The first national park in the world is Yellowstone National Park, established by the United States on March 1, 1872. President Ulysses S. Grant signed the Yellowstone National Park Protection Act, setting aside the Yellowstone headwaters as a public park “for the benefit and enjoyment of the people,” according to the National Park Service history of Yellowstone’s establishment.
What was the first national park in the world?
Yellowstone was the first national park in the world.
That answer is simple, but the story has a few switchbacks. Yellowstone became a national park on March 1, 1872, in what were then the territories of Wyoming and Montana. Today, the park also reaches into Idaho. The idea was bold for its time: instead of selling or settling the land, the federal government withdrew it from private development and kept it as a public park.
For hikers, that matters. Yellowstone was not created as a city garden or a fenced preserve. It protected a huge, wild volcanic landscape with geysers, hot springs, waterfalls, canyons, wildlife habitat, and backcountry routes. The park became the model that later parks around the world would borrow, argue with, improve on, and reshape.
Why was Yellowstone created as a national park?
Yellowstone was created to keep its natural wonders from being claimed, sold, or developed.
The National Park Service says reports from expeditions, along with William Henry Jackson’s photographs, Thomas Moran’s paintings, and other artwork, helped convince Congress that Yellowstone’s geysers, waterfalls, and thermal basins were too valuable to carve into private holdings. The Yellowstone act reserved the area from “settlement, occupancy, or sale” and dedicated it as a public park.
That sounds clean on paper. On the ground, it was messier. Yellowstone was already a homeland, travel route, hunting ground, and cultural landscape for Indigenous peoples long before Congress acted. The national park idea protected scenery, but it also came out of a period when the U.S. government was pushing Native peoples off land across the West. Any honest Yellowstone explainer has to hold both truths at once: the park helped launch global conservation, and its creation was tied to displacement.
Was anything protected before Yellowstone?
Yes, but Yellowstone was the first place established specifically as a national park.
This is where trivia nights get loud. Hot Springs in Arkansas was set aside in 1832, 40 years before Yellowstone, but the National Park Service describes it as the nation’s oldest national reservation, not the first national park. It became Hot Springs National Park in 1921. Yosemite Valley was protected in 1864, but it was granted to California as a state-managed park before Yosemite became a national park in 1890.
| Place | Early protection | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Hot Springs, Arkansas | Set aside in 1832; national park in 1921 | Older federal reservation, but not the first national park |
| Yosemite, California | Protected as a state park in 1864; national park in 1890 | Influenced Yellowstone’s legal language |
| Yellowstone | Established March 1, 1872 | Recognized by NPS as the world’s first national park |
What makes Yellowstone different from other parks?
Yellowstone protects a rare mix of geothermal features, wildlife, and high-elevation wilderness.
The park sits on one of the world’s largest volcanic systems. You see that in the ground itself: geysers, mud pots, fumaroles, hot springs, and steaming basins that make the place feel alive under your boots. Yellowstone also protects major habitat for bison, elk, bears, wolves, trumpeter swans, cutthroat trout, and many other species.
The scale is part of the draw. Yellowstone is measured in thousands of square miles, not a tidy scenic overlook. The official Yellowstone park facts page lists the park at 3,472 square miles [8,991 square kilometers], with land in Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho. That is bigger than Rhode Island and Delaware combined.
For you as a hiker, this means distances take time. A short line on the map can involve elevation, weather, wildlife delays, road closures, or thermal areas where stepping off the boardwalk is not just illegal—it can kill you.
How do you visit Yellowstone today?
You plan around the season first, then the entrance, roads, and lodging.
Yellowstone is open 24 hours per day, 365 days per year, but most roads are seasonal. As of November 2026, the official Yellowstone roads page says the only road generally open year-round to regular vehicles is the route from the North Entrance at Gardiner, Montana, through Mammoth Hot Springs and Tower Junction to Cooke City, Montana. Most other park roads close to regular vehicles from early November to late April and shift to limited oversnow travel in winter.
- Pick your season. Summer gives you the most access, but also the biggest crowds. Spring and fall bring fewer people, colder weather, and more closures. Winter is stunning, but access is limited.
- Check the road status. Do this before you drive, not when you reach the gate. Weather can change the plan fast.
- Choose a base area. Yellowstone is huge. Old Faithful, Canyon, Mammoth, Lake, and West Yellowstone all put you near different trails and sights.
- Book early if you need lodging or camping. In-park lodging and campgrounds can fill quickly in peak season.
- Build a short-list, not a fantasy list. Two geyser basins, one hike, and one wildlife drive can make a full Yellowstone day.
What does it cost to enter Yellowstone?
Yellowstone charges an entrance fee unless you use an accepted pass.
As of November 2026, the official Yellowstone fees page lists a standard private vehicle entrance pass at $35, valid for seven consecutive days. The same page says non-U.S. residents age 16 and older must pay an additional $100 per person fee unless admitted with an Annual or America the Beautiful Pass. Fees can change, so check the official page before you go.
Entrance fees do not cover everything. Camping, some reservations, fishing permits, guided tours, and backcountry overnight permits are separate. If you are planning more than one national park trip in a year, compare the annual pass options before buying a single-park entrance pass.
What rules should hikers know in Yellowstone?
Stay on trails and boardwalks, give wildlife room, store food correctly, and treat the park like bear country.
As of November 2026, Yellowstone’s official safety guidance says visitors must stay at least 100 yards [91 m] from bears, wolves, and cougars, and at least 25 yards [23 m] from all other wildlife, including bison and elk. The Yellowstone safety page also warns that it is illegal to approach wildlife in a way that disturbs or displaces the animal.
- Thermal areas: Stay on boardwalks and marked trails. Thin crust can break under your weight.
- Wildlife: Use binoculars or a zoom lens. Your phone is not worth a bison charge.
- Bears: Carry bear spray where appropriate, know how to use it, make noise, and avoid hiking alone in remote areas.
- Food: Store food, trash, toiletries, and scented items where animals cannot reach them.
- Pets: Expect major limits on trails, boardwalks, and backcountry areas. Check the current pet rules before bringing one.
- Drones: Recreational drone use is not allowed unless specifically approved in writing by the park superintendent.
Do you need a permit to hike in Yellowstone?
Day hiking does not require a backcountry permit, but overnight backcountry camping does.
As of November 2026, Yellowstone’s official backcountry camping page says a backcountry permit is required year-round for all overnight stays in the backcountry, while permits are not required for day hiking. Overnight permits specify your campsite, dates, group size, and route details.
If you want a backpacking trip, do not wing it at the trailhead. Build your route around designated campsites, water crossings, bear management areas, and seasonal trail conditions. Many trails sit above 7,000 feet [2,134 m], where snow can linger deep into the hiking season.
Related reading
- National Park Pass Changes for 2026
- How Big Is Yellowstone National Park?
- Every Kid Outdoors: The Free 4th Grade National Park Pass
- How Big Is Yosemite National Park?
FAQ
What is the first national park in the world?
Yellowstone National Park is the first national park in the world. It was established on March 1, 1872, when President Ulysses S. Grant signed the Yellowstone National Park Protection Act.
Is Yellowstone older than Yosemite?
As a national park, yes. Yosemite Valley was protected earlier as a state-managed park in 1864, but Yellowstone became a national park in 1872, while Yosemite became a national park in 1890.
Is Hot Springs the first national park?
No. Hot Springs was set aside as a federal reservation in 1832, but it did not become a national park until 1921. Yellowstone holds the first-national-park title.
Can you hike anywhere in Yellowstone?
No. You must stay on boardwalks and designated trails in thermal areas, and overnight backcountry camping requires a permit. Off-trail travel in the wrong place can damage fragile ground or put you over scalding water.
What is the best time to visit Yellowstone for hiking?
Summer and early fall usually offer the broadest trail and road access. Conditions still vary by elevation, snowpack, wildlife activity, fire, and construction, so check official road and trail information before you leave.
Why does Yellowstone matter today?
Yellowstone matters because it started the national park model and still protects a rare volcanic, wildlife-rich landscape. It also reminds you that conservation history is complicated, especially where public lands overlap with Indigenous homelands.