Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) about Yellowstone National Park
I want to start off by saying I am not a park ranger or affiliated with the park service in any way. However, I have lived and worked in Yellowstone National Park for more than 4 months. I think that qualifies me to answer some of the most frequently asked questions that I hear about every single day while working in the park.
Where do I go to see wildlife?
First off, please understand this is not a zoo or a safari adventure. This is a national park and the animals here are wild. The amount of people who think that they are released every morning for viewing blows my mind, so I wanted to clear up any confusion there may be. Now with that being said, there are two main places you should go to see wildlife: Hayden Valley and Lamar Valley. Most wildlife watchers prefer Lamar Valley because it is more expansive then Hayden and it has more wildlife. However, with Lamar Valley being so vast there are many places for the animals to hide from view. What you are almost guaranteed to see the most of in Lamar Valley is Bison. I have never seen a larger congregation of bison than I did in Lamar Valley. Also, because Lamar valley is off of the main loop of the park, it is not as populated with people as Hayden valley is.
I personally prefer Hayden Valley. I have had greater luck seeing wolves in Hayden Valley than Lamar. I have also been able to see the bison much closer in Hayden valley, as they often lounge right next to the road in Hayden versus them being out in the field in Lamar.
During my time in the park I have seen:
Wolves in Hayden Valley
Bison in Lamar Valley, Hayden Valley, near Madison Junction, in Canyon Village, and scattered randomly throughout the park.
Elk in Mammoth Hot Springs, Hayden Valley, near Yellowstone Lake, in Bridge Bay, in Canyon Village, and scattered randomly throughout the park.
Coyotes near Mammoth Hot Springs and near Norris.
Mountain Goats near Mammoth Hot Springs
Black Bears near Mammoth Hot Springs and in Canyon Village
Grizzly Bear near Hayden Valley
Fox near Norris
What is the best time to see the wildlife?
Mornings, just after dawn, and evenings, just before sunset, are the best times to see the more elusive wildlife in the park, such as wolves and bears. The bison and elk can usually be seen at any time of the day. However, you should know that if you visit in the hot part of the year the animals will probably be hiding in the shade during the afternoons. These animals spend a good portion of their lives in cool to cold weather, and when it gets up in the 80s, they tend to hide from the heat.
When is the best time of year to visit?
The best time of the year to visit really depends on you.
Are you ok with the snow? May or October would give you less crowds to contend with, but a much higher chance of freezing temperatures and snow.
Are you ok with the crowds? July and August offers warmer temperatures, with highs soaring into the high 80s, but these are peak visit times and the park can be frustratingly crowded.
Do you want slightly warmer temperatures but less people? Early June or late September is my recommendation. Days will fluctuate between warm and cold temperatures, with anything from 70s one day to snow the next. You will need to bring lots of layers, but these months have less crowds, decent weather, and a higher chance of seeing animals. Why do I say that? In June, animals are venturing out after a long cold winter. They are beginning to enjoy the warmer weather, before it gets to hot, and can often be seen roaming the park. You may also see some cute little bison babies trotting along behind their mother’s as they learn the lay of the land. In September, you run the risk of experience Bison and Elk rutting season, which adds a bit of danger to your visit, but it also causes a greater presence of animals out to be seen. The elk have massive racks and are calling out for mates and competition. The bison have fully shed last seasons winter coat and are starting to get the new seasons winter coat. They look their best during the month of September in hopes of defeating the competition.
In my opinion, and for the reasons listed above, June or September are the best months to visit the park.
Will I have cell service?
I would plan on not having any cell service while in the park, then if you do have cell service it is a pleasant surprise. I can say that Verizon has the absolute best cell reception in the park. You can expect to have some service, with Verizon, at major hubs throughout the park. By hubs I mean areas such as Mammoth Hot Springs, Canyon Village, Old Faithful, etc. Even though Verizon has the best service, you still will not get it outside of these hubs and speed depends on how many individuals are in the park at that time. At&t has the second-best service in the park, but it is pretty nonexistent. One of our great friends has At&t and she had great luck getting service hiking the Canyon and hiking Bunsen Peak. Other than that, cell service was extremely spotty and not reliable, even in the major hubs. All other cell carriers are not likely to get cell service within the park, if they do not operate off of Verizon towers. If they do operate off of Verizon towers, you may get cell service as long as there are not many actual Verizon customers around, as they will get priority over you.
Where can I get WiFi?
WiFi is not readily available throughout the park. It may be available to guest staying in the lodges with a password and it may be available for purchase at any of the lodges. I think the going rate is $5 per hour, but don’t quote me on that as prices often change. However, from feedback I have received from customers paying for this WiFi, not all of the lodge rooms are close enough to pick up the WiFi within their rooms. If you are paying for it, it can be extremely slow so do not expect to upload anything using this WiFi.
If you HAVE to have WiFi, my recommendation is to bring a hotspot with you, that uses Verizon, and not to visit during July or August. Or, stay outside of the park and just drive into the park to visit during times when WiFi is not critical.
Can I fish in Yellowstone?
Absolutely! Yellowstone is known in the fishing world as a must go to place for fly fishing, and some iconic fishing shots have been taken right here in Yellowstone. The mountains in the background make for amazing scenery during your time fishing. Most individuals who come out here to fish do so along the Yellowstone River or out in Lamar Valley. We personally really liked the Gibbons river, the stretch between Norris and Canyon, and the Nez Perce River. If you are looking to hike in and fish somewhere, I recommend Grebe Lake. It’s a 3 mile hike in and 3 miles out, but you can get a back country camping permit and camp near the lake for an epic fishing trip.
During our time here the prices for fishing permits was
$0 for children 15 years old and younger
$18 for a 3-day permit
$25 for a 1-week permit
$40 for a seasonal permit
Remember, prices fluctuate and may not be the same during your visit.
Each person fishing must have a fishing permit. If they are over the age of 15. If they are 15 or younger, they can have their own permit or fish with an adult that has a permit.
Make sure to read the rules and regulations, plus keep a copy on you during your time fishing. The park service is strict about their rules and expect you to follow them. They will give you a copy of the regulations when you purchase your licenses and you can find them online.
I recommend you keeping your regs close as you CANNOT keep native fish. In the regulations you will find pictures of what fish are native, and how to identify them. The rangers will not take “I did not know it was a native fish” for an excuse.
You do not want to receive a fine for illegally fishing in a national park so please know the regs and follow them.
Also, you need to check your fishing gear. Many types of fishing gear is not allowed within the park, to include barbed hooks, treble hooks, lead weights, and bait. Some areas require you to use flies only to fish and some will allow lures for fishing.
Can we swim in rivers and lakes?
There are a few designated swimming areas, such as the Boiling River north of Mammoth Hot Springs, but in the year of Covid these designated swimming areas are currently closed. You can swim in other lakes and rivers throughout the park, but you should know that at any point in the year these areas can be dangerously cold. The park is at a high elevation and many lakes and rivers get their water from snowmelt that occurs in the warmer months. The cold temperatures of these waters can put you at risk of hypothermia, even in July. When thinking about freezing cold waters, you may be thinking about swimming near a thermal feature to keep you warm, but I do not recommend it. Not only would you more than likely boil your skin off, but it is illegal to soak or swim in any of the thermal features located in the park.
Also, please remember that these waters sustain the amazing wildlife that lives in this park. Be courteous, clean up after yourselves, watch wear you step to avoid destroying fish beds or plant life, and keep an eye out for any animals that may be coming up to the waters edge to drink.
If you plan on fishing in the park, check rules and regulations about the tap of gear you can use for wading. For example, felt soled boots are not allowed. Any watercraft brought into the park must also pass an inspection before it can be put in the water.
What time does the park close?
That is an easy question to answer, it does not. That is right, the park does not close. They are not going to kick you out after dark and they are not going to stop you from entering before dawn. You are free to come and go as you please, well except for payment. IF a ranger is in the gate house you must stop and pay or show proof that you have previously paid for a pass into the park.
Can I buy groceries in the park?
Yes, the general stores located within the park carry some groceries, but they also carry a higher price tag and are limited in quantity. It is great if you forgot something or have a last-minute change, but I would not rely on them for all of your grocery shopping. We recommend visiting a grocery store prior to entering the park.
Where do all of the employees live?
Now that depends on where you are located within the park and what the employee does. For the most part, employees live in houses, dorm rooms, or employee RV parks throughout the park. If you are near a park entrance, such as Mammoth Hot Springs, the employees will live in a designated location near the park entrance, but not necessarily in the park. For me, I worked at Canyon General Store so we lived in the employee RV park near the store. You can not enter the employee RV park as a visitor as it is restricted to park personnel and their guests, and you can not even see it from the road. Just know it is there, and as an employee you may get to live within the national park.
Can I bring my pets?
Absolutely, there is no regulation that prevents pets from entering the park, but you should know that they must stay along the roadways. Pets are not permitted inside of the general stores, on hiking trails, or on boardwalks unless they are service animals. Service animals that are backcountry hiking with you must be declared to the rangers when you apply for your back-country permit. You must also have your service animal clearly marked as being a service animal. Check the requirements prior to you coming to visit the park, last time we checked Emotional Support Animals (ESA) were not included under the service animal guidelines and were not permitted on hiking trails.
Bonus Information!
Do my kids have to be in their carseats?
Ok, now I have to be truthful, I was never asked this question. However, I see so many parents not have their kids in a carseat that I thought I should address it.
Yes, your kids have to follow the exact same laws they do outside of the park. These are still roads and they are still subject to traffic laws. You can be pulled over for speeding or improperly buckling you child in. Park rangers will write you a ticket, search your vehicle, or arrest you depending on the situation and the offense. They do use radar to detect speeding. THESE ARE ROADS.
Please, buckle your children in! Yes, I know you are only going 25 mph or you are stopping to get out frequently, but people out here can’t drive well. They are driving along, and they see a bear, guess what? They slam on their breaks. You rear end them. Where is your child now?
On that same note, please don’t be that guy. If you see something you want to look at or take a picture, put on your blinker, and pull off the road. You may be the cause of injuring someone because you slammed on your breaks. I can not even tell you how many people we have almost rear-ended because of this very thing happening repeatedly throughout the park.
To find out more information about the park, check out this website.
To help you in planning your trip, check out these other blog posts about Yellowstone National Park.
Visiting Yellowstone National Park in 1 day, with our top must see places.
Our top short hike within Yellowstone National Park
Our favorite hike within Yellowstone National Park
The hike with amazing views within Yellowstone National Park
How to find the trail from Canyon General Store to the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone National Park.