Every guide and visitor has their own notion of the most important things to see in and around Yellowstone National Park. In fact, you probably have your own list. Still, if you've never been to the Yellowstone region or you're not sure what you've seen before, a Must See list may be helpful. Ours is very short, just six items: Old Faithful Geyser, the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, Yellowstone Lake,  the Beartooth Highway, the Grand Tetons, and the Buffalo Bill Historical Center. Each of them is described below.

Old Faithful Geyser

You cannot visit Yellowstone National Park without visiting Old Faithful Geyser. Sure, everyone sees Old Faithful erupt, at least once. Chances are you'll be standing with a crowd of several hundred people waiting and watching. Old Faithful is still the most frequently erupting and reliable of the big geysers in the world. It is the pulsing heart of Yellowstone, the park's icon, and a global symbol of natural forces. So, of course, it's a must see. But did you know that Old Faithful has two types of eruptions? The picture above is from a major eruption, where the column of steaming water climbs over 200 feet (65 meters) into the air. Most impressive. However, there is also a minor eruption, where the height of the geyser may struggle to reach 100 feet (35 meters). Less impressive. Some people can be disappointed in Old Faithful when they're waited to see a minor eruption on a cloudy day. While predicting the type of Old Faithful Geyser eruption is imprecise, the rule of thumb is that the longer the time between eruptions, the more likely it will be a major eruption. So anybody can see Old Faithful erupt, but catching it at its best may take some effort. 

INSIDER TIP: It would be a shame to think of Old Faithful as the only must see in its neighborhood. There are more than 200 geysers in the Upper Geyser Basin, and Old Faithful is just one of them. If time is short, a walk around Geyser Hill, which is across the Firehole River from Old Faithful, brings you close to a number of famous geysers (Beehive, Lion, Giantess) and other thermal features. Otherwise, what we here at Yellowstone Insider call the "Firehole Walk" -- from Old Faithful Inn to Morning Glory Pool, passing by Grand Geyser--provides better chances to see a major geyser erupt (Daisy, Grand, Castle, Riverside, Giant, Grotto) along with the opportunity to see scores of other named thermal features.

Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone

The Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone River is breathtaking, and it really is made of "yellow stone," but that's not what sets this must-see apart. It's a magnificent canyon with not one but two great waterfalls: The Upper and Lower Falls of the Yellowstone River. The Lower Falls (308 ft/ 94m) is the largest in the Rocky Mountains. The falls and the canyon can be accessed by either the North or South Rim Drive. If pinched for time, the prime view of the Canyon and Lower Falls is from Artist Point on the South Rim Drive. If you have the time and physical strength, hike one of the "Brink" trails to stand at the very edge of either the Upper or Lower Falls, an unforgettable experience.