Yellowstone is one of the most visited National Parks in the USA. This was one of the main reasons why I was not excited to visit the park. I did not want to visit a place that is way too crowded and overrated and I was not planning of going there anytime soon. When planning my trip to Montana and Wyoming I decided to make a short stop at Yellowstone National Park, just because it was convenient and on the way. I am super glad that we made the decision since Yellowstone turned out to be a stunning destination. This National park offers so many photo opportunities and it hard to not get overwhelmed. This is exactly why I wrote this blogpost. I am showing you the best photospots at Yellowstone National Park.

Is it crowded? Yes, but for a very good reason! It is simply stunning. Is it overrated? Not at all. Yellowstone is something you need to see once in your life because the scenery is unbelievable. Did you know that Yellowstone is actually an active supervolcano that could erupt at any time?! The last time the Yellowstone supervolcano erupted was 640,000+ years ago. Ever wondered why you don’t see a volcano in the park? Well, the reason why is because the WHOLE park is the volcano. Totally insane! Find more information on the park here.

1. Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone

The Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone River is a must-see attractions in one of America’s oldest National Parks and you will see why once you have witnessed the views from the popular lookout at Artist Point. It is probably also quite famous because this viewpoint does not require hiking of any kind. Just park at the huge parking lot and walk about 5 minutes to the viewpoint. Another famous way to see the waterfall is by doing Uncle Tom’s trail which was closed when we were there.

How much time should I plan to visit?

Since this spot is right by the parking lot, I would plan with 30 minutes max.

2. Grand Prismatic Spring

This was one of my favorite places at Yellowstone. The variety of shades of blue and orange were unbelievable. This is one of the reasons why this place makes it to my list of the best photospots at Yellowstone National Park. Make sure to visit this fantastic natural wonder. It is not only the largest hot spring in the USA but also the third-largest worldwide. Trust me, it does even look more surreal in real life than on pictures and it is hard to believe that something unique like this actually exists. Apparently, the Grand Prismatic Spring is bigger than a football field and deeper than a 10-story building. Since this is one of the main attractions of the park, be prepared that it will be busy. Try to come earlier in the morning or in the afternoon if you want to avoid crowds.

Another great opportunity to see the Grand Prismatic Spring is by hiking up to the Platform from where you will be able to see the whole geyser. We have not done the hike because we did not had much time, but if you have an extra 30 minute it is worth going there.

How much time should I plan to visit?

If you want to take pictures without people, be prepared to plan more time. I think 2 h is pretty realistic. If you just want to walk the loop 30 minutes will be enough time.

3. Excelsior Geyser

Excelsior Geyser, like Grand Prismatic Spring, is located at Yellowstone’s Midway Geyser Basin. The blue color and clear water are lovely to look at. When we were there, the water was steaming, and it was hard to capture the beautiful turquoise color of this clear water. It is also quite challenging to get a nice portrait photo because the boardwalks are very narrow, and there is not much space to back up.

How much time should I plan to visit?

It is part of the Midway Geyser Basin where the Grand Prismatic Spring is located, so with photo opportunities, you should plan with 2h.

4. Morning Glory

The Morning Glory Pool was my personal highlight and I consider it one of the best photospots at the Yellowstone National Park. Since you have to walk to get to the pool, there were fewer people which was a pleasant surprise. While the rest of the places we went to were packed with people, Morning Glory, was quite empty. The easiest and quickest way to reach Morning Glory is by parking at Artemisia Trail Head and hiking 0.9 miles to the famous pool.

How much time should I plan to visit?

The hike takes about 30 minutes and is super easy. I would plan with 1.5 h total.

5. Old Faithful

Old Faithful is probably the reason why most people visit Yellowstone. It is iconic and popular. People will wait for 2 hours just to see how the geyser erupts and spews water 150 meters in the air. Usually, the geyser erupts every 90 minutes. You get a good viewpoint from Geyser Hill which is a 1.3-mile roundtrip.

How much time should I plan to visit?

I think 2-3 h at old Faithful are realistic, just because most likely you need to wait for the eruption.

6. Mammoth Springs

When doing the research for Yellowstone, we were not sure if the Mammoth Springs is worth the visit but decided to give it a try. I am glad we did it because these springs are nothing like anything else in the park and I found them quite unique to look at. You can see the springs by walking a loop on a boardwalk. We were there at noon and it was unbelievably hot and crowded which is why I would recommend going either in the morning or afternoon. My favorite photospots there were Canary Springs and the Lower Terrace area.

How much time should I plan to visit?

My packing list for Yellowstone National Park:

• Lots of sunscreen
• A hat, especially when you are visiting during summer (love the ones from Brixton)
• Camera (Canon 6D MKII but also recommend Fujifilm camera)
• Bear spray
• Bug repellent
• Sandals (Birkenstock are amazing)
• Proper hiking boots (my hiking boots Meindl Ohio)
• Leggings (I have the ones from ALO and love them)