Visiting Yellowstone During COVID-19 - An Early July 2020 Visit

This page may have outdated information as it was written during the height of the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Final Update – July 12, 2020

Visiting Yellowstone During COVID-19 - About My Trip

With a spike in COVID-19 cases in the US, I realized that traveling outside of the United States would not be possible this summer. I had already canceled trips to Dubai, Costa Rica, and Panama, as well as rescheduling a trip to Alaska. Having no summer trips, and a bunch of airline vouchers, I decided to travel to Idaho to visit my little brother and his family. After a few days of visiting and fishing, we decided to take the risk and visit Yellowstone during COVID-19.

I thought about the decision for a long time before heading to Yellowstone. My research said that most people were wearing masks, hotels were disinfecting rooms, and social distancing guidelines were in place. Also, hotels were discounting their room rates to 50% of the normal-rate. My brother and his wife agreed that this trip was worth the risk, and we left his home in Idaho on Wednesday, July 8.

After a two hour drive, we arrived in the town of West Yellowstone, Montana. Montana was not fully reopened, and restaurants were limited to drive-thru and takeout. Although the park was not crowded, it did take almost an hour to get in through the West Entrance.

Visiting Yellowstone During COVID-19 - Table of Contents

Updated -July 12, 2020

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Visiting Yellowstone During COVID-19 - Precautions

There were many precautions in place to make visiting Yellowstone during COVID-19 as safe as possible. There were signs reminding people to social distance, and the wearing of masks was encouraged when visitors were unable to social distance. I would say that at the most crowded sights, such as Old Faithful and Grand Prismatic Spring, the majority of the people were wearing masks when in crowds. The people I encountered would take their mask off when they were at a safe distance and then put them back on as they approached people.

When visiting Yellowstone during COVID-19, you may want to bring your own food and drinks. All food items inside the park are “grab and go,” and many of the restaurants were closed. The in-park stores and gift shops limited the number of people allowed inside, and masks were required at some of the shops.

Overall, I felt reasonably safe during my visit to Yellowstone during COVID-19. I had plenty of hand sanitizer, and we packed our own lunches. When I was around people, I wore my mask, as did my brother, his wife, and my 8-year-old nephew, and five-year-old niece. In reality, I felt a much lesser risk of catching COVID-19 inside Yellowstone than during trips to the grocery store.

Please note that I am not a doctor, and none of what I said should be taken as medical advice. COVID-19 can be fatal, and anyone traveling should discuss the risks with their doctor before visiting.

Old Faithful

Our first stop was at Old Faithful, which is part of the Upper Geyser Basin. In reality, this was probably a poor choice as almost everyone in line to enter the park also chose to go right to Old Faithful. If you are visiting Yellowstone during COVID-19, I highly recommend touring the popular sights towards the end of the day when the crowds are smaller.

Old Faithful is the most famous geyser in Yellowstone National Park and received its name because of its predictable eruptions. Old Faithful erupts around 20 times a day, with each eruption lasting between 90 seconds and 5 minutes. Typically, Old Faithful shoots water between 100 and 180 feet into the air.

Visitors can check the times that Old Faithful is expected to erupt inside the park or online. Predictions are typically accurate within 10 minutes. I followed Yellowstone National Park on Twitter and was able to view a series of tweets with the various eruption predictions.

Old Faithful was the most crowded sight during our visit to Yellowstone. We successfully practiced social distancing by staying away from the viewing area. I felt that we were able to still get the Old Faithful experience despite being at least 50-100 yards away.

There is an observation point, which is about a half-mile up a hill. With my niece and nephew on this trip, we decided not to climb the hill and save their strength for other climbs.

The Rest of the Upper Geyser Basin

Following our viewing of Old Faithful, we set off to walk the Upper Geyser Basin. As we walked the Upper Geyser Basin, my niece and nephew were quick to point out how smelly the hot springs were. As a Global Studies teacher, I tried to explain what created the springs and the smell. Unfortunately, my explanation went right over their head, and they instead referred to it smelling similar to “passing gas.”

The Upper Geyser Basin, as all Yellowstone paths, circle by various geysers, are marked by nameplates and sometimes a brief description. Below, I included pictures of some of the most unique and interesting geysers from the Upper Geyser Basin. As we walked, some of the geysers would erupt. If you want to see a specific geyser erupt, some schedules can be obtained through a Yellowstone Park Service Hotline.

About half-way through the Upper Geyser Basin walk, my nephew had to make an emergency trip to the bathroom. There are no restrooms available past Old Faithful, so my brother and his family returned to Old Faithful to use the bathroom. I continued on my own, completing most of the loop. The further I got from Old Faithful, the less of a crowd there was. I was thankful for that as I was able to take off my mask as no one was around.

I told my brother and his wife that I would meet them at the Old Faithful Gift Shop at a designated time. About 30-minutes before that time, I turned around and abandoned the remaining part of the Upper Geyser Basin Loop. Despite not completing it, I felt like I was able to experience most of what the Upper Geyser Basin had to offer.

Grand Prismatic Spring

The Grand Prismatic Spring was our next stop and was the second most crowded stop while visiting Yellowstone during COVID-19. Located in the Middle Geyser Basin, the Grand Prismatic Spring is the most photographed sight in all of Yellowstone National Park due to its bright colors and huge size. As we got close to the Middle Geyser Basin, it was obvious that there was going to be a shortage of parking spaces. As a result, I decided to park on the side of the road and walk to the spring.

The spring is the third-largest in the world and larger than a football field. Typically, the Grand Prismatic Spring shows a multitude of colors due to various species of bacteria inside the water. I was most impressed that even the mist coming off the water had a colored tint to it. If I ever return to Yellowstone, I would love to see the Grand Prismatic Spring from the air.

The Rest of the Middle Geyser Basin

As stated above, we parked on the side of the road and walked to the Middle Geyser Basin. I highly recommend doing this as the walk next to the Firehole River is beautiful. My nephew enjoyed touching the water and noted that it was much hotter than the river he fishes near his home in Idaho.

The star of the Middle Geyser Basin is the Grand Prismatic Spring, but I was also impressed with the blue-colored Excelsior Geyser Crater. The other two sights worth seeing in the Middle Geyser Basin are the Opal Pool and the Turquoise Pool.

Throughout the Middle Geyser Basin, most people wore their masks as it was not possible to social distance. If you are visiting Yellowstone during COVID-19, I highly recommend visiting the Middle Geyser Basin later in the day as the crowds will be much smaller.

Steamboat Geyser

The Steamboat Geyer was my favorite of all the geysers at Yellowstone National Park and is the tallest major eruption of any geyser in the world. The major eruption, which shoots water up into the air at a height of 300 to 400 feet, is unpredictable. Smaller eruptions occur every few minutes. While I did not see a major eruption, I was able to see a smaller one that lasted for at least 10-minutes.

Steamboat Geyser is part of the Norris Geyser Basin and is only a quarter of a mile walk from the Norris Geyser Basin parking lot. The geyser can be seen from most of the back basin group.

The parking lot at the Norris Geyser Basin has signs warning of potential damage to cars from a major eruption of the Steamboat Geyser. Although I would have liked to see a record eruption, I was glad my rental car was not damaged.

The Rest of the Norris Geyer Basin

The Norris Geyser Basin is the hottest and oldest area of Yellowstone National Park. Most of the sights of the Norris Geyser Basin can be seen by walking two loops. The view the Back Basin, you can hike a loop of either 1.6 or 1 miles. To see the Porcelain Basin Loop, you can hike a shorter distance .6 miles. If you have limited time, I would recommend walking the first .25 miles of the Back Basin Loop to see the Steamboat Geyser and then completing the whole Porcelain Basin Loop.

Back Basin Loop

The Back Basin Loop was extremely crowded for the first quarter-mile as almost everyone wanted to see the Steamboat Geyser. After leaving Steamboat, the rest of the loop was void of people. I believe I only encountered one or two other groups of tourists during my 1+ mile hike. If you are visiting Yellowstone during COVID-19 and want to be isolated, definitely hike the Back Basin Loop of the Norris Geyser Basin.

Porcelain Basin Loop

The Porcelain Basin Loop should definitely be completed as the area is stunningly beautiful. The loop is only .6 of a mile and was more crowded than the Back Basin Loop. During my visit, it was extremely windy, and I did get sprayed quite a bit by the mist from the Black Growler Steam Vent.

As I walked the loop, there was a very interesting sign showing the temperature of the water and its relation to the color-causing bacteria living inside it. I learned that the darker brown/yellow the water is, the hotter the water’s temperature.

Towards the end of the Porcelain Basin Loop, there was an interesting green pool of water and then two little geyser openings that were not emitting steam or water. Neither of them was named, but I thought they were unique and unlike other areas that I’d seen throughout the park.

Mammoth Hot Springs

The final stop of our first day was Mammoth Hot Springs, which was relatively empty. I was amazed by how different Mammoth Hot Springs looked when comparing it to the Upper and Middle Geyser Basins and the Norris Geyser Basin. One of my favorite areas was Mound Spring because it kept changing colors as the sun began to set.

As it was now early evening, our shadows were quite visible, and shortly after leaving Mound Spring, my niece said, “Look! I see us!” Our shadows were visible on the rock formation below the viewing platform. I was able to capture a family shadow picture, which is one of my favorite photos I’ve ever taken. If I wasn’t visiting Yellowstone during COVID-19, it definitely would have been too crowded to get this type of picture.

At this point, the kids were tired, so we only walked as far as the Canary Spring. Instead of completing the loop, we turned around and retraced our steps. It was now around 7:45 PM, and it would be past 9:00 PM by the time we arrived at our hotel.

Gibbon Falls

On our way to Mammoth Hot Springs, we made a quick turnoff at Gibbon Falls. This stop only took a few minutes as the viewing area is within 25 yards of the parking lot. Gibbon Falls is located on the Gibbon River, and the beautiful views are definitely worth a quick stop. I am glad we stopped here at the request of my sister-in-law. She made a good choice!

Grand Canyon of Yellowstone

The Grand Canyon of Yellowstone is visible from both the North and South Rims. This stop was our first stop of Day 2, and due to limited time, we decided to only complete the North Rim Drive. While the North Rim area was crowded, there are so many viewing areas that it was fairly easy to social distance.

After stopping to view the Lower Falls of the Yellowstone River at a few observation points, we decided to climb down to the platform at the bottom of Lookout Point. This climb was difficult for my niece and nephew, and we had to make many stops. They made the best of it finding a “cave,” a “balance-beam” and later on a “couch.” The view was definitely worth it, although carrying two kids up at least 100 stairs and 10+ switchbacks of paths made me regret convincing them that the view was worth the hike.

The final stop of the North Rim Drive was Inspiration Point, which had the best views of the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone. When visiting the North Rim of the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone, I recommend driving from viewpoint to viewpoint. We walked from the first parking lot to Lookout Point, only to realize that each viewpoint also has a parking area.

There is also a South Rim drive. We skipped the South Rim drive as we were getting low on time.

Brink of the Upper Falls

At this point, my brother and his family departed as they only wanted to spend one night. They have a new puppy and didn’t want to have her boarded for two nights. My first stop on my own was the Brink of the Upper Falls.

There are three viewpoints at the Brink of the Upper Falls. I recommend skipping viewpoints one and two and walking right down to viewpoint three. The third viewpoint gets very close to the falls and has the best views. This stop did not take up much time as it only takes 10-minutes total to walk from the parking lot to the third viewpoint.

Yellowstone Lake

After visiting the Brink of the Upper Falls, I made a quick stop at Yellowstone Lake. As stated earlier, all food was “grab and go,” and very few restaurants were open. One place that was selling food was the Lake Village, General Store. I grabbed a bacon-ranch chicken salad sandwich and walked across the street to eat while sitting on a rock overlooking Yellowstone Lake.

The lake was fairly quiet, with only a few boats out on it. A few people had climbed down the bank to wade and swim in the lake. If you are looking for an easy place to access the lake, I suggest parking near the general store and sliding down the bank.

Fishing Bridge

The Fishing Bridge is false advertising as the bridge is closed to fishing due to it being a spawning habitat for the Cutthroat Trout. I witnessed at least five people get out of their car, gather up their fishing gear, and walk to the bridge only to be disappointed.

I walked across the bridge and took pictures of the Yellowstone River and then the entrance to Yellowstone Lake. The fishing bridge was on my way back from Yellowstone Lake, so it was worth the stop. If it is not on your way, I do not recommend a special trip to view the bridge.

Mud Volcano Area

Mud Volcano was not on my list of places to visit. I passed it on my way to Yellowstone Lake and decided to stop on my way back from the lake. I did not complete the entire loop, instead, I only walked far enough to view Mud Caldron and Mud Volcano. These hot springs were much different than the other hot springs as there was a thick layer of bubbling mud. Once again, do not make a special trip to Mud Volcano, but definitely stop and see it if it is on your way.

Animal Viewing

The favorite part of my 8-year-old nephew and 5-year-old niece was the wildlife viewing. Every time we passed a bison, they wanted to stop, get out of the car, and take a picture. The bison in Yellowstone are wild, and the park rangers recommend observing them at a minimum distance of 25 yards. Throughout my two day visit, I saw over 25 bison that were observable from the road. This amount does not include the herd of bison that I saw between Mud Volcano and the Fishing Bridge. I found that during my visit, the Mud Volcano area was the best place to view the bison. The picture of the bison in the flowers was just about a mile south of Mud Volcano.

We also saw quite a few elk during our Yellowstone visit. Our best elk viewing was near Mammoth Springs. The elk there seemed to be fairly used to being around people and were not spooked as I approached them. I believe the rangers recommend a minimum of 10 yards, but I kept to a distance or more like 25 yards. Many of the elk had birds on them, and they would shake and squirm, trying to get the birds off their back. Throughout my various drives, I also saw quite a few elk at a distance.

My nephew really wanted to see a wolf as it is his favorite animal. We came close, seeing a coyote crossing the Firehole River and then running around a field. This viewing experience was the only time we saw a coyote.

The animal I most wanted to see was a grizzly bear. I considered driving up to the Lamar Valley in the northeast corner of the park where bear sightings are more common but opted not to because of road closures due to construction. If I ever return to Yellowstone, I will make seeing a wild grizzly bear my number one goal.

Yellowstone Tours and Packages

This section may have outdated information. Please note that I am an affiliate of Viator. If you purchase a package using one of my links, I will receive a small commission. This commission is at no additional cost to you.

Prices accurate as of July 2020.

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Half Day White-Water Raft Trip on the Yellowstone River - $47.00

We start our Half-Day Yellowstone River Raft trips at the border of Yellowstone National Park (Gardiner, MT) and float north through the wild and rolling wave rapids of the "Gardiner Stretch". The Yellowstone is a great river for first time rafters, or families with small children. The historic Yellowstone River also provides a potential opportunity to view wildlife!

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Yellowstone Lower Loop Full-Day Tour - $260.00

Yellowstone National Park, Old Faithful, Lake Yellowstone and more! This is a tour of the Lower Loop of Yellowstone National Park, which will visit such points of interest as Old Faithful, Grand Prismatic Spring, Fountain Paint Pot, Upper and Lower Falls of the Yellowstone River, the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone River, Hayden Valley, Lake Yellowstone, and much more! Bring your camera as wildlife sightings including bear, elk, and bison are common. Lunch included!

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Yellowstone Full Day Wade Fishing Trip - $600.00

Fish the famous waters of Yellowstone National Park with a professional guide. Spend the day angling for brown, rainbow, and cutthroat trout on Yellowstone's most iconic rivers such as the Snake, Firehole, Madison, Yellowstone, and the Gibbon. Take a break for some wildlife viewing and a delicious picnic lunch before returning to the water for the afternoon hatch.

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Yellowstone Custom Wildlife and Nature Tour - $250.00

Set out on a 12-hour guided exploration of Yellowstone's nature and wildlife in the company of an expert naturalist and world renown professional nature photographer. Depart Cody for a tour of the park’s best wildlife viewing locations and visit geothermal features. Keep an eye out for black bears, grizzles, bison, elk, deer, moose, and wolves while learning about park ecology and honing your photography skills. Hotel pickup and drop-off, breakfast, and refreshments are included.

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Private Yellowstone Wildlife Tour - $525.00

Explore America's first national park on a private 8-hour tour of Yellowstone. Set out on a scenic adventure in search of the park’s resident wildlife, which includes grizzlies, wolves, bison and bighorn sheep. Use binoculars and viewing scopes to see animals at a safe distance as you travel through the park’s Northern Range, Hayden and Lamar Valley, and Lake Area. Lunch and round-trip transport from select lodgings are included on this small-group tour, limited to six people.

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Rafting Yankee Jim Canyon on the Yellowstone River - $66.00

This whitewater adventure through Yankee Jim Canyon is meant for only the hardiest of travellers and enthusiasts. You will experience class III and IV rapids along the Yellowstone River on this 5-mile rafting trip.

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Scenic Float on the Yellowstone River - $47.00

This scenic float is a relaxing rafting option for families with kids between the ages of 0-2, or elderly folks who may not feel up to a regular whitewater adventure. During this 6-mile trip, find yourself surrounded in nature’s beauty as you meander down the magnificent Yellowstone River.

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Self-Guided Driving Tour of Yellowstone Upper Loop - $56.95

Your self-guided driving day tour of Yellowstone Upper Loop starts in Cooke City, Montana and takes you to Lamar Valley, home to an array of wildlife. You will then drive to the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone, Norris Geysers, Obsidian Cliff, Huckleberry Ridge, the Petrified Tree and more. Along the way you may run into elk, bears, wolves and buffalo!

Visiting Yellowstone During COVID-19 - Accommodations - Crosswinds Inn - West Yellowstone, Montana

We stayed at the Crosswinds Inn, which was located about two miles from the west entrance to Yellow Stone National Park in the town of West Yellowstone. Due to COVID-19, the hotel had room rates for under $200 per night. I stayed for two nights in a King Room, and my brother and his family stayed for one night in a Double Queen Room.

The state of Montana has many restrictions in place due to COVID-19. Throughout the property, masks were required, and breakfast was served “grab and go” style instead of “buffet style.” I found the room to be extremely comfortable and was thrilled to spend only $378 for two nights. In previous years, I have seen hotel rooms near Yellowstone National Park at rates over $500 per night.

If you are interested in booking a room at this hotel, I would appreciate it if you would use my booking.com link. As a booking.com affiliate, I receive a small commission if you book using my link at no additional cost to you. To book a room at the Crosswinds Inn click HERE.

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