Yellowstone Celebrates Its 150th Birthday This March

America and the world’s first national park, Yellowstone National Park turns 150 this March 1^st.  President Ulysses S. Grant signed the Yellowstone National Park Protection Act into law on March 1, 1872. The law protected more than 2 million acres of mountain wilderness, amazing geysers and vibrant landscapes for future generations. Located in three states (Montana, Wyoming and Idaho), Yellowstone National Park was set aside “for the benefit and enjoyment of the people.” 

Yellowstone also remains a sacred, spiritual place for Native Americans. Although Tukudika (a.k.a. Sheep Eaters) are the most well-known group of Native Americans to use the park, many other tribes and bands lived in and traveled through what is now Yellowstone National Park prior to and after European American arrival.

With 2.2 million acres, Yellowstone is bigger than Delaware and Rhode Island put together, yet around 98% of visitors never get more than a half mile away from their car, visiting far less than 1% of the park. This means visitors who want to watch wildlife in solitude have an excellent chance of doing so.

When I was there in the winter snow, I spotted a bull and cow (female) moose feeding in sage flats near bitterbrush. One bull had bloody pedicles from his recently shed antlers. A rough-legged hawk flew overhead and off to the side, several waterfowl were feeding on hatchery ponds, and a golden eagle soared above bighorn sheep. I watched bighorn rams and ewes on Miller Butte, took in coyotes snapping at each other, and saw the tracks of many animals including a snowshoe hare and pine marten. I also watched a red fox who jumped headfirst into the snow, hunting for rodents. It was like watching a nature documentary but I was there, observing it all. Equally impressive was Old Faithful erupting under a full moon.

Yellowstone is a magical place of unspoiled beauty and iconic western scenery, located above the caldera of the largest volcano in America. While there has not been an eruption since 640 000 years ago, it is very much alive with numerous geothermal phenomena, especially the Old Faithful Geyser. Last year there were a record 4.8 million visits mainly to the most congested areas of the park, the Midway Geyser Basin and Old Faithful.

Yellowstone is also known for its diversity in fauna as any kind of hunting has been prohibited for over 150 years, and one of the best (and least crowded) times to visit is in winter. Cold temperatures mix with the hot water and steam and create a magical play of fire and ice. Visitors can join a snow coach tour, a snowmobile tour or drive an over-snow vehicle. In winter, there are two hotels open with 230 rooms as opposed to summer when that total rooms are over 2,300.

In the Old Faithful area is the aptly named Old Faithful Snow Lodge, accessible only by over-snow vehicles.  If you can’t visit this winter, then go in May. On May 6^th, there will be a public ceremony followed by refreshments, an exhibition and marketplace of Native American art, and free tours for the public in historic yellow buses.

But no matter when you go, book early. Rooms sell out very quickly.  Xanterra/YNPL operates nine lodges (hotel and cabin style) and they take reservations for five campgrounds. You can reserve four other campgrounds via Reservation.gov and three others that are first-come, first-served (there are 12 campgrounds total). So go this winter or wait for spring or summer, but 2022 is the ideal time to visit Yellowstone National Park.