Yellowstone Experience

Artist Thomas Moran, whose paintings of Yellowstone’s epic landscapes helped bring the region’s wonders to public attention in the 1870s, considered the setting “beyond the human reach of arts.”

More than a century — and many millions of visitors — later, Yellowstone National Park retains that jaw-dropping glory. Whether geyser gazing or wildlife watching, adventure abounds in the nation’s first national park.

Consider these five not-to-be-missed experiences:

Walk Among the Geysers

Witnessing Old Faithful’s dependable (roughly every 90 minutes) eruption never fails to wow. But after the show, take time to stroll along the three-mile loop path that winds through a vast smoldering field of fumaroles (steam vents), hot springs, and geysers galore. In fact, Yellowstone has more geysers than anywhere else on earth — of every type and formation.

For a more intensive experience, sign on for a late-afternoon Geyser Gazers tour.. A 1930s-era historic yellow touring vehicle ferries visitors among the park’s densest concentration of geothermal features, located between Old Faithful and Madison.

Watch Wildlife

Two Elk sitting in the grass

Yellowstone denizens know the best place to spot animals is in the park’s northern reaches.

That’s partly because the wide-open stretches of the Lamar Valley make wildlife easier to spot. But it’s also a favorite haunt for bison herds, bighorn sheep, bears, elk, and, if you’re lucky, the elusive gray wolf. Evening Wildlife Encounters arrive in the valley at dusk when the animals are most active. Early risers can opt for the Wake Up to Wildlife tour during peak season.

Get Out on the Water

A flock of geese fly past a brilliant orange sunrise.

With 141 miles of lodgepole pine-studded shoreline, massive Yellowstone Lake is nevertheless a sometimes-overlooked feature of the national park. But opportunities abound to enjoy this crystal blue beauty.

One-hour Scenicruises aboard the Lake Queen II from the Bridge Bay Marina. Or go it on your own in a rented motorboat.

Afterward, head three miles up the road from the marina to the waterfront Lake Yellowstone Hotel. Built in 1903, the park’s oldest and, arguably, its most elegant lodging, is an ideal spot for dinner or a drink. And if you happen to catch a lake trout, the hotel or nearby Lake Lodge will even cook it for you.

Visit in Winter

Yellowstone’s secret — and some say best — season is winter, which has far fewer visitors than summer and when solitude reigns. Plus, the snowy white background creates the best background for spotting the wild creatures that inhabit the park.

Most roads close to personal vehicles and the majority of lodgings within the park close for the season. But there are cozy accommodations in the Old Faithful Snow Lodge and Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel, and snowcoaches shuttle visitors between the two.

Seasonal Packages, held in conjunction with the nonprofit Yellowstone Forever Institute, couple winter fun and education. The packages include instruction, in-park transportation, and most meals, plus activities like snowshoeing and cross-country skiing.

Engaging winter tours include the Winter Photo Safari, which traverses the Firehole and Madison River corridors with its numerous wildlife and landscape photo opportunities. There are also short cross-country ski and snowshoe excursions around the hotels, or full-day adventures to the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone.

Take a Hike in the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone

Lower Falls of the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone

Many in-the-know visitors consider the canyon the most beautiful single feature of the park. The dramatic V-shaped valley with pink- and custard-colored walls has been carved over eons by the Yellowstone River. The 20-mile canyon features two spectacular waterfalls — the 308-foot Lower Falls and the 109-foot Upper Falls. They’re visible via multiple viewpoints.

And don’t miss the canyon’s iconic Artist Point. Perched on a cliff 700 feet above the river, it’s spectacular any time of day, but particularly at sunset.

Washington, DC-based freelance writer Jayne Clark has been a travel reporter at USA TODAY and several other daily newspapers.