Yellowstone National Park
The Journey
Our journey to Yellowstone began early in the morning given that it was going to be a single day trip. We drove from Butte to the Gardiner park entrance. As we entered the park, there were some elk greeting us. After we winded through the first few parts, we decided to go to Lamar Valley early to catch some wildlife moving. Not even 5 minutes into the trip, we saw a moose feeding in the middle of a pond.
After that, we were encountered one of the coolest things either of us have seen. The highway was lined with vehicles and not being a sinlge spot to stop. As everyone looked in one place, we could see that there was a sow with 2 little cubs. We watched them for a bit, and then we got to see the little clubs climbing and playing in the tree.
We had some flowers with us, and she put them on the dash. When she went to grab them, she noticed that there was a spider crawling on them. She freaked out, and we had to stop asap. I made sure to get the spider off, and then I decided to take a look in my binos. Out of no where I had to grab my spotting scope to look at something near the top of a nearby mountain. There it was, a grizzly bear just feeding in wide open meadow. We watched it for a bit and showed some of the people when they stopped by.
We continued on through Lamar Valley seeing lots of antelope and bison. There was quite a bit of traffic, but we turned around and decided to head back towards Mammoth. Right as we left Lamar Valley, a black bear decided to walk right along the road and feed. It was a really cool thing to see.
We grabbed some lunch in Mammoth. After finding some parking, we had a bison brat, hot dog, and some huckleberry fudge for a sweet treat. We then headed towards Norris Geyser Basin. CONTINUE HERE
grand canyon situation
hike around gcy
drive towards old faithful -> saw it right away
way out, saw bear near river
west yellowstone for dinner, shopping and ice cream
side note -> cow in highway...
Photo Gallery
Mother Bear with Cubs
Bear Family Playing
Cubs Climbing Trees
Wildlife Spotting
Trip Highlights
- Spotting a grizzly bear in Lamar Valley
- Watching Old Faithful erupt at sunset
- Hiking to the Grand Prismatic Spring overlook
- Sunrise at the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone
Pros & Cons
What We Loved
- Incredible geothermal features unlike anywhere else on Earth
- Abundant wildlife viewing opportunities
- Well-maintained trails and boardwalks for all skill levels
- Stunning natural beauty at every turn
- Educational ranger programs and visitor centers
Things to Consider
- Very crowded during peak summer season
- Short on parking in a lot of areas
- Limited cell phone service throughout the park
- Expensive to stay in the park
- Long distances between attractions require significant driving
- Unpredictable weather - be prepared for all conditions
Final Thoughts
Do not have expectations to see bears, but you could be lucky. Yellowstone exceeded all our expectations. Despite the crowds, the park's raw natural beauty and unique geothermal features make it a must-visit destination. We left with a deeper appreciation for nature's power and a camera full of memories. Would we go back? Absolutely - but next time, we'd visit in the shoulder season to avoid the peak summer crowds. This trip reminded us why national parks are so important to preserve for future generations.