I'm a USA travel expert. Here are my 5 must-sees in Yellowstone.

Yellowstone is one of those parks that does everything to excess, but in the best possible way. Think geysers, incredibly vibrant hot springs, dramatic canyons, vast herds of bison roaming wide valleys and landscapes that constantly transform. I've visited several times, including with my family, and I'm always stunned by just how much this park has to offer.

So, if Yellowstone is part of your next American West road trip, here are my top 5 must-see spots. Ready?

My 5 must-sees in Yellowstone

1. Norris Geyser Basin: Yellowstone in a nutshell

Norris Geyser Basin is a spot I genuinely love. It's also Yellowstone's hottest geothermal basin: beneath your feet, water is heated deep underground before rising to the surface as hot springs, steam or geysers. It's safe to say the ground here is far from calm!

To plan your visit to the area:

• Allow about half a day to explore Norris at a relaxed pace.
• Explore Porcelain Basin (my personal favourite here), a more open area where the colours, steam and geothermal formations create a truly surreal landscape.
• Also explore Back Basin, which is more wooded, where you can discover Steamboat Geyser and Echinus Geyser, two of the iconic geysers in this part of Norris.

If you have a bit more time, stop at Artist Paint Pots, just a 10-minute drive away. It's a short walk and reveals basins with wonderfully varied hues. It's less visited than some of the park's big classics, and in my opinion, it's definitely worth the stop.

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2. Lamar Valley: wild encounters

If you love spotting wildlife, Lamar Valley is an absolute must-see. You can come across animals almost anywhere in Yellowstone, but here, it's on a different scale: vast herds of bison, pronghorn, coyotes, wolves and many others share this immense valley surrounded by mountains.

To make the most of Lamar Valley:

• Allow plenty of time to drive through the valley at a leisurely pace, stopping whenever you spot animals. Here, the journey truly is part of the visit.
• Keep your binoculars and camera handy: it's one of Yellowstone's best spots for observing large bison herds and trying to catch a glimpse of wolves.
• Take Highway 212 and the Chief Joseph Scenic Byway (296) towards the northeast entrance to extend the experience: the further you go, the more the mountains dominate the landscape.

Even if the animals are a bit shy, the panoramic views are still worth the detour, with the river winding through the valley and mountains in the background.

3. Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone: the park's spectacular canyon

With a name like Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, you can probably guess you're not in for a small gully! Carved by thousands of years of erosion, the canyon stretches for around 39 km and reaches depths of up to 370 metres in places. Needless to say, when you see it, the name feels perfectly chosen.

To explore the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone:

• Explore the viewpoints along the North Rim and South Rim to see the canyon from different angles.
• Stop at Artist Point for one of the most classic views of the canyon and Lower Falls. It's the kind of stop that offers stunning visuals without needing a long hike.
• If you want to get closer to the falls and are feeling energetic, you could add a short hike to your visit, such as Red Rock Point. The view is superb, but you'll need good cardio for the climb back up!

What impresses me most here isn't necessarily getting as close as possible to the falls; it's truly the sheer scale of the canyon and all the colours you find in the rock. Yellow, pink, orange... it's genuinely worth taking a step back to admire it as a whole.

4. Grand Prismatic Spring: Yellowstone's multicoloured spring

It's hard to talk about Yellowstone without mentioning Grand Prismatic Spring! Located in the Midway Geyser Basin, this immense hot spring is famous for its rings of turquoise, yellow and orange. And no, it's not an Instagram filter: these colours are mainly due to micro-organisms that thrive in the hot waters.

To discover Grand Prismatic Spring:

• Take the boardwalks of Midway Geyser Basin to observe the spring up close and explore the other geothermal formations in the area.
• Get a higher perspective from the Grand Prismatic Overlook, accessible from the Fairy Falls car park. This walk is about 2 km return and offers a panoramic view of the spring.
• Aim for a warm, sunny day, ideally around midday.

Grand Prismatic is probably one of Yellowstone's most photographed spots, but it's worth knowing that the images you see everywhere are often taken from above. From the boardwalks, the perspective is naturally different! To truly appreciate the view, I recommend heading up to the Grand Prismatic Overlook. As far as I'm concerned, it's well worth the detour.

5. Old Faithful: more than just one geyser

It's probably Yellowstone's most famous name. Old Faithful owes its fame to its remarkably regular eruptions, which send an impressive plume of water and steam dozens of metres into the air. But once you're there, you'll quickly discover it's far from the only show in town!

To make the most of the area:

• Allow several hours if your schedule permits. The area boasts numerous geysers and geothermal basins to explore.
• Don't just stick to Old Faithful: keep an eye out for Castle Geyser and Grand Geyser, two other geysers I find truly impressive.
• Check eruption predictions via the NPS app to plan your route and increase your chances of seeing multiple eruptions.

My partner and I arrived around 7 am and stayed until midday. It might sound like a long time, but it flies by! Arriving early also means you get to enjoy the area before the crowds become too dense.

Bonus: Mammoth Hot Springs, my little favourite

If you have a bit more time, head north from Norris to Mammoth Hot Springs. The scenery completely transforms once again: here, hot water has sculpted large limestone terraces that give the landscape a rather astonishing relief. Yellowstone clearly hadn't finished showing off its capabilities!

To discover Mammoth Hot Springs:

• Start with the Lower Terraces Area, the unmissable part of the sector.
• Don't miss Palette Spring, one of Mammoth's most striking formations.
• If you want to explore all of the Lower Terraces at a leisurely pace, allow around 2 hours.

My tips for making the most of Yellowstone

How many days should you allow for Yellowstone?

Yellowstone is enormous, and the distances between different areas can quickly make your days long. To enjoy the main highlights without spending your whole trip rushing around, I recommend allowing a minimum of 3 nights, and ideally 4 nights.

I've done it in 3 nights myself, and honestly, we managed to see a lot. However, it was quite energetic: we were up early and rarely stopped! With a 4th night, the pace becomes much more enjoyable, and you have more freedom to take your time at the various sites.

In summary:

• 3 nights: The minimum I recommend to see the highlights. It's doable, but your days will be packed.
• 4 nights: In my opinion, this is ideal for enjoying the park at a more comfortable pace.
• 5 nights or more: You can take things more slowly and start to expand your itinerary to the areas surrounding Yellowstone.

Is Yellowstone suitable for families?

Yellowstone might seem daunting to plan with young children, but it's actually a park I find truly enjoyable to explore as a family. On my first visit, my daughter was 2, and the park's accessibility was a significant factor in our choice.

In several geothermal areas, the trails are built on wooden boardwalks to protect the fragile ground. This really makes things easier with a pushchair: my daughter could even nap while we continued our visit at a leisurely pace. We once spent nearly three hours exploring an area like that!

• Keep the pushchair for the developed areas: with young children, it can genuinely simplify your day.
• Alternate between geothermal basins, viewpoints and areas for animal spotting to vary your days.
• Plan fairly flexible days: in Yellowstone, between driving times, breaks and unexpected stops to observe animals, it's best to avoid a too-tight schedule with children.

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What to do around Yellowstone if you have more time?

If you have a few extra days, don't necessarily stop at Yellowstone's borders. The region lends itself very well to a longer road trip, and depending on what you fancy, two detours are particularly worthwhile.

• Head to Cody if you want to immerse yourself in Wyoming's cowboy atmosphere and catch a rodeo.
• Southwards, extend your trip to Grand Teton National Park, just an hour's drive away, to add another spectacular dose of wide-open spaces to your itinerary.

Yellowstone is definitely a park I’m very fond of. You can go from geysers to canyons, then find yourself just a few miles away in front of a herd of bison – there’s always something surprising to see. My top tip? Don’t try to tick everything off a list. Leave some time for the unexpected, because here, an unplanned stop can easily become one of the best moments of your trip. Caroline

What about you? What are your must-sees in Yellowstone? Let us know in the comments below!