Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone and Hayden Valley
2 / 9
Our first full day in Yellowstone started off strong. We rolled out of the campground, and almost immediately, we came across a mama elk and her wobbly-legged newborn. Likely not more than a few days old, we got to watch it nurse and explore its new world.
1 / 21
A few miles farther down, a very handsome coyote was actively hunting in a meadow. We watched it stalk, pounce, and snag something, likely a field mouse, and gulp it down in seconds.
Next, we stopped at Fishing Bridge, which sounds like a great place to fish... except there’s no fishing allowed. Classic Yellowstone curveball.
Then we pulled off at a boardwalk along the Yellowstone River. The water was absolutely raging, with whitewater crashing over rocks. Right in the middle of it all stood a Harlequin Duck, cool as can be, balanced on a rock in the torrent.
We continued on to the Mud Volcano area and walked the boardwalk on the east side of the road. Between the bubbling mudpots, hissing fumaroles, and the growl of Dragon’s Mouth Spring, the place felt other wordly. Across the road, a bison was lounging beside one of the steaming thermal vents, clearly not concerned with all the warning signs.
We eventually made it to Artist Point, and wow — the view of the Lower Falls of the Yellowstone River is next-level. The falls drop over 300 feet, nearly twice the height of Niagara, into the colorful depths of the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone.
On the drive through Hayden Valley, we spotted more bison, including a calf running through a bright field of yellow wildflowers.
Back at camp after a full day, Danny parked the Tahoe and I stepped out. As I was shutting the door, I looked to my right and found myself face-to-face with a bison resting less than 15 feet away. I yelled “OH SHIT” and darted to the other side of the car, using our 2 ton SUV as a makeshift safety shield against the 2000 lb beast. My camera bag got caught on the door, hit the ground, taking my phone from my hand with it, and a lens rolled underneath the car. Danny, in all his bravery, snuck back over and rescued the gear. The bison was resting right next to his blue hammock. I suggested he go sit in for an awesome photo op, but his bravery had limits.
The plan was to cook dinner outside at the campsite, but since a bison crashed the party, we packed up and made dinner over at the Yellowstone Lake picnic area instead. What a day!
Next, we stopped at Fishing Bridge, which sounds like a great place to fish... except there’s no fishing allowed. Classic Yellowstone curveball.
Then we pulled off at a boardwalk along the Yellowstone River. The water was absolutely raging, with whitewater crashing over rocks. Right in the middle of it all stood a Harlequin Duck, cool as can be, balanced on a rock in the torrent.
We continued on to the Mud Volcano area and walked the boardwalk on the east side of the road. Between the bubbling mudpots, hissing fumaroles, and the growl of Dragon’s Mouth Spring, the place felt other wordly. Across the road, a bison was lounging beside one of the steaming thermal vents, clearly not concerned with all the warning signs.
We eventually made it to Artist Point, and wow — the view of the Lower Falls of the Yellowstone River is next-level. The falls drop over 300 feet, nearly twice the height of Niagara, into the colorful depths of the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone.
On the drive through Hayden Valley, we spotted more bison, including a calf running through a bright field of yellow wildflowers.
Back at camp after a full day, Danny parked the Tahoe and I stepped out. As I was shutting the door, I looked to my right and found myself face-to-face with a bison resting less than 15 feet away. I yelled “OH SHIT” and darted to the other side of the car, using our 2 ton SUV as a makeshift safety shield against the 2000 lb beast. My camera bag got caught on the door, hit the ground, taking my phone from my hand with it, and a lens rolled underneath the car. Danny, in all his bravery, snuck back over and rescued the gear. The bison was resting right next to his blue hammock. I suggested he go sit in for an awesome photo op, but his bravery had limits.
The plan was to cook dinner outside at the campsite, but since a bison crashed the party, we packed up and made dinner over at the Yellowstone Lake picnic area instead. What a day!