YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK – August 3-10, 2021

In 1872, Yellowstone became the world’s first national park and continues to be an icon of nature’s magnificent landscapes. I spent a week at Rocky Mountain RV Park, perched on a hill overlooking the town of Gardiner, Montana and the north entrance of Yellowstone. From here, I ventured into the park every day, focusing on different sections each time.

The west side of Yellowstone is where all the geysers, sulfur pits, and other volcanic landscapes can be found including Mammoth Hot Springs, several geyser basins, Firehole Lake, and Old Faithful.

Travertine terraces at Mammoth Hot Springs are created by limestone and water.

Hot sulfur spring. The water is boiling temperature.

Click on the image to watch a 2-minute video of a small geyser going through its entire eruption and drain cycle.

The side of Roaring Mountain is full of steam vents.

A valley of geysers and steam vents.

Old Faithful at sunset.

In the northeast is Lamar Valley where I saw large herds of bison. There are other valleys on the west side that are home to abundant wildlife but that part of the park was out of reach due to some road closures.

Lamar Valley.

The smoky haze was from wildfires in Idaho and Montana.

Click on the image to watch bison roaming in the Lamar Valley.

This is one of my favorite wildlife photos—mostly because lime green is may favorite color.

I was able to get great close-up photos like this without leaving the truck by using a 600mm lens and resting it on the open windowsill.

Regardless of how often the public is told not to get out of their vehicles, everywhere I went, someone would still approach a bison for a better photo. I witnessed one woman get chased back into her motorhome when she got a little too close to a bull. They look docile but can be very dangerous especially during mating season.

Click on the image to see this big bull show his curiosity towards “Big Ass Truck.”

MORE WILDLIFE:

This black bear was pawing at the log in search of yummy bugs. I also shot this from the safety of my truck using my 600mm lens.

Elk.

I experienced the most annoying ravens. They kept trying to steal my lunch!

Click on the image to watch this baby robin adopt me as its surrogate mother. It felt like a real-life version of the book “Are You My Mother?”

In the center of the park is the canyon area and the magnificent Upper and Lower Falls of the Yellowstone River. There is an overlook at the edge of the canyon that gives a breathtaking view up and down the canyon. This is just north of Yellowstone Lake where the Yellowstone River begins its nearly 700-mile journey from Wyoming to Montana where it turns east and makes its way to the Missouri River in North Dakota.

The Upper Falls of the Yellowstone River is a drop of 109 feet.

The Lower Falls is 304 feet (nearly twice the height of Niagara Falls) and is the largest volume waterfall in the Rocky Mountains. You can clearly see here the yellow sandstone that gives this park its name.

MORE YELLOWSTONE PARK WATERFALLS:

Undine Falls.

Moose Falls.

Firehole Falls.

Rustic Falls.

Gibbon Falls.

SCENERY AROUND THE PARK:

Coneflowers with morning dew.

Panoramic view of the Central Plateau, the center of the supervolcano caldera. It looks peaceful and serene here but if the supervolcano ever blows, it could destroy large portions of the Unites States.

Sunset over the Gardner River where it exits the north side of the park.

YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK MAP:

Next post: Grand Teton National Park.

My name is Lindsay Reed. I’m a photographer and retired graphic artist with a passion for both lighthouses and road trips. I lived as a full-time solo RVer in my 33-foot Grand Design Reflection fifth-wheel trailer for over four years, traveling the U.S. and Canada photographing not only lighthouses but everything else there is to see in this wonderful land. I recently ventured out on  a six-month trek to Alaska, which completed my quest to so see nearly all of North America. I hope you enjoy my blog and the many adventures from my life on the road.