5 stops to make in Yellowstone that aren’t Old Faithful

Without question, Yellowstone National Park is one of the most incredible places on Earth. It offers a diverse range of landscapes, ecosystems, and wildlife that can be honestly hard to comprehend, even if you’ve been there before.

But even as iconic a location as Yellowstone has its more “touristy” spots. No one is suggesting that you shouldn’t stop by Old Faithful as it is an impressive geyser. But there is so much more to see in the park, some of which you simply will not expect.

Explore the Upper Geyser Basin

While there are certainly more spectacular geysers in Yellowstone, Old Faithful is the most predictable one. But the mistake a lot of people make is watching it go off, then heading for their next destination in the park.

Old Faithful is part of the Upper Geyser Basin which has several other spectacular sights to see. There are also more than a few interesting animals hanging around the region. As such, you never know what you might spot nearby.

Drive through the Lamar Valley

The Hayden Valley is one of the most popular wildlife spotting areas in the park, and for good reason. Massive herds of bison call it home. But all the bison combined with people stopping to take pictures of them lead to frequent traffic jams that can hold up your trip.

Make sure you also take the time to drive through the Lamar Valley. It’s also home to an impressive array of animals but isn’t as overloaded by throngs of people. Keep in mind that is a relative statement, to say the least.

Explore Yellowstone Lake

In addition to the wonders that you’re expecting when you get to Yellowstone, there are more than a few you don’t expect. One of them is Yellowstone Lake, which is the largest freshwater lake in the entire United States that’s above 7000 feet of elevation.

There are a lot of hiking trails around the lake as well as opportunities to go boating or fishing. That being said, officials recommend you don’t go swimming. The water is either insanely cold from being up so high or insanely hot thanks to being on a supervolcano.

Hike through the Fossil Forest

Yellowstone has a lot of interesting quirks, including the existence of various archeological and anthropological sites. Throughout the park, visitors will find fossils and petrified wood. Just remember to take a picture and don’t pick up a souvenir.

A more interesting hike will take you through a region called the Fossil Forest. You will end up seeing a wide range of petrified wood and possibly other fossils. It’s not something everyone ends up doing but it’s worth it for those who can handle the hike.

Definitely go chasing waterfalls

Water is a defining element in Yellowstone. From the lake to the rivers to the geysers and beyond, it is a core attribute to some of the park’s biggest draws. But it can also be found in some of the most spectacular waterfalls you will see anywhere in the world.

Tower Fall, Mystic Falls, Upper Mesa Falls, and more are all stunning in their own unique ways. The most popular of them all is likely the Upper Falls of the Yellowstone River. That being said, there’s always more to see even in this specific area.