Yellowstone

After 3 nights in the Tetons we drove 30 Miles north into Yellowstone, the first and probably most renown of the National Parks. A fair portion of the park sits on an active caldera, which feeds some of its note worthy sights- Old Faithful, and many of the colorful geysers, springs & pools. What impressed us was how dynamic and geothermally active the area is. Watching several of the geysers erupt and reading about ones that have formed in the past 50 years instilled the feeling we happen to live in the relatively small window where the landscape will actually be tourist worthy.

These unique features are only a slice of the attraction, with 3500 square miles of parkland- the canyons, rivers, forest and grasslands make it easy to escape the crowds and step into a very wild, pristine environment. Wildlife is abound; the Bison caused several traffic hold ups while we were there, bear precautionary signs highlight their presence throughout the park, and we camped to coyotes howls each night (a favorite occurrence for Christy).

A picture of a Bison resting near Yellowstone river in Hayden Valley. This area was once part of a much expanded Yellowstone lake and is now open grassland that serves for some of the best roadside wildlife viewing in the Park.

Walking in the Old Faithful Area, surrounded by the steam of the multiple pools & geysers.

The Black Pool, named for a bacteria that inhabited a cooler version of the pool 15 years ago. One of the many examples of the ongoing changes in the area.

Yellowstone traffic jams

Ole Faithful

The lower falls of the Yellowstone river (300 ft) carving the walls of Yellowstone canyon.