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Hiking Guide
Yellowstone Hiking Trails
Yellowstone hiking trails are among some of the most scenic trails you will find anywhere. Yellowstone covers nearly 3,500 square miles and is the oldest national park in the United States, having been established way back in 1872.
Every year some three million visitors head for Yellowstone, including many people enjoying some wonderful Yellowstone day hikes. For many visitors the attraction is the wildlife from the grizzly bears to the herds of buffalo, while for others it is the more than 300 geysers or the great trout fishing and magnificent scenery.
Of course no hiking trip to Yellowstone is complete without a visit to the most famous geyser of them all - Old Faithful. Erupting several times a day and sending up a two story plume of water it is truly a magnificent sight and indeed was pictured on a set of postage stamps issued in 1934.
The park also features the famed Mammoth hot springs, the terraces of which are a natural wonder in themselves and attract a large number of visitors. But there is so much more including the Firehole Lake drive and Biscuit Basin to mention just two. You can also stop off in Madison Junction at the Madison Museum and learn everything you could wish to know about the park area.
During the summer you can enjoy the hiking trails of Yellowstone and, if you would like a change, you can also enjoy some fabulous horseback riding. Riding through the park is a great way to enjoy the scenery from the Absarokas to the east and the Wind River Range to the south.
And in winter you can ski your way around the geysers or take the snow coach up to the Old Faithful Snow Lodge where the geyser continues to blow all year round.
Take a good look at your Yellowstone trail maps and you will find all sorts of great hikes up to some wonderful viewpoints such as Lookout Point and Inspiration Point which will give you an astounding view of the river below. You will also be able to watch magnificent ospreys on the wing and spot the white caps as the Yellowstone River drops over 300 feet into the canyon below.
The park is simply enormous and its more than two million acres lies largely in Wyoming, but also extend into Montana and Idaho. In fact the park is larger than Delaware and Rhode Island combined. So, if you are new to the area and considering Yellowstone backpacking then if might be a good idea to begin by taking one of the many excellent Yellowstone national park hiking tours.
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