After more than a decade of visits to Yellowstone National Park, you’d think we’d have seen and done it all. But Yellowstone always has more to offer.

This Yellowstone Bucket List isn’t just a roundup of the best things to do in the park. It’s a collection of dreamy, wild, and unpredictable experiences you can’t find anywhere else. These are the uniquely Yellowstone moments that keep us coming back, trip after trip.

If you, like us, can’t get enough of Yellowstone National Park, here’s what makes up our Yellowstone Bucket List and why we’ll keep returning until we check off every last adventure.

Table of Contents

1. Watch Old Faithful Erupt On the First Day of the Season

Seeing Old Faithful is a must for every visitor, but seeing it erupt on Opening Day takes this classic Yellowstone experience to another level.

Yellowstone’s roads typically begin reopening to vehicles in mid-April, and being there to witness Old Faithful’s first self-driving-accessible eruption of the year feels like welcoming the park back to life. After months of deep snow and solitude, the geyser resumes its role as the most famous natural timekeeper on Earth, shooting columns of steam into the crisp spring air.

Watching Old Faithful erupt after dark is another item on our Yellowstone bucket list and another completely different experience. Gone are the daytime crowds and bustling boardwalks. It’s just you, the geyser, and the night sky. Under the stars, the steam glows in the moonlight, and the eruption is almost mystical. The quiet of the evening makes the experience more intimate, allowing you to fully appreciate Yellowstone's sounds.

✅ Hear Old Faithful erupt after dark (July 2023)

✅ See Old Faithful erupt on Opening Day (April 2025)

💡 RTL Tip: Book a room at the Old Faithful Inn, Old Faithful Lodge Cabins, or Old Faithful Snow Lodge and Cabins to experience an Old Faithful Geyser eruption at night.

2. See Steamboat Geyser Erupt

Steamboat Geyser, located in Yellowstone’s Norris Geyser Basin, is the tallest active geyser in the world, capable of shooting water more than 300 feet into the air. That’s higher than Old Faithful and even the Statue of Liberty!

But unlike Old Faithful, which erupts on a predictable schedule, Steamboat is wildly unpredictable, sometimes going years or even decades between eruptions.

Steamboat’s erratic eruption schedule makes it one of the most elusive natural events in Yellowstone. It once went over 50 years without an eruption!

When it does erupt, Steamboat puts on a show like no other…

A massive initial explosion sends scalding water 300-400 feet into the sky
The eruption can last from a few minutes to over an hour, making it one of the longest geyser eruptions in the world
After the water phase, Steamboat enters a steam phase, releasing huge plumes of steam for hours or even days

Even though Steamboat is unpredictable, its activity has increased in recent years, with eruptions occurring multiple times per year since 2018. To increase your chances of witnessing this once-in-a-lifetime event, check the park’s latest reports, talk to geyser watchers, and plan for a long wait in person.

Seeing Steamboat Geyser erupt is like winning the Yellowstone lottery, and if you’re lucky enough to be there when it erupts, you’ll be part of a rare group of visitors who have witnessed one of the most incredible natural spectacles on Earth.

3. Hike Fairy Falls to Grand Prismatic Overlook on a Hot, Calm Summer Afternoon

We’ve hiked the Fairy Falls Trail to the Grand Prismatic Overlook numerous times. It’s an incredible birds-eye view of the colorful Grand Prismatic Spring, another one of Yellowstone’s most iconic attractions. But next on our list is to see the Grand Prismatic Spring at its absolute best!

The key to witnessing the Grand Prismatic Spring in its fullest, most colorful glory is timing.

Wind is the enemy of this experience. On breezy days, steam rises thick and swirls over the spring, muting the colors and making it harder to appreciate the full spectrum. But when the air is still, the steam lifts just enough to reveal the iconic, rainbow-like rings of microbial mats in their boldest hues.

A warm, calm summer afternoon provides the perfect conditions (bright light, no fog, and minimal steam interference) to take in the intensity of Grand Prismatic’s colors.

This is one of those Yellowstone moments where nature aligns perfectly, and the challenge is being in the right place at the right time.

4. Spot Wolves in the Wild

Spotting wolves in the wild has been at the top of Jonathan’s Yellowstone bucket list since our very first visit in 2015. Seeing these elusive predators in their natural habitat feels like witnessing a piece of Yellowstone history.

To date, we’ve been lucky enough to see them a handful of times. Every time is unforgettable!

Our first sighting was in winter, when wolves are generally at their most visible. Scanning the snow-covered mountainside with binoculars, we spotted a pack of four or five wolves, including a striking black wolf moving through trees in the distance. The contrast of their shapes against the snow made it easier to follow them for a while before they disappeared in the treeline.

In the summer, we had another incredible sighting: a wolf pack with 9 pups! We watched from Hayden Valley, set up with scopes, as the young wolves played, tumbled, and interacted with the adult wolves. We stood there for nearly an hour, watching as they wandered in and out of view.

Even though we’ve now seen wolves in Yellowstone multiple times, the thrill of another sighting keeps us coming back. There's always the hope of spotting them closer, seeing them cross the road in front of you (this is next on our Yellowstone bucket list!), or watching them on a hunt. Spotting wolves in the wild remains one of the ultimate Yellowstone experiences, and we’ll never stop trying to see them again.

✅ Spot Wolves in the Wild (February 2023 & July 2024)

5. Spot a Grizzly Bear

Seeing a grizzly bear is never guaranteed on a first visit, but Yellowstone is one of the best places in the world to spot one.

Unlike black bears, which are more commonly seen near roads and in forested areas, grizzlies tend to roam vast open spaces, making them more elusive. Spotting one requires luck, timing, and patience, but that only makes the experience more rewarding!

We’ve been fortunate enough to see grizzlies in Lamar Valley, near Yellowstone Lake and Fishing Bridge, and even in roadside meadows near Old Faithful.

Each sighting was different. Some were far in the distance, while others were close enough to watch their behavior in detail. Whether digging for roots, scavenging, or just moving across the landscape, grizzlies command attention in a way no other Yellowstone animal does.

Even though we’ve seen them before, grizzly sightings never get old, and each trip brings the possibility of another unforgettable moment. Whether it’s a solitary bear foraging at dusk or a mother with cubs in spring, seeing a grizzly in the wild is an experience that belongs on every Yellowstone bucket list.

✅ See a Grizzly Bear (July 2015, May 2023, & July 2024)

💡 RTL Tip: Head to Lamar Valley, look in roadside meadows on your way to Old Faithful, or drive from Fishing Bridge to the East Entrance to look for grizzlies in Yellowstone. If you see a group of folks with scopes on the side of the road, safely park and ask what they see!

6. Hear a Bull Elk Bugling On the Mammoth Hot Springs Terraces

Few things capture the essence of Yellowstone like the haunting sound of a bull elk bugling. Hearing it echo through a valley is incredible, but witnessing it on the terraces of Mammoth Hot Springs is next-level Yellowstone magic!

The contrast of a massive bull elk standing against the otherworldly white and orange travertine, antlers high, calling out in the crisp autumn air… it’s an image straight out of a Yellowstone postcard.

Fall is the best time of year to try to witness this. The elk rut takes place from mid-September through early October, and Mammoth is one of the most reliable places to hear and see this spectacle up close.

Thanks to my Mother-in-Law, we were lucky to check this off our Yellowstone Bucket List in September 2023. While visiting us at the Cozy Yellowstone Compound, she stumbled upon a picture of an elk on the Mammoth Hot Springs Terraces and mentioned how amazing it would be to witness this in person. We assumed this was wishful thinking, but the very next day, we found ourselves in Mammoth during the peak of the rut, watching a massive bull elk bugling on the terraces, surrounded by his harem.

It was Yellowstone magic and a perfect reminder that sometimes bucket-list moments occur when you least expect them.

✅ Bull Elk Bugling On the Mammoth Hot Springs Terraces (September 2023)

7. Watch Pronghorn Run at Full Speed During the Rut

Pronghorn are already one of the most beautiful animals in Yellowstone, but seeing one run at full speed during the rut would be next-level incredible.

As the fastest land animal in North America, capable of reaching speeds up to 60 mph, nothing else in Yellowstone moves as they do.

The pronghorn rut occurs in September, when males aggressively chase rivals and corral females into harems. During this time, fights break out, chases ensue, and Yellowstone’s normally calm pronghorn suddenly turn into some of the most intense animals in the park.

Seeing a pronghorn streak across a valley in an all-out sprint, hooves barely touching the ground, dust kicking up behind them, would be one of those blink-and-you-miss-it moments you’d never forget.

💡 RTL Tip: One of the best places to see pronghorn in Yellowstone is the drive between the North Entrance (Gardiner, MT) and Mammoth Hot Springs. Keep your eyes peeled near the roads and along the hillsides as you drive.

8. Hike Mount Washburn at Sunrise for 360-Degree Views

Hiking Mount Washburn is already one of Yellowstone’s most rewarding trails. At 10,000 feet, the summit offers breathtaking, panoramic views of the entire park.

Arriving just as the first light of day spills over the horizon would make the view even more unforgettable.

The early start means hiking in the dark, guided only by headlamps and the sounds of the park waking up. There’s a chance you’ll spot bighorn sheep along the trail, and the thrill of knowing you might see other wildlife before they retreat for the day. As you reach the summit, the sky shifts from deep purple to fiery orange, revealing a picture-perfect Yellowstone postcard.

9. Hike Seven Mile Hole to the Bottom of the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone

Seven Mile Hole isn’t just any hike. It’s the only maintained trail that takes you all the way to the bottom of the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone. That alone makes it a true bucket list hike.

While most visitors admire the canyon from overlooks like Artist Point, this trail offers a rare chance to descend into the depths of this geological wonder and experience it from the canyon floor.

The hike starts off deceptively easy, following the Rim Trail through forests and meadows, with stunning views of the canyon below. But after a few miles, the real challenge begins with a steep, nearly 1,400-foot descent into the canyon, with switchbacks that test your endurance and legs. The farther you go, the more you realize how few people take this route, making it feel like an exclusive, off-the-beaten-path Yellowstone experience.

At the bottom, the reward is unparalleled. Thermal features bubble near the Yellowstone River, canyon walls tower above, and you get a perspective of the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone that few ever get to see. But what goes down must come up, and the climb back out is a serious workout, making this hike as much about determination as it is about adventure.

10. Drive Yellowstone’s Northern Range in Winter

Yellowstone in winter is an entirely different park.

While much of the park is closed to vehicles during the snowy months, the Northern Range remains open, offering one of the most incredible winter experiences in North America. Driving this route is like stepping into a real-life nature documentary, where steaming rivers cut through frozen landscapes, bison plow through deep snow, and wolves patrol the valleys in search of prey.

The drive from Gardiner to Cooke City winds through Mammoth Hot Springs, Tower Junction, and Lamar Valley, all of which are among the park's best wildlife-watching areas.

Our recommendation, after crossing this off our Yellowstone bucket list in February of 2023, is to drive from Yellowstone’s North Entrance (Gardiner, MT) to Northeast Entrance (Cooke City, MT), and consider a stop to snowshoe or cross-country skiing along the way.

✅ Drive Yellowstone’s Northern Range in Winter (February 2023)

11. Snowmobile Through Yellowstone’s Interior

One of the most thrilling ways to experience Yellowstone is by snowmobiling through the park’s interior.

With interior roads closed to regular vehicles during the winter months, snowmobiles become one of the only ways to access Old Faithful, the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, and other iconic park attractions. Plus, the ride itself is just as unforgettable as the destinations.

Snowmobiling through Yellowstone means racing past towering walls of snow, following bison as they use the roads as their personal highways, and stopping to witness geysers erupt into the icy air.

✅ Snowmobile Through Yellowstone’s Interior (February 2023)

12. Celebrate Yellowstone Christmas in August

Of all the unique traditions in Yellowstone, Christmas in August might be the most unexpected, and that’s exactly why it’s on our bucket list.

Every year, on the evening of August 24th and into August 25th, a little piece of holiday magic takes over Yellowstone, with some lodges and visitors celebrating Christmas in the middle of summer.

This quirky tradition supposedly traces back to the early 20th century, when a surprise August snowstorm stranded a group of visitors at Old Faithful Inn. Deciding to make the most of their unexpected situation, they celebrated Christmas right then and there, and somehow, the idea stuck. We’re not sure if this actually happened, but over the decades, Christmas in August became an unofficial Yellowstone tradition embraced by rangers, employees, and longtime visitors.

13. Get Caught in a Bison Jam During the Bison Rut

Bison jams are an iconic Yellowstone experience, but getting stuck in the middle of a full-blown rutting season standoff? It’s a Yellowstone rite of passage.

In late July and August, Yellowstone’s bison become louder, bolder, and more aggressive as massive bulls compete for dominance. What might usually be a slow-moving traffic delay turns into a front-row seat to one of the most intense wildlife spectacles in the park.

The air is thick with dust as bulls bellow deep, guttural roars, warning off rivals and trying to impress nearby cows. You can feel the tension as they stomp, snort, and swing their massive heads, sometimes breaking into full-on battles as two-ton giants crash into each other just yards from your car.

Meanwhile, younger bison weave through the chaos, cows keep an eye on their calves, and the whole herd moves wherever it pleases, completely unconcerned with the long line of stopped vehicles. There’s nothing to do but sit back and take in the sheer power of these animals, and the way Yellowstone reminds you that you’re in their world, not the other way around.

✅ Get Caught in a Bison Jam at Rut (July 2015)

14. See Bear Cubs Climbing a Tree

There’s not much more fun and childlike in Yellowstone than watching bear cubs clumsily scramble up a tree, their little paws gripping the bark as they follow their mother’s lead.

Unlike grizzlies, black bears are excellent climbers, and seeing them high in the treetops is one of Yellowstone's most endearing wildlife moments!

Spring (late May through mid-June) is the best time for this, as mama bears emerge from dens with cubs and begin teaching essential survival skills, including how to climb to safety when danger is near. The Tower Junction area is one of the best places in the park to witness this, with its mix of meadows and wooded hillsides creating the perfect black bear habitat.

We were lucky to cross this off our Yellowstone bucket list when we spotted a mama bear and her two cubs in the trees near Calcite Springs.

✅ Watch Bear Cubs Climb A Tree (May 2023)

15. Go River Rafting on the Yellowstone River

Yellowstone is famous for its mountains, geysers, and wildlife, but rafting the Yellowstone River offers a completely different way to experience the park.

Unlike the scenic overlooks that require stopping and starting, rafting puts you in the middle of the action! Depending on the stretch of the river, you’ll cruise through calm, scenic waters or hit fun, bouncy rapids that get your heart racing. Either way, it’s a fun way to take in Yellowstone’s landscape from a totally new perspective.

Whether it’s a peaceful float or a thrilling whitewater run, rafting the Yellowstone River is the perfect mix of adventure and scenery. For us, it’s a must-do bucket list experience.

✅ River Rafting on the Yellowstone River (July 2024)

16. Spot an Owl

Owls are some of the most elusive animals in Yellowstone, often heard but rarely seen.

For birdwatchers and wildlife enthusiasts, there’s something special about catching a glimpse of an owl perched in a pine tree or silently flying through the forest.

I’ve been wanting to see an owl in Yellowstone for years. This past January, while driving along the Northern Range, we saw a group of photographers watching something in a nearby pine tree and stopped to ask what they saw. Turns out, they were watching a Pygmy Owl!

Northern Pygmy Owls are one of the smallest owl species in Yellowstone, measuring only about 6-7 inches tall. Unlike many other owls, they are diurnal, meaning they are active during the day.

In Yellowstone, they are most commonly found in dense conifer forests around places like Lamar Valley and the Northern Range, especially where there are open meadows and clearings for hunting.

✅ Spot an Owl in Yellowstone (January 2025)

17. See a Red Fox in the Snow

We’re clearly big fans of wildlife. It’s one of the reasons we fell in love with Yellowstone, picked Gardiner for the Cozy Yellowstone Compound, and created our All-Seasons Yellowstone Travel Guide.

Well, my favorite animal in particular is the red fox, and so seeing one in the snow has always been at the top of my Yellowstone bucket list.

I couldn’t get the picture out of my head: the thick winter coat of a red fox curled up in a white blanket of snow, with its tail wrapped around its body, and its face tucked in just enough to shield it from the icy air.

Spotting a red fox while driving Yellowstone’s northern range during our first winter trip was as magical a moment as I’d hoped.

✅ Red Fox in the Snow (February 2023)

18. Boating on Yellowstone Lake

Yellowstone Lake is already stunning from the shore, but getting out on the water is another immersive experience that’s been on our bucket list.

Whether in a kayak, canoe, or motorboat, getting on the lake is a chance to see the park from a completely different perspective, away from the crowds.

✅ Boating on Yellowstone Lake (July 2024)

19. Horseback Riding to the Old West Dinner Cookout

Imagine winding through open meadows, pine forests, and uninterrupted mountain views while on the back of a sturdy trail horse. It’s a totally different and unique way to experience Yellowstone.

Even better, your trail ride ends with the smell of sizzling steaks and cowboy coffee as you enjoy an Old West Dinner Cookout!

This experience, offered by Roosevelt Lodge, is the perfect mix of adventure, history, and good food. Whether you're an experienced rider or a total beginner, horseback riding from the Roosevelt Corral to the Old West Cookout is a bucket list-worthy way to end any day in Yellowstone National Park.

20. Drive Every Road in Yellowstone

Most visitors stick to Yellowstone’s most famous scenic drive, Grand Loop Road, hitting the biggest attractions and calling it a day. And don’t get me wrong, that’s the perfect itinerary for first-time visitors!

But for those of us who keep coming back to Yellowstone for more and more, the goal isn’t just to see the highlights. We want to drive every single road in the park, from the main scenic routes to the lesser-known detours.

This means experiencing all that Grand Loop Road has to offer, but also following the roads to each entrance, and maybe even nearby scenic byways. It means venturing onto one-way roads like Firehole Canyon Drive and Blacktail Plateau Drive, following Chittenden Road up toward Mount Washburn, and even taking the drive out of Yellowstone’s Northeast Entrance to Beartooth Highway, one of the most scenic routes in the world.

The beauty of driving every road in Yellowstone is that you never know what you’ll find. Your drive might lead to a hidden geothermal feature, a quiet picnic spot, or a surprise wildlife encounter where you least expect it. Even though they say that driving every road in Yellowstone still accounts for just a small percentage of the park, doing so is definitely on our bucket list.

Read Next: 10 Yellowstone Scenic Drives for Views and Wildlife

Plan Your Yellowstone Trip with our All-Seasons Travel Guide

Plan the ultimate Yellowstone vacation with our All-Seasons Yellowstone Travel Guide!

With detailed maps, insider tips, and custom itineraries you won't find anywhere else, our Yellowstone Travel Guide will help you experience the best (and less-traveled) parts of Yellowstone National Park. Take the stress out of planning a vacation to one of America's largest and most diverse national parks and make the most of your time with our comprehensive, easy-to-use travel guide.

Yellowstone is one of our favorite places on Earth, and we’d love to help share its magic with you!