Activity Canyon to Lake, Yellowstone National Park
Hayden Valley
An activity in Canyon to Lake, Yellowstone National Park, free to visit and worth about 1.5 hours. Best time to go: Dawn or dusk.
Why go
Open valley along the Yellowstone River with bison herds and frequent wolf and bear sightings.
It is one of 10 curated places we feature in Yellowstone National Park, alongside 5 sights, 2 activities and 1 place for a drink. The closest of our other picks is Artist Point, 5.5 mi away as the crow flies.
- Type
- Activity · Nature
- Neighborhood
- Canyon to Lake
- Price
- Free
- Time needed
- 1.5 hr
- Best time
- Dawn or dusk
Nearby
Our closest curated picks, including 1 beyond Yellowstone National Park. Distances are straight-line, not walking or driving.
- 1Artist Point
Classic viewpoint of the Lower Falls and the yellow walls of the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone.
Sight · 5.5 mi straight-line - 2Lake Yellowstone Hotel Dining Room
Dining room in the park's oldest hotel, overlooking Yellowstone Lake.
Food · 7.0 mi straight-line - 3Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone
Yellow-walled canyon where the 308-foot Lower Falls builds a huge cone of ice in winter.
Outdoors · Yellowstone · 10 mi straight-line - 4Norris Geyser Basin
The park's hottest, most acidic basin, home to Steamboat, the world's tallest active geyser.
Sight · 13 mi straight-line
On these curated routes
Hayden Valley is a stop on our Glacier to Yellowstone route. Open it to see the full day-by-day plan.
More things to do in Yellowstone National Park
2 more curated activities in Yellowstone National Park. See the full Yellowstone National Park guide.
When to go
Average daily highs in Yellowstone National Park run from 19°F in December to 72°F in July; December is usually the wettest month. For Hayden Valley itself, we suggest: Dawn or dusk.
Modelled monthly averages for Yellowstone National Park from NASA POWER, not a forecast. Full Yellowstone National Park weather by month.
Getting there
Map links open a live search for Hayden Valley, so hours and directions come straight from the map app.
- Address
- Hayden Valley, Wyoming 82190, USA
- Coordinates
- 44.64383, -110.45548
- Destination
- Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming
Hayden Valley: quick answers
How much time do you need at Hayden Valley?
Plan on about 1.5 hours at Hayden Valley. That is our curated estimate for a typical visit; groups that linger will want more.
When is the best time to visit Hayden Valley?
Our pick: Dawn or dusk. Insider tip: Use pullouts only; bring binoculars or a spotting scope.
Is Hayden Valley free?
Yes, we list Hayden Valley as free to visit. Check locally before you go, since special exhibits, parking or tours can carry a fee.
Where is Hayden Valley?
Hayden Valley is at Hayden Valley, Wyoming 82190, USA, in Canyon to Lake. The Google Maps and Apple Maps links on this page open it for directions.
Which TripsCircle routes include Hayden Valley?
Hayden Valley appears on Glacier to Yellowstone, a curated route you can open on TripsCircle and plan with your group.
Add Hayden Valley to your crew's plan
Save it to a shared TripsCircle itinerary, settle the timing with a quick poll, and split the costs with everyone going to Yellowstone National Park.
Plan Yellowstone National Park
- Yellowstone National Park travel guide 10 places
- Best time to visit Yellowstone National Park weather by month
- Yellowstone National Park to Grand Teton National Park 44 mi straight-line
- Glacier National Park to Yellowstone National Park 336 mi straight-line
Lists & regions
Also in Yellowstone National Park
- Mammoth Hot Springs Terraces Sight
- Bear Pit Lounge Drinks
Curated recommendation, not live listing data. Confirm hours, prices, bookings and access before you go.