The West Entrance of Yellowstone offers a great day of sights, hikes and wander.
Drive Through Firehole Canyon:
Not far from the West Entrance you can see the Canyon Drive which follows the Firehole River upstream from Madison Junction to just above Cascades of the Firehole. The drive takes you past 800-foot thick lava flows and to a viewing area of Firehole Falls, a 40-foot (12.2-m) waterfall.
Also along the drive is an unstaffed swimming area, which is very popular in the warmest part of the summer season. This happens to be one of my top 5 spots!
Or Take a Hike in Madison on the way!
Park at the third pullout 1-½ miles (2.4 km) west of Madison Junction on the West Entrance Road.
Lodging and home base stay at the Bison Run Cabin, Island Park just outside the West Entrance of Yellowstone!