Along the way, you'll be treated to stunning, almost otherworldly views of the gorge the river has gouged through the Washburn Range of northwestern Wyoming. The river cuts through the mountains for almost 24 miles before it finally spills out into the broad Lamar Valley to the northeast.

Located within parts of Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho, Yellowstone National Park truly deserves the honor of being designated America’s (and the world’s) first national park. Within it’s 2.2 million acres is the world’s greatest collection of geothermal displays and such a great diversity of wildlife that the park is nicknamed “America’s Serengeti.

Normally, only the road between Yellowstone’s North Entrance at Gardiner, and the Northeast Entrance near Cooke City, Mont., are open all year to vehicles. But with the arrival of spring — weather permitting — Yellowstone crews will open the West Entrance located at West Yellowstone to the public Friday.