Of course, Yellowstone is known for Old Faithful and other geysers, but the boiling pools of different colors and outlet holes make you wonder what is really going on in the Earth. Our Yellowstone experience will include two separate entries as we have a Red Lodge Singer Song Writer Fest and Pleasureway Meetup in Big Timber before returning for the Geysers and the Canyons of Yellowstone. Yellowstone is a massive park and it is best to overnight in several regions to reduce driving times.
Southern Entrance from the Tetons
Fishing Bridge RV Park was our destination – we were too tired from our Teton Taggart Lake Hike to stop and peer out over the deep canyons of the Lewis River. This is the only Yellowstone Campground to have Full Hook-ups and decided it is good to get a full charge now and again, but that included pack it in parking lot style although there were some trees.
West Thumb Basin
The colorful steaming pools were viewed on the exclusive boardwalk trail that went down by the massive Yellowstone Lake.
The lake even had some activity within and there were several cones and holes in it.
So many colors from the minerals and the algae that can survive in those hot temperatures.
There were so many different ways that the heat came to the surface creating different outlets shapes, some steaming, some spouting, some gently boiling.
It was definitely really cool to see the thermal features express themselves while all in the same vicinity, and I would say not to be missed in Yellowstone. Since boiling acidic conditions requires visitors protection, the walks on boardwalks are relatively short and easy. We opted to do a bit of hiking right from the parking area.
Thumb Overlook Trail
This was a short 3 mile roundtrip with a bit of incline, after all it is and overlook which implies ascent. What was really cool was that the top had some heating activity and there was a bubble hole as well as some seeming uneventful not squirrel type holes.
Luckily, I brought my selfie sticky and was able to get some evidence of the gurgling without getting too close. There was even and odd pool that had yellow flowers surrounding the edge and bright green algae on the water surface and it was about 50 feet from one of the bubbling holes as you looked out to Yellowstone Lake across West Thumb Basin.
On the surface, the southern part of Yellowstone had a natural eco system rebirth as the fire cleared the surface 1988 and the resistant seeds of the lodgepole thrived. There was an area near the Fishing Bridge where we wondered if they had planted more lodgepoles because there were lots of you pines
Natural Bridge Hike
The Bridge at the end was a highlight of the day. It was much smaller than Capitol Reef’s Cassidy Arch or Hickman Bridge, but you could actually climb on top of it using a path that was legit. This lollipop trail was only about 3 miles round trip. We decided to take the right side which was a steeper climb up to the bridge, but less loose gravel on steep parts are best for the 60+ crowd while descending. The Edge Police were not delighted with our photos, but even John, who normally is not a height guy, was suddenly up there as I was talking to Julie on the phone at the base.
There were only about a dozen people on this trail and then the trailhead started right at the Bay Bridge Marina and Campground.
Mud Volcano Trail
Yellowstone at its thermal best – more pools of color, more bubbling gray silty water, making its way to the crust in different forms. Some pools were very large, some made waves while others boiled violently.
The Mud Volcano erupted between 1870 and 1872 spewing mud to coat the tops of nearby trees. Fur trappers had documented the cone as being 30 ft high by 30 ft wide, and by time the National Park was established in 1872 it was much smaller.
The chances of another episode are remote, but just last year the Biscuit Basin had a major eruption that spewed all over the boardwalks and visitor area, but luckily no one was injured and the site remain closed. The Mud Volcano boardwalk was another quick one-mile loop.
Hayden Falls
We briefly stopped at the Hayden Falls on the Yellowstone River. Our self-guided car narrator indicated that this area is thought by many geologists to be the next thermal event in Yellowstone.
But for now these Harlequin Ducks decided they like to hang out on a rock and branch in the middle of the rapids, even swimming against the rapids at times. They looked all colorful and probably a male ritual to see who could be strongest – oh those boys. You know. This is an area where we heard only days ago someone caught five wolves chasing two bears out of the area. I happened to see it on Facebook.
Mammoth Hot Spring Terraces
The terraces are just one more way that hot water comes to the surface this time with dissolved calcium sulfate plus other stuff. When the solution cools it forms the terraced steps. Just another one of the marvels of Yellowstone.
Beaver Creek Hike at Mammoth Hot Springs
This almost 6 mile hike started behind the general store and went to a pond, no beavers or even beaver dens, but it was an easy walk on a beautiful day through lots of wildflowers, but only a few nervous chipmunks.
We did not get into the Mammoth Springs Campground so got reservations at Sun Outdoors in the gateway town of Gardiner which was a cool 20 minute windy road through the hills. Lots of food options and tourist things in Gardiner. Our only single day of no reservations trying to find some in the park was a big fail. Luckily, Sun Outdoors let us park in their picnic area since we were scheduled for the next days and they were full. The RV park was very tight, but laundry and bathroom facilities were excellent. Time to back up phones great cell in this town.
Lamar Valley
The Bison roam here and bring the traffic to a complete stop too – but this means up close and personal as they graze on the side and into the roads. Most are in the huge herds that graze in the Lamar Valley, but as you drive along you will see a few of the loner bison alone on a hill or near a stream.
The babies are rather spunky and chase each other and sometimes the adults too.
I think we have had our Bison fix for now. As getting up at dawn is not in John’s play book, we had decided to do the evening cruise to find the best kind of traffic jam. Lamar Valleyp is wide open and has water so it is ideal for elk, bison, deer and American prong horns.
Tower Falls
Another quick tourist hike to along the way and the beginning of the Yellowstone Canyon Area
Calcite Springs
Yet another quick walk from the highway to see how Mother Nature is working on the Yellowstone Landscape. The steep river banks where the underground springs are hot enough to liquify sulfur and deposit sulphur along with calcite crystals making for a sulphur odor and beautiful coloring.
