Yellowstone National Park

Steam rises from thousands of geothermal features while bison graze in meadows where wolves once again roam free. America's first national park sprawls across 2.2 million acres of Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho, sitting atop an active supervolcano that fuels the largest collection of geysers on Earth. Old Faithful's clockwork eruptions draw crowds, but the park's true magic lies in its intact ecosystem. Grizzly bears fish pristine streams, wolf packs hunt elk through lodgepole forests, and over 285 bird species fill the skies. The Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem functions as it did centuries ago - one of the last nearly intact temperate-zone ecosystems on the planet. After near-extinction, wolves returned in 1995, restoring natural predator-prey dynamics. Strict wildlife viewing guidelines keep animals wild while educating millions of annual visitors. Boardwalks protect fragile thermal features from foot traffic. Research stations monitor everything from microbes in hot springs to grizzly bear genetics, making Yellowstone a living laboratory for conservation science.

Water Features

Yellowstone Lake, Yellowstone River, numerous waterfalls

Ecosystem

This destination features a mixed ecosystem ecosystem.