People often ask me what my favorite place is. The real answer is the National Parks collectively. I had been to half a dozen before this trip, but I don’t think I truly grasped the amazing natural phenomena of North America until I saw SO MANY of the National Parks. The more I see, the more I appreciate ALL of them. Truly they are crown jewels, and should continue to be treasured as such.
That being said, I know people want ONE answer. It is Yellowstone. Yellowstone has everything all the other National Parks have – mountains, rivers, lakes, waterfalls, grasslands, wildlife. But it also has its own Grand Canyon, and it has something none of the other parks has – geysers! And it’s all in one Park! Three days is absolute minimum. And allow yourself to be amazed.
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- Snow in August!! I planned to spend three days in Yellowstone but the east entrance was closed the first day because of snow and ice on Sylvan pass. I got to see it first thing the next morning before it melted. The winter wonderland was enchanting. Absaroka Mountains, Sylvan Lake
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- Yellowstone Lake is enormous! Absaroka Mountains from Lake Butte Overlook
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- Geysers at Steamboat Point, Yellowstone Lake
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- Geyser at Steamboat Point, Yellowstone Lake, Absaroka Mountains
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- This bison did me the enormous favor of posing by Yellowstone Lake in front of the snow-capped Absaroka Mountains. SCORE! I left the road part in the photo so you can see that I stayed safely in my car!
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- Black Pool, West Thumb Geyser Basin
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- Black Pool, West Thumb Geyser Basin
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- Abyss Pool, West Thumb Geyser Basin
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- Lakeshore Geyser, Yellowstone Lake
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- West Thumb Geyser Basin, Yellowstone Lake, Absaroka Mountains
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- Old Faithful
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- Firehole River, Biscuit Basin
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- Wall Pool and Black Opal Spring, Biscuit Basin
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- Sapphire Pool, Biscuit Basin
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- Biscuit Basin
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- Streams from Excelsior Geyser into Firehole River, Midway Geyser Basin
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- The edge of Grand Prismatic Spring, Midway Geyser Basin
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- The edge of Grand Prismatic Spring, Midway Geyser Basin
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- Great Fountain Geyser, Lower Geyser Basin
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- White Dome Geyser, Lower Geyser Basin
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- Firehole Lake, Lower Geyser Basin
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- Gibbon Falls
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- Norris Geyser Basin
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- LeHardys Rapids, Yellowstone River
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- The cutest little geysers I ever saw. Swoon! Mud Volcano Area
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- Lower Falls, Yellowstone River, Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone (Really!) from Artist Point
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- Yellowstone River, Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone from Artist Point
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- Yellowstone River Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone from North Rim Drive
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- Yellowstone River, Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone from Inspiration Point
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- (Gorgeous!) Grasslands, Yellowstone River, Hayden Valley
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- Seeing bison with your own eyes is like being in a time machine. It’s hard to believe it’s really happening. “Yellowstone National Park is the only place in the U.S. where bison have lived continuously since prehistoric times.” Also – There’s a young one in there. Fourth from the right. Fishing Bridge area
