14 Things You Can’t Forget to Pack on Your Yellowstone Vacation

Wondering what to pack as you get ready for your trip to Yellowstone? We have you covered. There’s so much to do and see in this park, from spotting wildlife, to hiking past erupting geysers and stargazing from camp that figuring out what exactly to bring can be a challenge. After many trips to America’s first national park, we’ve narrowed down our gear list to 14 must-pack items.

As part of the Outside family, we’re lucky to have a rockstar inhouse gear team that spends their time testing thousands of products each year so readers (and myself!) don’t have to. They are my trusted resource for all my own gear purchases, so I’ve included their best picks in each category (and links to their in-depth guides) to help you find your new favorite adventure items. This is what you should pack on your next trip to Yellowstone.

1. Bear Spray

When traveling in Yellowstone’s grizzly country, everyone in your group should carry a canister of bear spray as soon as you leave developed areas like parking lots or geyser boardwalks. This super-intense deterrent spray can literally be a lifesaver. Because you can’t fly with bear spray and it’s difficult to ship, we recommend buying (or better yet, renting) it where you plan to recreate. Read our guide Bear Spray: Buying, Using, and Recycling It in Yellowstone for everything you need to know.

2. Sturdy Hiking Boots or Shoes

Our Pick: Keen Targhee IV Waterproof Mid

Men’s $170 at REI     Women’s $170 at REI

Just a fraction of this massive national park can be accessed by road. Make time to get out on the trails and explore more. You’re going to want a sturdy pair of hiking boots or shoes with good grip to keep your stability on rocky and uneven trails. I prefer boots for their ankle support. Our colleagues at Backpacker chose this sturdy hiking boot as the best value option in their summer 2025 gear guide. We love the breathability and waterproofing (great for wet geyser basins) at the pricepoint. These boots can take some time to break in, so ensure you wear them frequently before your trip to avoid on-trail blisters.

3. Day Pack

Men’s $190 Osprey Talon at REI     Women’s $190 Osprey Tempest at REI

Between your camera to capture the views, layers for ever-changing weather, bear spray, water and snacks, you’re going to have plenty to carry on Yellowstone’s trails. A roomy and comfortable day pack that can fit all your gear is a must. Our colleagues at Backpacker picked the Osprey Talon/Tempest 33 (the different model names are the men’s and women’s versions) as their best all-around daypack in their 2025 gear guide. A padded hipbelt and shoulder straps gives it the comfortability of a bigger pack, with a handy size for day trips. The backpanel adjusts five inches, so you can tailor it perfectly to your height. It accommodates a three-liter water reservoir, giving you ample opportunity for hands-free hydration on trail. I’ve carried my Osprey for years now, on all sorts of adventures from hut trips to ski days and desert hikes.

4. Trekking Poles

Our Pick:  Retrospec Solstice

$25 at Retrospec

As you make your way down the steep trails of Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone to see the falls, or climb to the summit of Mount Washburn, you’re going to be grateful you packed trekking poles. Providing balance and stability on steep and uneven trails, this is one piece of gear I never hike without. A cursory Google search may shock you with the price of some walking sticks, but luckily there are good budget options out there. Our colleagues at Backpacker picked the Retrospec Solstice as their favorite affordable pick for the 2025 summer gear guide. Super budget friendly, these aluminum and carbide poles are adjustable and come with either foam or cork grips. Testers had no issues with slipping locking mechanisms and loved them for their price point.

5. Fleece Jacket

Our Pick: Artilect W-Halfmoon Bio Pullover

$150 at Artilect

Summer is short this far north and nights are chilly, even in the middle of August. A warm jacket is essential once the sun goes down. If you’re sleeping in a tent or the forecast looks particularly cold, a down jacket might be a necessity, but for most instances a good fleece should do the trick. Whether you’re setting out early to spot wolves in Lamar Valley or sitting around the campfire at night, the Artilect Halfmoon Bio Pullover is a great choice for a warm layer. Our colleagues at Outside picked it as their favorite women’s fleece for the Winter 2024/25 gear guide thanks to its “just right” warmth across a wide variety of activities. Made of Primaloft BIO fleece, the jacket doesn’t shed microplastics, which is a bonus for the planet. While the pullover is also offered in a men’s version, it didn’t make the cut for the testers’ favorite. Read the men’s guide here.

6. Warm Sleeping Bag

Our Pick: Kelty Supernova 20

$200 at Backcountry     $200 at Kelty

Those chilly summer nights call for a warm sleeping bag so you can get a good night’s sleep. Our colleagues at Outside picked the Kelty Supernova 20 for the most versatile option in their car camping sleeping bag guide and it’s a solid choice that performs well in many conditions. Rated to 20℉, you’ll stay cozy even on frigid nights, but won’t get too hot on milder trips in other climates since it also opens flat to be used like a quilt. Bonus points, it’s light and small enough to be used as a backpacking sleeping bag.

7. Rain Jacket

Our Pick: REI Rainier Rain Jacket

Men’s $100 at REI     Women’s $100 at REI

Afternoon thunderstorms are common in Yellowstone in the summer months, making a rain jacket a great idea to keep dry if you get caught outside when it starts to pour. If you’re planning on early morning walks through geyser basins, a waterproof layer will also keep you dry and warm from the chilling mist. Our colleagues at Backpacker chose the REI Co-op Rainier as their budget pick in their 2025 Men’s Rain Jacket guide. Unless you get very unlucky with the weather forecast, you won’t be needing to wear this jacket constantly so the average breathability and lack of easy packability don’t bother at this pricepoint. If you’re looking for a workhorse jacket to wear in rainier climates, read the entire guide for better options. A looser fit accommodates layers on cold mornings and there’s plenty of range of motion so you’re not restricted while hiking. It’s durable, the waterproofing holds up well and, for a cheap jacket, it’s reasonably breathable. Plus, it comes in a large selection of colors.

8. Reusable Water Bottle

Our Pick: Hydro Flask Standard-Mouth 24oz.

$40 at REI     $40 at Backcountry

I shudder to think about the amount of plastic waste that’s generated by single-use water bottles at national parks. It’s easy to bring a reusable and fill with filtered water at the many stations across Yellowstone. Do the planet a favor and don’t forget your reusable waterbottle, or if you’re hiking, a hydration bladder. Drinking plenty of water is key to warding off the effects of altitude sickness, so make sure you’re hydrating well and often. Bring at least two liters of water per person with you when you hit the trails. The perfect water bottle is going to be based on personal preference. Are you worried about weight on a day hike? Do you care if your water is ice cold? I tend to carry a hydration bladder on summer hikes, so I’m not as concerned with weight when it comes to my favorite waterbottle for sightseeing and driving. I’m a sucker for cold water and love my Hydroflask, which keeps my liquids cold for truly wild amounts of time, even in a hot car.

9. Headlamp

Our Pick: Simond Forclaz HL900

$70 at Decathalon

Sunrises and sunsets are truly stunning in this park, so you’re going to want to be up before dawn or stay out after dark to catch the show. Don’t bank on your phone’s flashlight and instead pack a headlamp with fresh batteries to navigate hands free after dark. If you’re eager to see the stars, pick a headlamp with a red light setting to preserve your night vision on your way to your favorite stargazing spot. With a rechargeable battery lasting 50 hours, our colleagues at Backpacker picked the Simond Forclaz HL900 as their best headlamp for hikers in the summer 2025 gear guide. It also runs on AAA batteries, making it great for longer trips. If you’re planning a river trip this year, too, this headlamp is waterproof to a meter, up to 30 minutes.

10. Binoculars or Spotting Scope

Our Pick: Nikon Aculon A211 10 X 50

$140 at Dick’s Sporting Goods

Yellowstone is famous for its wildlife, but sightings are rarely right next to the road. Pack a good pair of binoculars or a spotting scope so you can zoom in on far away wildlife like grizzlies, wolves and bison. Our colleagues at Backpacker recommend the Nikon Aculon A211 10 X 50 as a budget pick that still performs well. Built to withstand a beating, these binoculars can be thrown in your pack or secured to a tripod so it’s easy to spot wildlife whether you’re on the trail or set up at a pullout waiting for wolves to appear in the dawn light.

11. Mirrorless Camera

Our Pick: Sony A7CII

$2,198 at B&H     $2,199 at Sony

When it comes to capturing wildlife, a phone camera just doesn’t cut it. If you want to walk away from your trip to the park with high-quality, crisp photos, you’re going to need a physical camera. We love mirrorless set-ups because they’re lighter for carrying on the trails. Our colleagues at Outside took 70,000 photos to narrow down their favorite cameras to four great options. Their best value pick was the Sony A7CII. With a full-frame sensor and advanced auto-focus, it performs on a pro level while being super small and light weight. Trying to decide which lenses to pair it with? Check our guide from Tamron to help you pick the best options for sunrise, sunset and night skies.

12. Sunscreen

Park elevations range from 5,200 to 11,300 feet above sea level. The sun is seriously intense up here, especially in geyser basins where trees don’t grow providing shade. Apply sunscreen liberally and often to avoid getting burnt. Your sunscreen choice should be a personal one based on your skin type, SPF needs and preferences (stick or lotion? chemical or mineral?). Regardless of what you choose, we always recommend a reef-safe option so you can re-use your bottle on future beach trips.

13. SPF Chapstick

Our Pick: All Good Lips SPF20

$5 at All Good     $4 at Thrive Market

Don’t forget SPF for your lips. A sunscreen chapstick pulls double duty hydrating your lips in the dry mountain air and protecting them from burning. I love All Good Lips for its natural ingredients list and lack of weird aftertaste that comes with most SPF lip balm. The sunscreen component is zinc oxide, but it thankfully doesn’t leave much of a white cast. The coconut version packs in SPF 20, while the original and tangerine offer SPF 15.

14. Sunglasses

Our Pick: Knockaround Campeones

$55 at REI     $55 at Backcountry

Shade your eyes from the glare of hot springs sparkling in the sun, and to let you better spot wildlife across the park. A good pair of sunglasses is something you don’t want to forget. Our colleagues at Outside tested 81 different pairs and narrowed it down to 16 of their favorites. Sunnies are a very personal choice, so I recommend reading through the entire guide. However, if you are like me and chronically break or lose your glasses, I’d suggest their budget pick to avoid spending a fortune on something you know you’ll need to replace. The Knockaround Campeones lack polarization, but this means more depth perception and higher contrast. An adjustable rubber nose pad keeps the glasses firmly in place, no matter the activity, and an oil-resistant lens treatment keeps them streak free. I’ve been a Knockarounds fan since high school and bring them on all my adventures.

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