Yellowstone National Park Trip Planner

Revised November 2011 official Business penalty for private Use: $300 United StateS department of the interior national park Service p.o. Box 168 Yellowstone national park Wyoming 82190 PRSRT STD U.S. Postage Paid Yellowstone National Park, WY Permit G-83 Yellowstone Trip Planner 2012 Yellowstone National Park Trip Planner 1 Welcome 2 Highlights, visitor centers and museums 3 Programs and tours, activities 4 Map 5 Services 6 Regulations and permits 7 Camping and Explore Yellowstone safely weather ... by avoiding surprise encounters with wildlife. In areas with low visibility, make good use of your human voice. Talk, sing songs, share stories, or jokes, anything you can sustain comfortably while walking to let animals know you're sharing an area. npS / peaCo 1 Explore Yellowstone safely Stay on boardwalks Welcome You must stay on boardwalks and designated trails around hydrothermal features. Delicate formations and crust surrounding them is thin and breaks easily, and often overlies scalding water. Visitors have died in them. o Toxic gases exist at dangerous levels in some areas. If you feel sick, leave immediately. o Pets are prohibited in hydrothermal areas. o Swimming is prohibited where water flows entirely from a hydrothermal spring or pool. Where allowed, swim at your own risk. The water can harbor agents of fatal meningitis and Legionnaires' disease. n npS / peaCo Most visitors come to see and experience wild animals and hydothermal features. Enjoy and make the most of these opportunities. Keep your children next to you and make sure they understand park hazards, especially hydrothermal areas, wildlife, and steep drop-offs. 25 yards (23 m) 100 yards (91 m) Keep your distance. Federal regulation requires you to stay at least 100 yards (91 m) away from bears and wolves, and at least 25 yards (23 m) away from all other wild animals, such as bison, elk, bighorn sheep, deer, moose, and coyotes. Do not approach wildlife If any wild animal changes its behavior due to your presence, you are too close. Do not approach wildlife, no matter how tame or calm they may appear to you in the moment. Always obey instructions from park staff on scene. Close human contact can be highly stressful to wildlife, forcing them to risk injury and to squander reserves for other life purposes, such as reproduction, nurturing of offspring, and winter survival. npS / SChmidt Big as they are, bison can sprint three times faster than humans can run. No vacation picture is worth personal injury. Your best view may be from inside a hard-sided vehicle. Do not feed, or allow any animal to obtain a food reward from you. It is unhealthy, and it can lead to aggressive behavior and roadside accidents. elk can be unexpectedly aggressive. Keep your distance. Do not run from a bear Visitors are required to keep all food and garbage stored in a bear-proof manner. When viewing bears along roads, use pullouts and stay in your car. When hiking, stay in groups of three or more people. Make noise in areas where you can't see far around you. Be alert for bear sign, such as fresh tracks or scat. Never approach an animal carcass. Carry bear spray and take time to learn how to use it safely and effectively. o If you have a surprise encounter with a bear, do not run. Slowly back away. o If a bear charges, stand your ground and use your bear spray. It has been highly successful at stopping aggressive behavior in bears. o If a bear charges and makes contact with you, fall to the ground onto your stomach and "play dead." Report all bear encounters and wildlife incidents to a park ranger immediately. To learn more, please visit - www.nps.gov/yell/planyourvisit/bearenc.htm 2 Highlights npS / K eLLer History People have been visiting and Lower falls of the Yellowstone river To see them, visit Mammoth Hot Springs, Norris Geyser Basin, Fountain Paint Pot and Firehole Lake Drive, Midway Geyser Basin, the Old Faithful area, West Thumb Geyser Basin, and Mud Volcano. living in the Yellowstone area for thousands of years. The park was established in 1872. Visit Mammoth Hot Springs to walk the self-guiding trail around Fort Yellowstone, which chronicles the U.S. Army's role in protecting the park. Other historic sites include the Norris Geyser Basin Museum, the Museum of the National Park Ranger, Obsidian Cliff, and the Old Faithful Inn and Historic District. Lake Area Yellowstone Lake is North America's largest high-altitude lake. The area is prime habitat for many birds and mammals. You can also enjoy boating, fishing, hiking, and viewing hydrothermal features. Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone Wildlife You can see a variety and This spectacular canyon, including Upper and Lower Falls of the Yellowstone River, can be seen from the overlooks and trails of the Canyon Village area, and from the Tower Fall and Calcite Springs overlooks south of Tower Junction. abundance of wildlife unparalleled in the lower 48 states. All the large mammals present when Yellowstone became a park are here today: grizzly and black bears, wolves, mountain lions, elk, bison, pronghorn, moose, and bighorn sheep. You'll also see a variety of birds, including bald eagles. Check visitor centers for best viewing locations. Geysers and Hot Springs Geysers, hot springs, mudpots, and fumaroles are evidence of ongoing volcanic activity. Visitor Centers and Museums These facilities are open late May to late September Fishing Bridge Visitor Center Information, bookstore, and exhibits on birds, wildlife, and lake geology. Grant Visitor Center Information, bookstore, exhibits, and video...