Yellowstone National Park (YNP) is located almost entirely in the north/west corner of Wyoming, with small portions spilling into Idaho and Montana. Signed into law by President Ulysses S. Grant in 1872, YNP was the first national park in the United States, indeed the world. At nearly 2.2 million acres, it is one of the largest and most significant preserved areas on the planet, protecting significant wildlife, flora, fauna and unique hydrological and geological features. Among the wildlife most associated with the park are bears, wolves, cougars, bison and elk. While bears, wolves and cougars are elusive and not often in plain sight, the bison and elk are often spotted near or on the roads. Remember, bison don't yield and they can run faster than humans.
The core of the park sits on top of the Yellowstone Caldera, an extinct volcano that caps massive amounts of molten rock that continues to provide the generator for the many geysers and other hydrothermal features that most associate with YNP. The park also encompasses significant cold water features, including Yellowstone lake, one of the largest high elevation lakes in North America. Seven rivers also originate in the park and serve as tributaries for the Columbia, Missouri, and Mississippi Rivers. The Yellowstone River is noteworthy for having carved the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone, one of the most spectacular sites in the park.
Like GTNP, YNP offers amazing and wide-ranging opportunities for photography. While there is no predominant focal point like the Teton Range, the diversity of locations and subjects is immense. Rivers flowing in all directions, unusual hydrothermal features with associated mineral deposits, beautiful valleys often populated by wildlife, and incredible geological features are just some of the many subjects for photography. The Grand Canyon of Yellowstone, for example, presents seemingly infinite shapes, textures and colors, making it a photographer's dream location. Yes, go see Old Faithful, but then get off the road and away from the parking lots, and you will be rewarded by endless inspiration.
