Best 3 Day Yellowstone Itinerary from the West Entrance
Few National Parks hold the respect and reverence that our oldest National Park does. When people hear the word “Yellowstone”, they are immediately transported to a surreal world full of steaming geysers, thundering waterfalls, other-wordly basins, thick forests, and creatures that normally lurk only in our imaginations. But here in Yellowstone, you can actually feel the spray of those geysers, hear the bubbling and hissing of those basins, meander through those thick forests, gaze in intrepid curiosity at those grizzlies, and stand on the precipice of those waterfalls! Follow this comprehensive, all encompassing, 3 day Yellowstone itinerary from the West Entrance, to get a taste of everything this park’s west gate region has to offer in 3 days, including the best of West Yellowstone hiking, attractions, experiences, and sights!
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Table of Contents
What to Expect On Your 3 Day Yellowstone Itinerary from the West Entrance
Get ready for 3 days full of stunning scenery, natural wonders, exhilarating trails, and unique wildlife on your perfect 3 day Yellowstone itinerary from the West Entrance!
Day 1:
- The Fountain Paint Pots Trail
- Midway Geyser Basin
- Grand Prismatic Springs
- Old Faithful
- Optional Add On: Observation Point Trail
- Optional Add On: Old Faithful Inn
Day 2:
- The Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone
- The Norris Geyser Basin
- Optional Add On: Grizzly and Wolf Discovery Center
Day 3:
- Artist Paint Pots Trail
- Gibbon Falls
- Purple Mountain
- Harlequin Lake
- Optional Add On: Two Ribbons Trail
Why A Yellowstone Itinerary from the West Entrance?
Yellowstone National Park is massive, and that is still an understatement. I mean, there’s 5 separate entrances to the park alone. There are various regions and areas of Yellowstone, and it could literally take you a full day to drive from one end to the other.
So realistically, for the vast majority of visitors, it is better to focus a Yellowstone itinerary on a specific area, in order to really get the most out of your visit, and not spend an obscene amount of time just in the car driving from one spot to another (driving in the park can get really congested and easily take an hour to go a few miles).
So why a Yellowstone Itinerary from the West Entrance in Particular?
- #1: West Yellowstone is incredibly diverse. You can see wildlife, waterfalls, mountains, forests, geysers, basins, paint pots, and pools. If you want to sample everything this National Park is known for, a Yellowstone itinerary from the West Entrance is the way to go.
- #2: West Yellowstone is arguably the most accessible and amenities loaded. Sure, it might mean that there are more crowds than other entrances, but the vast majority of visitors to Yellowstone arrive at the West Entrance. For once thing, you can see a lot from this entrance (see above). Secondly, it is close to airports, has plenty of hotels and vacation rentals, and has amenities like restaurants, gas stations, and shopping.
- #3: The west entrance of Yellowstone is located in the actual town of West Yellowstone, and there are a handful of fun things to do there right in town! You can check out the Museum of the Yellowstone, shop and eat, have fun at the Yellowstone Zipline Adventure Park, or visit the Grizzly and Wolf Discovery Center!
Know Before You Go
- Location: West Yellowstone, MT (Google Maps link here)
- When is the West Entrance Open? Yellowstone’s West Entrance is open from the end of April until the beginning of November
- Entrance Fees: $35 per vehicle (good for 7 consecutive days)
- Best Time of Year to Visit: April – November
- Pet Policy: Pets are not allowed on trails. Leashed pets are only allowed in public areas, parking lots, and within 100 feet of any roads.
Now get ready to start your 3 day Yellowstone itinerary from the West Entrance!
3 Day Yellowstone Itinerary from the West Entrance
Because Yellowstone National Park is gigantic and immense in size, even just the West Entrance area is still sizable to explore. You will notice that the sights and experiences on this 3 day Yellowstone itinerary are strategically clumped together to minimize time spent navigating and driving between one spot to the next.
Day 1 of the 3 Day Yellowstone Itinerary
Day 1 heads south from the West Yellowstone gate, and includes stops at:
- The Fountain Paint Pots Nature Trail
- Midway Geyser Basin
- Grand Prismatic Springs
- Old Faithful
- Optional Add Ons: Observation Point Trail and the Old Faithful Inn
#1: Fountain Paint Pot Trail
Quick Facts on the Fountain Paint Pots Nature Trail:
Length: 0.6 miles roundtrip loop trail
Rating: Easy
Elevation Gain: 22 feet
This short, just over half mile nature trail contains all of the big, geothermal features of Yellowstone all in one place: hot springs, geysers, pools, and mud pots. From the highest point on the trail, visitors can look out over a mist enshrouded, other worldly expanse full of turquoise pools and jets of steam rising from the surface of the ground. Probably the most intriguing aspect of this trail is the chance to observe mud pots, which are essentially bubbles of mud that ripple, hiss, and “burp” from holes deep within the earth, including the most impressive one on the trail, the Red Spouter! These mud pots will have you waiting in curious anticipation and fascination!
#2: Midway Geyser Basin and Grand Prismatic Spring
Quick Facts on the Midway Geyser Basin Trail:
Length: 0.7 miles roundtrip loop trail
Rating: Easy
Elevation Gain: 55 feet
The Midway Geyser Basin is most known for its most famous and photographed hot spring, the Grand Prismatic Spring. In fact, the Grand Prismatic Spring is the largest hot springs in the United States, and the most popular spot in Yellowstone National Park. Although this is the largest and most famous spring, several of its nearby neighbors are no less stunning, like the the Opal and Turquoise Pools.
Insider Tip: this is an EXTREMELY popular destination, and parking fills up quickly. Weekdays and early mornings are best!
Also, be mindful of young children, as some portions of this mostly boardwalk trail do not have railings, and exposure to the geothermal activity here could be very detrimental and even deadly. Always stay on the trail!
#3: Old Faithful
Nothing says Yellowstone like its iconic geyser. This part of Yellowstone and the Upper Geyser Basin is centered on Old Faithful and its extremely visitor friendly observation area. A boardwalk with ample seating surrounds this impressive geyser, whose timing the rangers conveniently track for visitors.
Contrary to popular myth, Old Faithful is not that faithful, and although it has average times of erupting once per hour, or on average twenty times per day, sometimes almost two hours can go by before an eruption. It is a fun place to stop and catch your breath, while waiting in suspense for the show!
Optional Add On: Observation Point Trail
Quick Facts on the Observation Point Trail:
Length: 1.6 miles roundtrip out and back trail
Rating: Moderate
Elevation Gain: 269
Although this trail is somewhat steep, it provides a unique and more isolated way to watch Old Faithful from above! Not only can you see the famous geyser, but also the incredible geothermal features of the surrounding area. At over 200 feet in elevation gain, this vantage point will make you feel miles away from the crowds below. You can access this hike from the immediate grounds surrounding the Old Faithful area.
Optional Add On: Old Faithful Inn
The Old Faithful Inn is a landmark in itself. Over a century old, this structure reigns as the largest log building in the world. Here you can peruse the various art installations, stop by the restaurant and lounge to grab a bite to eat, shop in the gift shop, or sign up for daily tours. Or you can simply enjoy a cup of coffee and gaze out the windows from the 2nd story.
Day 2 of the 3 Day Yellowstone Itinerary
Day Two of this 3 day Yellowstone itinerary starts out in an area of the park referred to as its “Grand Canyon”. Here you can experience the Yellowstone River at its most thunderous, as it careens over various falls from multiple perspectives.
Day 2 includes stops at:
- The Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone
- The Norris Geyser Basin
- Optional Add On: Grizzly and Wolf Discovery Center
#1: Grand Canyon of Yellowstone
One of the most recognized sights of Yellowstone National Park, if not the home of its most iconic waterfall, is the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone area. This section of the park contains access to various trails with multiple viewpoints of the Yellowstone River at its most chaotic.
The Upper Falls
Quick Facts on the Brink of the Upper Yellowstone Falls Trail:
Length: 0.3 miles roundtrip out and back trail
Rating: Easy
Elevation Gain: 39 feet
Quick Facts on the Uncle Tom’s Trail:
Length: 0.6 miles roundtrip out and back trail
Rating: Moderate
Elevation Gain: 377
This thundering fall can be appreciated from viewpoints accessed by hiking the Brink of the Upper Yellowstone Falls Trail or Uncle Tom’s Trail.
Brink of the Upper Yellowstone Falls Trail
A superb lookout spot for experiencing the falls just beneath your footsteps! This is a short and sweet trail!
Uncle Tom’s Trail
One of my favorite all time favorite Yellowstone hiking moments was this trail. What it does not have in length, it makes up for in difficulty and sheer beauty. Enjoying the falls from the various viewpoints is stunning, but if you can handle the 328 steps down the metal staircase over the course of 0.6 miles round trip, then this is the hike for you. What awaits for you at the bottom of this chasm is an up close view of the base of the Lower Falls. From this vantage point, you can barely hear yourself speak over the thundering water, and you might want to bring a jacket to protect from the spray! Once you have had your fill of the falls, head back up the 500 feet of elevation gain!
the Lower Falls
Quick Facts on the Brink of the Lower Falls Trail:
Length: 0.7 miles roundtrip out and back trail
Rating: Moderate
Elevation Gain: 265 feet
Quick Facts on the Brink of the Lower Falls Via North Rim Trail:
Length: 2.3 miles roundtrip out and back trail
Rating: Moderate
Elevation Gain: 482 feet
Though it is the lowest of the siblings as far as location along the river, the Lower Falls is actually slightly higher in elevation at 308 feet, and has more accessible viewpoints than the Upper Falls. In fact, it is the tallest waterfall in Yellowstone, and larger even than Niagara! There are two main ways to experience the Lower Falls, and both trails are listed above. They are the Brink of the Lower Falls Trail, the shorter of the options, or the longer Brink of the Lower Falls Trail Via the North Rim Trail. Either way, depending on how much time or effort you want to spend, will provide you with unmatched views of this majestic waterfall and canyon! The shorter Brink of the Lower Falls Trail is short, sweet, and steep, allowing you to get up close and personal, and even feel the spray from the cascading waters!
Artist Point
Quick Facts on the Artist Point Trail:
Length: 0.2 miles roundtrip out and back trail
Rating: Easy
Elevation Gain: 16 feet
The most iconic and famous way to view the falls of the Yellowstone River is at Artist Point, offering expansive, panoramic views of the falls and the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone.
#2: Norris Geyser Basin
Quick Facts on the Norris Geyser Basin Trail:
Length: 2.9 miles roundtrip loop trail
Rating: Easy
Elevation Gain: 190 feet
The Norris Geyser Basin and its trail are full of never ending surprises. Literally, around every corner and every bend is another mind blowing geothermal surprise. Paint pots, pools, basins, geysers, fumaroles, steam vents, they all exist side by side here at the Norris Geyser Basin. The tallest geyser in Yellowstone National Park is not actually Old Faithful, but the Steamboat Geyser, which resides here in the Norris Geyser Basin. Steamboat Geyser is not only the tallest geyser in Yellowstone National Park, but it is the tallest active geyser in the world, spouting at 300 feet high! Unlike Old Faithful, Steamboat Geyser is completely unpredictable!
There’s the Back Basin, a forested area with young pines re-emerging from a fire in 1988. There’s the 27 foot deep Emerald Pool, the Puff and Stuff Geyser which regularly sprays several feet in the air, the sulfurous Green Dragon Spring, the aptly named Crackling Lake and its popping noises, and the deep blue Whale’s Mouth! And much, much, more!
Get up close and personal with all of these fascinating natural events, and also take advantage of the chance to soak up the immense magnitude of this area from some of the lofty overlooks and panoramas along the trail!
Day 3 of the 3 Day Yellowstone Itinerary
Day 3 includes a variety of sights and experiences, typical of a Yellowstone itinerary out of the west entrance. Get ready for bubbling mud, colorful pools, graceful waterfalls, mountain summits, and secluded lakes.
- Artist Paint Pots
- Gibbon Falls
- Purple Mountain
- Harlequin Lake
- Optional Add On: Two Ribbons Trail
#1: Artist Paint Pots
Quick Facts on the Artist Paint Pots Trail:
Length: 1 mile roundtrip loop trail
Rating: Easy
Elevation Gain: 101 feet
The Artist Paint Pots Trail is another fun, whimsical, quirky, and fascinating destination on this 3 day Yellowstone itinerary! It is similar to the Fountain Paint Pots Trail, just slightly longer and with additional bubbling “pots” , steamy vents, and colorful pools. There are great panoramic views on this trail, overlooking much of the park in the distance! You can witness foggy vents of steam billowing into the air from all over the park.
Artist Paint Pots Trail in Yellowstone National Park
#2: Gibbon Falls
Gibbon Falls is like a smaller sibling of the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone falls from Day 1 of your Yellowstone itinerary, but no less beautiful and majestic. The overlook trail which parallels the rim of the canyon is half a mile in total length, giving you time to stroll along next to the sound of the thundering falls and soaking in the views from all along the trail. Note that this “trail” is completely paved, and is located alongside the parking lot and road, so it is less of a traditional “hike”. But a beautiful place to easily enjoy another one of Yellowstone’s stunning waterfalls while stretching your legs a bit!
#3: Purple Mountain
Quick Facts on the Purple Mountain Trail:
Length: 5.9 miles roundtrip out and back trail
Rating: Moderate – the elevation gain is consistent but not overwhelming
Elevation Gain: 1,601 feet
And now it’s time for one of Yellowstone’s summits! In a other-worldly environment full of pools, geysers, and colorful basins, no Yellowstone itinerary would be complete without a good old fashioned mountain summit in the shady forests of Yellowstone!
If you follow this 3 day Yellowstone itinerary from the west entrance, this will be the longest and hardest trail on your list, but the views and perspective are worth it! From the summit, you can see steam vents and geysers going off, Grand Prismatic Spring below, plus the Teton Mountains in the far distance! Bring binoculars if you choose and time your hike, because you can even see Old Faithful going off from this vantage point!
#4: Harlequin Lake
Quick Facts on the Harlequin Lake Trail:
Length: 1.1 miles roundtrip out and back trail
Rating: Easy
Elevation Gain: 137 feet
Harlequin Lake doesn’t garner a whole lot of attention considering what all is surrounding it But this humble lake hike deserves to be on your Yellowstone itinerary! In the often chaotic world of Yellowstone’s bigger attractions, the Harlequin Lake Trail is a chance to escape the crowds, and slow down in a dense forest and still lake.
There is some slight and consistent uphill grade on the way to Harlequin Lake, but nothing overwhelming. The trail is almost entirely shaded, as it is bordered on either side by thick forest. But when the canopy opens up, get ready to be surprised by the tranquil, still, peaceful, and beautiful Harlequin Lake!
*Insider Tip: bring bug spray for this trail, as the thick forest is sometimes a favorite for mosquitos!
#5: Optional Add On: Two Ribbons Trail
Quick Facts on the Two Ribbons Trail:
Length: 0.9 miles roundtrip loop trail
Rating: Easy
Elevation Gain: 13 feet
If you want another chance to experience the quieter, stiller side of Yellowstone, take a stroll along the river on the easy boardwalk Two Ribbons Trail. This is a great place to unwind for families, children, and those that want a peaceful stroll. You will likely have the trail mostly to yourself here. There are benches throughout the trail, and the river is just a stone’s throw from the boardwalk.
Have More Time to Spend in the Area?
If you find yourself with the itch to explore more of the West Yellowstone area, you have several good options:
#1: The Town of West Yellowstone Itself
There is plenty of shopping, dining, and other activities in the town of West Yellowstone. My favorite West Yellowstone attraction is the Grizzly and Wolf Discovery Center, where you can watch and learn more about Yellowstone’s resident wildlife, including, you guessed it, grizzly bears, wolves, and other animals like otters, bald eagles, and prairie dogs!
Cost: Adults 13 and older – $16.50 (children 5 – 12 are $11.50 and children under 4 are FREE!)
Hours: open 365 days a year from 9 AM – 7 PM
#2: Mesa Falls, Idaho
A quick additional add on, just one hour south near Ashton, Idaho, is the thundering Mesa Falls, located in Targhee National Forest! One of the region’s most impressive waterfalls, this attraction includes multiple viewing platforms, nature walks, short trails, and a Visitor’s Center!
#3: Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming
If you have more time to spend, and you are already in the West Yellowstone area, head south just a couple hours and you can knock another National Park off your list at Grand Teton National Park! Full of jagged mountains, pristine lakes, and rugged trails, this is an outdoor adventurer’s haven!
Map of Grand Teton National Park
*Looking for an even MORE Unique Way to Experience Both of These National Parks?
Try a destination “runcation”! Luckily for you, both Yellowstone National Park and Grand Teton National Park host National Park half marathons and 5k’s!
- AND they occur annually on back to back weekends in June!
- AND the Yellowstone Half Marathon and 5k are held conveniently in WEST YELLOWSTONE!
- So check out BOTH the Yellowstone Half Marathon and 5k
- AND the Grand Teton Half Marathon and 5k!
- AND while you are at it, check out the whole list of the best National Park races across the country! Just another fantastic reason to explore more National Parks!
***Read More: now that you have your 3 day Yellowstone itinerary set, it is time to actually plan the logistics of your trip! Check out my complete guide to planning a trip to Yellowstone, including how to get there, where to stay, which entrance to use, and what Yellowstone offers in each of its seasons.
***So What’s Next After Yellowstone?
Visit Each and Every National Park in the United States with this FREE National Parks Checklist! Plan away 🙂
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