Yellowstone information for your trip
This is your source for any information about Yellowstone you may want to know before your trip as well as commonly asked questions about Yellowstone Recreation Co.
Yellowstone Recreation Co. FAQ
Our full day tours run between 8 and 10 hours depending on variable like bison jams and traffic.
Yellowstone’s climate is extremely varied. Daytime temperatures in the summer can be quite warm while morning and evenings can be very cold. In the winter it’s generally always quite frigid. The best approach to handling this is to dress in layers which can be added or removed to adjust to changing temperatures. It’s also a good idea to bring a waterproof outer layer in case of rain. Our hiking tours obviously take place in the great outdoors, but our road-based sightseeing tours also disembark to explore hydrothermal areas, the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, and other significant areas, exposing us to the elements.
In addition to proper clothing, a daypack, water bottle, and a camera are some other great ideas for packing. Yellowstone is at high elevation, meaning it’s important to stay hydrated. Keep in mind, if bringing a camera on a hiking tour, that rain is a possibility, so some form of waterproof casing is highly recommended. In the summer months bug spray is also a great addition to your pack.
We provide lunches on all of our tours, so bringing along your meal is not necessary, but snacks are a good idea.
All of our lunches are prepared fresh and brought along on the tour in a temperature controlled cooler. We offer a choice of a ham, turkey, or veggie hummus wrap. All meals also include chips, fruit, and a cold drink.
We are happy to accommodate your needs. We can modify any item, within reason, to cater to any allergies, dietary restrictions, or preferences. We take special care to ensure everyone is happy with their meal on all of YRC’s tours.
You can book here on this website, over the phone, or contact us through email. If you have any questions about YRC or our tours feel free to contact us via email or phone. We’re always happy to talk to our customers and help with any issues. Our phone number is 1 (406) 641-0662.
We offer a full refund up until 24 hours before the start of the tour. If we ever cancel a tour we guarantee a full refund.
We recently changed the starting location of our public tours from West Yellowstone to Gardiner, MT.
Any tour booked in our previous booking system from West Yellowstone will be honored, and those tours will still be carried out.
If you have any questions about tour starting locations feel free to call us at 406-641-0662 or email us at booking@yrc.tours
The National Park Service charges park entrance differently for commercial tours than it does for private vehicles.
On our tours the park service charges $20 per guest, rather than a set amount for the vehicle. If you or anyone in your party has an annual pass (America the Beautiful Pass) that can cover the entrance of up to four guests.
This pass is valid for one year in all national parks, and is our recommended form of entry payment.
If you have purchased a private vehicle entrance before the tour ($35 at the gate) then that entrance can be put towards your entrance on our tour.
Information About Yellowstone National Park
Yellowstone is primarily located in the Northwest corner of Wyoming, but is also partially situated in Idaho and Montana.
Yellowstone is a whopping 2.2 million square acres. That’s 3,471 square miles, or 8,991 square kilometers for our metric friends. That’s big enough to house all of Rhode Island and Delaware with room to spare.
Yellowstone, often called the crown jewel of the National Park System, was the first such park, having been established in 1872. Yellowstone is also regarded as the first National Park in the world.
Yellowstone National Park sits atop an active volcanic hotspot capable of producing super volcanic eruptions on a scale never seen in human history. There have been three such eruptions within the park’s current boundaries, resulting in the formation of three massive craters. Heat from this hotspot is the reason Yellowstone has such an incredible concentration of hot springs, geysers, and other hydrothermal features. In short, yes, Yellowstone is a volcano.
Despite making a great click-bait headline, no, Yellowstone is not ‘overdue’ for an eruption and there are no indications one is imminent. It is probable that Yellowstone will erupt again in the future, but any such eruption is likely thousands of years away and would be preceded by observable indicators which scientists monitor for.
Over half of the world’s hydrothermal features (geysers, hot springs, fumaroles, and mud pots) are in Yellowstone. There are over 10,000 hydrothermal features in the park including over 500 geysers.
Yellowstone is home to an incredible diversity of animals. Yellowstone’s prairies, river valleys, forests, and mountains provide an immense variety of ecosystems for life. Large ungulates, such as bison, elk, moose, pronghorn, and deer are plentiful in the park. Yellowstone is also home to a variety of large predators such as black and grizzly bears, wolves, coyotes, wolverines, and mountain lions.
The park also has an incredibly diversity of small mammals and birds, as well as populations of native fish, reptiles, and amphibians.
Bear attacks in Yellowstone are exceedingly rare and are usually the result of individuals not following the principles of safety in bear country.
Safety in bear country is paramount. Observing standards such carrying bear spray, storing food properly, and traveling in groups helps ensure safety in bear country. All of our tours follow the principles of safety in bear country to protect both ourselves and the beautiful bears of Yellowstone.
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Ready to experience the park in person?
Our guides are equipped to provide you with all the Yellowstone information you need to enjoy your time in the park and your tour with YRC. Openings for the upcoming season are starting to fill up, so make sure to book yours soon.