Yellowstone Magic in the Mist
Journey to some of the most magical sights throughout Yellowstone with Charlie Armadillo!
The third story (published April 2025) in the National Parks Explorer Series takes readers to Yellowstone National Park, where Charlie is desperate to see ALL of the animals in his National Parks Encyclopedia. But ... the bison is the only animal to be found! Can Charlie find a way to tame his hungry tummy and change his perspective about America's most beloved park? How much wildlife will Charlie spot in Yellowstone?
Keep reading below to learn some fun facts about YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK, as well as see some of the sights that Charlie saw during his visit (most photos are from my personal experiences in the park).
Where is Yellowstone National Park?
Yellowstone is the only park that spans 3 states (Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho), and is America's first national park, established in 1872. It has more geothermal features than any other place in the world, and is the largest national park in the contiguous US, with 2.2 million acres in the park. Wildlife viewing is some of the best in the world!
Map source: https://nps.gov/index.htm (select a state from the drop down menu to use these cool interactive maps!)
Yellowstone is America's 1st National Park, and our 10th to visit as a family!
Abyss Pool is one of the deepest geothermal features in the park at 53' deep. Gorgeously dangerous, my friends.
Yellowstone Bison are one of the many large mammals tourists seek out in the park. But, after being stuck in a bison jam or two ... you may feel like they're everywhere (there are over 4500 of them in the park). Remember, do NOT pet the furry cows!!
The Grand Prismatic Overlook is, admittedly, the hike we highly anticipated, but under-researched prior to our visit. The Fairy Falls trail - which leads to the overlook (photo credit NPS), is closed seasonally due to high bear activity, and this was the case during our visit. I was bummed (and my son Charlie was hungry ... which is frequent). I found inspiration in our lack of being able to access a hike in writing my Yellowstone book. I hope to one day enjoy the view!
Sheepeater Cliff is a lesser known attraction in the northern extent of the park (near Mammoth Springs). The columnar basalts are stunning (500,000 year old rock with exceptionally cool hexagonal fracturing patterns).