People from all around the globe visit Yellowstone National Park for many reasons. They want to see the world’s most famous geyser erupt, watch iconic wildlife, walk on the rim of the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, explore extraordinary hydrothermal basins,…
Whatever your reason for visiting Yellowstone is, you could spend many days in the park just doing that. To help you figure out where to go and what to see, I’ve selected the best views in Yellowstone National Park for you below.
All these Yellowstone viewpoints and overlooks encompass the park’s top attractions, whether it’s Lamar Valley, Mammoth Hot Springs, Old Faithful, or the Grand Canyon.
There’s at least one spectacular view in every main region within Yellowstone National Park.
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Contents
- Top 10 Scenic Views in Yellowstone National Park
- 10. Artists Paintpots
- 9. Northern Range Seen From Blacktail Deer Plateau
- 8. Firehole River and Geyser Hill at Dawn
- 7. Yellowstone River in Hayden Valley
- 6. Brink of the Lower Falls of the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone
- 5. Observation Point View of Old Faithful
- 4. Lower Terraces at Mammoth Hot Springs
- 3. Wildlife in Lamar Valley
- 2. Grand Prismatic Overlook
- 1. Artist Point View of the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone
- Map of the Best Views in Yellowstone National Park
- Other Amazing Yellowstone National Park Views
- More About Yellowstone National Park
Top 10 Scenic Views in Yellowstone National Park
From the Lower Falls of the Yellowstone River to the Lower Terraces at Mammoth Hot Springs, there’s no lack of epic views in Yellowstone National Park.
Remember that this is an enormous park, though, and you’ll need several days to see it properly.
I suggest spending at least five full days in the park. For example, I once spent three nights at Mammoth Hot Springs and three nights at Old Faithful, and still had to skip several places and trails. Yellowstone is just a very big national park.
Whether you have that much time or not, I do strongly recommend visiting as many of the scenic Yellowstone views below as you can. Most of them are pretty accessible, either literally just along a road or requiring only a short hike.
All of them, however, are breathtaking and offer a deeper insight into the sheer diversity of Yellowstone National Park.
Animals, geysers, hot springs, meandering rivers, waterfalls, mountainscapes,… You can see it all from these spectacular viewpoints in Yellowstone National Park.
10. Artists Paintpots
It may be an underrated and rather small area, especially compared with some of the other, more famous places in Yellowstone National Park, but Artists Paintpots is remarkably interesting and lovely—amusing even.
Located about 4 miles south of Norris, it is home to a group of colorful hot springs and lively mud pots. These pools of hot mud bubble and burst continuously, often in noisy spurts that can catapult mud 10 feet into the air.
The best views of Artists Paintpots are from the top of the 1-mile lollipop boardwalk/trail.
9. Northern Range Seen From Blacktail Deer Plateau
Blacktail Plateau is a high-elevation plain that stretches for miles between Mammoth Hot Springs and Tower-Roosevelt.
Crossed by a few creeks and lined with ponds, this wide-open area offers phenomenal views of the park’s famed Northern Range. The magnificent Absaroka Range rises up to the northeast, while the Yellowstone River bisects the plateau to the north.
Especially at dawn, the landscapes at Blacktail Plateau can be mesmerizing. Go for a drive and enjoy misty valleys, the earliest sun rays lighting up distant peaks, and perhaps even some wildlife sightings.
I recommend walking the short Forces of the Northern Range Self-Guiding Trail, which is a 0.5-mile boardwalk in the heart of Blacktail Plateau.
8. Firehole River and Geyser Hill at Dawn
One of the most scenic rivers in Yellowstone, the Firehole River meanders through three different geyser basins—Upper, Midway and Lower—on the way to its confluence with the Madison River.
While this river is beautiful everywhere, I think it’s particularly picturesque in the Upper Geyser Basin. It runs right past the marvelous Geyser Hill, crossed by a number of bridges and lined with boardwalks.
This is not a panoramic view or commanding overlook, though. Instead, it’s simply a wonderful area dotted with geysers, beautiful hot springs, and other hydrothermal features.
Go for a sunrise walk—this is by far the quietest time of day in the Old Faithful area—and watch the steam rise up from Geyser Hill, while morning mist envelops the Firehole River.
If you’re lucky enough, you might even see Old Faithful erupt all by yourself.
7. Yellowstone River in Hayden Valley
Located literally in the middle of Yellowstone National Park, Hayden Valley is one of the premier wildlife viewing hotspots in Yellowstone.
Once at the bottom of an arm of Yellowstone Lake, the valley is still a very wet area, dotted with ponds and marshes, and bisected by the Yellowstone River.
When driving through Hayden Valley between Canyon and Fishing Bridge, there are a few pullouts and overlooks. One of them provides a stunning view of the Yellowstone River as its winds through the meadowy plains below.
Spend some time at the overlook scouting the valley for animals like bison, elk, grizzly bears, wolves, pelicans, sandhill cranes, and bald eagles, all of which call Hayden Valley home.
6. Brink of the Lower Falls of the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone
For a jaw-dropping view into the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, few spots are better than the Brink of the Lower Falls Trail on the north rim.
Although pretty short at only 0.7 miles roundtrip, it is quiet steep with numerous switchbacks.
Once at the overlook, which is directly above the spectacular 308-feet Lower Falls, you can gaze down the waterfalls and deep into the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone.
At the right time of day, there may even be a rainbow dancing above this majestic waterfall.
5. Observation Point View of Old Faithful
For a panoramic view of Old Faithful, take a hike on the Observation Point Trail.
This hike begins on the Old Faithful boardwalk, which you’ll follow in a counterclockwise direction until you get to sign for Geyser Hill. Turn right and continue down the pathway.
The start of the Observation Point Trail is just beyond the bridge across the Firehole River.
You’ll then climb a number of switchbacks through the forest to an overlook that offers a sweeping view of much of the Upper Geyser Basin. It’s 0.8 miles one way. Retrace your steps down the trail for a moderate 1.6-mile roundtrip hike.
4. Lower Terraces at Mammoth Hot Springs
One of the absolute top things to do in Yellowstone National Park is a walk on the Mammoth Hot Springs boardwalks.
One of the park’s many—and among its most extraordinary—hydrothermal areas, Mammoth Hot Springs is a stunning collection of travertine terraces, the result of limestone deposited by hot springs.
In fact, travertine builds up so quickly here, while hot springs dry up and come back to life sometimes overnight, that this is among Yellowstone’s fastest-changing areas. Mammoth Hot Springs literally looks different each year.
So-called thermophiles add a wide range of color to the bright chalk-white travertine, creating a magnificent natural wonder.
A network of boardwalks, trails, and stairways runs through and around the Lower Terraces. Along these walkways, you can see marvelous geothermal features like Palette Spring, Minerva Terrace, and Cleopatra Terrace from up close.
At the top of the Lower Terraces, Canary Spring is a gorgeous white-and-orange hot spring, arguably the most beautiful feature in this particular area.
There are also fantastic views of Yellowstone’s northwestern region, including the Mammoth Hot Springs Historic District below.
3. Wildlife in Lamar Valley
Located in the remote northeastern part of Yellowstone National Park, sprawling Lamar Valley offers one of the very best Yellowstone experiences: world-class wildlife watching.
Driving through and spotting animals in the Lamar Valley is one of the top experiences in the national parks. Additionally, the area also provides some of the greatest views in Yellowstone National Park.
The Lamar River cuts through this vast valley, its relatively low elevation making it a preferred wintering range for immense herds of elk and bison.
In fact, this is where you’ll find some of North America’s largest bison herds. If you want to see bison in the wild, this is unquestionably the best place to go in Yellowstone. They’re present year-round.
In this sagebrush-covered valley, you can also see bighorn sheep and pronghorn (the fastest land animal on the continent). No wonder this region is often called the “American Serengeti.”
The sheer abundance of prey animals attracts large numbers of predators to Lamar Valley, too. Both black and grizzly bears are common sights, while coyotes, foxes and even mountain lions live here as well. But arguably the most exciting wildlife sightings in Lamar Valley are its wolf packs.
This is without a doubt the best place on the planet to see wolves in the wild. Several packs live in Lamar Valley and are occasionally seen from roadside pullouts.
Individual wolves may get closer to the road, like the one single black wolf I saw wandering near the western end of the valley.
For the best chances to see a variety of wildlife in Lamar Valley, go there at dawn or dusk.
Wildlife Safety in Yellowstone National Park
Seeing wildlife in their natural habitat is one of the great joys of visiting national parks like Yellowstone. This does, however, come with some risks, as all these animals are, in fact, wild.
In order to watch wildlife safely in Yellowstone National Park, there are some rules and guidelines to follow.
You must stay at least 100 yards from bears and wolves, and at least 25 yards from all other animals, including bison, elk, deer, and moose. It is also advisable to carry bear spray at all times, even in busy areas or on crowded trails. Learn how to use bear spray correctly here.
I recommend reading the following wildlife safety guides to prepare for your wildlife viewing trip to Yellowstone:
- Black bear safety tips
- Grizzly bear safety tips
- Bison safety tips
- Elk safety tips
- Moose safety tips
- Mountain lion safety tips
2. Grand Prismatic Overlook
With its depth of 121 feet and diameter of 200-330 feet, Grand Prismatic Spring is the largest hot spring in Yellowstone.
You can get a close-up view of this multi-colored hot spring on a short boardwalk loop, but by far the best view is from the aptly called Grand Prismatic Overlook.
From this elevated overlook, you can look down onto Grand Prismatic Spring, seeing it in its entirety and all its colorful glory.
The Grand Prismatic Overlook is accessible via the Fairy Falls Trail, which makes for a 1.2-mile roundtrip hike. The trailhead is just south of the Midway Geyser Basin parking lot.
1. Artist Point View of the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone
Besides Old Faithful, Artist Point is arguably the most famous view in Yellowstone National Park.
This is where Thomas Moran made his iconic painting of the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, which helped convince the U.S. Congress to establish Yellowstone as the world’s first national park.
Artist Point sits at the end of South Rim Drive, just a brief walk beyond the parking lot. Facing west, you can look straight into the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, with the Lower Falls clearly visible in the distance.
It is a truly sensational view, easily one of the best views in Yellowstone National Park—in my opinion the best.
Map of the Best Views in Yellowstone National Park
Other Amazing Yellowstone National Park Views
In addition to all those amazing Yellowstone National Park views above, there are several others throughout the park. Note that with the exception of Tower Fall and Lake Butte Overlook, they’re all pretty strenuous day hikes.
- Mount Washburn Summit
- Tower Fall
- Specimen Ridge
- Bunsen Peak
- Lake Butte Overlook
More About Yellowstone National Park
- Park Website
- Travel Guide
- Topographic Map
- Top Places to Visit in Yellowstone National Park
- Best Spring Hikes in Yellowstone
- Where to See Wildlife in Yellowstone National Park
- Bear Hibernation in Yellowstone National Park
- Beautiful Roadside Waterfalls in Yellowstone
- Top Things to Do at Old Faithful
- Top Things to Do at Mammoth Hot Springs
- Accommodation