Yellowstone National Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Yellowstone National Park |
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IUCN Category II (National Park)
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 Yellowstone National Park
Location in Wyoming
Yellowstone National Park
Location in the United States
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| Location | Park and Teton counties, Wyoming; Gallatin and Park counties, Montana; Fremont County, Idaho, United States |
| Nearest town | West Yellowstone, Montana |
| Area | 2,219,791 acres (8,983.18 km2) |
| Elevation | 8,104 ft (2,470 m) |
| Established | March 1, 1872 |
| Visitors | 4,744,353 (in 2024) |
| Governing body | U.S. National Park Service |
Yellowstone National Park is a famous national park of the United States. It is mostly in Wyoming, with small parts in Montana and Idaho. President Ulysses S. Grant created Yellowstone on March 1, 1872. It was the first national park in the U.S. and is often called the world's first national park.
The park is famous for its amazing wildlife and many hot springs and geysers. The most well-known is Old Faithful, a geyser that erupts regularly. Yellowstone has many different natural environments, but subalpine forests are the most common.
People have lived in the Yellowstone area for over 11,000 years. Explorers started visiting in the late 1860s. The National Park Service has managed the park since 1917. Many old buildings and over a thousand ancient sites are protected here.
Yellowstone National Park covers about 3,468 square miles. It features beautiful lakes, deep canyons, and tall mountains. Yellowstone Lake is a very large lake high up in the mountains. It sits over the Yellowstone Caldera, which is a huge, dormant volcano. This volcano has erupted powerfully a few times over millions of years.
More than half of the world's geysers and hot springs are in Yellowstone. These are powered by the heat from the volcano below. The park is a key part of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. This is one of the largest natural ecosystems left in the northern part of Earth. In 1978, Yellowstone became a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Yellowstone is home to many animals, including grizzly bears, wolves, bison, and elk. Some of these animals are rare or protected. The park also has unique plants. Forest fires happen every year, and a big fire in 1988 burned a large part of the park.
Visitors can enjoy many activities like hiking, camping, boating, and fishing. Paved roads lead to the main hot springs and waterfalls. In winter, people explore the park using snowmobiles or special snow coaches.
Contents
What's in a Name?
Native American tribes had many names for the Yellowstone area. For example, the Crow people called it "land of steam." The Nez Perce called it "boiling earth." The English name "Yellowstone" comes from the Hidatsa language. It refers to the Yellowstone River, which was called "Yellow Stone" by an explorer in 1797.
Yellowstone's Rich History
Ancient History of Yellowstone
People have lived in the Yellowstone region for at least 11,000 years. Early Native Americans used the area for hunting and gathering. They also mined obsidian (a volcanic glass) from Obsidian Cliff. This obsidian was used for tools and was even traded far away.
Early Explorers and Discoveries
The first written reports of Yellowstone's unique features came in the early 1800s. John Colter, an American explorer, traveled through the area in 1807-1808. He described steaming rivers and boiling mud. Many people thought these stories were just myths.
Becoming the First National Park
The idea of a national park began in the 1830s. People wanted to protect special places. In 1870, the Washburn Expedition explored Yellowstone in detail. They discovered Old Faithful geyser.
In 1871, Ferdinand V. Hayden led a government expedition. His team included photographer William Henry Jackson and painter Thomas Moran. Their detailed reports and images convinced the U.S. Congress. On March 1, 1872, President Ulysses S. Grant signed a law. This law made Yellowstone the first national park for everyone to enjoy.
Managing the New Park
Nathaniel P. Langford became Yellowstone's first superintendent. However, he had no money or staff to protect the park. Poaching and damage to nature continued.
The U.S. Army took over park management in 1886. They built Fort Yellowstone and created rules to protect wildlife. Harry Yount was appointed as the first park gamekeeper in 1880. He is considered the first national park ranger.
Native American tribes, like the Shoshone, had used Yellowstone for centuries. However, they were mostly kept out of the park after it was created.
Train lines were built to bring visitors to Yellowstone. This helped more people see the park. In 1917, the National Park Service took over from the Army. Many of the Army's rules for protecting the park were kept.
Modernizing Yellowstone
Cars were first allowed in the park in 1915. This changed how people visited. New facilities were built at park entrances. The Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) helped build many trails and campgrounds from 1933 to 1942.
During World War II, fewer people visited. But by the 1950s, visitor numbers grew a lot. The park modernized its facilities to welcome more guests.
In 1959, a large earthquake near Hebgen Lake damaged roads in the park. It also created new geysers and changed some hot springs. In 2022, record rainfall caused severe flooding. Roads and bridges were damaged, and parts of the park closed temporarily.
Yellowstone's Amazing Geography
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Yellowstone National Park is shaped roughly like a square. Most of it is in Wyoming. A small part is in Montana, and an even smaller part is in Idaho. The park is about 63 miles north to south and 54 miles west to east.
Yellowstone covers over 2.2 million acres. This is larger than the states of Rhode Island or Delaware. Lakes and rivers make up five percent of the park. Yellowstone Lake is the biggest, covering 87,040 acres. It is also one of North America's largest high-elevation lakes.
Forests cover 80 percent of the park, with grasslands making up most of the rest. The Continental Divide runs through the park. This invisible line separates water flowing to the Pacific Ocean from water flowing to the Atlantic Ocean.
The park sits on the Yellowstone Plateau, about 8,000 feet above sea level. Mountains surround the plateau, reaching 9,000 to 11,000 feet high. The highest point in the park is Eagle Peak at 11,358 feet.
Yellowstone has one of the world's largest petrified forests. These are ancient trees that turned to stone over time. The park also has 290 waterfalls. The Lower Falls of the Yellowstone River is the tallest at 308 feet.
Three deep canyons cut through the park's volcanic rock. The Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone is especially colorful.
Yellowstone's Geology: A Land of Fire and Water
Volcanic Power Beneath Yellowstone
Yellowstone's amazing features come from the Yellowstone hotspot. This is a super-hot spot deep under the Earth's surface. The North American continent slowly moves over this hotspot. Over millions of years, this has caused huge volcanic eruptions.
The Yellowstone Caldera is a giant bowl-shaped area. It formed from an enormous eruption 640,000 years ago. This eruption released a massive amount of ash and rock. The largest known eruption happened 2.1 million years ago.
Yellowstone is called a supervolcano because its eruptions can be incredibly powerful. The magma chamber under Yellowstone is huge. It is about 37 miles long, 18 miles wide, and 3 to 7 miles deep.
Geysers and Hot Springs
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Yellowstone has over half of the world's geysers and 10,000 other hot features. These include hot springs, mudpots, and fumaroles. The heat from the volcano below powers them.
Old Faithful is the most famous geyser. It erupts about every 90 minutes. Steamboat Geyser is the world's tallest active geyser. It is found in the Norris Geyser Basin.
Scientists constantly monitor Yellowstone's geology. In July 2024, a small hydrothermal explosion happened in Biscuit Basin. This shows the park's ongoing geological activity.
Earthquakes in Yellowstone
Yellowstone experiences thousands of small earthquakes each year. Most are too small for people to feel. About two-thirds of these quakes happen in a specific area between Hebgen Lake and the Yellowstone Caldera.
In 1959, a powerful 7.2-magnitude earthquake struck near the park. It caused a huge landslide and created a new lake called Quake Lake. This earthquake also made some geysers erupt and turned hot springs muddy.
On average, Yellowstone has 1,000 to 3,000 small earthquakes every year. The largest recent earthquake was a 4.8-magnitude quake in March 2014. It occurred near the Norris Basin.
Yellowstone's Amazing Plants and Animals
Yellowstone National Park is the heart of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. This huge area is one of the largest natural places left in the United States. It is home to almost all the original plants and animals that lived here long ago.
Yellowstone's Flora: Unique Plants
Over 69,000 types of plants grow in Yellowstone. Lodgepole pine trees cover 80% of the park's forests. Other trees include fir, spruce, and whitebark pine. The whitebark pine was listed as a threatened species in 2023 due to a fungus.
Many flowering plants bloom from May to September. The Yellowstone sand verbena is a rare flower found only on the shores of Yellowstone Lake.
In the park's hot waters, tiny bacteria form colorful mats. These are some of the oldest life forms on Earth. Scientists study these bacteria to learn about new medicines and plastics.
Yellowstone's Fauna: Wildlife and Life Cycles
Yellowstone is famous for its large animals, called megafauna. Almost 60 types of mammals live here. These include wolves, coyotes, lynx, cougars, black bears, and grizzly bears.
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Other large mammals are bison, elk, moose, and bighorn sheep. The Yellowstone Park bison herd is the largest public bison herd in the U.S. Their population grew to 6,000 in 2023, so some were moved to manage their numbers.
Bison and elk can carry a disease called brucellosis. Park staff work to keep bison inside the park to prevent the disease from spreading to farm animals. This can be a challenge, and sometimes bison numbers need to be reduced.
Wolves were once removed from Yellowstone. But in the 1990s, wolves from Canada were brought back. This helped the park's ecosystem. For example, it changed how elk grazed, helping aspen trees recover. A 2024 survey counted 9 wolf packs with 108 individuals.
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Black bears are common. Visitors are not allowed to feed them to keep both people and bears safe. Yellowstone is one of the few places where black bears and grizzly bears live together.
About 700 grizzly bears live in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. They were once on the endangered species list but were removed and then relisted. Their protection status has changed several times.
Elk populations are very large, with over 30,000 in the park. They migrate to different areas in winter.
Eighteen types of fish live in Yellowstone, including the Yellowstone cutthroat trout. This fish faces threats from invasive species like lake trout and a disease called whirling disease. Fishing rules help protect native fish.
The park also has seven types of reptiles and four types of amphibians. Three hundred eleven bird species have been seen in Yellowstone. This includes bald eagles and rare trumpeter swans.
Forest Fires: Nature's Renewal
Wildfires are a natural part of Yellowstone's ecosystem. Many plants here have adapted to fire. For example, lodgepole pine cones open with heat, releasing seeds. Fire also clears dead wood, making way for new growth.
About 35 natural fires start each year from lightning. A few more are caused by people. Park staff monitor fires closely. They let natural fires burn if they are not a threat to people or buildings.
Sometimes, park employees start "controlled burns." These fires remove dead wood safely. This helps prevent larger, uncontrolled fires later.
In 1988, Yellowstone experienced huge forest fires. A severe drought made the fires spread quickly. Over one-third of the park burned. Many firefighters worked to control them. These fires taught scientists a lot about how fire helps the ecosystem. Surprisingly, very few animals died in the 1988 fires.
Yellowstone's Climate and Weather
Yellowstone's weather changes a lot with altitude. Lower areas are generally warmer. The highest temperature recorded was 99°F (37°C) in 2002. The coldest was -66°F (-54°C) in 1933.
Summers (June to early September) have daytime highs around 70-80°F (21-27°C). Nights can drop below freezing. Thunderstorms are common in the afternoons. Winters are cold, with temperatures often below 0°F (-18°C).
Snow can fall in any month, but it's most common from November to April. Some areas get twice as much snow as others.
| Climate data for Yellowstone Lake, 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1904–present | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 48 (9) |
49 (9) |
60 (16) |
73 (23) |
78 (26) |
84 (29) |
92 (33) |
91 (33) |
89 (32) |
76 (24) |
63 (17) |
52 (11) |
92 (33) |
| Mean maximum °F (°C) | 37.2 (2.9) |
40.7 (4.8) |
49.9 (9.9) |
56.3 (13.5) |
66.6 (19.2) |
75.6 (24.2) |
81.2 (27.3) |
81.1 (27.3) |
76.4 (24.7) |
64.6 (18.1) |
49.0 (9.4) |
37.3 (2.9) |
82.7 (28.2) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 23.2 (−4.9) |
26.7 (−2.9) |
35.0 (1.7) |
41.5 (5.3) |
50.4 (10.2) |
60.8 (16.0) |
71.2 (21.8) |
70.9 (21.6) |
61.4 (16.3) |
46.0 (7.8) |
32.6 (0.3) |
23.6 (−4.7) |
45.3 (7.4) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 13.3 (−10.4) |
15.1 (−9.4) |
22.9 (−5.1) |
30.4 (−0.9) |
39.7 (4.3) |
48.5 (9.2) |
56.9 (13.8) |
56.2 (13.4) |
47.7 (8.7) |
35.6 (2.0) |
23.7 (−4.6) |
15.4 (−9.2) |
33.8 (1.0) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 3.3 (−15.9) |
3.5 (−15.8) |
10.8 (−11.8) |
19.3 (−7.1) |
29.0 (−1.7) |
36.3 (2.4) |
42.7 (5.9) |
41.6 (5.3) |
34.1 (1.2) |
25.2 (−3.8) |
14.8 (−9.6) |
7.2 (−13.8) |
22.3 (−5.4) |
| Mean minimum °F (°C) | −21.2 (−29.6) |
−23.2 (−30.7) |
−13.4 (−25.2) |
−0.6 (−18.1) |
12.2 (−11.0) |
25.0 (−3.9) |
31.7 (−0.2) |
29.4 (−1.4) |
21.5 (−5.8) |
6.8 (−14.0) |
−7.1 (−21.7) |
−14.6 (−25.9) |
−28.1 (−33.4) |
| Record low °F (°C) | −51 (−46) |
−56 (−49) |
−43 (−42) |
−29 (−34) |
−10 (−23) |
14 (−10) |
20 (−7) |
13 (−11) |
−5 (−21) |
−17 (−27) |
−30 (−34) |
−48 (−44) |
−56 (−49) |
| Average precipitation inches (mm) | 1.97 (50) |
1.80 (46) |
1.97 (50) |
2.12 (54) |
2.42 (61) |
2.46 (62) |
1.29 (33) |
1.49 (38) |
1.58 (40) |
1.64 (42) |
1.81 (46) |
1.99 (51) |
22.54 (573) |
| Average snowfall inches (cm) | 35.8 (91) |
30.9 (78) |
25.1 (64) |
22.9 (58) |
6.9 (18) |
1.0 (2.5) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
1.4 (3.6) |
10.2 (26) |
29.8 (76) |
35.4 (90) |
199.4 (507.1) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) | 17.2 | 15.1 | 13.9 | 12.3 | 11.3 | 13.4 | 9.9 | 10.4 | 9.7 | 9.2 | 12.3 | 16.5 | 151.2 |
| Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 in) | 16.3 | 14.4 | 12.3 | 10.2 | 4.3 | 0.8 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.8 | 5.5 | 11.8 | 15.4 | 91.8 |
| Source 1: NOAA | |||||||||||||
| Source 2: National Weather Service | |||||||||||||
| Climate data for Yellowstone National Park – Mammoth, Wyoming, 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1894–present | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 55 (13) |
56 (13) |
66 (19) |
78 (26) |
86 (30) |
92 (33) |
99 (37) |
97 (36) |
92 (33) |
81 (27) |
66 (19) |
57 (14) |
99 (37) |
| Mean maximum °F (°C) | 44.6 (7.0) |
47.8 (8.8) |
57.1 (13.9) |
68.0 (20.0) |
76.9 (24.9) |
85.2 (29.6) |
91.2 (32.9) |
90.5 (32.5) |
85.4 (29.7) |
73.0 (22.8) |
56.8 (13.8) |
44.8 (7.1) |
92.3 (33.5) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 31.4 (−0.3) |
34.2 (1.2) |
41.9 (5.5) |
49.7 (9.8) |
59.6 (15.3) |
69.5 (20.8) |
80.8 (27.1) |
79.8 (26.6) |
68.8 (20.4) |
53.6 (12.0) |
39.4 (4.1) |
30.3 (−0.9) |
53.3 (11.8) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 21.7 (−5.7) |
23.3 (−4.8) |
30.5 (−0.8) |
38.0 (3.3) |
47.1 (8.4) |
55.8 (13.2) |
64.6 (18.1) |
63.1 (17.3) |
53.9 (12.2) |
41.3 (5.2) |
29.3 (−1.5) |
21.1 (−6.1) |
40.8 (4.9) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 11.9 (−11.2) |
12.3 (−10.9) |
19.1 (−7.2) |
26.3 (−3.2) |
34.6 (1.4) |
42.0 (5.6) |
48.3 (9.1) |
46.5 (8.1) |
39.0 (3.9) |
28.9 (−1.7) |
19.2 (−7.1) |
11.9 (−11.2) |
28.3 (−2.1) |
| Mean minimum °F (°C) | −9.5 (−23.1) |
−8.7 (−22.6) |
0.8 (−17.3) |
12.1 (−11.1) |
22.6 (−5.2) |
32.2 (0.1) |
40.0 (4.4) |
36.9 (2.7) |
27.7 (−2.4) |
12.6 (−10.8) |
−0.2 (−17.9) |
−9.1 (−22.8) |
−18.0 (−27.8) |
| Record low °F (°C) | −36 (−38) |
−35 (−37) |
−24 (−31) |
−6 (−21) |
6 (−14) |
20 (−7) |
21 (−6) |
24 (−4) |
0 (−18) |
−8 (−22) |
−27 (−33) |
−35 (−37) |
−36 (−38) |
| Average precipitation inches (mm) | 0.91 (23) |
0.79 (20) |
1.09 (28) |
1.40 (36) |
1.82 (46) |
1.86 (47) |
1.27 (32) |
1.05 (27) |
1.21 (31) |
1.34 (34) |
1.15 (29) |
0.91 (23) |
14.80 (376) |
| Average snowfall inches (cm) | 11.5 (29) |
11.5 (29) |
10.9 (28) |
7.8 (20) |
1.7 (4.3) |
0.3 (0.76) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.6 (1.5) |
4.7 (12) |
9.9 (25) |
12.6 (32) |
71.5 (182) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) | 10.6 | 11.4 | 10.5 | 11.3 | 12.8 | 12.5 | 9.2 | 8.5 | 8.7 | 9.7 | 9.6 | 11.9 | 126.7 |
| Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 in) | 8.7 | 9.4 | 7.0 | 5.5 | 1.2 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 2.8 | 7.5 | 10.2 | 52.7 |
| Source: NOAA | |||||||||||||
| Climate data for Yellowstone National Park – Old Faithful, Wyoming, 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1904–present | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 55 (13) |
62 (17) |
63 (17) |
76 (24) |
82 (28) |
89 (32) |
94 (34) |
98 (37) |
87 (31) |
79 (26) |
63 (17) |
58 (14) |
98 (37) |
| Mean maximum °F (°C) | 42.1 (5.6) |
44.8 (7.1) |
52.4 (11.3) |
60.2 (15.7) |
70.7 (21.5) |
79.8 (26.6) |
85.0 (29.4) |
84.6 (29.2) |
79.4 (26.3) |
67.2 (19.6) |
52.5 (11.4) |
40.7 (4.8) |
86.4 (30.2) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 28.3 (−2.1) |
31.1 (−0.5) |
38.7 (3.7) |
45.5 (7.5) |
55.2 (12.9) |
65.1 (18.4) |
75.9 (24.4) |
75.0 (23.9) |
64.8 (18.2) |
49.9 (9.9) |
35.3 (1.8) |
26.5 (−3.1) |
49.3 (9.6) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 14.7 (−9.6) |
16.5 (−8.6) |
24.3 (−4.3) |
32.3 (0.2) |
42.0 (5.6) |
49.9 (9.9) |
57.6 (14.2) |
55.9 (13.3) |
47.3 (8.5) |
35.9 (2.2) |
22.6 (−5.2) |
13.7 (−10.2) |
34.4 (1.3) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 1.1 (−17.2) |
2.0 (−16.7) |
9.9 (−12.3) |
19.1 (−7.2) |
28.7 (−1.8) |
34.7 (1.5) |
39.2 (4.0) |
36.8 (2.7) |
29.9 (−1.2) |
21.9 (−5.6) |
9.9 (−12.3) |
0.9 (−17.3) |
19.5 (−6.9) |
| Mean minimum °F (°C) | −26.5 (−32.5) |
−27.5 (−33.1) |
−17.9 (−27.7) |
−1.5 (−18.6) |
14.7 (−9.6) |
25.1 (−3.8) |
30.1 (−1.1) |
26.9 (−2.8) |
18.0 (−7.8) |
3.4 (−15.9) |
−17.3 (−27.4) |
−27.1 (−32.8) |
−34.2 (−36.8) |
| Record low °F (°C) | −45 (−43) |
−49 (−45) |
−41 (−41) |
−28 (−33) |
3 (−16) |
16 (−9) |
21 (−6) |
14 (−10) |
−2 (−19) |
−27 (−33) |
−32 (−36) |
−47 (−44) |
−49 (−45) |
| Average precipitation inches (mm) | 2.08 (53) |
2.13 (54) |
2.24 (57) |
2.40 (61) |
2.68 (68) |
2.42 (61) |
1.25 (32) |
1.43 (36) |
1.70 (43) |
2.30 (58) |
2.22 (56) |
2.78 (71) |
25.63 (650) |
| Average snowfall inches (cm) | 35.6 (90) |
29.9 (76) |
27.1 (69) |
17.1 (43) |
5.4 (14) |
0.6 (1.5) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.9 (2.3) |
9.0 (23) |
26.4 (67) |
45.0 (114) |
197.0 (500) |
| Average extreme snow depth inches (cm) | 34.6 (88) |
38.8 (99) |
40.1 (102) |
28.7 (73) |
7.2 (18) |
0.1 (0.25) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.5 (1.3) |
4.5 (11) |
12.9 (33) |
27.3 (69) |
43.3 (110) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) | 14.1 | 13.0 | 12.2 | 11.9 | 12.7 | 13.2 | 9.0 | 8.9 | 9.5 | 10.1 | 12.0 | 15.2 | 141.8 |
| Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 in) | 13.8 | 12.5 | 11.3 | 8.6 | 2.4 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.6 | 4.1 | 10.7 | 15.4 | 79.9 |
| Source 1: NOAA | |||||||||||||
| Source 2: National Weather Service | |||||||||||||
Cultural Impact and Heritage
Yellowstone has a rich cultural history. Over 1,000 ancient sites have been found. The park has 1,106 historic buildings and features. Obsidian Cliff and five buildings are special National Historic Landmarks.
Yellowstone became an International Biosphere Reserve in 1976. It was named a United Nations World Heritage Site in 1978. From 1995 to 2003, it was on the List of World Heritage in Danger. This was due to tourism impacts and issues with wildlife and plants. In 2010, Yellowstone National Park was featured on its own U.S. quarter.
The Heritage and Research Center in Gardiner, Montana, holds the park's museum collection. It also has archives, a research library, and an archaeology lab.
Fun Activities and Recreation
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Yellowstone is one of the most popular national parks. Over 2 million tourists visit almost every year. In 2023, a record 4.5 million people visited. July is the busiest month.
Park roads lead to major attractions. Some roads close for repairs or in winter. From early November to mid-April, most roads are closed to cars. In winter, visitors can take guided snowmobile or snow coach tours.
Yellowstone offers many fun activities. These include hiking, camping, boating, and fishing. It's important to be safe while exploring. Driving is the most common cause of accidents. Water activities and hiking also have risks. Always follow park rules and safety guidelines.
The park has nine visitor centers and museums. There are also 12 campgrounds with over 2,000 campsites. You can find 1,100 miles of hiking trails. Wooden boardwalks keep visitors safe around hot springs.
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Hunting is not allowed in the park. Fishing is popular, but you need a special license. Many areas are for fly fishing only. All native fish must be released after being caught.
Yellowstone is surrounded by other protected lands. These include national forests and Grand Teton National Park. Nearby towns offer places to stay and eat.
See also
In Spanish: Parque nacional de Yellowstone para niños
- List of national parks of the United States
- Bibliography of Yellowstone National Park
- List of national parks of the United States
- National Parks in Idaho
- Outline of Yellowstone National Park
- List of deaths in Yellowstone National Park
- Zone of Death (Yellowstone)
