Yellowstone National Park and its volcanic landscape

Yellowstone National Park is a landscape shaped by volcanic heat, with geysers, hot springs, mudpots and steam vents spread across the Rocky Mountains. Established on 1 March 1872, it also includes Yellowstone Lake, deep river canyons, waterfalls and habitats for bison, wolves, grizzly bears and wapitis.

Yellowstone’s geothermal landscape

The park sits above an active volcanic system. Its broad caldera measures about 72 by 48 km, while underground heat supports more than 10,000 hydrothermal features. These include hot springs, mudpots, fumaroles and geysers, each expressing the relationship between water, rock and heat beneath the surface.

Old Faithful is the best-known geyser in Yellowstone, but it forms part of a much larger geothermal landscape. The park contains more than 500 active geysers, alongside terraces and steaming ground. At Mammoth Hot Springs, mineral-rich water has built pale terraces from deposits of calcium carbonate.

The colours around Yellowstone’s thermal areas come from minerals and heat-loving microorganisms. Blue pools, orange rims, yellow deposits and white mineral crusts appear in close spatial relationship, producing a landscape that changes from spring to spring. The park’s geothermal figures give scale to a system that is visible across many parts of Yellowstone.

From volcanic caldera to national park

Yellowstone became a national park through an Act of Congress signed by President Ulysses S. Grant on 1 March 1872. The designation created a protected landscape centred on geothermal features, lakes, rivers, forests and wildlife.

The park extends across north-western Wyoming, with smaller portions in Montana and Idaho. It covers about 898,318 hectares and includes the Yellowstone Caldera, a volcanic depression formed by past eruptions and collapse. The caldera belongs to a much older geological story, with volcanic activity recorded across the region through successive periods.

Yellowstone entered the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1978. Its designation recognises geological processes, hydrothermal activity, wildlife and ecosystems within a large protected area. The World Heritage designation places Yellowstone within an international framework for natural sites.

The park’s history also includes long-standing Indigenous connections. Native American peoples have used and travelled through the Yellowstone region for thousands of years. Trails, place names, archaeological evidence and continuing cultural relationships form part of the wider human history of the landscape.

Water, wildlife and the Yellowstone River

Yellowstone Lake occupies a high basin within the park and connects the volcanic terrain with a broad freshwater landscape. Rivers cross forests and meadows before reaching the Yellowstone River, which cuts through the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone.

The canyon has walls of yellow, pink and red volcanic rock. Its colour contrasts with the river and waterfalls below. Lower Falls drops about 94 m, making it the highest waterfall in the park near a road. The canyon’s viewpoints reveal the relationship between layered rock, moving water and the surrounding plateau.

Yellowstone’s wildlife includes American bison, elk, grizzly bears, grey wolves and pronghorn. These animals occupy different habitats across forests, valleys, wetlands and open grasslands. The protected landscape also supports birds, fish and smaller mammals linked to the park’s rivers and lakes.

Yellowstone’s natural elements are closely connected in space. Hydrothermal basins sit within volcanic terrain, rivers cross old lava deposits, and wildlife moves through habitats shaped by water and elevation. The geological setting of Yellowstone explains the scale and variety of its landforms without reducing the park to a single viewpoint or feature.

Visiting Yellowstone National Park: what travellers from Western Europe should know

• Yellowstone National Park lies chiefly in north-western Wyoming, with sections in Montana and Idaho. Road approaches connect the park with communities including West Yellowstone, Gardiner, Cooke City and Jackson.
• Many geothermal areas are reached by boardwalks across hot ground, deep pools and fragile mineral formations. The terrain includes high plateaux, forest roads, river valleys and steep canyon edges.
• The park’s elevation affects its landscape and weather. Yellowstone Lake lies at high altitude, while snow and ice can remain part of the mountain environment beyond the warmest months.
• The official language is English and the currency is the US dollar.
• Entry requirements depend on your nationality; UK travellers can check the FCDO travel advice at gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice, Irish travellers the Department of Foreign Affairs at ireland.ie.

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Frequently asked questions about Yellowstone National Park

Where is Yellowstone National Park?

Yellowstone National Park lies mainly in Wyoming, with smaller areas extending into Montana and Idaho. It occupies part of the Rocky Mountains in the north-western United States.

What can visitors expect to see?

Visitors encounter geysers, hot springs, mudpots, waterfalls, lakes, forests, canyons and wildlife. Boardwalks cross several geothermal areas, while roads connect the park’s major landscapes.

What makes Yellowstone distinctive?

Yellowstone combines an active volcanic system with more than 10,000 hydrothermal features and extensive wildlife habitat. Its establishment on 1 March 1872 also gives it a defining place in the history of national parks.