Do's & Don'ts When Visiting Yellowstone National Park
We all know that there is a lot to know when going into a national park. Some of the things you will read below are things I had to learn while being in the park and some of these are things I read about beforehand.
Do's When Visiting Yellowstone:
Plan/Prepare - This probably goes without saying but plan accordingly and prepare for your trip. This might mean mapping out your route for the next day and looking into weather/road conditions.
Get to the park early - Getting to the parts of the park you want to visit early could pay off in the long run. You can avoid sitting in traffic, be able to find parking spots, and be able to see things without a large crowd. Believe me it makes a huge difference when you can take a picture without someone in the way and when you park in a lot and not on the side of the street (we experienced this at Grand Prismatic Spring).
Pack lunch/snacks - You may have a long time in between stops without many restaurants along the way. You don't want to be stuck in the car for a long time and get hungry. See below to never leave food unattended.
Carry bear spray - Chances are you won't need it but whenever you are on a trail, hiking or just outside you will want to be on the safe side. There is so much wildlife in Yellowstone and you don't know when a bear encounter could happen. Garrett and I didn't need to use the bear spray and we left it for the hotel to give to someone when we left because you can't fly with it on an airplane.
Rent a car - While there are plenty of guided tours you can schedule there is so much to see in Yellowstone. Renting a car can give you the freedom to explore for yourself if you have time between tours or if you have a day where you want to do your own thing.
Leave No Trace - You'll see signs about this around the park and it's a policy that the national parks hold very seriously. Leave No Trace meaning don't interfere with wildlife, don't litter and make it seem as though you were never even in the park.
Don'ts When Visiting Yellowstone:
Don't approach wildlife - You probably see this one all the time but it doesn't hurt to hear it again. The wildlife was there before you and this is where they live - respect them and their home. Keep your distance because if you get hurt that endangers the animals we so badly want to see when visiting the national parks. Don't risk your life for the selfie!
Don't go during peak season - Garrett and I visited Yellowstone in May which provided great cool weather and it was right when things were opening up from the winter season. Plus, we didn't have to deal with crowds too much especially when getting places earlier in the day. Peak season hits in June, July, and August when the kids are off of school for the summer.
Never leave food unattended - Whenever bringing food you never want to leave it unattended. Food needs to be packed up in a storage container that can be locked without animals being able to get into it. BE BEAR AWARE!
Don't stray off of hiking trails - There are signs all around the areas telling you to stay on hiking trails. Staying on trails or boardwalks helps keep you safe from geyser and geothermal heat. It also helps you leave no trace and keep the park healthy.
Don't feel like you have to stay inside the park - When looking for a place to stay, don't feel like you need to stay within the park. Staying inside the park is going to take more out of your wallet than staying right outside the park. Garrett and I stayed at Yellowstone Park Hotel in West Yellowstone.
I will always encourage people to get out and visit their national parks. I just you to be mindful and aware of your surroundings for your safety and the health of the park.
Related Stories:
Comments