Historic North Gate - The Roosevelt Arch erected in 1903 is a site of history to see! The North Gate entrance located in Gardiner, MT is the only year round entrance open to vehicles. The top of the arch is inscribed with a quote from the Organic Act of 1872, the legislation which created Yellowstone, which reads "For the Benefit and Enjoyment of the People."
Mammoth Hot Springs Terraces - Walkways that take you around the hot springs are easy for kids to navigate. We also saw a small herd of Elk right near by in the little village which the kids loved!
Petrified Tree- Located on the Northeast corner of the park. If you want a reminder of how old the earth truly is, take the 10 minute detour of the main road to check this tree out! It’s worth it.
Grand Canyon of Yellowstone - 20 miles long, 1,000 feet deep, and 2,000 feet wide, the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone is a site to see! There are incredible views from Lookout Point and a great hike that begins at inspiration point with incredible vistas along the way. This hike is best for kids 10 and older.
Yellowstone Lake - The largest lake at high elevation, more than 7,000 ft. in North America. It is almost 20 miles long and 14 miles wide with 141 miles of shoreline. Almost half of the year it is frozen. It freezes in late December or early January and thaws in late May or early June. Bridge Bay Marina, located a few miles south of the Lake Yellowstone Hotel and Lake Lodge offers charter guide boats, outboard rental boats, and rowboats. Also a fantastic lake to just sit by the edge with your kids enjoying a summer picnic and skipping stones!
Old Faithful - This was such a highlight for my kids! Old Faithful was discovered in 1870 by the Washburn Expedition. The geyser erupts on average every 60 to 110 minutes. The eruptions will last anywhere from 1 to 5 minutes long. They have a board that the naturalists will predict when the next eruption with occur. There is lots of area for kids to explore and play while waiting.
Wildlife Viewing - We have had the opportunity to see lots of Buffalo and Elk and our highlight was seeing a mom Grizzly with her cub eating berries. In all cases we were driving along the roads within the park. As you will see signs for all over the park, keep your distance from these wild animals. There are accidents every year from people who attempt to approach these animals.
Grand Prismatic Stream - The Grand Prismatic Spring in Yellowstone National Park is the largest hot spring in the United States. There is a boardwalk that follows the perimeter and you want to make sure you hold on to your kids!! The colors are incredible! This is an absolute must stop on your trip to Yellowstone!
Hiking - Click the link for the top 3 trails for hiking with kids at Yellowstone! Don’t forget your bear spray!