Best things to do in West Yellowstone

Watch grizzly bears and gray wolves in natural habitats at Grizzly and Wolf Discovery Center. This nonprofit zoo specializes in its focus on these two particular animals, which are part of the Yellowstone ecosystem. The center also distinguishes itself from many other zoos by hosting only animals that are not able to survive in the wild. The zoo began as a sanctuary for bears that were unable to continue living in the wild in 1993. Wolves were added to the sanctuary in 1996. The center is now connected with Yellowstone National Park and hosts several of the park's programs.

Inside America's first national park, Yellowstone Lake is nestled 2,357 m (7,732 ft) above sea level. The 350 sq km (136 sq mi) lake features geysers, hot springs, and underwater canyons. The spot has been known for trout fishing since its discovery. Research shows the greatest known depth of the lake is 120 m (390 ft). In contrast to the lake's six months of frozenness, the hottest spot ever recorded was 122 C (252 F). Watch for wildlife, and take advantage of hiking and camping opportunities near the lake.

A large complex of springs in Yellowstone National Park, Mammoth Hot Springs, was created over thousands of years by hot water from the springs cooling and depositing calcium carbonate. Typically a bleached-white hue, the dramatic terraced sections flow with water originating from rain and snowmelt, causing a frozen cascade effect (though the water that forms this area is extremely hot). The flow of water depends on the environment at any given time, but you can walk the boardwalks along the lower and upper terraces, observing the scenery and wildlife.

This cone geyser is an icon of Yellowstone National Park. The team who discovered Old Faithful described it as “the perfect geyser.” Though not the tallest or largest in the park, the geyser is one of the most popular for its beauty, size, and regularity of eruptions--almost every 91 minutes, hence its name. Watch the explosion of boiling water reach a height of 32 to 56 m (106 to 185 ft) for around 1.5 to 5 minutes, giving you plenty of time to take photos. The cafeteria in the nearby lodge boasts great views if you want to watch the show over a sandwich. They also do take-out.

The massive Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone is about 39 km (24 miles) long, between 240 and 370 m (800 and 1,200 ft) deep, and from 0.40 to 1.21 km (0.25 to 0.75 mi) wide. If you go to Artist Point, which provides an excellent view of the winding river and rock walls and gives a better sense of the canyon's size, you'll be able to view the area from about 50 m (160 ft) away. This may take you about half an hour, but the vistas you take in from the edge of observation point will remain with your for a lifetime.

Hebgen Lake is located in Southwest Montana and is created by Hebgen Dam. It is well known for the 1959 Hebgen Lake earthquake (magnitude 7.1 to 7.5) which occurred nearby on August 17, 1959, forming Quake Lake which is located immediately downstream.
Hebgen Lake and the surrounding area offer many recreational activities: camping, fishing, boating, and hiking. Campgrounds include Rainbow Point and Cherry Creek. Rainbow Point is the largest campground on the lake, offering four "loops." Each loop contains approximately 20 campsites. Each campsite can accommodate a full-size camper and one or two vehicles.