Yellowstone National Park is more than 2.2 million acres of wilderness that is home to diverse landscapes, geothermal features, an abundance of wildlife, and much more. In many ways, Yellowstone is so large and offers so much that it can be overwhelming. Below are a number of books that might help you get familiar with Yellowstone, learn more about the ecosystem, and even grow a deeper appreciation for this magnificent region of the Northern Rockies.
Yellowstone: A Journey Through America’s Wild Heart
by David Quammen
For those interested in an exploration of the ecology of Yellowstone National Park and neighboring areas, this book dives deep into this ecosystem and has a nice collection of excellent photos to help tell the story of Yellowstone and its wildlife.
Seasons of Yellowstone: Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks
by Thomas D. Mangelsen
It’s possible that Tom Mangelsen is the most well-known wildlife photographer in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. Based in Jackson Hole, he’s especially recognized for photographing well-known bears. And although he has traveled around the world, his extensive work in Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks have been impactful in telling the story of the wildlife and ecosystem. “Seasons of Yellowstone” offer a comprehensive look at many of his photos from years in this region of the Rockies.
Bison: Portrait of an Icon
by Audrey Hall and Chase Reynolds Ewald
Bison are iconic to the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, and their history and story, especially over the last 200 years, is especially eventful. Knowing the story of bison in North America is knowing the history of the United States and Yellowstone itself. Bison are a critical species to the ecosystem and their recovery is a story of hope. “Bison: Portrait of an Icon” pays homage to these animals through photography and essays.
Flora of the Yellowstone
by Whitney Tilt
Knowing the plants, trees, and flowers of Yellowstone can be very helpful with finding wildlife. And on those days when animals might be hard to find, wildflowers and other flora might help make for good days of landscape or macro photography. “Flora of the Yellowstone” has been a favorite for many for a long time.
Wild Wonders
by Julia Cook
Julia Cook is a wildlife photographer and guide in Yellowstone, and her work is some of the best out there. “Wild Wonders” is a fairly recent release that is an impressive volume of exceptional wildlife photography.
The Ecological Buffalo
by Wes Olson and Johane Janelle
The near extinction and then recovery of bison have revealed just how critical these animals are to their native ecosystems. They are in fact a keystone species, and in “The Ecological Buffalo,” authors Wes Olson and Johane Janelle break down just how remarkable and ecologically valuable bison are to the Yellowstone region and beyond.
Ansel Adams in the National Parks: Photographs from America’s Wild Places
by Ansel Adams and Andrea Stillman
Ansel Adams’ photos from National Parks have endured for many decades, and many believe his work has helped people all over the world grow an appreciation for our public lands and parks. His work is among the best, and his breathtaking landscapes are inspirational. This book isn’t focused on Yellowstone, but it is certainly worth having on the bookshelf or coffee table.
American Buffalo: In Search of a Lost Icon
by Steven Rinella
Steve Rinella is most known as a hunter whose pursuit of animals has been documented for years on the show MeatEater. But through his hunting, Rinella has become an amateur biologist or animal historian of sorts, and his journey to hunt bison in Alaska led to an outstanding book about the animal and its saga in American history. More recently, he talks about the history of bison in the United States in Ken Burns’ series, The American Buffalo.
Bears of North America
by Stan Tekiela
“Bears of North America” by Stan Tekiela is a great 160-page book about black bears, brown bears, and polar bears. The author offers great bear photography as well an interesting information about the bear species and even where one might be able to photograph them.
National Geographic Field Guide to the Birds of the United States and Canada—West
by Ted Floyd
This regionally-focused book on the birds of western North America is incredibly useful in the field. At nearly 500 pages, it doesn’t exactly fit in your back pocket, but this book is very comprehensive and offers great detail and illustrations of the birds you might find in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem and throughout the west.
by Tom Murphy
Tom Murphy is one of the highest regarded wildlife photographers in Yellowstone. He even recently had a bison photo inspire a new postage stamp. His photography books that take on each season in Yellowstone are phenomenal. They can be hard to find at times, so it is recommended that you get one if you see it.
Yellowstone Wolves: Science and Discovery in the World’s First National Park
by Douglas W. Smith, Daniel R. Stahler, and Daniel R. MacNulty
If you want to go deep into the science of wolves in Yellowstone, this book is about as comprehensive as it gets. While it touches on the history of wolves in Yellowstone, “Yellowstone Wolves” largely details nearly all aspects of these animals in the time since they were reintroduced. From their movements to exactly what prey they are eating, this book is a significant scientific contribution. Note that it is very academic in nature.
Yellowstone’s Birds: Diversity and Abundance in the World’s First National Park
by Douglas W. Smith, Lauren E. Walker, and Katherine E. Duffy
“Yellowstone’s Birds” is an excellent book for those wanting to learn all about the birds in the region. For everything from swans to ravens, this book has it all. A great coffee table book, this one might be a little heavy for the field, but it is highly recommended for at home reading.
Yellowstone Treasures: The Traveler’s Companion to the National Park
by Janet Chapple
Janet Chapple’s “Yellowstone Treasures” is great travel guide to use to plan trips or to have on hand in the park. Similar in format to a Rick Steves or Lonely Planet guide, this book is organized by regions and areas of the park then details everything from site to hikes to the characteristics of each geyser and much more.
Hiking Yellowstone National Park
by Bill Schneider
When summer travel packs the park, hiking is a great way to get off the beaten path (or paved road) and escape the crowds while discovering some of the beauty the park offers in its backcountry. This guide gives guests more than 100 options for hikes and offers tremendous detail about each hike. Do know that encountering animals in the backcountry can be a bit different than from the road where they may be acclimated to cars and photographers, so be especially careful about disturbing or approaching wildlife.
Atlas of Yellowstone
by W. Andrew Marcus, James E. Meacham, Ann W. Rodman, Alethea Y. Steingisser, Justin T. Menke, Ross West
As a photography and fly fishing guide in Yellowstone, “Atlas of Yellowstone” is an invaluable book. Packed with illustrations, graphics, charts, maps, and more, this is a remarkable resource for knowing everything from the geology of the Tetons to the native fish of the region and their distribution to the biology of bears.
Yellowstone — The Official Guide to Touring the World’s First National Park
by Yellowstone Forever
Yellowstone Forever is Yellowstone’s longtime educational partner, and they offer a variety of resources for those visiting and wanting to learn more about the park. Among their offerings, this guide is a visually appealing and easy-to-read book of less than 100 pages that can really simplify a trip to Yellowstone. This book covers site, hike and walks, and some of the geology and flora among other aspects.
— Tim Harden
Disclosure: Some of the booksellers above are in a professional relationship with Bighorn Wilderness Tours. There are also some affiliate links in this post. Though potentially benefiting from this relationship and these links, we do not post what we do not believe to be true. To read more, click here.
