Courtney Holden

A record number of swans are calling southwest Wyoming their winter home, giving biologists and conservationists something to trumpet about.

Here are the answers to the difference between a grizzly and black bear, the odds of seeing a bear in the park, and if you should be afraid of bears.

In winter or spring when many Yellowstone roads are closed, Google maps show alternate roads outside the park, even if you are planning a summer trip.

Inside Yellowstone's Hamilton Store is Charles A. Hamilton's old office. Nearly $2 million in canceled checks covers the walls.

Vacation in a winter wonderland with snowy views of steaming geysers. Tips on what to wear, what to do, wildlife to watch, and where to stay or camp in Yellowstone.

Food options abound in Yellowstone National Park, whether you’re looking to dress down, dress up or make something yourself.

Everything you need to know about autumn weather, elk, bear, and bison activity in fall, plus seasonal closings of road and park facilities.

These large mammals are abundant in the park, stand 6 feet tall, and weigh over half a ton. There are typically 4,000-5,000 bison in Yellowstone.

Stay at least 100 yards away from bears and wolves and at least 25 yards away from other large mammals like bison, elk, bighorn sheep, deer, moose and coyotes.

During dam construction, workers had staged Wyoming’s first labor strike. The project also had a role in relocating persons of Japanese ancestry during WWII.

This steep but wonderful trail takes you from the top of Yellowstone's Grand Canyon to the base of the 308-foot-high Lower Falls. It's strenuous going down 500 feet, but less so than in 1905 when Uncle Tom lowered you by rope.

About 50 hot springs and colorful limestone terraces lie within the area of Yellowstone known as Mammoth Hot Springs. Drive to this geyser basin year-round.

A recent study out of the scientific journal reports that killing a wolf that preys on sheep or cattle is not be the best strategy to protect the livestock.

Located on the Gibbon River, the falls drop roughly 84 feet in a gradual descent.

Yes, you can carry a gun in Yellowstone. But it's illegal to fire it - even in self defense. And once you exit Yellowstone, you could be in one of three states, so it's important to know the law.

A 16,000-acre wildlife refuge with moose, elk, sandhill cranes and trumpeter swans. Enjoy some of the nation's best fly fishing on Henry's Fork.

Take a sleigh ride and see more than 5,000 elk when they migrate to this lower elevation during the winter near Grand Teton National Park.

Please don't dig or bring a metal detector into the national park. It's illegal and Fenn says it's above ground. Happy hunting!

At Yellowstone's Artists' Paintpots, you see pastel-colored mud and springs, bubbling and gurgling under a blanket of steam.

At the Norris Back Geyser Basin, you'll see a land of extremes... the tallest, but infrequent geyser, geysers that erupt continuously, springs that have been damaged by man, new geysers, old geysers, and exploding geysers.

Porcelain Basin is named due to the milky color of the mineral deposited here. That whitish-colored mineral is siliceous sinter, also known as geyserite.

Sure, it’s exciting to see a bear in Yellowstone National Park. But there’s no need to see one up close. And it’s definitely no fun to have one make off with your lunch Yogi Bear style. See our list of what counts as "food" and how to store it.

Enter Yellowstone National Park from the north entrance and you’ll get a chance to see (and take a picture next to) the iconic Roosevelt Arch.

The park’s official nonprofit education partner, dedicating itself to educating visitors about Yellowstone and teaching them the importance of preserving this national treasure

Consider adding this to your list of “must-sees” at Yellowstone National Park: Bigfoot. That’s what a four-person film crew scheduled to spend up to 10 weeks in the park this summer will be hunting for.

Montana’s many colored sapphires, mined since 1892, are found in the famous placer gravels near Philipsburg. You can mine your own at several locations on your Yellowstone vacation.

Yellowstone National Park’s owl population is difficult to spot due to their nocturnal habits. However, if you’re lucky, you might catch a glimpse of one of these incredible birds.

Experience Yellowstone in its winter glory, then stop by a warming hut to grab a bite to eat, take a load of your feet and/or get away from the chill.

If you’re looking to get a close-up look at America’s national symbol, Yellowstone National Park is a great place to do it. Bald eagles are often spotted soaring through the skies, especially around lakes and rivers.

If you’re lucky in Yellowstone National Park, you’ll get a chance to see one of the park’s most playful inhabitants: the Yellowstone river otter.

On Aug. 17, 1959 a 7.3 magnitude earthquake devastated Hebgen Lake, Montana, killing 28 people and creating Quake Lake

Norris holds the record for the highest temperature ever recorded in Yellowstone. It has the tallest geyser in the world, and the colors too impress with milky blues, greens, and yellows.