The Beginners Guide to Yellowstone National Park with Kids

It is summer 2019 and we visited Yellowstone National Park as part of 5 National Park visits road trip with our two kids; 10 year old Ziya and a 7 year old Zahir. First stop in our journey is Yellowstone National Park; world's first national park. Yellowstone was established in 1872 primarily because its unmatched collection of geysers, hot springs, mudpots and steam vents; Yellowstone National Park is so vast and majestic that it has something to offer to everyone. This impressive park encompasses more than 2.2 million acres, houses more than 60 mammals and it is the only place in the United States where bison have lived continuously since prehistoric times.

We spent two amazing days at the world’s oldest national park and discovered some great activities for families that we didn’t know about in advance. Whether you are looking to hike, bike, fish, stargaze, observe wild animals or something else...America's first national park offers a unique experience and activities to all visitors. We guarantee that you will not be disappointed.

We arrived at Yellowstone National Park from West Yellowstone entrance. Within 15 mins of our drive in the park, we saw something amazing and had to pull over our car by Gibbon River. This was an amazing first sight and just a glimpse of what is ahead.

After soaking it all in and allowing children to make use out of the binoculars and the cameras, we started our drive towards Canyon Village where we lodged for two nights. Our plan was to get our room, change and quickly get out.

Yellowstone was our first stop on the road trip and while we had done some research about activities, we were advised to make our first stop the visitor center to pick up a free map of the park, discuss our plans with the park rangers, pick up junior ranger books and shop for souvenirs.

We stopped at a visitor center right outside of West Yellowstone park entrance, discussed our plans with the park ranger and based on the length of our visit; children's age and current park conditions, we come up with a plan. Below are the places we explored and the hikes we went on. There are other activities that we were not able to tackle but they should be considered.

There are a lots of hydrothermal wonders to discover in this region, from small geysers and fumaroles to more well-known mudpots and hot springs. These are popular areas in the summertime, so be prepared for crowded parking areas, or plan to visit during off-hours.

Our goal for the first day was to tackle some of the easiest things such as visiting Lower, Midway and Upper Basins. Visiting Grand Prismatic Spring at Midway Geyser Basin and Old Faithful Geyser at the Upper Geyser Basin are the highlights of the day. To cap it off, we made reservations for dinner at Old Faithful Lodge.

As per our plan, we started with Lower Geyser Basin towards Upper Geyser Basin and stopped at view points where we saw smoke and parking was available. Fountain Paint was our first stop and it gave us a taste for Geysers and Pots and we wanted more after this.

Fountain Paint Pot is one of the famous mudpots in the park. This stop is popular because you can see all four of the park's major hydrothermal features: fumaroles, geysers, hot springs, and mudpots.

Note: "Rotten Eggs" is the reference to the smell of sulphur that hits you straight away and it’s a smell you’ll become accustomed to while visiting Yellowstone National Park

Next to Fountain Paint Pot is the Firehole Lake Drive, one of the park's nice little side-drives. This drive leads you past many hydrothermal features, including Great Fountain Geyser and White Dome Geyser.

Yellowstone bridge Firehole river midway geyser basin 200 by 300-foot wide Excelsior Geyser and it pours over 4,000 U.S. gallons per minute into the Firehole River.

Your trip to Yellowstone Yellowstone National Park would be incomplete without seeing one of the finest and biggest hot springs in Yellowstone. Grand Prismatic Spring is absolutely worth it! Without a doubt, one of the most extraordinary natural features we had ever seen! It’s hard to believe it’s natural as it looks like someone has painted the colors.

Note: There is a boardwalk around the area and if you need to bring a stroller you can. There are longer hiking trails in the area, however the trail up to views of the Grand Prismatic is closed.

Tips for visiting Grand Prismatic with kids:

• If it’s windy, leave your hat or loose items(or anything else that can flyaway) in the car. We saw multiple hats that had ended up in the basins. Once it’s there, you won’t get it back.
• The ground is a fragile crust that could give way to the boiling water underneath.

Update: Recently read about a new viewing platform has been opened to view the Grand Prismatic Spring from above. It is an absolute beauty if you are able to make it there. Grand Prismatic viewing platform is accessible via the Fairy Falls trail and not from Midway Geyser Basin.

An icon at Yellowstone National Park, you must visit Old Faithful if you are in the Yellowstone National Park. It is a natural wonder that erupts every 45 minutes like clockwork and is awesome to see.

Note: The Visitor Center has a sign that tells you the next time it’ll erupt .

Old Faithful Inn is is considered the largest log structure in the world and it is the most requested lodging facility in the park . The towering lobby features a massive stone fireplace and a hand-crafted clock made of copper, wood and wrought iron serving as focal points. We were unfortunately not able to get lodging reservations at Old Faithful Inn however we planned ahead and made reservations for dinner.

After dinner, we decided to hang out, ordered some hot apple cider (our family enjoys a good cider) and sat there for up to an hour and just enjoyed the scenery. You can also get an ice cream from the shop.

Note: Don't forget to make reservations

Note: There’s a hotel, gift shop, visitor center, lodge, deli, cafeteria, bar.

The Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone River is an example of the park's complex geology and history with its dramatic colors and shapes. There is a variety of hiking trails at the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone, and we were fortunate to learn about a ranger led hike starting from the Artist Point. This ranger led hike took us through through the Lower Falls and Upper Falls of the Yellowstone River.

These three places you will want to see at the Yellowstone Canyon:

• Uncle Tom’s Trail
• Artist Point
• Brink of the Upper Falls

Artist Point has some of the most amazing view of the pastel yellow, pink, and orange canyon with a waterfall right in the middle. It’s absolutely gorgeous and one of the best things to do in Yellowstone National Park!

If you have young kids, hiking may present a challenge but it is one of the most awe-inspiring hikes of our trip and we would highly recommend it. At minimum, there are several parking lots to visit viewpoints along the South rim as well as along the North rim of the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, allowing you to see the best places without having to hike for hours.

We had limited time to hike in Yellowstone so this was our big hike, there are other suggestions that we came across and here are some of them:

Best family-friendly hikes in Yellowstone with kids

• Mount Washburn​ – If you’re going to do only one hike when visiting Yellowstone National Park, this is the one we kept coming across. It’s 3-mile hike and not an easy hike, so you need to be in decent shape. We decided to pass on this hike even though it was on top of our list. Next time.
• Mammoth Hot Springs terrace – at Mammoth Springs
• Uncle Tom’s Trail – at the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone
• Upper Geyser Basin Trail – at the Old Faithful
• Storm Point Hike – North of Yellowstone Lake - Easier than Mount Washburn and has a changing landscape over the 2-mile hike
• Tower Fall – trailhead behind the Tower Fall general store

After the hike, we drove towards Roosevelt Lodge for lunch prior to visiting Lamar Valley. They had free hot cocoa and their bison burger was unbelievable. If you are not stopping for lunch, this is a good pit stop for a toilet break before driving out to the Lamar Valley.

At Roosevelt Lodge, we learned about an option for The Old West Dinner Cookout. It is a dining experience with a difference. While it is slightly on the expensive side, it is worth every dollar. A group of real-life cowboys at Roosevelt Lodge will board you on wagons and take you into the “old west” country. The cowboy steak dinner with entertainment which includes music and stories around the campfire has to be one of the most memorable experiences. We did not know about this experience in advance but we did see a wagon driving out in the Old West. We will would definitely try this next time.

Yellowstone is home to more than 60 mammals and chances are that you will inevitably run into an elk or bison. There are two areas in the Yellowstone where you will want to visit if seeing wildlife is high on your list:

• Lamar Valley (North-East of Yellowstone)
• Hayden Valley

The Lamar Valley

The best time to see wildlife in the Lamar Valley is at sunrise or at sunset. With kids, we couldn’t make it there early in the morning, so we went late in the afternoon after lunch at Roosevelt. Driving through the Lamar Valley was one of the best things we did in Yellowstone and the kids loved it just as much as we did.

If you are looking for bison, you will not be disappointed. There were bison EVERYWHERE. dozens and hundreds of these incredible animals! They were crossing the road and creating major traffic jams, but who cares because this is their world and we are just visitors. Our cameras were ready and kids went bananas taking pictures.

We were lucky to be in the front when a Bison decided to play chicken with us. Be Calm

Hayden Valley

If wildlife is on top of your list, you will also want to visit Hayden Valley. Unfortunately, we did not have time to visit Hayden Valley and decided to stick with Lamar Valley but we did alright. Our decision to pick one over the other was based on animal sightings on that day and Lamar Valley was the place to be.

While researching Yellowstone for our trip, there were different opinions about the Mammoth Hot Springs area. We are glad that it was part of our 2nd day itinerary as it was close to Lamar Valley. Mammoth Hot Springs is one of the most special areas in Yellowstone and very different from anything else in the park. I would definitely recommend including Mammoth Hot Springs in your itinerary! You will see Elk just strolling in the open near humans.

Mammoth Hot Springs terraces are like living sculptures, shaped by the volume of water, the slope of the ground, and objects in the water's path. At Mammoth Hot Spring you can visit the spring terraces if you haven’t had enough of thermal features. We decided to drive around, do the easy walks around few thermal features and then do early dinner.

There are few good options for food in this area and also there's a great hotel. I wish I read more about this area prior to our visit. Be sure to visit the Boiling River which is also near by.

During our visit in Mammoth Springs area, we learned about areas in the Yellowstone where you can swim. The swimming hole in Firehole Canyon is one of two swimming areas inside Yellowstone and the he other area is Boiling River. We had no knowledge about the boiling river when researching about Yellowstone but this accidental encounter was an amazing discovery.

The Boiling River is created where a large hot spring enters the Gardner River, allowing the hot and cool waters to mix into a temperature comfortable enough to bathe in. The natural hot tub makes a great place to stop and relax while soaking in the warm water and soaking up the natural beauty of Yellowstone.

Tips:

• Go during the day or early evening. The Boiling River is closed once dark hits.
• Visit in the winter, fall or late summer. The hotspot is closed during the spring when the river rises and becomes dangerous and often doesn’t open until mid-summer.
• Don’t forget your swimsuit.   

Note: No alcohol allowed.

We were fortunate to learn about a Yellowstone led program called "Stars Above Yellowstone" in the Tower area which was on our way back from Mammoth to Tower Road. Night-sky program by top astronomers, in cooperation with the Museum of the Rockies in Bozeman, Montana, are offered at select times in summer. Experts set up telescopes for close views of star clusters, the moon, and other planets.

We were able to spot the Milky Way, Saturn, craters of the moon, star clusters, nebula and we also learned how to spot a satelliate. Telescopes were available. This was one of the best surprises at the park and grateful for the free programs offered by the park. Check the activities guide when you visit Yellowstone if you are interested.

How to Stargaze

• Plan:  Even the light from a thin crescent moon can make it more difficult to see fainter stars or even the Milky Way. You'll see the darkest skies during a new moon or when the moon is below the horizon. 
• Give yourself time: It can take 20-30 minutes for your eyes to adjust to the dark. Spend enough time outside away from bright lights to allow your eyes to adjust.
• Use a red light:  White lights from flashlights, cell phones, or vehicle headlights can harm your night vision. A red light won't impact your night vision as much. Many flashlights and headlamps have a red-light feature, or you can simply cover your white light with red cellophane.
• Bring a star chart:  A star chart or planisphere can help you find the constellations and Milky Way.
• Use an app:  

The following scenic drives of Yellowstone are the ones we read about the most:

• Hayden Valley
• Dunraven pass to Mount Washburn
• Lamar Valley all the way to the Northeast Entrance station

Yellowstone National Park has a self-guided, Junior Ranger program for visitors aged 4 years and up. The Junior Ranger program is a way to introduce children—and those young at heart—to the natural wonders of the park and their own role in preserving these wonders for the future.

After completing the age-appropriate requirements described inside the booklet and reviewing their work with a ranger at any visitor center, participants are awarded an official Yellowstone Junior Ranger patch.

Requirements include attending a ranger-led program, hiking on a park trail or boardwalk, and completing activities in the booklet to learn more about park resources, issues, and concepts such as hydrothermal geology, wildlife, and fire ecology.

During our trip at Yellowstone, we learned about Yellowstone Forever; official nonprofit partner of Yellowstone National Park whose mission of engagement and support through philanthropy and education for the park will ensure Yellowstone remains for generations to come. Yellowstone forever offers unique visitor experiences. They will need to be contacted in advance for reservations and availability. This was a fabulous find that I must remember for the next time we visit.

This is one of the most popular questions that people ask and the answer is bit complicated depending on what your needs are. I believe Yellowstone offers something different in every season and to help you gauge, I have come across this illustration thanks to natural retreats. Whatever season or activities you decide, I am sure visiting Yellowstone will simply be a memorable one.

We learned a lesson from our first national park trip to Yosemite National Park that staying in the park has plenty of benefits. Based on this lesson, we did our research and stayed in Canyon Lodge and Cabins in Canyon Village. This is a great central location for the activities we planned however there are some negatives. There's no TV, Internet is almost non existent if you are not in the main lodge and the price is on the higher end. For our purposes, this worked out ok. Another suggestion is to try Old Faithful Lodge which is one of the main attractions at Yellowstone National Park.

There are a plenty of food options in Yellowstone National Park but there are four places that we visited. Old Faithful Lodge for a fancy dinner and it was a great meal. Roosevelt Lodge has a restaurant which is a great option for Lunch. If you’re looking for something special, check out the Old West Dinner Cookout at Roosevelt Lodge. Mammoth Hot Springs has a dining room and grill and finally Canyon Village where we stayed had a cafeteria. You can check out all food options at Yellowstone here.

Most of the parks we visited in California, Wyoming and Utah had fees that ranged from $25 to $35 per vehicle however we ended up getting an annual pass for $80 which is good one for vehicle for an entire year. This is a great deal if you plan on visiting more than one national park within a year. You can read about individual park entrance fees by visiting www.explore.usparkpass.com or you can buy them it in advance at https://www.usparkpass.com.

On our last day in Yellowstone, we slept in a little and then had brunch at Canyon Village. Once we finished our meal, we drove by the upper and lower falls once more and exited Yellowstone National Park via the south exit on our way to Grand Teton National Park.

We didn’t realize it, but our excitement of Yellowstone was not quite finished yet! The scenery was spectacular, and we had an elk cross the street right in front of us! We also pulled over to see Mud Volcano. It was definitely the perfect way to end our time in Yellowstone and I am so glad we discovered this attraction and made time for it! Our journey now continues to Grand Tetons National Park which we hope is just as exciting if not more.