Third Day In Yellowstone National Park

21 September 2014

Weather: Sunny and 23C

This morning Justin and I got up and got ready, had breakfast and headed out to watch Old Faithful Geyser erupt, then we joined Ranger Joanne for the Geyser Hill Guided Walk.  Joanne took us to many of the geysers near Old Faithful Inn, explaining the unique features of each geyser, pool and spring, as well as how often many of the geysers erupt.  

View from the Geyser Hill Guided Walk

Beach Spring, Yellowstone National Park

After the tour we walked to Solitary Geyser and around to Castle Geyser seeing Grand Geyser erupting as we walked.  

Solitary Geyser, Yellowstone National Park

After Grand Geyser erupted we saw Beehive erupt in the distance.  We were lucky to see Castle Geyser erupt before grabbing lunch and heading off to Black Sand Basin.  

Beehive Geyser, Yellowstone National Park

Castle Geyser, Yellowstone National Park

After looking around at the geysers at Black Sand Basin we continued north to Biscuit Basin to see more geysers.  

Cliff Geyser at Black Sand Basin

When we were leaving Biscuit Basin we were told that a bear had been sighted further north on the Grand Prismatic Spring Trail.  

Justin and I at Sapphire Pool at Biscuit Basin

We drove to the area where the bear was sighted but the trail had been closed off and we could not see the bear.  Some Germany tourists showed us their photos of the bear as they were very close to it when hiking on the trail.  I asked Justin did he want to wait around to see if the bear heads this way but he decided that it would be unlikely that we will see it so we drove to Midway Geyser Basin and Lower Geyser Basin to see, as you guessed more pools and geysers.  At Midway Geyser Basin there was a film crew making an IMAX film about Yellowstone National Park and we were copying some of the angles which they were shooting from.  

Grand Prismatic Spring, Midway Geyser Basin

Grand Prismatic Spring Sign

Leather Pool, Lower Geyser Basin

Fountain Paint Pots, Lower Geyser Basin

On our return to Old Faithful Inn we had a glimpse of the bear sighted by hikers earlier that afternoon.  We could not make out if it was a Black or Brown Bear as there was no car parks on the side of the road and we had to drive slowly to miss the people and cars on the road.  

Bear at Yellowstone National Park

We continued to Kepler Cascades where the road was blocked due to road works and then drove back to Old Faithful Inn.  

Kepler Cascades, Yellowstone National Park

Once back at the Inn we had a drink and then headed out to see Old Faithful Geyser erupt again.  

Justin enjoying an Old Faithful Ale at Old Faithful Inn

Old Faithful Geyser erupting

Afterwards we had a rest and then went to the Old Faithful Lodge’s cafeteria for tea.  I could see Old Faithful Geyser erupt again while eating a Bison Pasta Bake.  The rest of the evening we retired to our room and had an early night as I have come down with a cold most likely from those cold showers and Justin was very sun burnt on the back of his neck and face. 

Second Day In The Yellowstone National Park

20 September 2014

Weather: Sunny and 21C

This morning Justin and I got up at 5:45am to leave just before 6:30am to drive to Tower - Roosevelt to meet the guide for the day.  I had booked the tour with Yellowstone Guidelines as we wanted to do the Hike and Float Tour.  Due to snow fall a week or two before our visit the company who did the whitewater rafting in the Yellowstone River had closed their business for the year.  We knew that because of the date we chose it would be iffy as to the rafting because the river level could have been too low as well.  As a backup I arranged for an animal spotting tour, which is what we had instead.  We drove in the dark for less than an hour, driving through Madison, Norris and Canyon Village then headed to an area unknown to us, Tower - Roosevelt.  

Overhanging Cliff, Grand Loop Road 

Tower Creek at Devils Den

View from Tower - Roosevelt General Store Carpark

We had breakfast at the service station and used its clean toilets.  Our guide for the day was Bryan who met us in the carpark and we went in his Ute to Slough Creek where we saw Bison and a Bald Eagle.  

Bald Eagle at Slough Creek, Yellowstone National Park

Then we continued onto the Lamar Valley where we saw lots of Pronghorns, plus another Bald Eagle and a juvenile Golden Eagle.  

Pronghorn at Lamar Valley, Yellowstone National Park

A little further up the road we saw two wolves - one black and one creamy coloured.  

Wolf in the Lamar Valley

We then drove back to Tower Junction area to walk part of the Specimen Ridge Trail, we had lunch at the picnic area and saw Chipmunks.  Armed with bear spray for Justin and Bryan we walked the specimen trail hoping to see bears but instead it gave us views over the river below and some more Pronghorns.  

Chipmunk, Specimen Ridge Trail

Yellowstone River looking across towards Devils Den

Bryan then drove us to the Petrified Tree on my request and we got a photo of the former Redwood.  

Information on the Petrified Tree, Yellowstone National Park

Petrified Tree, Yellowstone National Park

He then returned us to the carpark at Tower - Roosevelt, we had not driven far on our way back to Old Faithful Inn when we saw juvenile and female Bighorns crossing the road. 

Juvenile and Female Bighorns, Yellowstone National Park

About halfway back we saw cars stopped on the road and a lady on our right said they had watched wolves but on our left was a Mule Deer.  We again saw Bison on the drive back to the Inn.  

Once we got back we filled in an hour until dinner at the Old Faithful Inn Dining Room. Justin had the Special Western Buffet and I had the Red Trout Hash, the trout tasted like salmon.  Feed it was time to get ready for bed so we had a shower, mine was cold again even though the temperature was set to the hottest you can get.  We then had an early night.     

Inside Old Faithful Inn