10 Reasons NOT to Visit Yellowstone: Cancel Your Trip if This Is You
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Working in Yellowstone as a park ranger has been one of the highlights of my career so far, but there sure were days that drove me crazy. I worked at Disney World right after my season in Yellowstone, and realized that too many people treat the two parks very similarly.
Yellowstone is a national park, not an amusement park. The animals are wild, not trained, caged, or animatronic. The geysers are sporadic, not on a timer. The rangers are authorities there to keep you safe and educate you about the park, not Disney characters there for your entertainment—though they can be pretty entertaining and do wear funny-looking hats!
When you enter Yellowstone National Park, you are entering one of the most remote wildernesses in the entire United States. If you embark on your Yellowstone trip with the right expectations, you will have a much more enjoyable time.
So, what is the biggest mistake travelers make visiting Yellowstone National Park? What are common mistakes when planning a Yellowstone itinerary?
Without further ado, here is what not to do in Yellowstone National Park, in the form of a park ranger rant. If you plan on doing any of these things, consider canceling your trip.
1. If you’ll cause traffic jams
That’s the bisons’ job! In Yellowstone, the miles and miles of cars backed up—usually in Hayden Valley and near the West Yellowstone entrance—is lovingly referred to as a “bison jam”. It’s almost a guarantee that at some point on your trip you will be stuck in one. However, there are ways you can do your part to keep the flow of traffic moving as much as possible.
First, don’t be that person—the one who says “it’s finally my turn to slow down to take a picture and gawk at these creatures” and then proceeds to drive as slowly as possible next to a giant bison. Just keep driving along and if there are any rangers trying to direct traffic, follow their guidance.
Second, if you see any other really cool animals—and I hope you will!—pull off to the side of the road to take pictures and admire it. It is mind-boggling how many people think the laws of traffic don’t apply in national parks and stop right in the middle of the road!
Third, if you do find a spot to safely pull over and are feeling adventurous enough to get out of your car, don’t walk in the road, except to quickly and safely cross it. Humans in the road contribute to traffic as much as animals and other cars do, so just be smarter than those people.
Still need to book a car to get you through the bison jams? Use the nifty car rental finder below to find cheap car rentals from Discover Cars.
2. If you plan to pet the fluffy cows
Speaking of bison: they are cool. They are fluffy. They can even be kinda cute, especially when they roll around in the dirt to cool off. But they are not for petting.
Every year, someone inevitably gets too close to a bison and ends up regretting it. Have you noticed they are really big? And they have sharp, pointy horns? They can also run really fast and jump six vertical feet! They do not want to be disturbed, so even if one is walking in your path or in your direction, keep away from it and give it its space.
If you are on a boardwalk surrounded by thermal floor, just walk the opposite direction from the oncoming bison or if a ranger is around, follow their guidance on how to navigate the situation.
This rule of giving animals their distance applies to all animals within Yellowstone. Elk, especially during rut season, moose, wolves, marmots—they all need their space. And when it comes to bears, carry bear spray to ensure the bear keeps its distance from you!
3. If you have less than a day for your entire Yellowstone trip
Yellowstone is huge. Like massive. Yes, Alaska boasts seven of the top ten largest national parks, but in the Lower 48, only Death Valley surpasses Yellowstone in size. Getting from one end of Yellowstone to another can take hours—not counting the possible hours of bison jams you may face!
If Yellowstone is on the way from one destination to another and you only have a few hours to stop, then fine, it is definitely worth the quick stop. However, if you are going out of your way to visit the park, don’t do yourself a disservice by not giving yourself enough time to see the highlights of the park.
So, how many days are needed for a Yellowstone trip? The roads in Yellowstone are shaped like a figure eight, with an upper loop and a lower loop. Most rangers recommend spending three days minimum in the park—one day for the lower loop, one for the upper loop, and one for slowing down and enjoying a hike or a day on the lake.
Determined to pack as much as you can into one day? Luckily for you, there are popular tour companies that help you see Yellowstone in one day. Here are some that you can check out.
4. If you are planning on taking a swim in a hot spring
Okay, this is where I get serious. Yellowstone is a magical place, but it does contain a lot of dangers, including water that can burn your skin off, with temperatures up to 200 degrees. (Don’t believe me? Just read Death in Yellowstone.)
We talked about the wildlife, but the ground itself can also pose a hazard. The boardwalks have been built in all the most popular thermal areas for a reason. Please do not venture from them! And if you see signs of thermal activity on a hike or more remote area—meaning actual “keep out” signs or even just evidence, like steam and whitened flora—keep out of those areas. See my Yellowstone hiking tips for more information on spotting thermal activity.
When it comes to the hot pools of water, I’ll be the first to admit that I have been drawn to their colors that look so much more refreshing than they really are. It’s almost like a trance. I’m drawn to them like Frodo is to the glow in the Dead Marshes. Don’t be like Frodo. Don’t go in the water. Don’t even stand along the edge. Just don’t do it!
5. If you’re going to just complain about the smell the whole time
In case you weren’t made aware in all your planning yet, Yellowstone is full of sulphuric gas… which smells like rotten eggs. The smell is the strongest in highly thermal areas, such as around Old Faithful, Norris Geyser Basin, and Grand Prismatic Spring—the three most popular geyser basins in the park.
Don’t worry, after a few hours you’ll get used to it. And hopefully you’ll find that the smell is worth it for the cool features. Some of the most exciting thermal areas beyond the ones named above include Mud Volcano, West Thumb, Artists’ Paint Pots, Lower Geyser Basin, Mammoth Hot Springs, and Firehole Lake Drive.
Alternatively, if you want to skip the crowds altogether, take a hike! There are so many trails that lead to geysers without a regular audience. One of the most accessible is Lone Star Geyser, just a few miles from Old Faithful.
6. If you hate beauty
Okay, I’ll admit, if you really love beauty you should actually check out Yellowstone’s neighbor, Grand Teton National Park. But Yellowstone has a lot of personality, which is beautiful, too. It’s what’s on the inside that counts!
And inside Yellowstone you’ll find things you’ve never seen anywhere else. Think: striking blue pools with rainbow rims (yes, the same ones I just mentioned can kill you), water that cries orange streams, landscapes that go on forever, and wolf packs eating bison carcasses! (Okay, that last one isn’t beautiful to the eye, but witnessing the circle of life sure is.)
Seeing all this beauty takes time and some effort. If you’re wondering what the prettiest part of Yellowstone is, here are some of the top areas (just keep in mind that everyone agrees with me and these will be crowded and it will take extra planning to see them without having a mental breakdown):
The Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone—My favorite area of the park! Two massive waterfalls can be seen from various viewpoints and honestly all are worth stopping at, not just the two most famous—Artist Point and Inspiration Point.
Grand Prismatic Spring—By far the most famous images of Yellowstone are this gorgeous spring. You can walk right along it, and also get views from above by walking up the hill at the beginning of the Fairy Falls trail. Both options are ridiculously crowded at all times, so a pretty, but much smaller, alternative if you are sick of fighting traffic is visiting Black Sand Basin.
Yellowstone Lake—This is the largest high-elevation lake in the United States and is quite a sight to behold. If you are driving along the southeast part of the lower loop, this lake will feel like it goes on forever. Take a driving break and enjoy looking at the water! Just maybe don’t swim. It’s never warmer than 50 degrees and can cause hypothermia rather quickly, even in the summer.
Lamar Valley—This valley is a haven for wildlife and photographers. My favorite time to visit is just before and during sunset when the sky turns a beautiful color and the wildlife is active.
Observation Point at Old Faithful—This one’s a hidden gem! The parking lot and Old Faithful area will be very crowded, but once you get to the steep trail, you won’t have to brush shoulders with many others. The top of the trail offers a spectacular view of the Upper Geyser Basin below. You can even watch Old Faithful erupt from there if you time it right.
7. If you abhor really cool adventures
Unfortunately you will probably spend a lot of time in your car in Yellowstone, but there is so much to see in the park, so adventure is bound to find you. If you prefer to seek it out, there are plenty of ways to make your planned stops extra special.
For example, when you visit the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, don’t just go to the same overviews as everyone else—hike the Clear Lake/Ribbon Lake loop. When you visit Grand Prismatic Spring (which will be so super insanely crowded), also drive across the road to Firehole Lake Drive and watch the sunset above Great Fountain Geyser. If you pass a sign for a cool thing on the side of the road and the parking lot isn’t full, pull over and check it out!
The less crowded areas and the unplanned moments are what will make your Yellowstone trip magical and unforgettable. Let your curiosity guide you, just make sure you stay out of thermal areas and out of the way of animals and all that.
8. If you think Yosemite was the real first national park
I’ve worked at both parks, so I’m not biased. Or maybe I’m extra biased. Either way, it is a point of pride that Yellowstone was the first national park in the world! It doesn’t mean it existed as an government entity before other parks (yes, like Yosemite National Park in California and even Hot Springs National Park in Arkansas), but it was the first to be designated as a National Park. It paved the way for other incredible parks to be federally protected and set aside for recreation and preservation.
When you’re in the park, there are lots of opportunities to learn about the history of the park, especially at Mammoth Hot Springs, the headquarters of the park. Check out the Roosevelt Arch, Albright Visitor Center, and Old Faithful Inn.
After all this reading, however, if you’re now realizing you meant to research “trip to Yosemite” and not “trip to Yellowstone”, check out my guide for first time visitors to Yosemite.
9. If you’re scared of the super volcano
It’s no secret that Yellowstone sits on top of a super volcano. When driving around the park, you will be able to see the rim of the crater… above you. Yep, that’s right. In most parts of the park, you will be exploring inside the crater!
Being inside a super volcano is how Yellowstone has so many exciting geysers and beautiful hot springs, but that can be very unnerving for some visitors. However, there is no need to panic. The massive eruption isn’t “scheduled” to happen for a really long time, if ever.
That does not mean there are not geothermal risks. For example, earthquakes are very common in the region and some can be be pretty severe. There are also occasional blasts from existing water features that can spew debris into populated areas and parking lots. Keep this in mind particularly when visiting Norris Geyser Basin.
The cool thing though about being on top of an active volcano is that this can create brand new thermal features, including geysers. I have park ranger friends who have discovered some of these new features, which is pretty neat!
10. If you have developed a severe attachment to your phone
I’ll hand it to social media—that’s probably where you got all your trip inspiration so far. (And shameless plug—my Instagram will give you that, so give me a follow!) However, don’t just do it for the ‘gram!
Be present and in the moment during your Yellowstone trip, not just for your safety, but also to really appreciate the remoteness of the park. Open all your senses (except your nose when the sulphur is especially strong) and take in everything the park is trying to show and teach you.
And did I mention there is no cell service anyway? In many parts of the park, you won’t be able to text or call your friends, post on social media, or join work meetings (and yes, more visitors than you would think get very upset when they find out they have to miss their work meeting while on vacation because the visitor centers and park hotels don’t offer Wi-Fi).
If you are desperate to stay connected to the outside world, here are some lodging options just outside of the park that will fulfill your need. Be sure to book well in advance for the best prices and availability.
Yellowstone Park Hotel—In West Yellowstone, very close to the park entrance
The Historic Madison Hotel Motel—Budget cabin-like option in West Yellowstone
Terra Nova Cabins—Near Hebgen Lake, 25 minutes outside of West Yellowstone
Yellowstone Riverside Cottages—Located in Gardiner, near Yellowstone’s North Entrance
Yellowstone Big Rock Inn—High-rated budget option in Gardiner, Montana
After reading this list, I hope most of these do not apply to you or that you at least learned how to avoid making the same mistakes as others when you are there. A trip to Yellowstone is 1000% worth taking and I hope with these tips you have a safe, memorable, and magical time!
Check out my tips for taking a road trip across the USA while you’re still in planning mode.
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