1. Yellowstone National Park
Formed by volcanic fire and glacial ice, the nation’s first national park is arguably its most spectacular too. Underground thermal waters bubble up to the surface and explode into geysers. Water draining from Yellowstone’s high plateau forms into rivers and tumbles down waterfalls. The largest herd of bison in America roams freely through Yellowstone, and elk, bighorn sheep, grizzly bears and wolves range the park as well. Yellowstone National Park is so popular that visitors must make plans well in advance to secure lodging or campsites. Attracting more than three million visitors each year, Yellowstone is more than a national park. It’s a national treasure.
Upper Geyser Basin
The upper geyser basin is, arguably, the most popular attraction in Yellowstone. It is the largest geyser basin in the park and also contains the largest concentration of hot springs in the world. It is also home to Yellowstone National Park’s most famous geyser, Old Faithful. This geyser is very popular with visitors because the park can predict fairly accurately when it will erupt, and the intervals between eruptions are fairly short — between 60 to 110 minutes. Besides Old Faithful, there are more than 150 geysers in this basin, as well as hot springs and fumaroles. The park has built a nice path through the Upper Geyser Basin, which makes it easy to view the many fascinating geothermal features in the area.
Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone
This rugged, colorful canyon was carved out by the powerful Yellowstone River over thousands of years. The Grand Canyon of Yellowstone’s most famous attractions are its two very stunning and large waterfalls — the Upper Falls and the Lower Falls. The Lower Falls, are twice as tall as Niagara Falls, plunging approximately 300ft while the Upper Falls tumble 109ft. Several hot springs and steam vents can also be seen in the area. For those who would like to stay in this area, there are accommodations available in Canyon Village, including hotel rooms and RV and tent sites.
Lamar Valley
Sometimes referred to as America’s Serengeti, this section of Yellowstone provides some of the best wildlife viewing in the park. Located in the northeastern corner of Yellowstone, the Lamar Valley is home to large herds of buffalo and is also where visitors have the best chance of spotting wolves. At least one wolf pack, sometimes two, typically reside in this valley. In fact, the Lamar Valley was where one of the park’s most famous packs, the Druids, once resided. Other creatures that can be spotted in the Lamar Valley on a fairly regular basis are pronghorn antelope, elk, coyotes and bears. Bears and wolves can be best observed either early in the morning or late in the evening.
Midway Geyser Basin
Located — as its name suggests — between the Upper and Lower Geyser Basins, Midway is one of the smallest basins in Yellowstone. It also contains the Grand Prismatic Hot Spring, which is the most photographed geothermal feature in the park. This huge, 120ft deep hot spring is famous for its surreal, vivid coloring. Its center is a gorgeous cerulean hue that would be stunning on its own. But it’s not alone. Instead, the blue is surrounded by fiery reds, yellows and oranges. This geyser basin is also home to Excelsior, which was once the largest geyser in the world. Sadly, this geyser, which once spouted water as high as 300 feet, hasn’t erupted since the 1880s. It is still, however, an active thermal spring.
Mammoth Hot Springs
At Mammoth Hot Springs, steaming hot water flows over travertine terraces, creating a beautiful but otherworldly scene. Some people have even described Mammoth Hot Springs as a cave turned inside out. The Mammoth Hot Springs area is divided into two sections, the Upper and Lower Terraces. Each section contains numerous hot springs and a variety of interesting looking formations. This region of the park is also a good place to look for elk. They can often be seen hanging around the Mammoth Hot Spring visitor center. Though they appear tame, it is best that visitors always give them a wide berth, especially during the fall rutting season when the males can be particularly dangerous. Female elk with babies have also been known to charge visitors if they believe that they are getting too close to their young ones.
Norris Geyser Basin
The Norris Geyser Basin is the oldest in Yellowstone. It is also the hottest and contains rare acid geysers. Norris is divided into two sections, the Porcelain Basin and the Back Basin. The Porcelain Basin area contains hundreds of geothermal features in a concentrated area, while the attractions in the forested Back Basin are spread out. One of the Back Basin’s most impressive features is the Steamboat Geyser, which is the tallest in the world. Steamboat can shoot water 300 to 400 feet in the air. Sadly, it is unpredictable, so there is no way to known exactly when it will erupt. The Norris Geyser Basin is a very dynamic area where change is the norm. For example, the Echinus Geyser was once a very regular performer, erupting approximately every 35 to 75 minutes. But in 1998, that changed. And now it only spouts rarely.
Mount Washburn
This mountain peak was named for Henry D. Washburn who led the Washburn-Langford-Doane Expedition that explored Yellowstone Park in 1870. Mount Washburn is one of the most popular places to hike in Yellowstone. There are two trails that ascend the mountain — one that starts at the Dunraven Pass Trailhead and another that begins at the Chittenden Road parking lot. Both offer breathtaking views of the surrounding area, but because of their popularity, they can be crowded during the peak tourism season. Although these trails are considered fairly easy, the high elevation does affect some hikers. Wild animals, including mountain goats and bears, can sometimes be seen from these trails.
West Thumb Geyser Basin
The West Thumb Geyser Basin is located on the shores of Yellowstone Lake. Although this is one of the smallest geyser basins in Yellowstone, it does contain a well-known geothermal feature, the Fishing Cone Geyser. Before 1911, anglers who were fishing in Yellowstone Lake near this geyser would sometimes plunk their catch still on the hook into the cone’s boiling water, effectively cooking it alive. That practice was outlawed in 1911. The West Thumb Basin is also home to several other geysers, bubbling mud pots, and hot springs, including the park’s deepest pool, the Abyss Pool. West Thumb Bay, where this basin is located, gets its name because Yellowstone Lake was described by an early expedition party as looking like a hand. And this western bay was said to look like the thumb of that hand.
2. Grand Teton National Park
Established in 1929, the Grand Teton National Park is well known for its stunning mountain vistas, its shimmering alpine lakes and its abundant wildlife. Stretching from Yellowstone National Park to the City of Jackson, the rugged spine of the Teton Mountains towers more than a mile above the Snake River valley. Sparkling lakes nestle against the foot of the mountains, and moose, bison and elk are among the many animals that make the park their home. With more than 400km of hiking trails and hundreds of campgrounds, motels and lodges, visitors have their pick of activities and accommodations.
3. Jackson Hole
Located near Wyoming’s border with Idaho, the upscale Jackson Hole resort area began life as outpost for trappers attracted by the region’s many fur-bearing animals. A river basin at the base of the Teton Range, Jackson Hole attracts visitors in every season. Rafting in Snake River is a popular pastime in summer, and with more than 500in of snow each winter, the region is a favorite skiing destination too. The City of Jackson is the only incorporated town in the valley, but there are resorts, homes and communities scattered all over the valley. Dining in Jackson ranges from campfire barbeque cookouts to cuisine like wild salmon, buffalo burgers and elk chops.
4. Flaming Gorge
Formed by a dam built on the Green River in 1958, the Flaming Gorge reservoir is the primary attraction of this National Recreation Area straddling the border between Utah and Wyoming. Equipped with five full-service marinas, the manmade lake is the perfect vacation destination for water sports, boating and fishing. With more than 160km of trails, hiking, mountain biking and horseback riding are popular activities as well. Named after the flame-colored cliffs that rise up from the Green River, Flaming Gorge is most scenic at sunrise or sunset when the canyon glows with brilliant colors.
5. Devils Tower
Rising 1,267ft above the surrounding terrain, Devils Tower is the core of an ancient volcano exposed from erosion. It is located in the Black Hills in Crook County, northeastern Wyoming and was declared a United States National Monument in 1906 by President Theodore Roosevelt. The mountain became world famous in 1977 when it was chosen as the location of the alien-human rendezvous point in Steven Spielberg’s Oscar winning science fiction film, Close Encounters of the Third Kind. Nowadays it’s one of the most popular places to visit in Wyoming.
6. Bighorn Canyon
The Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area owes its existence to the Yellowtail Dam built on the Bighorn River in Montana during the 1960s. Much of the dam’s reservoir, which extends 114km upstream into Wyoming, lies within the Crow Indian Reservation. Steep canyon walls rise above Bighorn Lake, making the reservoir a scenic place to enjoy boating and water sports. The Wyoming side of the park lies adjacent to the Pryor Mountain National Wild Horse Range, offering visitors the chance to see herds of wild horses riding along the canyon’s summit.
7. Cheyenne
Located in the southeast corner of Wyoming, Cheyenne is the Cowboy State’s capital and largest city. Founded in 1867, Cheyenne’s many historic buildings and museums are its main attractions. Built in 1887, the Renaissance rival-style Capitol Building features a gold leaf dome that’s visible from almost anywhere in the city, and the building’s stained glass interior, grand staircase and checkerboard marble floors make it worth a visit. The Nelson Museum of the West features Native American art and artifacts from the United States Cavalry. In July Cheyenne hosts the Cheyenne Frontier Days, the largest outdoor rodeo in the US. Established in 1897 it includes numerous rodeo events, free pancake breakfasts, night-time concerts, and parades.
8. Fossil Butte National Monument
Millions of years ago, three great lakes covered much of what is now a high desert in the southwest corner of Wyoming. The smallest body of water known today as Fossil Lake has proved to be a treasure trove of fossilized fish, animals and plants. Located around 24km west of the City of Kemmerer, the Fossil Butte National Monument features a butte that rises 1,000ft above the ancient lake bed. Fossils are found all over the butte, and during the summer, visitors can join paleontologists to dig for prehistoric remains. The Monument’s visitor center displays more than 300 fossils found in the region.
9. Cody
No visit to Wyoming is complete without exploring the state’s cowboy heritage, and the City of Cody is a great place to peer into the Cowboy State’s past. Located near Yellowstone, the city was founded in 1887 by the legendary Buffalo Bill Cody. The Buffalo Bill Center in the center of Cody has five Western themed museums filled with engaging exhibits, including artifacts that chronicle William F. Cody’s colorful life. The Old Trail Town, which features more than 25 restored Western buildings, is a must-see attraction too. Known as the Rodeo Capital of the World, Cody holds rodeos almost every night during the summer.
Source: Touropia
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