Note: To catch up on our posts, we're posting several entries about Yellowstone today. This is part 1 of 4, scroll down/up for the other parts.
We got a 5 AM start from Buffalo Bill State Park and within an hour or so reached the East entrance of Yellowstone. Our destination was a campground at Mammoth Springs in the north of the park, and the two hour drive there already offered many interesting sights:
We got a 5 AM start from Buffalo Bill State Park and within an hour or so reached the East entrance of Yellowstone. Our destination was a campground at Mammoth Springs in the north of the park, and the two hour drive there already offered many interesting sights:
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| The early morning looked like this everywhere - probably the hot steam from the hot springs which are all over the park. |
After successfully securing a campsite and dropping off the
trailer, we spent the afternoon driving to the Tower Falls area. Yellowstone’s
main attractions are arranged almost like the spokes of a wheel, with “Grand
Loop” road connecting each of them. The drive offered some more scenery:
At Tower Falls, a medium sized waterfall and a chance to
hike to the bottom:
Driving back, we saw bears and bison rolling in the dirt:
Our last activity of the day was the most fun – Yellowstone
is known for its hot springs, and within walking distance of our campsite is a
famous spot where a hot spring (the Boiling River) flows into a regular river
(Gardiner River). It’s a popular swimming hole.
The water from the boiling river will scald you, while the
other river is cold, so finding just the right spot between the two streams is
key.
That’s it for day 1 here. Yellowstone is already impressing
us with amazing scenery and abundant wildlife.
Random Fact of the Day:
Outside the Mammoth Springs visitor center, a group of Elk roam around almost
every single day. They are so used to people nothing even makes them flinch.
