7 Ways to Make Yellowstone Unforgettable for Elementary-Aged Kids

Yellowstone National Park is the kind of magical place that can make even the most screen-dependent child forget to ask for WIFI. Geysers erupt, mud pots bubble, bison and buffalo wander across the landscape, and waterfalls thunder through Kodak-worthy canyons. For families with elementary school-aged children, the trick on any trip is to turn sightseeing into an adventure…and Yellowstone offers plenty of ways to do just that.

Here we highlight seven of our favorite ways to have fun with the whole family at this national treasure of a park.

1. Oldie But Goodie: Watch Old Faithful Erupt

Why not notch an early win and start with Yellowstone's most famous attraction? Kids love the anticipation of waiting for Old Faithful to erupt, and the payoff of a dramatic blast of water and steam is always worth the wait. Make a game of it by having everyone guess when the eruption will take place and make sure to celebrate afterward with a snack or ice cream. The nearby Old Faithful Visitor Education Center has hands-on exhibits and a Young Scientist room that was designed especially to help children understand the park’s geothermal features. You can preview the fun by watching the park’s dedicated Old Faithful webcam.

2. Make It Official: Become a Yellowstone Junior Ranger

We’re mildly obsessed with the Junior Ranger program, and we’ve made it a point to explore what’s available at every national park we’ve visited. It’s great, especially if you’ve got curious kiddos who like badges, scavenger hunts, or having a mission to complete. And, let’s be honest, most of us adults would do this, too, if we could. The self-guided program at Yellowstone is available to children ages 4 and older. Kids work through an activity booklet, explore the park, and have their work reviewed by a ranger before receiving an official Yellowstone Junior Ranger badge. The activities cover everything from wildlife to geology and fire ecology, giving kids a reason to pay closer attention to what they're seeing. To really look the part, you can pick up an official Junior Ranger vest at nearly any of the gift shops.

To preview the activities or build pre-trip excitement, you can download a Junior Ranger workbook ahead of your trip. Not sure when a trip is possible? You can now become a virtual Junior Ranger, too.

3. The Best Game of ‘I Spy’ Ever: Go on a Wildlife-Spotting Adventure

Bears. Bison. Golden eagles. The wildlife at Yellowstone National Park is awe inspiring. (Just remember not to try to touch or approach ANY of them.)

Save yourself a pretty penny and pick up some adult and kiddo binoculars ahead of your trip, then challenge the kids—and yourself—to spot elk, loons, marmots, coyotes, and—if you're extremely lucky—wolves or bears. Give everyone a list and see who can identify the most species. You can learn about all of the animals ahead of time on the Yellowstone website.

We’ve all seen the Youtube videos of people making bad choices, so we’ll say it again: Remember to stay at least 25 yards from most wildlife and 100 yards from bears and wolves. The view from binoculars is better than the view from the emergency room.

4. Get Your Geology On: Explore Yellowstone’s Geysers, Hot Springs, and Mud Pots

Visiting Yellowstone’s geothermal areas can feel like visiting another planet. It’s magical no matter what your age or handle on geology. Walk the boardwalks around places such as the Upper Geyser Basin or Fountain Paint Pot and look for bubbling mud, colorful hot springs, steaming vents, and erupting geysers.

(Side note: For a drive-by easier way of seeing steam vents, you can visit Hawaii Volcanoes National Park on the Big Island in Hawaii.)

It’s important to remind kids that the boardwalk is there not just for their easy viewing but also for their safety. Do not veer from the trail. Thermal ground can be dangerously thin, and visitors should never touch or throw anything.

5. Do Go Chasing Waterfalls … and Canyons, Too

Geysers get the headlines, but there are some incredible canyons and waterfalls at Yellowstone, too. The Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone features enormous cliffs framing the Yellowstone River and its spectacular waterfalls. Pick a manageable viewpoint or short walk rather than trying to cram in a long hike.

6. Huckleberry Find. Make Ice Cream Part of the Itinerary

No Yellowstone summer vacation is complete without at least one (or five) ice cream stops. There are options throughout the park, including at Old Faithful, Canyon Village and Mammoth Hot Springs.

You’ll find all the classic flavors, but one of our favorite ways to celebrate visits to Yellowstone is to lean into the huckleberry options. It’s a distinctly Montana and Yellowstone kind of treat (get the taffy to go, too, as a souvenir).

7. Make Learning Fun: Take a Ranger Program

Summer is a great time to let a real Yellowstone ranger take over the teaching. Ranger programs are typically offered from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day and can turn subjects such as wildlife, geology and Yellowstone's history into stories kids actually want to hear.

The website lists options, and you can even download the whole summer schedule.

Make the Trip an Adventure

Yellowstone offers plenty of places to stay, from campgrounds to cabins, hotels and lodges, but accommodations don’t have to be the focus of the trip. The real family memories will come from the adventures between them: watching Old Faithful explode skyward, spotting a bison in the distance, earning a Junior Ranger badge, trying huckleberry ice cream and laughing over a ridiculous family photo.