Ospreys are protected by Federal law during their nesting season, approximately April through…read moreAugust. We saw two osprey nests in Yellowstone National Park, and one nearby in Montana. They feed, and feed their chicks, on trout, and we saw them near water, in our cases atop a tall tree near a river. The nest was huge, probably weighing hundreds of lbs, typically 200 to 350 lbs, as they are built up year after year by returning birds. We think we could hear the chicks chirping! Rather than advertise the locations of the nests we saw, how about i point you to search for the Montana Fish Wildlife & Parks osprey-cam! Right now (Jul 2026), the start of civil-twilight is around 6am, and the end is around 8:10pm. It's very cool! I just put it on my tv's web browser.

Pros: 1. The…read morelandscape is absolutely stunning. Anywhere you turn there's a picturesque shot waiting to be captured. 2. The park is huge and deserved to be explored through and through. 3. Watching animals in their natural habitats and not in an enclosure is magical. 4. All the Yellowstone rangers are super helpful and ready to help if you're lost and not sure how to get to your destination. Cons: 1. The biggest cons to Yellowstone and the reason why I can only give the park 3 stars instead of 4 are the parking nightmares and lack of bathrooms, especially in the high-profile attractions. There is just no excuse for that when there's plenty of space to build more parking lots and bathrooms. 2. Somewhat related to #1, because the roads only have one lane for each direction, traffic logjams often occur when long lines of cars are formed trying to get into a parking lot that's already full. And since there's only one lane, it's not really possible to go around them if you're just trying to go straight. 3. Food pretty mediocre and extremely overpriced.

This trail still exists, except it stops where the steps once existed. So it's a very steep trail,…read morea lot of switchbacks, leading to the top of the falls. Even without the stairs, it's quite a significant climb back to the parking lot so if you're not in good condition, don't attempt!

August 2022 Update: when my fiancé and I went, two rangers informed us that they are officially…read morePERMANENTLY closing this trail. They went down to take out the sign and will not be allowing anyone to go through the stairs. They said it is too expensive to fix and costs millions of dollars with the rescues, especially with the amount of money they are spending to fix the roads from the flooding. Obviously really sad but Uncle Tom's trail is no more :(

We ended our first day in Yellowstone at Inspiration Point, and honestly, it was the perfect way to…read moreclose out an unforgettable day. After hours of exploring the park, nothing could have prepared us for what was waiting at the end of that drive. The view of the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone from Inspiration Point is absolutely stunning -- one of those rare moments where you stop talking and just stare. The canyon drops away dramatically below you, the yellow and orange walls glowing warm in the late afternoon light, and the sheer scale of it all hits you all at once. It's breathtaking in the truest sense of the word. We came with family, including a young child, and even they were in awe. The viewing area is accessible and easy to navigate, which made it even better. No difficult hiking required -- just drive up, walk a short path, and let nature do the rest. Inspiration Point earns its name completely. This isn't just a scenic overlook -- it's a moment you'll carry with you long after you leave Yellowstone. Absolutely worth the drive. Don't miss it.

100% worth hiking past hidden falls. Saw a bunch of wildlife and the boat ride over was great. I…read morewill say that the wait to get back on the boat ride was about an hour. Veterans and active service members get a discount--you must ask.

I hadn't heard of this area before coming to Yellowstone but I saw a sign for it on the Rockefeller…read morefreeway and a lot of cars going toward it so I followed them. I'm glad I did, it's a really neat area and in my opinion almost a better bang for your buck than prismatic springs! You walk along a boardwalk in both areas since the geothermal area is both fragile, and potentially dangerous. There are several steaming pools in this area, including some that are cloudy/hazy, and some that are crystal clear and blue as the Caribbean ocean. This was also the only place I saw elk; there were some just chilling in the middle of the area. The parking lot is huge and easily accessible here as well.

This was a amazing place. I would recommend going to the top look out point then going down to the…read moreactual geyser basin I liked it a lot but I think I had already seen enough hot springs/geysers that I just kinda felt bored here but it was still really cool

Hidden falls can be accessed either by taking the ferry across Jenny lake or by hiking around Jenny…read moreLake. My group opted for the hike, and it made getting to the waterfall, where it was incredibly cool, extra sweet. The water created a much appreciated swamp cooler effect. It was also super pretty to look at. This part of the hike was definitely the busiest with lots of people taking pictures and eating their lunch by the waterfall. Really gorgeous! Great views on the hike up. Great stop on our trip to the Tetons!!

I would give Hidden Falls 4.5 stars. There are two ways that you can visit Hidden Falls. The first…read moreis my taking the boat over and then it's a very short hike. The other way is hiking to it along Jenny Lake Trail. There are many people who take the boat over and do Hidden Falls and Inspiration Point and then leave. For this reason the first mile of trails after getting off the boat are heavily trafficked with tons of people and families. For this reason, if you do come visit Hidden Falls, I would recommend doing it early in the morning. We did the Cascade Canyon Trail around 8:30am and visited this on the way down around 11:30am and it was packed with people and kids running around so go early to avoid the crowds. The waterfall is beautiful! It's not hidden as the name would suggest since it's highly trafficked. We didn't stay long (only about a minute) because all the people and kids running around took away from the feeling of being surrounded by nature and at peace, although we are glad we went.

The Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone -- Lower Falls Do it in…read morethis order. Trust me. If Yellowstone had a crown jewel, this is it. We hit the Lower Falls from two different angles, and the order we did it made all the difference. Start at Artist Point. From here, you get the full picture -- the entire canyon stretching out in front of you, walls layered in pink, red, orange, and white from thousands of years of iron-stained rock. The waterfall sits in the distance like something out of a painting, and the river winds through the bottom of a canyon that drops 800 to 1,200 feet deep. It gives you the context to appreciate everything else you're about to see. Blue sky, puffy clouds, massive scale -- this view alone is worth the drive. Then hike down to the Brink of the Lower Falls. This is where it gets real. You're standing right at the top of a 308-foot drop, watching the full force of the Yellowstone River launch off the edge. In early May, snowmelt had it absolutely roaring -- thick mist rising up, patches of snow still clinging to the rocks below, and if the sun hits right, a rainbow forms right at the base. See the canyon first. Then feel the power up close. That's the move. Absolutely mandatory stop in Yellowstone -- don't skip either viewpoint.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

The Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone - Lower Falls is one of the most breathtaking sights in all of…read moreYellowstone National Park, and honestly, one of the most impressive waterfalls in the United States. Dropping over 300 feet, it's nearly twice the height of Niagara Falls, and the sheer power and beauty of the water crashing down into the canyon is unforgettable. What makes it even more spectacular is the colorful canyon itself. The walls are streaked with yellows, reds, and oranges--caused by hydrothermal activity altering the rock over thousands of years--which is where Yellowstone gets its name. Pair that rainbow of rock with the thundering white water of the Lower Falls, and you've got a view that feels like it belongs on a postcard. There are multiple overlooks to see the falls, but Artist Point is the most famous and gives you that iconic panoramic view. Uncle Tom's Trail also takes you closer to the action but be ready for a steep climb back up--it's worth it for the experience. The Lower Falls and the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone are absolute must-sees. No trip to Yellowstone is complete without standing here and taking in this awe-inspiring natural wonder. https://linktr.ee/reessroots

The Arch is Beautiful and you can walk inside and drive thru. It is on way to park and normally Elk…read moreare nearby also check out Arch park right below the Arch. Worth stopping

Yellowstone National Park is nothing short of extraordinary. It feels like stepping into another…read moreworld where nature is raw, powerful, and constantly in motion. From erupting geysers to colorful hot springs, dramatic canyons, and endless wildlife sightings, every turn feels unreal.

+ Fun fact: Norris Geyser Basin is Yellowstone's oldest and hottest basin…read more + Fun fact: the green comes from a combo of 2 colors: blue and yellow. The blue comes from the water absorbing all other colors and thus reflecting blue, while the yellow-orange is the thermophilic bacteria and algae, or rather the yellow sulfur. Our eyes interpret the blue-yellow mix as blellow. jk, green. - Steamboat Geyser here is the world's tallest active geyser (300') but with unpredictable, infrequent major eruptions. Last major eruption was 2/27/2026. I wouldn't get my hopes up on your next visit. -- Crowded and very slooow parking. Sat outside for 20-30min waiting for the line to move. + Good amount of restrooms.

We had entered the park from Gardiner, and it wasn't a very long drive to the Norris geyser. There…read moreis a welcome center, but we went straight out to the boardwalk and started walking around. The one Geyser smokes fairly consistently - there isn't the big eruption like at Old Faithful. The boardwalks take you through quite a variety of basins and geysers - some as small as just bubbling water, but it was all very interesting to see. We spent quite a lot of time here - even though the parking lot was packed, because the boardwalk is so spread out you didn't really feel like you were in a crowd. You could take your time and really look at everything. I would definitely recommend this as a stop.

Amazing! The rumors were true. + Bison nonchalantly…read morecrossing the road, slowing down lines of cars. My 3rd animal crossing this vacation! - The western entrance to Lamar Valley at Tower Junction (Tower/Roosevelt Service Station) was way backed up. Many cars, slow line. * Even with many families waiting behind you, savor the moments. Not often in your life you get to witness Bovidae walking right in front of you. . Tip: better replenish at the Sinclair gas station. Will be a long drive ahead. # Warning: Don't feed them, and certainly don't touch them. Ancestrally, bison had to view us hunters as predators. And mothers recognize their calves by scent. If you touch a calf, your human predator scent will alienate the mother; she may not even recognize her young anymore, and it won't be able to rejoin the herd Dx Disastrous fate for the calf afterwards... So yeah, stay in your car. Or exit at one of the pullouts, but keep your distance. Welcome to America's Serengeti!

We entered Yellowstone from the northeast entrance so that we could deliberately drive through the…read moreLamar Valley. We didn't start our drive until early afternoon, so we didn't see a great deal of wildlife, but we did manage to see several herds of bison. The views were very scenic, and we found ourselves pulling over quite frequently. Definitely take your time driving through this area and enjoy the sights!

We had a great time kayaking with our 3 teens. Brian shared fun facts and made sure everyone was…read moregood at all times. We spotted Elk on the shore, and got a good look at the geysers. Would definitely recommend!

Our guide, Brandon, was super. Knowledgable, friendly, helpful. His enthusiasm for the place and…read morethe work was evident. Was willing to go at our pace - both faster and slower - depending on what we were trying to do or see. We had tall people in the group and he helped us with kayaks that were a better fit. Great experience.