateau or Lamar Valley in the spring and check out all the baby bison. It’s like a North American safari.

Go Biking in Yellowstone National Park

Kids don’t always love to hike but are usually more enthusiastic about biking. While Yellowstone is known for hiking, many trails can be biked.

Junior Ranger Program

A great way for your kids to learn more about Yellowstone on their trip or before is to have them participate in the junior ranger program. You can view and download the booklet before arriving. After completion, the kids can get a Junior Ranger badge. Learn more about the junior ranger program here.

Top 5 Hikes in Yellowstone National Park

Outdoor recreation is the main attraction to going to Yellowstone National Park. When hiking, remember to always carry bear spray. Here are the top 5 recommended hikes by our local expert Jody. 

Mount Washburn

1. Distance: 10.9 km / 6.8 mi
2. Elevation gain: 425 m / 1395 ft
3. Average time: 3 hours and 30 minutes

This is a nice moderate hike. The best thing about this hike is the amazing views from the top. Plus, there’s a nice parking lot.

Bunsen Peak

1. Distance: 7.1 km / 4.4 mi
2. Elevation gain: 391 m / 1282 ft
3. Average time: 2 hours and 30 minutes

This hike is a little steep at the top, but the views of the northern part of the park are worth it. 

Lone Star Geyser

1. Distance: 8.5 km / 5.3 mi
2. Elevation gain: 38.7 m / 127 ft
3. Average time: 1 hour and 40 minutes

This trail is great for hiking and relatively flat. It can also be biked most of the way. The geyser erupts on a regular basis, every three hours or so. It’s a great alternative if the crowds at Old Faithful are too much! 

Fairy Falls

1. Distance: 7.7 km / 4.8 mi
2. Elevation gain: 51.8 m / 170 ft
3. Average time: 1 hour and 35 minutes

This is a beautiful hike to a 200-foot waterfall. Check out the viewpoint of Grand Prismatic along the way. As you can see, young kids can do this flat hike. 

Lamar River Trail

1. Distance: 52.9 km / 32.9 mi
2. Elevation gain: 1099 m / 3605 ft
3. Average time: Depends on how far you go

The Lamar Valley is Jody’s favorite place in the park. You’ll see lots of bison during this hike to the famous Lamar River. This trail is very long and you can hike for as long or as short as you would like. It is beautiful throughout!

Does your trip take you to Bozeman, Montana? If so check out these related posts:

Bozeman Local Guidebook: Insider Tips to the Picturesque City

The Best 12 Hikes in Bozeman, Montana For All Levels

The Best Restaurants In Bozeman And Nearby Towns

Bozeman Itinerary: 5 Amazing Days of Scenic Nature, Gastronomy and The Old West

Unique Activities in Yellowstone National Park

Visit the Park in the Winter

• Visiting Yellowstone in the winter is magical. Nordic skiing is Jody’s favorite thing to do. It’s so peaceful and beautiful, and the crowds and crowded parking lots are absent. It’s like having the park to yourself. 

• There is a ski shop in the Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel gift store. They rent skis and have maps and grooming reports. You can also take a ski shuttle to the Indian Creek Ski Area, ski the trails at Indian Creek, and then catch a shuttle back to Mammoth. Or ski back to Mammoth one way. 

• Ski trails are also groomed at Mammoth Upper Terraces (super fun loop), Blacktail Plateau, and on the Tower to Canyon Road (ski to Tower Falls). 

• The Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel always has very festive holiday decorations and would be a great holiday escape. 

Biking in the Spring and Fall in Yellowstone National Park

• Another really cool activity is biking in the park in the spring or fall. There is a short window of time where the roads are plowed, but the roads haven’t opened to vehicle traffic. 

• It’s an excellent option for biking with kids since you ride on paved roads. With very young children, the paved roads make pulling a bike trailer or tag-along easier.

• More info on dates and locations where you can bike are mentioned under spring and fall biking on Yellowstone’s website. 
• You can rent bikes in Gardiner and West Yellowstone.

Additional Yellowstone National Park Tips 

• Please always observe posted speed limits. Each year, lots of wildlife is killed on park roads. Slow down, watch out for wildlife, and enjoy the sights. 

• Consider going in the off seasons – spring, fall, and winter. Your experience will be much more peaceful.

• Most people do the Grand Loop. However, if you stick to the Loop, you’ll miss the Lamar Valley, which is the best part of the park and has the most wildlife. 

• Take the Beartooth Highway for 360-degree views in the summer. This pass is only open from mid-May to mid-October. Winter weather can close the pass at any time. Check the Montana Department of Transportation website before planning a trip to the Beartooth Highway.

Best Places to Stay in Yellowstone National Park 

• Madison campground
  • It has a lot of summer shade and is right on the Madison River. It’s nice to walk down to the river, get your feet wet, do some fishing, and skip rocks. Madison is relatively close to West Yellowstone if you need food or want to go shopping.

• Slough Creek Campground
  • If you want something smaller and quieter. 

• It can be tough to get a campsite in the park. There are lots of National Forest campgrounds around Yellowstone that would be a good alternative.

• If camping is not your style, various lodges are available in the park, or you can stay in a hotel or VRBO in Gardiner, Cody, or West Yellowstone.
  • West Yellowstone is the town closest to most of the main attractions.
  • Lake Village and Canyon Village are the most centrally located areas inside the park. Both have lodges you can stay at.

Map of Recommendations