Welcome back to Emma’s ultimate guide to national parks. Yes, yes… We heard you!! Emma got an overwhelming amount of requests to go to explore Yellowstone National Park. Is it worth the hype? Spoiler alert: We sure think so. But beware: Stay out of the splash zone – we’ll go see Old Faithful!

Emma has made it to Yellowstone National Park! Thank you all for recommending it as a destination, it was a great place to check out!

Yellowstone National Park is the first national park in the US, and one of the oldest national parks in the world, only predated by Khan Mountain National Park in Mongolia. It is famous for its scenic views, beautiful lakes, and rivers, but especially for its special geology. You can find many different thermal features here: Geysers, hot springs, mud pots, steam vents, and travertine terraces.

What are all these different thermal features?

Hot springs are spring that brings hot warm to the surface. Thanks to different microorganisms, some of these pools can look almost rainbow in color, from orange, yellow, and green, to bright blue.

Geysers are a type of hot spring with erupting water and steam.

Mud Pots are a type of acidic hot spring, made of rocks turned into mud or clay that stinks like rotten eggs.

Steam Vents are when what little water there is evaporates as it rises to the surface, releasing steam through fissures.

Travertine Terraces are limestone deposits around hot springs that create a stair-like look.

Living among this geological marvel are plenty of creatures, like bears, frogs, and wolves. Among those, did you know Yellowstone National Park has no one, not two, but several horned and hooved animals?

In Yellowstone National Park you can find between 2300 and 5500 American bison. What’s so special about a bison? They’re huge – the biggest land mammals in North America, actually! In the park, they’re split into two herds: one in the Lamar Valley and one in Hayden Valley.

Pronghorns are a special type of hoofed mammal, related to goats and antelopes. They are the fastest land mammals in North America. They are super small, growing to a size of 4.5 feet long and about 3 feet tall.

Finally, there’s elk, which happens to be one of the largest species of deer on earth! They can weigh up to 700 pounds, and unlike Pronghorns who all have horns, only male elk have antlers. These antlers alone can weigh up to 40 pounds!

Which of these three horned and hooves animals do you like the best? Do you have any other fun facts about them to share? Can’t think of anything? We’d love to hear other cool things that can be found in Yellowstone!

What do you think of Yellowstone National Park? Is it as cool as everyone thinks, or is there a better park to check out?
Do you have any ideas of where Emma could go next? Let us know in the comments below!