Sunday, August 10, 1997
Drove into Yellowstone National Park today from the northeast entrance. This road inside the park is a national disgrace - very rough and lots of potholes. They ARE, however, apparently working on the problem as two sections on other routes are currently being reconstructed. As of 2004 a long term program is in place to fix all of the roads. It will take many years to complete.
Drove through some pretty country - the Lamar Valley - lots of large meadows to the Tower-Roosevelt junction. Took the one mile round trip hike to Tower Falls - acres of flowers in the area. I then proceeded south toward Canyon Junction.
Tower Falls, Yellowstone National Park
Tower Falls, Yellowstone National Park
Click for more Tower Falls
Near Canyon I took the loop along the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone stopping at all the viewpoints to take pictures.
Inspiration Point and Grandview Point were close to the rim.
Grand Canyon of Yellowstone from Inspiration Point
Grand Canyon of Yellowstone from Inspiration Point
I visited Upper and Lower Lookout Point for great views of the Lower Yellowstone Falls. Also went to the top of the Lower Falls.
Lots of nice views until it started to rain about 3:45 p.m.
Lower Yellowstone Falls from Upper Lookout Point
Lower Yellowstone Falls from Upper Lookout Point
Top of Lower Yellowstone Falls
Lower Yellowstone Falls from Upper Lookout Point
Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone sign
Click for more Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone Falls
All the campgrounds in the Park were full so I headed for West Yellowstone and the Bakers Hole campground, Gallatin National Forest. This is grizzly country so they only allow hard sided (no tents) camping.
Monday, August 11, 1997
Originally I hadn't planned to spend a lot of time in Yellowstone, but it had been 45 years since I last really explored the park, so I decided to do the full tour.
Headed back into the park and soon saw some elk at a small traffic jam. I was headed back to Canyon to finish seeing the waterfalls.
Between Norris and Canyon I ran into a GIANT TRAFFIC JAM - cars actually stopped for five minutes or so at a time - seems there was a herd of elk in Elk Park on a section of the road without good places to pull off so the traffic just jammed up.
The number of cars/visitors in the Park is horrendous.
Elk in Yellowstone National Park
Elk in Yellowstone National Park
Elk in Yellowstone National Park
Elk in Yellowstone National Park
Hot Spring along the Madison River in Yellowston Natioanal Park
Hot Spring along Madison River in Yellowstone National Park
Hot Spring along Madison River in Yellowstone National Park
Hot Spring along Madison River in Yellowstone National Park
Gibbon River in Yellowstone National Park
Hot Springs along the Gibbon River in Yellowstone National Park
Gibbon Falls on Gibbon River in Yellowstone National Park
Gibbon Falls on Gibbon River in Yellowstone National Park
Beryl Hot Spring on Gibbon River in Yellowstone National Park
Beryl Hot Spring on Gibbon River in Yellowstone National Park
Beryl Hot Spring on Gibbon River in Yellowstone National Park
Drove to Canyon and hiked to the top of the upper falls, then continued to Artists Drive on the other side of the river.
Stopped first at a view point for the upper falls and then hiked down Uncle Toms Trail almost to the canyon bottom for great views of the upper falls including a rainbow. Much of this "trail" is steel steps - 328 of them - easy going down but work going up at 8000 foot elevation. Worth the effort though.
Upper Yellowstone Falls from Uncle Toms Trail
Rainbow below Upper Yellowstone Falls from Uncle Toms Trail
Upper Yellowstone Falls from Uncle Toms Trail
Continued to Artist Point for more fine views of the lower falls. Took lots of pictures at all these viewpoints. Lots of flowers in the meadow areas.
Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone River from Artist Point
Yellowstone Canyon, Lower Falls from Artist Point
Lower Yellowstone Falls from Artist Point
Lower Yellowstone Falls from Artist Point
