Our best day yet in Yellowstone!

OMG! This was our most incredible day yet in Yellowstone. Although I have been here 7 or 8 times in the past, I can honestly say we have seen more on this trip than during all of those previous trips combined. Everywhere we went today (except Artist’s Point) was a place neither of us had ever been. Nancy is really an explorer and she pushes me to do some things I might otherwise not do…..and in the end, I am so grateful that she does!

The weather today was absolutely perfect….the air was crystal clear and we had clear blue skies all day. I can’t imagine a better weather day. We entered the park at about 8:30 and headed straight for the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone. We stopped there earlier in the week but we only saw a couple overlooks on the north rim. We went to Artist’s Point on the south rim, and then hiked to the brink of the upper falls. We were literally 15 feet above where the water goes over the edge into the canyon below. Then we drove to the trailhead that leads down to the brink of the much more spectacular lower falls (the falls you see from Artist’s Point). This was a somewhat difficult hike…….it’s only 3/8 of a mile, but includes 600 ft of elevation drop (which means 600 ft climbing up on the return!) It was so worth it. We were standing just a few yards above where these magnificent falls go over the edge into the canyon below (and I mean WAY below!). Being at the precipice of these two falls was absolutely stunning……for me, it was the best part off the day. On the way out of this area, we also stopped and viewed the canyon from Inspiration Point.

Next, we went to the Mud Volcano area. Again, I have never explored that area. It was a very cool place as you will see in the pictures. We did a loop that was mainly a wood deck a foot or two off the ground that was about a mile long. This is also where we were able to stand within just a few feet of a small herd of buffalos.

Then we headed toward Gibbon Falls and on the way, we got within a few feet of a large male elk with a big rack. The elk was eating grass on the side of the road within 10 feet of us when we took a couple pics. While we have seen lots of elf, this was our first sighting of a large male with a rack. We stopped at a pullover next to the Gibbon River and sat on the ledge and ate the lunch Nancy packed for us. It was a very peaceful, beautiful spot and as a bonus, we saw a mini hot water fountain that we didn’t know was there. It was pure luck that we saw it. While were eating, several more informed visitors stopped to take a picture of it. It is actually is fairly well hidden…..unless you stumble on it like we did, you would have to know it was there.

We drove on to Gibbon Falls and walked around for a while taking some pics and then headed home. We drove through a couple short riverside roads and were home by 4pm. We fired up the outside TV for the first time, made some adult beverages, and watched some college football. What a great day! It was another vivid reminder of just what a unique place Yellowstone is.

Here are some pics and a few short video’s. The video links are the jumbled letters/numbers following some of the photos.

The Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone – the view from Artists Point