Yellowstone National Park

2.2 million acres of perfect vacation destination, that’s the Yellowstone National Park for you. This northwestern corner of Wyoming has a little bit of everything – history, geology, natural beauty, bird and animal watching and photographic thrills. Yet, many people who come here return even without tasting a half of the rich and variegated fare on the Yellowstone menu.

Most of the tourists who come to the Park indulge in ‘car-watching’. They look at rustic wildlife, the amazing geothermal phenomena and exciting waterfalls through the tinted glasses of their air-conditioned car! However, to really enjoy your vacation at the Yellowstone, dump your car and bring out your hiking shoes. Get adventurous!

One of the greatest attractions of the Yellowstone for the adventure-minded is its vast array of trails suitable for every skill level. Hiking through these verdant woodlands is a great way to enjoy the rich beauty of Yellowstone’s natural environs. Many of the trails have wilderness camping shelters which makes it easier on hikers.

The bulk of visitors who visit the Yellowstone National Park come to witness the glory of one of its most popular and commonly viewed phenomenon – the Grand Canyon. A huge gorge carved out of the earth’s bowels, the Grand Canyon is a magnificent caldera consisting of many awesome mountains. You can hike from rim to rim or just sit at the tip and ruminate. Either way, you’ll love it at the Canyon.

The Yellowstone offers more geothermal activities than the rest of the world combined. Take the Old Faithful, for instance. Neither the biggest, nor the tallest, but the Old Faithful is the most impressive geyser in the area with its gushing spout shooting water in one foamy spray.

If you’re a fishing enthusiast, the Yellowstone won’t disappoint. Fly fishing is particularly popular in this belt. From the last week of May to the first week of November, people come to the Park with their tackles and lines to catch trout, shrimps, salmons, minnows and other varieties of native fish, Of course, the increasing number of anglers has led to the formation of stringent regulations. But what the heck, you’re here for fun, not survival! So, just follow the rules and have a blast.

If kayaking is your weakness, visit the Shoshone-Lewis Lake route. Or go canoeing in the Yellowstone River. The water is flat, but moving nevertheless. If you’re into camping and backpacking, you can make use of the dozen or more campgrounds within the Park. Watch out, though. In summers, these grounds tend to get pretty crowded.

In the winter months, the Yellowstone undergoes an unbelievable metamorphosis. From sun-baked to surreal is the only way to describe it. Snow covers the area and your only access to the place is through snow mobiles, snow coaches and skis.

The Yellowstone National Park is really too vast and variegated to bottle into a single trip. Instead, you need to take one piece of the Park in isolation and enjoy its unique flavor before moving on to the next section. That way, you can really enjoy a treat that indulges each of your senses.n