Wildlife

Yellowstone is home to an amazing array of wildlife. (More coming soon) Amphibians and Reptiles Fish Birds Mammals Small Mammals Beaver Big Horn Sheep Bison Black Bear Bobcat & Lynx Brown Bear (Grizzly) Cougar Coyote Deer Elk Fox Moose Pronghorn Wolf

Weather

People like to joke that the only seasons in Yellowstone are July, August, and Winter.  And while it isn’t uncommon at all for it to snow even in July or August, there’s a lot more variety within the seasons than that statement might suggest.  Historical data is provided below, along with information about weather monitoring… Read More »

Waterfalls

Popular Yellowstone Waterfalls Frontcountry Waterfalls(Those along the road or within a very short hike) Rustic Falls:  47-foot horsetail waterfall located along the Golden Gate section of the road between Mammoth and Norris (approximately 4.7 miles south of Mammoth).  Undine Falls:  60-foot, three-tiered waterfall located right off the road 4 miles east of Mammoth Wraith Falls: … Read More »

Thermal Features

Yellowstone is arguably best known for its hydrothermal features, and the Park is the largest preserve of such features in the world.  Here, you have the unparalleled opportunity to view hot springs, geysers, mudpots, and fumaroles in a natural setting. This area’s concentration of hydrothermal features provides ample evidence of Yellowstone’s volcanic geology.  Within the… Read More »

Rivers, Streams, & Lakes

Major Rivers and Streams in Yellowstone Major Rivers in Yellowstone Gallatin River: The Gallatin River begins inside the park north of the Madison River. It flows north through Gallatin Canyon and across the Gallatin Valley, joining the Madison and Jefferson rivers at Three Forks, Montana, to form the Missouri River. Gibbon River:  The Gibbon River… Read More »

Plant Life

Yellowstone’s vegetation is composed primarily of typical Rocky Mountain species. It is also influenced by flora of the Great Plains to the east and the Intermountain to the west. The exact plant community present in any area of the park reflects a complex interaction between many factors including the regional flora, the climate, the topography,… Read More »

Interpretative Services

Yellowstone’s Division of Interpretation is divided into three components: Division of Interpretation Org Chart The goal of  the Planning and Media Branch is to encourage the development of a personal stewardship ethic and broaden public support for preserving park resources. Interpretive rangers present Yellowstone to visitors through formal interpretation, such as campfire and evening programs,… Read More »

History of Yellowstone

Yellowstone is located at the headwaters of the Yellowstone RiverW, from which it takes its historical name. Near the end of the 18th century, French trappers named the river “Roche Jaune,” which is probably a translation of the Minnetaree name “Mi tsi a-da-zi” (Rock Yellow River). Later, American trappers rendered the French name in English as… Read More »

Geology

Yellowstone National Park’s physical landscape has been and is being created by many geological forces. Here, some of the Earth’s most active volcanic, hydrothermal (water + heat), and earthquake systems make this national park a priceless treasure. In fact, Yellowstone was established as the world’s first national park primarily because of its extraordinary geysers, hot… Read More »

Archaeology

Archeology is the scientific study of past human culture, technology, and behavior based on the analysis of remains that people have left behind. Archaeologists propose, evaluate, and undertake research projects to learn how specific ways of life developed and how they changed over time. Archeological research is based on the premise that elementary human needs… Read More »