Ospreys are protected by Federal law during their nesting season, approximately April through…read moreAugust. We saw two osprey nests in Yellowstone National Park, and one nearby in Montana. They feed, and feed their chicks, on trout, and we saw them near water, in our cases atop a tall tree near a river. The nest was huge, probably weighing hundreds of lbs, typically 200 to 350 lbs, as they are built up year after year by returning birds. We think we could hear the chicks chirping! Rather than advertise the locations of the nests we saw, how about i point you to search for the Montana Fish Wildlife & Parks osprey-cam! Right now (Jul 2026), the start of civil-twilight is around 6am, and the end is around 8:10pm. It's very cool! I just put it on my tv's web browser.

Pros: 1. The…read morelandscape is absolutely stunning. Anywhere you turn there's a picturesque shot waiting to be captured. 2. The park is huge and deserved to be explored through and through. 3. Watching animals in their natural habitats and not in an enclosure is magical. 4. All the Yellowstone rangers are super helpful and ready to help if you're lost and not sure how to get to your destination. Cons: 1. The biggest cons to Yellowstone and the reason why I can only give the park 3 stars instead of 4 are the parking nightmares and lack of bathrooms, especially in the high-profile attractions. There is just no excuse for that when there's plenty of space to build more parking lots and bathrooms. 2. Somewhat related to #1, because the roads only have one lane for each direction, traffic logjams often occur when long lines of cars are formed trying to get into a parking lot that's already full. And since there's only one lane, it's not really possible to go around them if you're just trying to go straight. 3. Food pretty mediocre and extremely overpriced.

We ended our first day in Yellowstone at Inspiration Point, and honestly, it was the perfect way to…read moreclose out an unforgettable day. After hours of exploring the park, nothing could have prepared us for what was waiting at the end of that drive. The view of the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone from Inspiration Point is absolutely stunning -- one of those rare moments where you stop talking and just stare. The canyon drops away dramatically below you, the yellow and orange walls glowing warm in the late afternoon light, and the sheer scale of it all hits you all at once. It's breathtaking in the truest sense of the word. We came with family, including a young child, and even they were in awe. The viewing area is accessible and easy to navigate, which made it even better. No difficult hiking required -- just drive up, walk a short path, and let nature do the rest. Inspiration Point earns its name completely. This isn't just a scenic overlook -- it's a moment you'll carry with you long after you leave Yellowstone. Absolutely worth the drive. Don't miss it.

100% worth hiking past hidden falls. Saw a bunch of wildlife and the boat ride over was great. I…read morewill say that the wait to get back on the boat ride was about an hour. Veterans and active service members get a discount--you must ask.

This trail still exists, except it stops where the steps once existed. So it's a very steep trail,…read morea lot of switchbacks, leading to the top of the falls. Even without the stairs, it's quite a significant climb back to the parking lot so if you're not in good condition, don't attempt!

August 2022 Update: when my fiancé and I went, two rangers informed us that they are officially…read morePERMANENTLY closing this trail. They went down to take out the sign and will not be allowing anyone to go through the stairs. They said it is too expensive to fix and costs millions of dollars with the rescues, especially with the amount of money they are spending to fix the roads from the flooding. Obviously really sad but Uncle Tom's trail is no more :(

The Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone -- Lower Falls Do it in…read morethis order. Trust me. If Yellowstone had a crown jewel, this is it. We hit the Lower Falls from two different angles, and the order we did it made all the difference. Start at Artist Point. From here, you get the full picture -- the entire canyon stretching out in front of you, walls layered in pink, red, orange, and white from thousands of years of iron-stained rock. The waterfall sits in the distance like something out of a painting, and the river winds through the bottom of a canyon that drops 800 to 1,200 feet deep. It gives you the context to appreciate everything else you're about to see. Blue sky, puffy clouds, massive scale -- this view alone is worth the drive. Then hike down to the Brink of the Lower Falls. This is where it gets real. You're standing right at the top of a 308-foot drop, watching the full force of the Yellowstone River launch off the edge. In early May, snowmelt had it absolutely roaring -- thick mist rising up, patches of snow still clinging to the rocks below, and if the sun hits right, a rainbow forms right at the base. See the canyon first. Then feel the power up close. That's the move. Absolutely mandatory stop in Yellowstone -- don't skip either viewpoint.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

The Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone - Lower Falls is one of the most breathtaking sights in all of…read moreYellowstone National Park, and honestly, one of the most impressive waterfalls in the United States. Dropping over 300 feet, it's nearly twice the height of Niagara Falls, and the sheer power and beauty of the water crashing down into the canyon is unforgettable. What makes it even more spectacular is the colorful canyon itself. The walls are streaked with yellows, reds, and oranges--caused by hydrothermal activity altering the rock over thousands of years--which is where Yellowstone gets its name. Pair that rainbow of rock with the thundering white water of the Lower Falls, and you've got a view that feels like it belongs on a postcard. There are multiple overlooks to see the falls, but Artist Point is the most famous and gives you that iconic panoramic view. Uncle Tom's Trail also takes you closer to the action but be ready for a steep climb back up--it's worth it for the experience. The Lower Falls and the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone are absolute must-sees. No trip to Yellowstone is complete without standing here and taking in this awe-inspiring natural wonder. https://linktr.ee/reessroots

We happened upon this overlook up the mountain. It was a nice panoramic view . We didnt do the…read morehike .. just drove and got out to look around on our way out of the park.

Mt. Washburn is one of the most popular hikes in Yellowstone National Park at 10,219 feet. It…read moreoffers panoramic views 20-50 miles in all direction -- really nice views of the Washburn range from up top. You climb about 1,393 feet. There is a Mt. Washburn sign at the top with the elevation and a fire lookout that has a small exhibit inside. Since it is pretty popular, I recommend hiking in the morning before 10am to avoid the crowds and get a parking spot! There are two ways to hike up to Mt.Washburn: 1) Chittenden Road: 5 miles roundtrip, roughly 2.5- 4 hours. The trail starts at the parking lot and is the shortest route up Mt. Washburn. The road provides a wide trail and a gradual steady incline. 2) Dunraven Pass: 6 miles roundtrip, roughly 3-6 hours. I heard this trail is steeper and more wooded and forest-like. Great views as you're ascending Washburn though. I personally hiked Washburn up the Chittenden Road and saw lots of ewes and lambs. It was a pretty easy hike since the incline was gradual. Beautiful views at the top! Make sure you stay on the trail for both paths to avoid destroying fragile alpine vegetation. There is a possibility to see grizzlies especially late summer and fall so remember to carry bear spray and make lots of noise! Stay 100 yards away from bears and wolves and 25 yards away from other animals in the park.

This place is amazing! We booked the Saddle and Paddle, which is horseback riding paired with…read morewhitewater rafting afterwards. My family had the absolute best time during both experiences. If you have the opportunity, ask for Chris to be your guide on the water. He was a blast and very knowledgeable. We are already working on planning another trip as soon as possible.

When my friends and I arrived at Yellowstone National Park, we wanted to experience everything the…read morepark had to offer. While this is experience is not inside the park, it is worth every penny. As we were waiting for the remaining guests who had signed up, we had the opportunity to get to know a few of the guides. Evan, Trent, Jada, and Cheyara ( I probably mispelled) were the guides for our group and all are great! The guides were very good at orienting us on safety protocols along with their great sense of humor. We did the two hour rafting trip and would like to do a longer one if we get the chance!

Beehive Basin never disappoints! One of the most breathtaking places I have ever been! The…read morewildflowers were in all their splendor. Brilliant colors of blues, pinks, reds, yellows, whites and orange were everywhere! A sight to behold for sure! The views of Lone Mountain and the Spanish Peaks, to name a few, were spectacular. Gentle streams and waterfalls surrounded by lovely flowers were soothing to the eyes & ears. There are a few steep inclines on the hike, but worth every breath you take! In some spots on the trail, the fragrance of trees immediately takes your senses to Christmas! If you love outdoors, flowers, streams, rocks and spectacular views, you need to do this hike. You will have one of the most memorable experiences of your life!

Gorgeous!! Trail is well marked. Go early (we went about 9:30) because as it gets later, it's…read morebusy and hard to find parking. Meadows with gorgeous wildflowers, creeks with babbling brooks, forest areas, ponds, rock formations, and mountain views. We went past the trail over some boulder fields and up to the top, about 10,300ft elevation. It was tough but worth it!

I really do like a good hiking trail. The other day I was…read moregetting ready for us to go on the trip we had planned, through one of Idaho's many lava fields, when I came across this interesting hike. some comments on a hike webpage said it as pleasant and easy. We weren't looking for a difficult end of day hike and we had already done one of the best lava fields on the plant at Craters of the of the Moon, so we chose to change our agenda to this river adjacent walk. When we got to the parking area, I could see the the path was, up. it wasn't along the river but walked along it a bit higher and climbed along the mountain side. it was perfect in my eyes, a bit more interesting. as we started our hike I appreciated how our view of the broad lazy river got belter and better. There were man turn offs from the main path to sit or just view the river and the country side. Ass the sun was going down the views got exponentially belter. We went over a river about mile in that was fed from hot springs. We crossed the small bridge and tested the water. Not that warm but still pretty cool. It was a great spot to call it a day and head back. It's an easy + route to go on that really gives you the best of river mountain and views. I would rate it possibly the best near Idaho Falls.

Hidden falls can be accessed either by taking the ferry across Jenny lake or by hiking around Jenny…read moreLake. My group opted for the hike, and it made getting to the waterfall, where it was incredibly cool, extra sweet. The water created a much appreciated swamp cooler effect. It was also super pretty to look at. This part of the hike was definitely the busiest with lots of people taking pictures and eating their lunch by the waterfall. Really gorgeous! Great views on the hike up. Great stop on our trip to the Tetons!!

I would give Hidden Falls 4.5 stars. There are two ways that you can visit Hidden Falls. The first…read moreis my taking the boat over and then it's a very short hike. The other way is hiking to it along Jenny Lake Trail. There are many people who take the boat over and do Hidden Falls and Inspiration Point and then leave. For this reason the first mile of trails after getting off the boat are heavily trafficked with tons of people and families. For this reason, if you do come visit Hidden Falls, I would recommend doing it early in the morning. We did the Cascade Canyon Trail around 8:30am and visited this on the way down around 11:30am and it was packed with people and kids running around so go early to avoid the crowds. The waterfall is beautiful! It's not hidden as the name would suggest since it's highly trafficked. We didn't stay long (only about a minute) because all the people and kids running around took away from the feeling of being surrounded by nature and at peace, although we are glad we went.