Yellowstone Grand Loop

Yellowstone's Grand Loop links Old Faithful, the hot springs at Mammoth, the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone and Hayden Valley, where bison and wolves are often seen. Traffic jams and parking are the real obstacles, so start early. It suits families and first-time visitors who want a few days to see the park in a single circuit.

The stops

1. Start

   West Yellowstone

2. Viewpoint

   Old Faithful

   Check predicted eruption times at the visitor centre

3. Viewpoint

   Midway Geyser Basin (Grand Prismatic)

   Boardwalk loop around the largest hot spring in the US

4. Viewpoint

   Norris Geyser Basin

   The hottest and most changeable thermal area

5. Viewpoint

   Mammoth Hot Springs

   Travertine terraces next to a small historic village

6. Viewpoint

   Tower Fall

   40 m waterfall just off the road

7. Viewpoint

   Lamar Valley

   Best place to see wildlife at dawn and dusk

8. Viewpoint

   Artist Point

   View of the Lower Falls and the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone

9. Viewpoint

   Hayden Valley

   Bison herds; pull out well off the road

10. Viewpoint

    West Thumb Geyser Basin

    Hot springs on the shore of Yellowstone Lake

11. Back to the start

    West Yellowstone

Where to stay

• Night 1

  Old Faithful

  Madison Campground (NPS)

• Night 2

  Canyon Village

  Canyon Campground (NPS)

• Night 3

  Gardiner

  Mammoth Campground (NPS)

When to go

May-Oct; most park roads close in early November

On the road

Most roads close from November to April; check NPS road status. Wildlife jams are normal, and you must stay 25 yards from bison and elk and 100 yards from bears and wolves.