Park Facts

Yellowstone Park facts help you understand a great deal about Yellowstone National Park and assist you in having more fun as you tour the nation's first national park.

  • Yellowstone National Park has the largest concentration of free-roaming wildlife in the lower 48 states
  • There are about 10,000 geothermal features within the park’s boundaries
  • 2007 was a record year for visitors with 3,151,342 arriving in the park
  • You can cross three different states when traveling through Yellowstone

Quick Facts

  • World’s First National Park 
  • 3,472 square miles (2,219,789 acres)
  • 63 miles north to south and 54 miles east to west (as the bird flies)
  • 96 % is in Wyoming; 3 % in Montana; 1 % in Idaho
  • Eagle Peak is the park’s highest point of elevation at 11,358 ft
  • Reese Creek is the park’s lowest point of elevation at 5,282 ft

Temperature

Temperatures range from 9°F (-13°C) in January, to 80°F (27°C) in July. Weather can change in an instant so be prepared. We recommend dressing in layers, even in the summer.

  • Record High: 99°F in Mammoth in 2002
  • Record Low: -66° F at the West Entrance in 1933

Wildlife

Yellowstone has the largest concentration of free-roaming wildlife in the lower 48 states and the global temperate zone. Wildlife viewing is best in the early morning or early to late evening. Yellowstone is home to the following species:

  • 2 species of bears
  • Roughly 67 species of other mammals
  • 322 species of birds
  • 16 species of fish
  • 1 threatened species: Canada lynx
  • 1 endangered species: gray wolf

Geology

The most famous features of Yellowstone are the geothermal features in Yellowstone, of which there are about 10,000 within the park’s boundaries. These include over 300 geysers, one of the world’s largest calderas, an active volcano, and 1,000 to 3,000 earthquakes every year. Other geological features within Yellowstone include:

  • The Lower Falls along the Yosemite River, standing at 308 feet tall
  • Around 290 additional year-round waterfalls that are over 15 feet tall
  • One of the largest petrified forests in the world

Roads, Trails & Facilities

Yellowstone National Park has five park entrances, 466 miles of roads, 950 miles of backcountry trails, 92 trailheads and 301 backcountry campsites. It also has 9 visitor centers and/or museums, 9 hotels, 7 park service campgrounds and 5 private campgrounds.

Visitation Records

  • Visitation is typically highest in the summer months (from June through August)
  • Record year: 2007 with 3,151,342 visitors

Contact Information

  • Phone (Information): 307-344-7381
  • Phone (Camping & Lodging Reservations): 1-866-GEYSERLAND
  • Fax: 307-344-2014
  • Mail: P.O. Box 168
    Yellowstone National Park, WY
    82190-0168

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