Yellowstone National Park Facts for Kids

100 facts about Yellowstone National Park for kids

🌍 Basic Facts

1. Yellowstone is the first national park in the world!
2. It was created way back in 1872.
3. Yellowstone is mostly in Wyoming, but parts are in Montana and Idaho.
4. The park is bigger than Rhode Island and Delaware combined!
5. It’s named after the Yellowstone River.
6. Over 4 million people visit the park every year.
7. Yellowstone is part of a huge area called the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem.
8. The park is famous for hot springs, geysers, and wild animals.
9. Yellowstone has many forests, rivers, and mountains.
10. People love to hike, camp, watch animals, and take pictures here.

🌋 Volcano & Geothermal Wonders

11. Yellowstone is actually a supervolcano!
12. It hasn’t erupted in 640,000 years.
13. The ground in the park is still very hot under the surface.
14. There are over 10,000 hot spots like geysers and hot springs!
15. Old Faithful is a geyser that shoots hot water into the air.
16. Old Faithful erupts about every hour.
17. The water from geysers can be as hot as 204°F (95°C)!
18. Grand Prismatic Spring is a rainbow-colored hot spring.
19. The colors come from tiny heat-loving microbes.
20. The steam from hot springs smells like rotten eggs—that’s sulfur!

🐻 Wild Animals

21. Yellowstone has lots of wild animals.
22. You can see bison, elk, bears, wolves, and more!
23. There are over 60 kinds of mammals.
24. Bison are the biggest land animals in the park.
25. Bison can run up to 35 miles per hour!
26. Grizzly bears and black bears live here.
27. Bears hibernate in the winter.
28. Wolves were brought back to Yellowstone in 1995.
29. Wolves help keep the ecosystem healthy.
30. You might also see foxes, mountain lions, and coyotes.

🦅 Birds and Fish

31. Yellowstone has over 300 kinds of birds.
32. You can see bald eagles, owls, and swans.
33. Trumpeter swans are the biggest waterfowl in North America.
34. There are 16 types of fish in the park’s lakes and rivers.
35. Many people come to fish (with special rules!).
36. Cutthroat trout are native fish here.
37. Lake trout, an invader fish, can hurt the native fish.
38. Fish help feed bears, otters, and birds.

🌲 Nature & Landscape

39. Yellowstone has mountains, valleys, and rivers.
40. There are over 300 waterfalls in the park!
41. The biggest waterfall is over 300 feet tall.
42. Yellowstone Lake is huge and very high up in the mountains.
43. It freezes in the winter!
44. Yellowstone has forests made mostly of pine trees.
45. Some trees are very old—over 300 years!
46. Wildflowers bloom in the spring and summer.
47. Some parts of the park look like another planet!
48. There are mud pots that bubble like a witch’s brew.
49. Fumaroles puff out steam and gas.

🧑‍🤝‍🧑 People in the Park

50. Native Americans lived in the Yellowstone area for thousands of years.
51. They used the land for hunting, fishing, and ceremonies.
52. More than 26 tribes have connections to Yellowstone.
53. John Colter was the first known white explorer here in 1807.
54. Early explorers thought people wouldn’t believe their stories!
55. Park rangers help protect Yellowstone.
56. You can see rangers give talks and tours.
57. There are visitor centers where you can learn and ask questions.
58. Junior Ranger programs let kids earn badges!

🏕️ Things to Do

59. You can go hiking, biking, fishing, and even horseback riding.
60. There are more than 900 miles of trails.
61. You can camp in 12 campgrounds.
62. Some people stay in log cabins or historic lodges.
63. Old Faithful Inn is made of logs and looks like a giant treehouse!
64. In winter, people ride snowmobiles and snowcoaches.
65. You can see geysers erupting in the snow!
66. People love to take photos of animals and landscapes.
67. Don’t forget to get a stamp for your National Park Passport!
68. There are gift shops with toys, books, and stuffed animals.

🦴 Science & Fun Facts

69. Yellowstone has lots of earthquakes—but most are small.
70. It gets about 1,000 to 3,000 tiny earthquakes each year.
71. Scientists study the volcano and geysers to keep people safe.
72. They also study wildlife, plants, and water.
73. Yellowstone’s hot springs help scientists learn about microbes.
74. These tiny life forms may help us make new medicines.
75. Yellowstone is like a giant science classroom!
76. Some of the research helps us learn about life on other planets.
77. Yellowstone has helped people understand climate change.
78. NASA even uses Yellowstone for space experiments!

⚠️ Safety First!

79. Never touch or go near hot springs or geysers!
80. Stay on the boardwalks and trails—the ground can be thin!
81. Don’t feed or pet wild animals.
82. Keep a safe distance—at least 100 yards from bears and wolves.
83. Bison look slow, but they’re super fast and dangerous!
84. Keep your food locked up when camping so bears don’t find it.
85. Carry bear spray if you hike far.
86. Always go with an adult when exploring.
87. Listen to rangers’ rules and warning signs.

🧭 Other Cool Stuff

88. Yellowstone has its own ZIP code: 82190.
89. It became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1978.
90. The park has been in movies, books, and documentaries.
91. The TV show “Yellowstone” is named after the park.
92. There are ghost stories about old lodges!
93. You can get a map and sticker book to track where you go.
94. Rangers give out activity books for kids.
95. Some animals have tracking collars so scientists can study them.
96. Snow melts late in spring—even in June!
97. Yellowstone is open all year, but parts close in winter.
98. In 2022, Yellowstone had bad flooding and had to close for a while.
99. It takes many people working together to protect Yellowstone.
100. Visiting Yellowstone is a fun way to explore nature and learn!

These facts show just how unique and special Yellowstone National Park is, making it a fascinating place for both kids and adults to learn about and visit!

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Read more:

• List of National Parks in the United States