Yellowstone National Park was established, in 1872, as the first National Park in the United States. Spanning regions of Montana, Wyoming and Idaho, this park includes mountains, meadows, water, wildlife, geysers and hot springs. Take it all in with a multi-day stay and sleep under the stars in your own tent. Enjoy seeing land that is barely touched, yet holds centuries of history within.
Camping Overview
Camp in developed campgrounds or in the backcountry at Yellowstone National Park. If choosing to camp in the backcountry, you must set up your tent at one of the designated backcountry camping sites. Reservations for a backcountry permit are required and must be picked up no sooner than 48 hours before you start your trek. Reservations can be made in advance and cost $20. You can stay at a campsite for one to three nights depending on the site. Permits can be picked up at the ranger stations or visitor centers. Multiple campgrounds exist in the front country. These campgrounds can accommodate RVs. Fishing Bridge RV Park is the only campground that offers water and sewer hookups. All campgrounds have toilets. The sites cost between $12 and $28 per night. All costs are as of 2010.
Hiking and Biking
Bring your own bike or rent one from Xanterra Parks and Resorts at the Old Faithful location within the park for $35 for 24 hours for an adult bike. Biking is permitted only on established roads and designated routes. Oftentimes bikes share the same roads as automobiles, so exercise caution when riding. Over 1,100 miles of trails are available for hiking in Yellowstone. Hikes range in both length and intensity. You can hike to mountain peaks, through forests and meadows and past water. The park is enormous so choose your routes wisely.
Other Activities
Whether you seek geysers or wildlife, Yellowstone is sure to leave you with special, incredible memories. Bears, wolves, bison, elk and bald eagles can all be seen in the park. It is important to keep your distance from the animals as they can be dangerous. Find the many geysers in the park, including Old Faithful, which erupts about once per hour. Hot springs also are viewable throughout the park. Get a sense of history throughout the park as well as you can see architecture that is more than a century old.
When to Go
Only Mammoth campground is open year-round. Backcountry camping also is available year-round. The wildlife will be out the most during the spring and summer months, but during the winter plenty of animals still roam the park. The summer months are crowded with visitors, and it is imperative to make reservations early. During the winter months, many sections of the park can be closed off because of snowfall, but the park is nearly void of visitors. Summer time weather is normally in the 70s and gets cool at night. Winter temperatures are often freezing and sub-zero overnight. The park sees 150 inches of snow on average every winter. Spring and fall have weather between 30 and 60 degrees Fahrenheit, though temperature is always highly variable in Yellowstone.
Risks
The wildlife in Yellowstone is all around the park. Sometimes the largest animals even roam into parking lots. Stay away from the animals. They are stronger and faster than you are and can inflict injury or even death. Observe from a distance. When camping, store all food in your car or hang the food from a tree in a bag. The food should be at least 10 feet high, but at least four feet below any branches and 10 feet away from the tree trunk. If you encounter a bear, do not make it feel cornered. Do not play dead or run away. Wave your hands and make loud noises. If the rare case that the bear attacks, fight back with whatever tools you have.
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