Another Side of Yellowstone

Our last day in Yellowstone we headed to the opposite side of the park where we were promised better chances of seeing the wildlife as well as the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone. This side, again, did not disappoint.

Before I go on, let me put “headed to the opposite side of the park” into perspective.

Yellowstone National Park – Fast Facts

GENERAL

  • World’s First National Park
  • A designated World Heritage Site and designated Biosphere Reserve
  • 3,472 square miles or 8,987 square km
  • 2,221,766 acres or 898,317 hectares
  • 63 air miles north to south (102 km)
  • 54 air miles east to west (87 km)
  • 96 % in Wyoming
  • 3 % in Montana
  • 1 % in Idaho

Getting from one site to another often took hours, and we saw a lot of sites and sights – Thank you, Traci, wonderful daughter and trip chauffer.

Moving right along, we arrived on the west side of the park to yet another traffic back-up, but this one was due to park visitors stopped along the road. The attraction was a momma black bear and her two cubs. The ranger was urging people to move along so I got a couple of quick shots before complying with her request.

Momma Bear
Momma Bear
And the babies - awwww.
And the babies – awwww.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We continued along the narrow winding roads taking in the sights.

So huge and beautiful!
So huge and beautiful!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The road followed jagged cliffs.
The road followed jagged cliffs.
More Hairpin Curves
More Hairpin Curves

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And as promised, wildlife!

(Again, the disclaimer: Many of these photos are a bit blurry due to being taken from the backseat of a moving vehicle.)

Oh, hello.
Oh, hello.

 

An Elk Enjoying the Lovely Morning
An Elk Enjoying the Lovely Morning

 

 

 

 

 

Oh give me a home, where the buffalo roam…And they roam freely everywhere in Yellowstone .
This guy along with some of his buddies got on the bridge we were on. Again we were not 75ft. away. Traci was kind of freaked.
This guy along with some of his buddies got on the bridge we were on. Again we were not 75ft. away. Traci was kind of freaked – visions of having her car gored which we had been warned could/has happened.

 

 

 

More wildlife - so cute. (When Traci was very young, she called these "cimpawumps" - also too cute.)
More wildlife – so cute.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We drove to the  southeast corner of Yellowstone to see Lake Yellowstone where we got a look at the Grand Tetons – breathtaking!

The Grand Tetons
The Grand Tetons

Then it was north again hitting the sites we had bypassed on the way south. The first was the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone!!!

The Grand Canyon of Yellowstone!
The Grand Canyon of Yellowstone!
Grand Canyon of Yellowstone Info.
Grand Canyon of Yellowstone Info.
Check out this very long and very cool walkway.
Check out this very long and very cool walkway.
Artist Paint Pots - part of the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone.
Artist Paint Pots – part of the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tom and Charli at the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone
See, I was there too.
Traci and her daddy at the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone Waterfall
Traci and her daddy at the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone Waterfall. I love this picture.
Such Beautiful Country
Such Beautiful Country

The sky was overcast for much of the day, and at one point we were caught in a hail storm. Now the hail was only BB sized, but it came down pretty hard, so we pulled into a turn-off to wait it out.

Between the rain and hail it was pretty hard to see.  On narrow roads with sharp turns, pulling off seemed the prudent thing to do.
Between the rain and hail it was pretty hard to see. On narrow roads with sharp turns, pulling off seemed the prudent thing to do.
Got caught in a hail storm at the top of one mountain - only BB sized, but lots of it.
Got caught in a hail storm at the top of one mountain – only BB sized, but lots of it.
Rain Swollen Rivers and Streams
Rain Swollen Rivers and Streams

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Though the weather was a bit gloomy, as we headed toward our home away from home, the silver lining showed itself in all its glorious grandure! – a beautiful ending to our wonderful Yellowstone adventure.

A Promise
A Promise
Awesome
Awesome

5 thoughts on “Another Side of Yellowstone

  1. I never envisioned the diversity of Yellowstone… What an amazing adventure through beautiful photography!!! Thank you again for sharing. Your pictures take me to places I may never get to experience first hand. Such a wonderful trip to get to experience with Traci. God bless…

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  2. Beauty beyond words. Love the picture of you and Tom and the one of Traci and her dad. Memories forever have been made! Thanks for sharing.

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