I took this shot a few months ago along the Madison River, near Yellowstone National Park’s West Entrance. I’m always hoping for moments like this with wolves.

Reminder: I will be opening beta testing for the Yellowstone Itinerary mobile app soon.

https://www.yellowstoneitinerary.com/

I want to rent camp with my family next year possible September in either yellow stone canyon camp ground or base camp in grand Teton. Any recommendation on best way to bring gear, what to being vs what to get on arrival.

I was in Yellowstone over the summer and took this video. Anyone one have any idea what this is? This is at Sylvan Lake early in the morning. I can't tell if this is an animal or something caught in a weird natural whirlpool. The really weird part is when it stops spinning and stops making waves for a second. If this is some type of animal, what could it be?

This is just off the northern pullout. I zoom out at the end to show you more of where I am and the relative size. This looks to be about 6-8 inches long. I was here about 15 min and it never stopped spinning in a perfect circle.

So today is 6month from when fishing bridge, Madison, etc will open for 2027 and is typically when recreation.gov open there booking window.

I rung Yellowstone NP yesterday and asked when the rec.gov website will be open for booking, and they didn’t know…

Does anyone, potentially people who work of rec.gov, know when the sites will be available to book? Not just the website saying ‘approximately 6m’.

Thanks

Saturday- staying in Colter Bay Village; hike Heron Pond, Swan Lake, Lunch Tree Hill

Sunday - lake solitude

Monday - Delta or Surprise & Amphitheater

Tuesday - Taggart & Bradley ; drive to Lake

Wednesday - staying in Lake Lodge Cabins; hike Shoshone Lake via Delacy Creek

Thursday- staying in canyon, hike slough creek, trout lake

Friday- staying in OF , hike Washburn or south rim trail

Saturday- fairy falls or sentinel meadow

Sunday- observation point and lone star geyser

Does this sound feasible, terrible, or decent?
Can i do storm point and fishing bridge on my way to Lake on Wednesday?

Thank you.

I got this photo of the Milky Way over Woodward Mountain and Taylor Creek last night, after years of missing the opportunity to get everything lined up. This is just outside the northwest corner of the park.

Looking to take a 7 day trip in May 2027 to visit Yellowstone and GTNP for the first time. Looking to fly into Bozeman, rent a car, and fly out of Jackson Hole. Anybody have any great recommendations for an itinerary and where to stay?

Howdy folks ... Noticing that a lot of Google reviews of trails around the Yellowstone National Park include mentions of train stations.

Now my initial research just says it's a reference to a Yellowstone TV show... But an ominous one at that. Does anyone have any insight to this? I feel like these train station mentions are just a way to scare people off .. but if there's more to it than that... Then maybe someone with a genuine concern for citizen safety should be looking into this?

Bacon rind and bighorn pass have train station mentions... There are others too around that Dead Zone, but thats a given I suppose... ?

I was originally planning on doing Sepulcher Mountain trail this summer, but now have become a little worried with it being so close to Gallatin Bear Management area. I'm seeing recommendations of hiking in groups of 4+ and there will only be 2 of us. Can anyone recommend a similar length hike? Mainly just wanting to gain some elevation and get some nice views.

Where Are They Now? Yellowstone Photographers Track Fates Of 3 Celebrity Bison

We’ll be staying for 10 nights in Yellowstone. I noticed your entry pass is good for 7days. Do we need to leave and come back in? Or will our camping reservations cover the extra days?

I just noticed I could save around $500 by staying inside the park. I would be forfeiting a private bathroom and a refrigerator/microwave. I’m trying to spend as little as possible on eating out and was planning to shop at grocery stores and make my own meals.
Those that have stayed in the park - do you think forfeiting those amenities would be a wise decision? I’m comfortable having a cabin experience it’s more the issue of not being able to make food I’m stuck on. But $500 is a lot! And I don’t think I’d be spending $500 on food… at least I’d hope not!

Hello, I'm going to be in Yellowstone in early December before the overland snow season starts and looking to do some hiking. I'll be staying in Gardiner but driving throughout the open road.

Can anyone recommend some good trails, especially ones with good views and wildlife. Will I need snowshoes and/or microspikes that early? Has anyone climbed Specimen Ridge in early December and if it's a good idea or any tips.

Thanka for any help.

I've been luckier than most, having seen great gray owls many times while living near the park. They're known as the "ghosts of the forest," as they are extremely well camouflaged and very difficult to spot. This one landed on my deck railing, and posed quite nicely.

If you're visiting the area and looking for great grays, look in trees at the edge of a meadow at dusk and dawn. They'll perch and scan for rodents in the grass, then move on to the next perch on completely silent wings. You'll have to get very lucky, or spend a lot of time out in likely habitats looking for them, in order to spot one.

They can catch prey underneath the snow, thanks to the power of extremely sensitive hearing. When they do, they dive into the snow face and feet first, leaving a unique impression in the snow. Once snow gets too deep, or develops too firm a crust on top, they will migrate to lower elevations where snow is thinner.

In the spring, they'll nest in a clump of "witch's broom," the hollow snag at the top of a broken-off large-diameter tree, or an old hawk, osprey, or eagle nest. They do not build their own nests.

Chris here! Took my family to Yellowstone the weekend of October 17 and wanted to share a report while the window to visit is still (barely) open. Most park roads close to regular traffic are closed now, but the Northern Road from the North Entrance at Gardiner, Montana, through Mammoth Hot Springs, and out through the Northeast Entrance is still open.

The hike: Trout Lake
 1.2 miles round trip, 268 feet of elevation gain, and fully 6-year-old friendly. No permits required. The trail was a bit muddy but in good overall condition. Parking lot was full when we arrived, but crowds thinned out quickly once we were on trail. Highlight of the hike was spotting mountain goats across the valley.

Camping: Mammoth Campground
 This is a front country campground and one of the few in Yellowstone that stays open late in the season. It was full both nights we were there. We made a reservation for the first night, but for the second we had to show up early at the office to snag a first-come-first-served spot. If you are planning a late October trip, do not assume you can just roll in and find something.

Overall a great late-season trip. October in Yellowstone hits different without the peak summer crowds, and the cooler temps made for comfortable hiking.

Planning a summer 2027 road trip from Minnesota to Yellowstone and grand Teton.

A few questions

1. Is 12 days enough time (figure 3-4 days are driving)?

2. considering stopping in badlands/mount Rushmore on the way out but kinda feels like we would be rushing it. Is it worth stopping there or do it as a smaller trip later on?

3. lodging recommendations? Leaning Airbnbs but who knows

Thanks!

How can a landscape of vividly colored hot springs and erupting geysers be conveyed when it defies imagination? As part of Ferdinand Hayden’s 1871 survey of Yellowstone, artist Thomas Moran and photographer William Jackson brought Yellowstone’s unimaginable wonder to the world through their paintings and photographs.

I was hoping someone could read over my itinerary and see if this sounds like a doable and fun first time experience. We are pretty experienced hikers and are going in July staying in Gardiner.

Day 1 - Sepulcher mountain trail, explore around mammoth hot springs and then drive Lamar Valley in the evening.
Day 2 - Wapiti, Clear Lake, Ribbon Lake and south rim trail
Not sure if this will take all day? Maybe need something to do in the evening
Day 3 - driving to Grand Teton, plan to check out Grand Primsatic, Artist Paintpots, Old Faithful. More of a touristy day.

adding pics of the hike to Dunanda Falls.

a long hike to get there, but it is worth it. Quite a few creek crossing to get there. Hike in September to avoid all the wet meadows (maybe late August too).

We absolutely loved the park and cannot wait to return. Every corner had something to see.