Westward Ho! Part II. Exploring the Southern Half of Yellowstone National Park

Anticipating sunrise over Yellowstone Lake

A doe elk spotted in a meadow at a scenic turnout

     Driving north from Jackson, WY and through the Grand Tetons again was as impressive as before. See my Part I post about our first travel days here. Because of the vast size of Yellowstone National Park, we stayed at two different locations in the park. First, we stayed two nights by Yellowstone Lake in the south. The main road through the park forms a figure eight, and our location at one of the lodges in Grant Village was the perfect base for exploring the lower loop and for making one side trip. We settled in and walked along the beautiful lake side and into the lodge pole pine forests in the area.

One gathering of bison, part of a larger herd in Lamar Valley

     The next morning, we drove north on the loop and then east to the Lamar Valley and beyond--almost to the eastern edge of the park. The broad valley lived up to its reputation as the best location for watching large herds of bison and spotting other large mammals. We did not stop where a cluster of cars surrounded a bison on the shoulder; some people were much too close to the powerful animal. Further on, the valley gave way to towering peaks and rugged cliffs. Here, some kind Yellowstone enthusiasts invited us to look through their high-powered scopes at snowy white mountain goats, one almost skipping along where the rock face had only the narrowest possible ledges for its hooves. My husband also saw some pronghorns bounding from the grasslands into the trees, but they went by too fast on the wrong side of the road for me to see.

The smell of sulphur and steam rising reveal a thermal feature

     On the way back west, we stopped for food at the insanely busy Canyon Village (I was glad we had not chosen to stay at the lodge there). Then, we followed a couple of short trails to overlooks at the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone. The Upper Falls area was closed to visitors that day, but we enjoyed seeing the more dramatic Lower Falls. 

Boiling mud at Dragon's Mouth Spring

     I joined my early-bird husband for a walk before sunrise the next morning to watch the color change in the sky over Yellowstone Lake-- a gorgeous display, followed by a stunning sunrise. Then, a breakfast buffet at the Lake Restaurant overlooking the water before checking out on our way to our cabin on the north loop. Although we were not yet in the area with the most thermal features, we stopped at turnouts and parking areas to walk on the boardwalks over bubbling hot mud pits, hot springs, and steam vents called fumaroles. Dragon's Mouth Spring, pictured here, hissed and made thumping and crashing sounds as steam puffed out and mud at the entrance bubbled. It was easy to imagine a dragon inside that lair.

Lower Falls in the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone

Question of the Day: Have you been to Yellowstone National Park? If yes, what did you particularly enjoy there, or if no, what would you like to see?