Yellowstone National Park, our first and greatest national park, is a place of awe and unmatched beauty. It is one of those rare places where nature is left to run its own course with minimal hindrance from man. Situated in the northwest corner of Wyoming (and spilling over slightly into Montana and Idaho), Yellowstone is 2.2 million acres of wildlife and natural wonders in brilliant display.

Geysers and Other Thermal Features

Probably the most famous attribute of Yellowstone is the high concentration of thermal features, such as geysers and hot springs.

Most people know about Old Faithful, the famous geyser that regularly erupts approximately every 70 minutes. Visitors to Yellowstone are just as faithful to gather on the semi-circle boardwalk around Old Faithful every hour to witness its powerful blast of steam and hot water that extends an average of 130 feet toward the sky.

But Old Faithful is by no means the only thermal feature in Yellowstone, nor is it the largest geyser. There are several different geyser basins in the park, each with its own "thermal personality". It is unfortunate that many visitors to Yellowstone do not have the time or the inclination to explore the various trails and boardwalks that lead to thermal features other than Old Faithful.

Grand Geyser, for instance, just a short walk down the boardwalk from Old Faithful provides a much more splendid display as it thrusts steam and water to heights reaching up to 200 feet. Riverside Geyser, although relatively small, is a remarkable display as it sprays its eruption out over the Firehole River. Echinus Geyser, in the Norris Geyser Basin, begins its cycle as an empty pool that fills slowly just before it erupts.

Along with the geysers, other thermal features are also worth seeing in Yellowstone. Many hot pools of water cover the geyser basin, including Morning Glory Pool at the end of the Upper Geyser Basin boardwalk (near Old Faithful). Morning Glory Pool gets its name from the brilliant orange, yellow, and blue colored algae that grow in it.

Grand Prismatic Spring is another hot pool, not too dissimilar from “Morningglory” Pool, except that it is much much larger...370 feet in diameter. So large that it is difficult to grasp how marvelous it is without seeing it from above.

Near the north entrance of the park is Mammoth Hot Springs, where boiling water is emitted from the sides of the hills, depositing various minerals which form terraces, such as Minerva Terrace and Angel Terrace.

Wildlife

Long before a Yellowstone visitor makes their way to one of the splendid thermal features, they'll likely encounter many of the various animals that make the park their home.

Elk are easily the most common of the larger animals in the park. Despite the horrible bison massacres in recent years, bison (American buffalo) are also a very common sight. A visitor is likely to see a moose cow and if they're very lucky, they may see a bull moose or two.

There are bears in Yellowstone, too. Seeing a black bear in Yellowstone is a very fortunate thing and seeing a grizzly even more so. The bears typically keep to themselves in the remote areas of the park, but on occasion have been known to show up near the road where they can easily be seen by the humans visiting their home.

Other animals one might see while visiting Yellowstone are pronghorn antelope, mule deer, coyote, squirrels, chipmunks, marmots, and mountain goats. Look towards the tops of the trees and you might see a bald eagle. And with their recent reintroduction into Yellowstone, you might be lucky enough to see a wolf.

While driving through Yellowstone, be prepared. Wildlife sightings can turn up anywhere. If you see a lot of other visitors pulled off to the side of the road, it is likely that they see a bear or moose or some other large animal. Pull over and join them, because it may be your only chance to see these incredible creatures. Also, be prepared for traffic jams caused by the bison. The bison herds sometimes utilize the same road that you're driving on to get to where they're going...but they go much slower.

Have your camera ready and loaded with film. And if you have one, keep the longest range lens at hand, because it could be the difference between a good bear photo that you'll remember forever and a nice picture of a field with a black spot in the middle.

In all situations regarding wildlife, keep your distance. Yellowstone is not a zoo and the animals are not tame. They can be very dangerous if provoked. If a park ranger gives you instructions, listen to them. They aren't trying to ruin your fun...just trying to save your life and the lives of all of the animals in the park.

Breathtaking Scenery

Along with the awesome thermal features and the incredible wildlife in Yellowstone, there is plenty of beautiful scenery everywhere you go. From the moment you enter the park your breath will be taken from you at every turn.

Despite the fact that the land is still scarred in several areas from the 1988 fires, every hill and every tree is still a remarkable sight. Even where the fires have destroyed the beauty that once was, there are new trees and vegetation beginning to grow and to replace the old burned timber.

Some of the most notable scenic spots are Yellowstone Lake, Kepler Cascades, and Tower Falls. And any visit to Yellowstone would be wasted without seeing the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone River. It is the yellow-tinted rock that lines this canyon's walls that gave Yellowstone its name. And at the end of the canyon are two magnificent waterfalls--the upper falls and the lower falls that feed the river flowing at the bottom. The lower falls are especially impressive with a drop of over 308 feet and a roar that can be heard from miles away.

For more information, visit Yellowstone.Net
 

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