Yellowstone National Park is one of the best places to camp, hike, and fish in the United States and every person should make the pilgrimage at least once in their lives to see the wonders that nature has created for us. For some families thinking about spending their vacation time on an outdoor adventure, we understand it may be a little daunting finding activities to keep children entertained and create a positive vacation experience for the whole family. To help, we have created a list of the top 10 secrets that should be shared to make sure your family has an unforgettable experience at Yellowstone National Park.

1. Junior Ranger Program

Junior Ranger Program is a must when visiting the National Parks with kids! This not only is educational and free, it is fun too. Once the kids complete the program they earn a badge or patch they can proudly display and collect from each park. Yellowstone will provide a 12-page activity booklet that you can pick up at the visitor center.  You also have the ability to print it out at home before you head there. The basic requirements to finish the Junior Ranger badge are to hike on a park trail, attend a Ranger-led program, and complete activities on various park resources, issues and concepts such as geothermal geology, park wildlife and fire ecology.  Check out their website to download your booklet and read up on this great program that the National Parks offer.

2. Early Education

Before you go, start early on educating your kiddos on what animals, ecology, and biology are in the area.  This will give them something to look forward to and keep them occupied by searching for the animals, fossils, plants, etc.  If you go to the park website, they have activities created for kids of all ages and even programs designed for teachers. This is great for home schoolers as well. Some examples are Yellowstone Animal Alphabet Book and the Geyser Match Game.

3. Food and Snacks Galore

The most important thing you can do before heading to Yellowstone is to load up on snacks! Food will make or break a trip for adults so imagine what it can do to the little people. We will take our own kids to the grocery store and attack the bulk bins of trail mix, dried fruit and a few little goodies. They pick what looks good and it seems to make them a little more excited to have their own little goody bag. Beef Jerky, apple slices, freeze dried fruit/veggies and fruit roll ups are also great options. We have a dehydrator which the kids are amazed at its capabilities to create trail snacks for them. We also use the dehydrator to create delicious backcountry camping meals for our adult Yellowstone backpacking trips. Everyone has been excited to eat the food we dehydrated so far. I won’t lie… I also bring some little miniature chocolates to bribe them when the whining starts or to get us up a peak! Hehehe… As a mom, you have to do what you have to do, right?

4. Lonestar Geyser

If you like to get off the beaten path (like we do) and just need a quick day hike, Lonestar Geyser is your place. It’s only 3.5 miles southwest from Old Faithful and you can bike this trail or make it a day trip with the kids. The geyser erupts about every three hours and reaches an impressive height of 45 feet and amazingly lasts for about 30 minutes.  This is a great place to have a picnic and then hike or bike back to Old Faithful.

5. Yellowstone River

You must check out Yellowstone River!!! It is incredibly gorgeous and it also provides a learning opportunity for the kids and adults. This is the longest river in the lower 48 states that is not dammed up.  Back in the day, it was an important route for transportation for Native Americans and settlers. It stretches 692 miles and then makes the 308 foot drop at the Lower Yellowstone Falls. Don’t forget your camera! Better yet… let each kid take a camera and document their trip. What they find through the lens may even surprise you.

6. Heart Lake

Heart Lake is another place to visit off the beaten track where we often take our clients. It is 8 miles to the Shore of Heart Lake from the trail head so this might be a trip for bigger kids or for those brave parents willing to lug the little ones in a backpack. I have found nap time to be good for these longer hikes when carrying the kids. This is also bear country so don’t forget your whistles, travel with more than two people and keep the conversation going so you don’t scare any bears which will in turn scare you. When hiking in bear country or mountain lion territory, we keep our kids between two adults when hiking and we keep them close to us. This trail is well marked and has beautiful views along the way. Make sure you apply for your camping permits in advance or have been to the visitor’s center to sign in.

7. Bechler River

Bechler River is a must see! Waterfalls, hot springs you can relax and take a soak in, lakes you can see to the bottom of, and trout that are enormous. This is a beautiful location and if you can find a secluded spot, the river becomes spectacular. You can make a one day trip and see 12 waterfalls from the trail and get in some fly fishing. This area is bound to make everyone happy.

8. Nighty Night Time

Night time can sometimes be hard when kids are not sure about sleeping in a tent. One trick is to buy some inexpensive glow sticks. It’s amazing the excitement these create with kids of all ages. The kids can wear them so you can see them at night and they can decorate their tent. Our kids also love the headlamps. We got tired of them taking ours and now they each own their own. A stuffed animal or blanket does not weigh too much and may be worth its weight in gold when nighttime comes. Don’t even attempt a sleeping bag for a baby. Invest in a fleece snowsuit with hands and footies and layer them up. And if you are worried about them not being in a crib, you can invest in a Peapod for kids ages 1-3. I have never taken one camping but I have friends that have. It would also be great to set up during the day when they need a nap! Check them out here on Amazon.

9. Safety

Safety is the number one priority for any parent. Traveling in the back country of Yellowstone or even in front of Old Faithful can keep a parent constantly on guard. Give each child a whistle. Let them know they are to blow it if there is any problem whatsoever. Put them in bright colored clothing so you can easily spot them. It has also been suggested to make an imprint of the sole of the child’s shoe before heading out on tinfoil. You could even go as far as purchasing a Spot for them and teaching them how to use it! Just make sure they are old enough to really understand how it works. We use a Spot on every trip we take clients on in Yellowstone.

10. Outpost Wilderness Adventure

If you would like a little more guidance or would like to travel with a few other families, hiring a guiding company is a great way to make sure you are safe, learn the ins and outs of the parks, and visit places you might not have seen on your own. Guide services can make your trip easier, more relaxing and allow you to enjoy the park. Your permits, itinerary, safety, transportation and food are all taken care of so all you need to do is show up and enjoy your vacation. Outpost Wilderness Adventure has been guiding in Yellowstone since the 1980’s and have taken hundreds of people and families through the park on an adventure of a lifetime.

This information was compiled by Chelsea Faerber, Jessica Miller and Aubrey Shaw.  Three moms (one former guide) dedicated to educating and experiencing the outdoors with their children while fighting Nature Deficit Disorder one child at a time.

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