Grand Prismatic Spring, as seen from the Fairy Falls Trail
It’s not like any other place on the planet. After visiting, I realize why this is the first plot of land that the government decided to protect as a National Park. The uniqueness of the geothermal features, the diversity of the wildlife, and the varied landscapes make Yellowstone National Park the quintessential road trip destination. And it did not disappoint. Our four days in Yellowstone were chock full of adventure. Here are the highlights!
Geysers
The Grand Geyser
When people most people think about Yellowstone, visions of Old Faithful come to mind. Old Faithful is one of the most famous geysers in the world, mostly because its erupts so regularly. However, Yellowstone is home to over 500 geysers, some of which are even larger and more impressive. And when you just happen to be in the right place at the right time to see one of the more unpredictable geysers erupt, it makes for a pretty memorable experience. We were able to see Grand Geyser this way, and we felt like we won the lottery!
As for seeing Old Faithful, we decided to climb up the Observation Point Trail to watch an arial view of the eruption. The trail was short and very steep, but watching Old Faithful without the crowds was awesome. And by the time we climbed down and cooled off with some cold drinks, we were able to see it erupt from the ground level as well.
View of Old Faithful from the Observation Point Trail
Hot Springs
There is something about heat and water that make for some incredible sights. We saw hot springs throughout Yellowstone, but none can beat the Grand Prismatic Spring found in the Midway Geyser Basin. The colors, formed by bacteria living in the cooler water along the edges, make the Grand Prismatic Spring a favorite place for photographers. As we struggled to get a good shot from the boardwalk, someone suggested that we walk the Fairy Falls Trail, which leads to an overlook of the Grand Prismatic Spring. It was there that I got my favorite photograph in Yellowstone. (See above – its the featured photo!)
We saw hot springs throughout Yellowstone. The steam rising up from the ground, especially in the cool morning hours before the crowds arrived, made us feel like we were visiting another planet.
Wildlife
Maybe its because we’re from New York. Maybe its because they’re such huge, majestic creatures. Whatever it is, we never get tired of seeing bison! We saw a single male bison on our way through Hayden Valley, sitting right by the side of the road. But when we drove out to Lamar Valley, they were everywhere. I’m not exaggerating when I say we probably saw over a thousand bison, hanging out in herds of 50 to 300. The drive was so scenic, with rolling hills and views of the river. We spent a whole morning with our eyes in the binoculars, watching the bison and looking for a glimpse of a bear or wolf.
While in Yellowstone, we also saw a coyote, bighorn sheep, deer, and elk. We even saw a female moose walking through the West Thumb Geyser Basin. There were signs everywhere saying “Keep Off, Fragile Ground”. I just kept waiting for the poor cow to fall through, but she just grazed on the grass then walked off into the woods.
Grand Canyon of Yellowstone
Grand Canyon of Yellowstone
Yellowstone is really really crowded in the summer. When we first drove up to Canyon Campground where we stayed all four nights, we saw long lines of cars waiting to get into both the North Rim and South Rim drives. I don’t have patience for that kind of traffic in a national park, so we decided that the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone, including views of upper and lower falls, would be done first thing in the morning. And it worked out perfectly. We beat the crowds and pretty much had the trails to ourselves. We were able to walk down to the brink of Upper Falls and I took the steep walk down to the brink of Lower Falls. Gorgeous scenery in every direction.
We should all be thankful that there were people in history who had the foresight to protect this land from development. There is so much to learn and experience in Yellowstone National Park. From the geysers and hot springs to the countless hikes and walks, to the valleys where wildlife can be seen, its a magical place. Check out the slideshow below for some more photos from our time in Yellowstone!
I love bears. They are such interesting and impressive animals, but it’s difficult to see them in the wild. And even if you’re lucky enough to catch a glimpse of one, it’s far too dangerous to get close enough to capture a great photo. Bear Country USA is a drive-through wildlife park where bears, bighorn sheep, bison, wolves, and dozens of other animals are allowed to roam (somewhat) free. Of course, you’re required to keep the windows rolled up and stay in the car, but driving through and seeing these amazing animals up close was awesome. A black bear walked right by our car, close enough to reach out and touch it! As our car slowly moved through, we were able to watch the bears splash around in their pool, run around and play with each other, and sleep in the shade. It was worth every penny! At the end, there’s a section where you park the car and walk around, seeing some of the smaller animals, including bear cubs!
On our first morning in the park, we woke up to a bright sunny morning. This is a good time to mention that the previous evening, we experienced an insane storm with relentless winds, thunder and lightning. It really helped us see how the Badlands got its name. The winds were so bad that our tent poles buckled, collapsing a side of the tent while we were in it. I fled to the car with the kids in the middle of the night while Ryan held the tent up until the storm passed. It was a storm we won’t soon forget.
One of the best things about Lake Elmo State Park was their man-made lake for swimming with a sand bottom and filtered water. The water was so clear that I joked I could drop my engagement ring and find it right away. Ryan didn’t encourage me to try. We spent an afternoon lounging in the sun, reading, and eating a picnic lunch. It was a much-needed low-key week for us.
Finding a house to fit the Drake family clan without breaking the bank isn’t easy. When we found the Verlies property in Champion, Pennsylvania, it fit all of our requirements: plenty of bedrooms, a nice outdoor space, a firepit, and a reasonable driving distance for everyone. That’s how we ended up in Champion, Pennsylvania for a family reunion week, and I was pleasantly surprised how many fun things there are to do in the area. We had a great time enjoying the perfect summer weather while exploring this area of southwestern Pennsylvania.
Our last outing of the week was to Laurel Caverns. The drive there was full of steep, winding hills, but the view from the top was amazing. They said that on a clear day you can see all the way to Pittsburgh! The caverns are privately owned, and tours go out regularly throughout the day. We’ve been on quite a few cave tours over the years. The thing that stood out about Laurel Caverns was their used of colored light to emphasize the various cave features. We went into several “rooms” and passages, and the guide gave a good overview of the history of the caves and the science behind their creation. And there was cave mini-golf, so of course we had to play!
On The Road Together 