Yellowstone: Best Places to See - 2

Yellowstone Lake

The largest lake at high elevation in North America, Yellowstone has 110 miles of shoreline and is popular among wildlife watchers, fishermen and boaters. Despite the fact that the geyser basin pours an average of 3,100 gallons of hot water into the lake every day, the lake’s average summer temperature is 45 degrees Fahrenheit. It may not be a great swimming spot, but its many moods and prime habitat make it worth a visit. Permits for boating and fishing are available at the lake's ranger station.

Wildlife Watch

You’ve heard the saying that “if you want to catch fish, fish where the fish are.” The same goes for catching a glimpse of the more elusive animals in the park. We’ve seen something extraordinary each of the seven or eight times we’ve visited Yellowstone. Sometimes we got lucky. (A friendly visitor offered to show us the grizzly bear he had dialed in on his spotting scope. Later on the same day, we came upon a majestic moose moving across a creek, barely visible through the mist.)

Other times we worked for our opportunity to witness the wonders of the natural world unfold. Early morning and sunset are good times to catch animals moving about. If you travel when crowds are heaviest and the sun is high in the sky, you are far less likely to see wildlife.

• The scenic shore at Yellowstone Lake.
• Shellie Raney

When visitors do see animals, they occasionally lose their good sense in all the excitement. More than once I have witnessed a visitor pose for a photograph, shockingly close to bison. Do not risk it. The bison and all other animals within the park are to be treated with respect and caution. Make sure your children understand that the animals may seem as tame as those found in a petting zoo. However, getting too close is not safe.

And of course this is bear country. Grizzly bear country. We always travel with pepper spray when traveling through grizz territory. Never camp or picnic in an area that has obvious evidence of bear activity—digging, tracks or scat.

Bears have an excellent sense of smell, so make sure your children know that it is not a good idea to take food, candy or gum of any kind into their tent.

Hike and explore in groups. Make noise. Be aware. When in doubt, ask a ranger for guidance. 

Get Out There

There are more than 350 miles of paved roadways in Yellowstone. A figure-eight loop in the heart of it all will enable you to see many of the most famous sites, animals moving from one grazing area to another and geysers spewing their steam into the air. It is possible to enjoy Yellowstone without ever leaving your car. But I don’t recommend it. 

The farther you move from the roadways, the deeper will be your enjoyment of the park. Take advantage of the many nature trails, hiking paths, fishing streams and backcountry vistas. There are miles of biking paths and cross country ski trails. This is your national park. Experience all that you can. Then come back for more.