Despite years of recession and budget cuts, Yellowstone National park is posting record attendance numbers. Almost 3.4 million visitors toured Yellowstone in 2011, the fifth straight year of three million-plus attendance. In addition to its stunning beauty, Yellowstone is an outstanding travel bargain at just $25 for a week’s admission.
If you’ve never been to Yellowstone, here’s a quick look what’s so special about the nation’s first national park.
Park history and geographical features
Founded on March 1, 1872 and signed into law by President Ulysses S. Grant, Yellowstone National Park became the first national park in the U.S. and the world. The park offers so many beautiful and unusual features that reports from early explorers were thought to be nothing more than campfire stories and tall tales. From vast herds of bison, to obsidian cliffs and towering geysers, the park offers sights most of us have never even dreamed of seeing.
Land and geography
With a land area covering 33,472 square miles in three U.S. states, Yellowstone is bigger than the states of Rhode Island and Delaware combined. In addition to mountains, rivers, lakes and forests, the park boasts these spectacular features:
one active volcano 290 waterfalls more than 10,000 thermal features such as hot springs, steam vents, mud pots and geysers more than 300 geysers
Wildlife
Home to more than 400 species of animals, Yellowstone National Park teems with wildlife. In some places, it’s like driving through a zoo. While bison and grizzly bears often get top billing, the park is also home to:
322 species of birds, almost half of which nest in the park 7 species of hoofed mammals such as bison, elk, deer and moose 2 species of bear, grizzly and black 16 species of fish 10 species of reptiles and amphibians
Attendance
3.4 million guests visited Yellowstone in 2011, down only slightly from 3.6 million in 2010.
Month of highest attendance: July, more than 900,000 visitors in 2011 Month of lowest attendance: December, 16,509 visitors in 2011
1988 Fires
After budget cuts, climate change and over-crowding, what’s Yellowstone’s biggest worry? Fire. The largest fires in park history devastated over a third of its landscape in 1988. The scars are still visible today. Janet Chapple gives the following statistics in her book, “Yellowstone Treasures.”
Acres affected by 1988 fires: 800,000, or 36 percent of the park Structures lost or damaged: 67, including 22 at Old Faithful Large animal deaths: 257 elk, nine bison, four deer, two moose. Human casualties: None inside the park, but two in nearby areas
Visitor Facilities
If you’re planning a trip to Yellowstone, here’s what you’ll find in terms of attractions and creature comforts.
5 entrance gates 466 miles of road 9 hotels with more than 2,000 rooms 12 National Park Service or concession-operated campgrounds with more than 2,000 campsites. 300 additional campsites are available for back-country hikers. 9 museums and visitor centers 52 picnic areas 92 trailheads with 1,000 miles of hiking trails
Planning a trip? Book now.
If you’re thinking about a trip to Yellowstone, make your reservations now. The park’s hotels and campsites sell out up to a year in advance. Whatever you do, don’t let the attendance numbers scare you off. The park is so vast that most areas don’t feel crowded. Yellowstone is a bucket list adventure you’ll never forget.