Roam Free with M&G

There are several ways to reach Yellowstone National Park, but we chose to fly into Idaho Falls, hire a car, and drive up to West Yellowstone. Since we only had five nights and were flying out of Idaho Falls as well, we opted to stay in one base hotel and do day trips from there. This did mean a few early starts, but it kept things simple. If you’re planning to explore every corner of the park, though, it might be worth considering hotel-hopping to cut down travel time each day.

Since grocery options are limited around Yellowstone, we stopped into a supermarket upon landing to stock up on essentials beforehand. Flying in we made sure to arrive during daylight hours for 2 reasons: first – as we are not Americans, this was our first time driving on the wrong side of the road and didn’t want to be driving at night on unfamiliar roads to be an extra thing to worry about. Second – many animals in the area are more active after dusk, and we wanted to avoid any unexpected wildlife encounters on our first day behind the wheel.

Day 1: Our first day in Yellowstone, we enjoyed a quick breakfast at our hotel, then hopped in the car and made our way through Lamar Valley. On our way there we saw deer, a bald eagle and pronghorns. Once we arrived in Lamar Valley we saw plenty of bison. We were able to pull over a few times and see them up close (but still in the safety of our vehicle). We continued our drive past Soda Butt, and onwards to where we were headed for our morning hike. We arrived to our final destination Trout Lake Trail. Trout Lake Trail is a short, scenic climb to a tranquil lake. Clear waters and mountain views. This 1.9km loop a peaceful slice of heaven

After our amazing walk around trout lake, we made the short drive to visit the petrified tree. This is an ancient redwood, turned to stone by volcanic ash. We continued to follow the road and stopped at Undine Falls and, of course, we had to visit Roosevelt Arch. We then stopped at Mammoth for our packed lunch and we were joined by a family of prairie dogs (which were so cute). After a good feed we made our way to Mammoth Hot Springs, and walked along the boardwalk. The boardwalk is roughly 2.7km long and takes you past steaming terraces and bubbling pools with stunning views of mineral formations shaped by hot water flowing.

After an amazing time taking in all that Mammoth had to offer, we headed off again and our next stop took us to Roaring Mountain.

‘Roaring Mountain is a large, acidic thermal area (solfatara) that contains many steam vents (fumaroles). In the late 1800s and early 1900s, the number, size, and power of the fumaroles was much greater than today.’

As we continued our journey towards Norris Geyser Basin, we were lucky enough to notice a car not too far ahead of us turn on their hazard lights and slow right down. Once we got closer, that’s when we noticed a black bear off the road in the distance! This was our first time to ever see a wild bear so, obviously, we had to pull over. We were bursting with excitement to see our first ever wild bear, and I grabbed my camera so fast to try and capture this amazing creature.

After our excitement with seeing the bear, we finally reached our final destination for the day – Norris Geyser Basin. Norris ranks among Yellowstone’s hottest and most acidic hydrothermal regions, where numerous hot springs and fumaroles exceed the boiling point of 200ºF (93ºC). Norris Geyser Basin features two boardwalk loops, one through Porcelain Basin and the other through Back Basin. Walking both trails adds up to a total distance of 4.7 km. For dinner we opted for a relaxing night in and we ordered pizza from a local takeout.

Day 2: We left our hotel after breakfast and drove to Old Faithful. Upon arriving, we strolled along the boardwalk surrounding Old Faithful. With about 20 minutes to spare, we made our way to the viewing area, found a spot to sit, and waited for the next eruption. It was absolutely worth the wait. After watching Old Faithful do its magic, we continued walking along the boardwalks. We spent hours walking around and learning everything about the area. One of the best ways to experience Yellowstone’s geothermal magic is by walking the boardwalk trails around Old Faithful and the Upper Geyser Basin. This easy loop is about 7.2 km. We then spent some time walking around Old Faithful Inn and the Visitor Centre.

Our next stop of the day was the Grand Prismatic Spring – a beautiful multi-coloured hot spring.The bright rainbow colours of Grand Prismatic come from heat-loving bacteria. These tiny microbes, called thermophiles, live in different temperature zones around the spring. The centre is deep blue because it’s too hot for anything to survive there. After walking the boardwalk around Grand Prismatic Spring, we headed to the overlook trail. Starting at the Fairy Falls Trailhead, the 1.9 km round-trip hike climbs about 32 metres. It’s short and a bit steep, but the sweeping view of the spring from above is absolutely worth it.

After soaking in the stunning view from the Grand Prismatic Overlook, we made our way to Fountain Paint Pots. The short 0.8 km loop took us past more geysers and bubbling mudpots. Watching the thick mud gurgle and pop was surprisingly entertaining, though the rotten egg smell, thanks to the hydrogen sulphide gas, was less than pleasant! On our way back to our hotel we got stuck in a little traffic jam, and later found out that we had just missed out on seeing a grizzly bear, we still pulled over where we could and tried to spot him, but unfortunately the only animal we saw was a deer.

Day 3: Today was going to be a big day as we were making our way south to Grand Teton Nation Park. We left the hotel really early and not 8 miles down the road from the West Park Entrance we spotted the most amazing coyote! We were able to pull over quite close, which is when noticed a deer carcase on the other side of the road which the coyote was attempting to reach. We continued on our drive to our first stop – a walk around West Thumb Geyser Basin. This basin sits right next to Yellowstone Lake and offers a mix of hot springs, colourful pools, and lakeside views. The 1.6 km boardwalk takes you past bubbling geysers, some even rising from under the lake.

We stopped at multiple turnouts and view points including – Moose Falls, Oxbow Bend, Elk Ranch Flats Turnout, Snake River Overlook, Schwabacher Landing, Blacktail Ponds, Willow Flats and many more.

Two stops that included a nice walk around history locations are J.P Cunningham Cabin and Mormon Row. Dating back to 1888, the Cunningham Cabin is one of the last surviving structures of Jackson Hole’s early homesteading days, offering a window into life on the frontier. Not far away, near Antelope Flats, Mormon Row showcases a cluster of historic homesteads established by Mormon settlers in the late 1890s. Framed by the towering Teton Range.

After stopping at so many amazing lookout points, we finally made it to Jackson Hole. We found a carpark, grabbed our packed lunch and enjoy our food in a shady spot at the local churchyard. After a feed we walked around the town, popped into so many cute shops. Obviously, we had to check out the Elk antler arches in the town square, made from collected antlers from the local sanctuary. We spent some time taking in the sights and sounds of the town before we headed off again, making the drive back towards our hotel.

During our drive, we spotted all sorts of wildlife—marmots, squirrels, bull and cow elk, deer, and even a moose (though it was so far off it barely counts). But the highlight of the day? The most adorable little grizzly cub I’ve ever seen. We were probably a bit closer than we should’ve been, but I was beyond thrilled. Safe to say, it might just go down as the best day yet!

Day 4: Our last day in Yellowstone so we made it count. We headed off to Canyon Village, stopping at Gibbon Falls for a quick view. We continued driving and made it to Artist Point. We walked to the lookout for a great vantage point of the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone. We then hiked the Artist Point to Point Sublime Trail. The walk is about 4.2km out and back with great views of the canyon. It’s not a bad idea to have bear spray with you for this walk, just in case. We later found out from a ranger that there had been a bear spotted in the area a few days prior.

Our next stop of the day was Brink of the Lower Falls. The Brink of the Lower Falls Trail is an unforgettable experience. This short yet steep 1.1 km out-and-back hike descends nearly 183 metres to the very edge of the Lower Falls, where the Yellowstone River roars into the canyon below. The climb back up is a workout, but the up-close view of the falls is absolutely worth it.

After catching our breath after the climb back up, we headed to Mud Volcano. The Mud Volcano area feels like stepping onto another planet. The air is thick with the unmistakable smell of rotten eggs—courtesy of hydrogen sulphide gas—and the ground bubbles, steams, and hisses all around you. The 1km boardwalk loop winds through some of Yellowstone’s most acidic and active geothermal features. Along the way, you’ll encounter: Dragon’s Mouth Spring – a steaming cave that growls and gurgles. Mud Volcano – once an explosive cone, now a swirling pit of thick, grey mud. Black Dragon’s Caldron and Sour Lake – dark, bubbling pools.

After our lunch, we made a quick pit stop at Yellowstone Lake to take in the views. We didn’t stay too long and continued our drive back towards West Yellowstone. On our return we noticed a big crowd of people with scopes looking out into the distance, so decided to found out what they were searching for. After chatting with a few people, we found out that there were wolves in the area and there was a white wolf out in the distance (I’m talking like 2km away). Even with the use of someone else’s scope it was difficult to make out the figure, but it was so fun to mingle with other people passionate about wildlife. We also spotted a black wolf walk over a hill near to the white wolf, pause briefly, before returning back over the horizon.

After our last drive back to the hotel, we dropped off our things and walked into town to find a good meal. We came across Bullwinkle’s Italian Steakhouse and decided to give it a try. The place had a cosy feel, the staff were friendly, and the food was great. I had the elk ravioli and Geoff had the bison ribs, both meals were full of flavour and very generous in size. We would definitely recommend eating here to add to your Yellowstone adventure.

Yellowstone National Park is one of those places that stays with you. In just four days, we saw geysers shoot into the sky, walked past bubbling hot springs, and watched bison roam free across valleys. It’s a place full of surprises, beauty, and moments that take your breath away.

New to Yellowstone? Our YouTube video walks you through epic sights, unforgettable moments, and the kind of insider glimpses that make your first visit truly special.

I hope our little adventure helps you plan your own trip and gives you a feel why Yellowstone is so special.

🗺️ Are you planning a trip to Yellowstone? Have questions about routes or must-see locations? Drop them in the comments, I’d love to help you plan your Yellowstone adventure!