As I continued to explore Yellowstone, I drove north of the park. Departing the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone, the perimeter drive brought me to the areas of Canyon Village, Mount Washburn and Tower Fall where I finally reached Mammoth Hot Springs for the night.
It was early evening and the light penetrated through the trees leaving unwieldy shadows becoming visible within the clearing. A large bull elk and his harem were feasting on lush grass within the square. Soon, a crowd began to form taking selfies with the gang and the bull elk clearly became a little agitated. It was at this time a park ranger pulled up to break up the crowd. She explained that visitors should maintain a safe distance between themselves and the elk and if anyone could not adhere to these rules, they could face fines and jail time. The crowd scattered and I decided to continue north towards the town of Gardiner in hopes of viewing more wildlife.
Only five miles away from the North Entrance and the town of Gardiner, I decided at the last minute to drive through the entryway made famous by the dedication of President Theodore Roosevelt. This land, set aside “for the benefit and enjoyment of the people”, became the first national park created for the county.
The hot springs are one of the most popular attractions in Yellowstone National Park and laden with a variety of geological features. A succession of boardwalks allows visitors access to the sulfuric smoke and bubbling pots, where fearless elk and local wildlife seemed oblivious to their beauty.
Sunset was quickly approaching and I had one last stop on my itinerary for the day which was Geyser Country where I would be spending the night. There was a somewhat of a delay while a wandering, rugged bison appeared on the roadside heading towards traffic. He definitely had the right of way as if he felt a safety in his passage, knowing he was of high regard and protected here.
The lodge at Yellowstone was a grand sight with the vintage cars parked along its entryway. The rustic exterior was the perfect setting for viewing Old Faithful and exploring the nearby geothermal attractions of Geyser Country. I was most certain that it would have been a royal experience to stay at the lodge, but I was happy to have rented a cabin just around the corner. It was the perfect size and space for my one night stay, so after checking in, I unloaded my car and made my way to the most iconic and loyal geyser within the park, Old Faithful. A wonderful way to end my day.
What was your experience at Yellowstone National Park? Did you hike, check out the attractions and admire the wildlife of the park? I would love to hear about your visit if you would kindly leave a message in the comments section below. Many thanks for reading about my day in Yellowstone! Wishing you many Happy Travels!
What to See and What to Do:
Yellowstone National Park
PO Box 168
Yellowstone National Park, WY 82190
Telephone: 307 344 7381
- Admission Fee: Each entrance fee covers 7 days of park entry. Private Vehicle: $35; Motorcycle: $30 and Hiker/Biker: $20 which only applies to visitors 16 years old and older entering the park by foot, bicycle, etc. An annual Pass for Yellowstone National Park is $70 which is valid for one year through the month of purchase. The Yellowstone National Park accepts the America the Beautiful Pass which allows access to over 2,000 federal recreation sites for a cost of $80 which is valid for one year through the month of purchase. Check out their website for more information: https://www.nps.gov/planyourvisit/passes.htm
- Hours: Open daily, 24 hours; Refer to the Yellowstone National Park website for the operating hours of the Visitor Centers.
- Amenities: camping, hiking, boating, skiing, biking, bird watching, climbing and mountaineering, fishing, horseback riding and llama packing, scenic drives, wildlife viewing, Visitor’s Centers which provide interpretive exhibits and park information and Ranger programs. Guided tours are also available in the park.
- Scenic View: Take in the view of Grand Prismatic Spring from the Overlook off of the Fairy Falls Trailhead. For the Lower Falls of the Yellowstone River, you can see this beautiful waterfall from several locations offering different views of the falls: Brink of Lower Falls, Lookout Point, Uncle Tom’s Trail and Artist Point. Check out the stadium seating at Old Faithful for a front row seat of this geyser that erupts every 35 to 120 minutes. The park’s Twitter account, @GeyserNPS, the Geyser Activity Page on their website or the Geyser App lists the predicted times for Old Faithful.
- Length of Visit: Three days is recommended to see all of the attractions at Yellowstone.
- Tips for Your Visit: The park is open year around, but winter time can be a challenging during snow and ice. If you are looking for animals, winter is the time that they hibernate. Spring is a wonderful time to visit because you can see newborn babies. When viewing wildlife, you must stay 100 yards from bears and wolves, and 25 yard from all other animals in the park. For photographers, you may already know that dawn and dusk are the best times to photograph animals and you will want to bring a telephoto lens for capturing them from far distances. Summer is the busiest time for the park you may find road construction and traffic.
Where to Stay:
I was fortunate enough to stay at one of the lodges at Yellowstone. I absolutely loved staying at the park and have Melba Coleman to thank for assisting me in my reservation.
Where to Eat:
Lake Yellowstone Hotel Dining Room
Yellowstone Park, WY 82190
Telephone: 307 344 7311
For a light lunch, I ordered the charcuterie plate which included meats, cheeses, olives, walnuts and whole grain crackers. It was the perfect location to enjoy the park sitting by a large viewing window, mesmerized by the spectacular view.
The Exit Sign as Leave the Park Towards Gardiner, Montana
Cabin at Yellowstone National Park
Inside my Cabin at Yellowstone National Park
The somewhat dormant Old Faithful at Sunset