It seems everyone has gotten the memo that national parks are the place to be this summer. But you know what’s even better than sweating it out while jostling with hordes of tourists for that perfect photo? Going when it’s less crowded and cooler but just as gorgeous in fall! We hit Yellowstone and Grand Teton last October, and they were absolutely glorious. So what are the 10 most spectacular things to do in Yellowstone and Grand Teton? Read on to find out.
1. Wake up at the crack of dawn
One of the absolute best things to do in Yellowstone is seeing all the wildlife. Animals are at their most active at dawn and dusk, and for east coasters like us, it was easier to start early. Hayden Valley is in the middle of the park so you’re looking at an hour’s drive even from the closer West Yellowstone side.
We set off in the dark with coffee and muffins from our hotel and wow did it ever pay off. We arrived just before sunrise to see an enormous herd of bison spread out across the valley. It was awe-inspiring and gorgeous to see so many of these imposing creatures in the golden morning light. A photographer’s heaven! Local experts can also take you to the best animal-spotting locations in the park.
I also recommend you start early in the Lamar Valley, known as America’s Serengeti. We didn’t have as much luck here as we did at Hayden, but we still had a pretty epic animal-viewing experience. We saw an entire pack of wolves making a beeline for a lone bison bull. Turns out that even a 20-wolf-strong pack doesn’t want to take on one of these big guys, so after some tentative sniffing, they let him be. Wolves were one of the animals I most hoped to see, so I was thrilled to check them off my list.
2. Get delayed by a bison jam
Things at Yellowstone run at their own speed. One minute you’re zipping down an open road, the next you’re trapped behind a slow-moving bison. Embrace the experience and don’t get out of your car. These big guys look gentle from afar but don’t approach them. Just enjoy the view!
3. Enjoy the best of Yellowstone’s waterfalls
Waterfalls abound at Yellowstone and there are a few you can’t miss. You can reach Upper Falls, Lower Falls and Crystal Falls Trail by a 3.8-mile moderately trafficked out-and-back trail. I found this hike to be easy but just challenging enough to feel like you were getting some exercise. You can drive to the falls viewpoints if you prefer, but the hike gave us multiple vantage points for the Upper Falls and Lower Falls, and afterward, we headed nearby to the stunning Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone and Artist Point. We also did the hike to Fairytale Falls, and the hike itself is quite dull but the payoff is lovely.
4. Geology, baby!
Everyone who comes to Yellowstone goes to Old Faithful, but I’m going to take a controversial stance here – Old Faithful is overrated. There are many more interesting things to do in Yellowstone if you’re interested in geology. Sure it’s cool to see water shoot out of the ground, but if you’ve seen geysers in places like Iceland, it’s an underwhelming, over-crowded experience. Of course, you should go, but don’t let it be the only geologic feature on your itinerary!
Instead, check out Norris or West Thumb Geyser Basin and the famed Grand Prismatic. With the latter, be sure to park at the Fairy Falls Trailhead and hike up to the Grand Prismatic Overlook. This isn’t a particularly long walk, but it is uphill. From that vantage point, you can take in Grand Prismatic’s interesting colors. From below you’re more likely to just see steam.
There are signs everywhere telling you not to leave the path. These features are delicate and more importantly dangerous. Every year some goober leaves the path and either gets maimed or arrested. Don’t be that person.
5. Take a trip to the moon at Mammoth Hot Springs
Mammoth Hot Springs is a must-see at Yellowstone. This otherworldly thermal area is unlike any other in the park due to its unusual travertine formations. There’s ample parking nearby, and it’s an easy 1.75-mile walk around the upper and lower terraces. The white formations definitely give you the feel of being on another planet.
6. Don’t just drive, hike!
Despite being a very outdoorsy vacation spot, Yellowstone and Grand Teton don’t actually require much hiking. You can pretty much just cruise around in your car and worst case walk around a short boardwalk for all the major sites. But you are missing out on one of the best things to do in Yellowstone and Grand Teton if you don’t hike. We tried to hike at least once a day and the payoffs were consistently huge.
One favorite was the hike at the Yellowstone River Picnic Area, a 3.9-loop trail. It has a gentle rise to a high vantage point with a beautiful view of both river and canyon. One note is that it was very windy on the day we went, so definitely hold on to anything not connected to your body!
Our favorite Yellowstone hike was Slough Creek Trail. I couldn’t have predicted from what I’d read about this path that it would be such a delight. It’s a true hidden gem! The hike is a 20-mile out and back, so we just walked until we felt like turning around. Probably about 5 miles round trip for our journey. We saw almost no one on the whole hike, and the golden fields, yellow aspens, and views of the mountains were incredible. There was a moment on the trail when there was complete silence, something I never experience in normal life, and it was bliss!
Don’t sleep on Grand Teton hikes either. To see Grand Teton’s famed Jenny Lake, we took the four-mile String Lake trail which offered a perfect combination of lake, forest, and meadow in a riot of autumnal colors. During high season there’s a boat that will take you across the lake, but the lines can be incredibly long and you’d miss views like the photo above.
Beware, there are bears in these parks, so I recommend you carry bear spray with you and make a lot of noise so animals have time to hear you coming. There were just two of us, so I shouted “no bears” for most of the hike. I survived, so I guess it worked!
7. Don’t be afraid to leave the park
I’ll let you in on a secret – one of the best things to do in Yellowstone is take a detour outside the park! Bear’s Tooth Highway is a highly scenic drive into the mountains, with hairpin turns and some snow in early fall. We followed this drive until the road was unexpectedly closed. Even with that surprise, we reached the highest point of our trip – almost 10,000 feet. I’ve since read harrowing articles about how the weather can turn frightening on this drive, so I am thrilled that we got to check it out without once fearing for our lives. Of course, the stylish town of Jackson Hole is also relatively nearby. Suffice it to say, leave yourself time to explore the larger region.
8. Chow down on elk
Elk are everywhere at Yellowstone so it’s no surprise that local restaurants excel at preparing the meat. We enjoyed delicious elk chili and Western sour cherry cider on the patio at Wonderland Cafe. This was my favorite meal in the Yellowstone area, so don’t miss it! Elk can be dry, so I preferred chili to the elk burger we tried elsewhere.
9. See things from a different perspective – on horseback
I couldn’t have a Wild West experience without riding a horse. The trip offered by Heart Six Ranch was the perfect option for us and was close to both Jackson Hole and the parks. Even though the day was a bit smoky (damn those non-stop western fires), it was still quite scenic, especially the yellow aspens. The horses were gentle so appropriate for everyone from skittish beginners to more experienced (but out of practice) riders like us. We opted for the 2-hour trip and think that was perfect. Horseback riding is hard on your tush, so any longer and I would have been nursing more aches and pains the next day.
10. Take in a sunset (or 3) but show up in time for golden hour
Did you know that the best time to take photos is golden hour? That’s the time right before sunrise or sunset when the light is lovely and golden. Photographing the scenery at this moment is one of the most popular things to do in Yellowstone and Grand Teton, and you’ll see photographers lining up awaiting the glorious light. There are so many stunning spots for sunset in Yellowstone and Grand Teton. Mormon Row (above) is an old settlement within Grand Teton’s park borders, and it offers up postcard-perfect shots of the old homestead and mountains in the distance.
Above you can see that sunset at Schwabacher Landing in Grand Teton is memorable, but just look at that light below in the moments preceding sunset! Snake River Overlook, Oxbow Bend and Blacktail Ponds Overlook are also great photography options. Want company at sunset? Take a sunset guided tour of Grand Teton!
Hungry for more info on things to do in Yellowstone? Don’t miss our full guide to Yellowstone and Yellowstone FAQ
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