Yellowstone National Park & Big Sky Montana

Yellowstone National Park epitomizes what is still wild and untamed in the United States. Established in 1872 by the United States Congress, President Ulysses S. Grant signed a law declaring that Yellowstone would forever be "dedicated and set apart as a public park or pleasuring ground for the benefit and enjoyment of the people." Visiting the links of our sponsors below will help expose you to some of the possibilties available to you during your visit.

As the oldest park in the nation, Yellowstone attracts over three million visitors each year. Indeed, by some estimates, one-third of the U.S. population will visit Yellowstone National Park in their lifetime. They come to experience a rare hot spot in the earth's surface, for Yellowstone remains among the most geologically active lands on the planet, with steam-spewing geysers, gurgling fumaroles, and frequent earthquakes. They come to see wildlife like grizzlies, bison, elk, gray wolves, and herds of buffalo sprawled over 2.2 million acres. And they come to fish Yellowstone's legendary blue ribbon trout streams.

Yellowstone National Park is the oldest park in the United States.

GEYSERS AND HOT SPRINGS

Home to some 10,000 thermal features, over 500 of which are geysers, Yellowstone National Park has the majority of the world's geysers. The four basic types of thermal features present in the Park are geysers, hot springs, fumaroles, and mudpots. Many of these are concentrated in Yellowstone's major geyser basins: Upper, Midway, Lower, Norris, West Thumb, Shoshone and Heart Lake.

Yellowstone has the majority of the world's geysers.

OLD FAITHFUL

The Upper Geyser Basin is famous because of Old Faithful, the most popular attraction of Yellowstone National Park. Old Faithful acquired its name because of the punctuality and predictability of its eruptions. The average interval of Old Faithful used to be every 76 minutes, but an earthquake in the winter of 1998 increased it to approximately every 80 minutes.

Eruptions at Old Faithful last anywhere from one to five minutes, and can spray water and steam up to 184 feet vertically. Although it is the most photographed and talked about, contrary to popular belief Old Faithful is not the largest nor the grandest geyser.

Old Faithful's eruptions can last five minutes.

MAMMOTH HOT SPRINGS

Another popular destination in Yellowstone National Park is Mammoth Hot Springs. Featuring a staircase of hot spring pools formed by heat, water and limestone to create what is known as "terraces", Mammoth Hot Springs is an amazing display of natural living sculpture.

Lower Terraces, and an Upper Terrace Loop divide Mammoth Hot Springs into two viewing sections.

Mammoth Hot Springs are an amazing display of natural living sculpture.

NORRIS GEYSER BASIN

Norris Geyser Basin is the hottest geyser basin in Yellowstone National Park. And, it is home to the largest active geyser in the world, Steamboat Geyser. Steamboat has long periods of dormancy, but in the past few years it has erupted several times. When it does, Steamboat Geyser sends jets of water nearly 380 feet high, and its steam phase can be heard miles away.

Jets of water nearly 380 feet high and a steam phase that can be heard miles away.