Yellowstone National Park is a photographers dream with the breathtaking landscapes, rivers, geysers, hot springs, and opportune moments to view wildlife in their natural element. When Lodging at Yellowstone, we want to ensure your safety and give you a few pointers along the way! Even if you’re new to photography, taking pictures will be a top priority on your list of things to do in Yellowstone!
Rise and Shine
Working with the elements can be very compelling when in Yellowstone lodging as the key to a great photograph is mastering patience. Some mornings there will be fog, which can be quite majestic when you notice a layering effect that looks mesmerizing in a picture. Venture to Mammoth Hot Springs to see a stunning sunrise over the mountains mixed with the steam rising off the fascinating hot springs. The best part about a sunrise photograph is that every single minute of the morning is different!
Capturing the Wildlife
Capturing photographs of the wildlife will be among your favorite things to do in Yellowstone, however; before setting out we recommend studying their behavior first! Take note of the background while you’re shooting these divine creatures so that the animals will pop in a photograph without blending in. Talk with the local rangers about where to spot grazing elk, grizzly’s, bison and other wildlife. Here are a few of the best areas to spot particular animals near your Yellowstone National Park lodging:
- Black Bears & Wolves— Lamar and Hayden Valleys
- Grizzly Bears & Bison— Lamar, Pelican, and Hayden Valleys
- Elk— Mammoth Hot Springs, Norris or Madison Junction, and Lamar Valley
- Moose— Willow Park, Yellowstone Lake, and Hayden Valley
The Lay of the Land
It’s important to pinpoint where you’d like to photograph before visiting Yellowstone as phone reception can be questionable in certain areas. Yellowstone offers a variety of powerful waterfalls, massive mountain ranges reflecting on the pools of water below, erupting geysers as well as beautiful flora and fauna. While there’s an abundance of areas to photograph, here are the ones we favor for their outstanding scenery:
- Waterfalls- Gibbon, Firehole, Artist Point (view Upper and Lower Falls)
- Mountain Range/Lake Areas- Snake River Overlook, Sepulcher Mountain, Jackson Lake, Grand Canyon of Yellowstone, Jenny Lake, Inspiration Point, and Mount Washburn
Gowaterfalling has created a map that has a list of all the waterfalls located in Yellowstone.
Hot Springs and Geysers
Yellowstone National Park is made up of over 10,000 alluring geothermal features that bring photographers from all over the world. Capture the vibrant rainbow hues in the Grand Prismatic Springs or seize the perfect photograph of the gleaming sunlight through the steam rising off the Great Fountain Geyser on Firehole Lake Drive at sunset. No matter the scenery, taking pictures of hot springs and geysers will be your one of your favorite things to do in Yellowstone National Park!
Yellowstone has compiled a list of eight popular geyser basins and can be viewed at yellowstonepark.com
Private Yellowstone Accommodations
Remember, it’s not worth risking your life to get an up-close picture of wild animals during your Yellowstone tours. An abundance of unpredictable wildlife roams around Yellowstone, and it’s essential to bring bear spray and keep a safe distance. There are many roadside pullouts so be sure to utilize those instead of pulling off to the side of the road. After a long day out, when you’re Lodging at Yellowstone we provide spacious Yellowstone accommodations that are perfect for the entire family. Browse through the Kelly Inn West Yellowstone, Yellowstone Westgate, ClubHouse Inn, or The Cody Hotel online to see what best suits your family, or give us a call at 1-800-259-4672 to book your stay.