Yellowstone & Grand Teton Travel Guide

The Yellowstone & Grand Teton Travel Guide is a resource for those planning to tour Yellowstone National Park and/or Grand Teton National Park. The adjacent national parks are typically visited at the same time and offer very different experiences. Yellowstone offers the world's largest concentration of thermal features such as geysers and hot pools. Grand Teton features one of the world's most spectacular mountain ranges. Both parks offer outstanding opportunities to view wildlife.

Using the Interactive Map

Place your mouse pointer on any KEY item or place name on the map. A brief description will appear. Click on the box for a link to detailed information. For easiest use, scroll map to top. Detailed Yellowstone & Grand Teton National Park Map in separate window.

Madison Junction Area

The Madison Area of Yellowstone is noted for the confluence of the Gibbon and Firehole Rivers at Madison Junction, forming the Madison River, a trophy fishing stream. The popular Madison campground is within walking distance of the river and is also in an area with good wildlife viewing. Look for grazing elk and bison.

The Artist Paint Pots is a scenic thermal area accessed by a one mile trail off the road between Madison and Norris. Gibbon Falls is along the same road. It drops 84-feet over remnants of the Yellowstone Caldera rim. The rock wall on the opposite side of the road from the waterfall is the inner rim of the caldera. Just north of Madison Junction, there is a short boardwalk trail to Terrace Springs. Just south of the junction Firehole Canyon Drive leaves the main road for about two miles, offering a view of Firehole Falls.

The main feature is the Madison River. The Madison is a blue-ribbon fly fishing stream featuring brown and rainbow trout, and mountain whitefish. You need a Yellowstone National Park permit for fishing inside the national park. See Fishing in Yellowstone (NPS). Outside the park you would need a state of Montana fishing license.

Besides the Artist Paint Pot trail, there are other trails ranging from one to six miles. A link to the complete list is provided below.

Helpful links

 Detailed Map of Madison Junction area.
 Hikes in the Madison area.
 Natural features in Madison area. Includes Madison River, and more.
 Madison Area Trip Planner. Official NPS guide.

Services in area

Nearest Food and Lodging

 Old Faithful Inn. May to October. Located a short walk from the famous geyser, the inn is the most requested lodging in the park. Consists of a rustic-style lodge dating to 1904. with two wings added later. Modest motel-style rooms in the Old Building with or without baths (inexpensive to moderate). High-range rooms in newer section, moderately expensive. Premium rooms and suites - expensive. Some ADA accessible rooms. Large lobby with huge stone fireplace, restaurant, deli, gift shop.

 Old Faithful Lodge Cabins. Mid-May to mid-September. Inexpensive rustic cabins (with or without baths) close to Old Faithful Geyser. Classic main lodge building dates from 1920s. Lobby and food court (cafeteria, bakery) offer view of geyser. Also, a large gift shop.

  Old Faithful Snow Lodge & Cabins. Early May to late October. Newest facility in the park. Upscale lodge rooms (expensive), upscale cabins (moderate), and basic cabins (inexpensive). All cabins have bathrooms. Some cabins ADA accessible. Most rooms accomodate up to 4 people. Dining room, grill, and gift shop. Also, a winter season, December to March, with special packages. See details.

  West Yellowstone Chamber of Commerce. The town of West Yellowstone, Montana, is conveniently located right outside the west entrance to Yellowstone National Park. Listing includes motels/hotels, guest ranches, condos, cabins, bed and breakfasts, and campgrounds. Area noted for outdoor recreation such as fishing and white water rafting.

Camping at Madison

 Madison Campground. Early May to late October. Located 14 miles from park's west entrance (West Yellowstone) in a valley at junction of three rivers. Large campground with over 250 sites. Flush toilets. Campground away from developed areas. Generally open, level sites, lightly wooded. Tent-only loops available. River overlooks, fishing on Madison River (famous for brown trout) within walking distance. Generators 8am-8pm. Reservations available.

Nearest Visitor Center

The Madison Information Station is at Madison Junction in the picnic area, and is open early June to late September. Offers an information station, Yellowstone Association bookstore, and small-scale exhibits.

Other services in area

Picnicking.

Yellowstone National Park Guide Index

• Introduction & Index to Yellowstone National Park
• Mammoth Hot Springs
• Tower Fall & Roosevelt
• Canyon Village & Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone
• Norris Area & Norris Geyer Basin
• Madison Junction
• Old Faithful, Lower & Upper Geyser Basin
• Lake Village, Bridge Bay, & Fishing Bridge
• Grant Village & West Thumb of Yellowstone Lake
• Camping in Yellowstone
• Park Lodging & Travel Services
• Where to View Wildlife
  
  
• Introduction to Grand Teton National Park
• Yellowstone & Grand Teton Guide Home Page
• Northern Rockies Travel Guide