Yellowstone is defined by geysers, mudpots, fumaroles and hot springs, not to mention the wildlife; moose and elk, bighorn sheep and pronghorn, grizzlies and black bear, wolves and coyotes, beavers and otters, and of course, bison.  Birds of prey fly high, and Trumpeter Swans grace the waters while Yellowstone cutthroat trout live below.  It is truly a unique place. 

On a rainy gray afternoon in late July, we drove the short 35 mile route from our site at Harriman State Park in Island Park ID to the Yellowstone National Park entrance in West Yellowstone, MT.  Getting a late start wasn’t of concern as we were close enough to take a sneak peak and then return another day.  Even though the weather was gloomy and it was mid-week, there were plenty of visitors and minor traffic jams at the site of every elk.  We made it as far as Old Faithful and the massive crowd was just dispersing as we had missed the geyser’s eruption by about 3 minutes.  Our second trip in August began earlier in the day, allowing us to make it around the center loop of the park.  We were told that Lamar Valley in the northeast corner of the park would be the best place to see wildlife in early morning or evening, but the timing wasn’t right and we didn’t venture that far.  Just south of Canyon Village in the middle of the park is Artist Point, and Lower and Upper Falls.  At Lower Falls, a parking area and short walk allowed us to get next to a rushing river and beautiful waterfall complete with a rainbow halo at its base.  At the end of the Artist Point drive, the distant view of Upper Falls through the canyon was spectacular and the colors of the canyon walls were an artist’s palette; true to the name.  Further along in Hayden Valley we got up close and personal with a large herd of bison who have come to own the road, and who decide when and where to stop the flow of traffic.  With so much of Yellowstone left to explore, we’ll have to make a return visit.  Images from these trips are in the "Yellowstone NP" album.