Day 21 Yellowstone National Park

June 9   

South Loop - Fishing Bridge to Madison & return

On the road heading to Old Faithful.  Bridge Bay, about 10 minutes south of our campsite is the only spot with a marina and access to Yellowstone Lake.  On the way we stopped at all and any points of interest or drives off the main highway.  That is where we got some of our most spectacular shots.  West Thumb Geyser Basin was amazing.  Amazing colour around some of the hot springs, and the mudpots and geysers percolate near and into the lake. 

 

 

Next drive through the Great Divide twice.  The elevation here is about 8391feet with snow on the side of the road.  This park is covered with Lodgepole Pine but a lot were destroyed in forest fires over the past 25 years.  We stopped at the Kepler Cascades then walked 4.8 miles return to the Lone Star Geyser which blows approximately every 3 hours and lasted just over 10 minutes. We got there about half an hour before it blew.  The geyser puts on a little show prior to blowing, while everyone waits anxiously in anticipation.  A mule deer walked by, not disturbed by the geyser as he was grazing on the hillside.  We were impressed and glad we made the walk.

Lonestar Geyser

Finally Old Faithful Geyser!  We arrived to huge parking lots and followed the people past buildings to find a board walk surrounding a few geysers.  Several hundred people were on the boardwalk and sitting on benches patiently awaiting the next eruption 3:10 pm and it lasted about 5 minutes.  Onto Midway Geyser Basin.  This is amazing!  A huge hot pool, Excelsior, beautiful blue colors boiling over and flowing down the bank into the Firehole River.  Approximately 4000 gallons a minute run down the bank creating awesome orange/yellow colors.  Walking along the boardwalk you then come to this amazing pool that looks like an infinite pool, the Grand Prismatic Spring. 

Excelsior Geysor Crator

 

Midway Geyser Basin-Grand Pristine Spring

There was just so much to see on this route, 87 km each way.  I am so glad we are here now.  I can’t imagine the crowds come summer.  Now we know why there are so many pull offs for the slower traffic and all the photographers.  We drove back to Madison to check out the campsite, very nice but no hookups.  I would stay at this campsite next time.  Heading back we drove along the Firehole Canyon Drive where we spotted an elk with a calf.  The meadows were covered with about 200 bison and some decided to cross the road.  What a traffic jam that caused!  Next stop Fountain Paint Pot where Spasm Pot Geyser shot out water/steam constantly and beside it a geyser that just hissed!  Biscuit Basin next where we could see the meadow and all the bison holding up a line of vehicles.  Last but not least we stopped at Black Sand Basin.  This is close to Old Faithful but just down the highway about 5 minutes.  Again some amazing hot pools and spitting mud pots.  It looked like someone had built a dam with a geyser inside trying to bubble out.  The sun just added more amazing color to some of the pools.  Heading back to the campsite we crossed the Continental Divide at 8391 feet.  Last but not least in a burned out area there was a beautiful elk with another gorgeous rack.  Long day left at 9 am and got back about 8 pm.  I think I burnt my scalp, hat tomorrow.  We have taken on average 100 pictures a day!

 

Near Firehole Falls

 Biscuit Basin-Sapphire Pool

 

Daily Stats: 
Today's distance:  200 km 
Weather:  Sunshine; High: 24 degrees; Lo: 12 degrees
Diesel Price:  Fishing Bridge $1.359 gallon in park
Wildlife:  2 Ospreys, 200+ bison, Elk with calf, bull Elk
Campsite:  Fishing Bridge RV Park
Walking:  10+ km