Yellowstone Park Facts
Madison Waterfall
© National Park Service
Yellowstone is the Nation's first national park, and was established as the world's first National Park on March 1, 1872. One of the largest national parks,
Yellowstone is larger than Rhode Island and Delaware combined. Yellowstone is so large that it resides in three different states. While traveling through Yellowstone you are sure to cross the Continental Divide a few times.
Geyser
© Vertical Media
- World's First National Park
- A designated World Heritage Site
- 3,472 square miles or 8,987 square km
- 2,221,773 acres or 899,139 hectares
- 63 air miles north to south (102 km)
- 54 air miles east to west (87 km)
- 91.0% in Wyoming
- 7.6% in Montana
- 1.4% in Idaho
- Highest Point: 11,358 ft. (Eagle Peak)
- Lowest Point: 5,282 ft. (Reese Creek)
- Larger than the states of Rhode Island and Delaware combined
- Approximately 5% of park is covered by water; 15% is meadow and range; and 80% is forested
- Precipitation ranges from 10 inches (26 cm) at the north boundary to 80 inches (205cm) in the southwest corner
- Temperatures (average) range from 9° F in January to 80° F in July at Mammoth Hot Springs
- Record High Temp: 98° F (Lamar 1936)
- Record Low Temp: -66° F (Madison 1933)
Temperatures range from 10F (-12C) mean in January, to 55F (13C) mean in July. Weather can change in an instant so be prepared. We recommend dressing in layers, even in the summer.
Wildlife
Yellowstone has the largest concentration of free-roaming wildlife in the lower 48 states and the global temperate zone. Yellowstone is home to fifty species of mammals, 290 species of birds, 18 species of fish, and 5 protected threatened or endangered species. Wildlife viewing is best in the early morning or early to late evening.
Flora
Yellowstone has 8 species of conifers. Around 80% of the forest is comprised of lodgepole pine. There are approximately 1,100 species of native vascular plants, 170 species of exotic (non-native) plants, and 186 species of lichens.
Geology
The most famous features of Yellowstone are the geothermal features in Yellowstone. There are approximately 10,000 thermal features within the park.
Approximately 200-250 active geysers
Tallest waterfall: 308 feet (94 m) - Lower Falls of the Yellowstone River
One of the world's largest calderas (volcanic explosion crater).
Roads and Trails :
- 5 Park entrances
- 370 miles of paved roads
- Approximately 1,200 miles of trails
- 97 trailheads
- Approximately 300 backcountry campsites
- 9 visitor centers / museums / information stations
- 9 hotels / lodges (2,184 hotel rooms / cabins)
- 7 NPS operated campgrounds (458 sites)
- 5 concession operated campgrounds (1,744 sites)
- Over 2,000 buildings (NPS and concession)
- 49 picnic areas
- 1,000+ documented archeological sites
- 1,106 historic structures
- 6 National Historic Landmarks (Obsidian Cliff and 5 buildings)
- Nearly 200,000 museum objects
- 20,000 titles in Park Research Library
- 2,500 linear feet of historic documents
- About 90,000 photographic prints and negatives
- 21 Affiliated American Indian tribes
During the summer:
- Approximately 800 National Park Service (about 350 year-round)
- Approximately 3,400 concessions
- Visitation is highest in June, July, and August.
- Total Recreation Visits for FY 2004- Not Yet Reported
- Total Recreation Visits for FY 2003- 2,995,640
- Total Recreation Visits for FY 2002- 2,969,876
- Total Recreation Visits for FY 2001- 2,769,775
Currently Outside
