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From Wikipedia – Situated on the Yellowstone Caldera, the park has an expansive network of geothermal areas including boiling mud pots, vividly colored hot springs such as Grand Prismatic Spring, and regularly erupting geysers, the best-known being Old Faithful. The yellow-hued Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone River contains several high waterfalls, and four mountain ranges traverse the park. More than 60 mammal species including gray wolves, grizzly bears, black bears, lynxes, bison, and elk, make this park one of the best wildlife viewing spots in the country.
- Established: 03/01/1872
- Annual Visitors: 4,115,000
- Size: 2,219,790 acres
Our last evening in Jackson. Yellowstone tomorrow.
Fall meets winter in the Tetons 
Horse ranch on the way to Slide Lake 
Standing on the rubble from when the mountain in the background came sliding down in 1925. 
Red, White and Blue berries 
Slide Lake which was formed from the 1925 landslide. 
The Tetons with fresh snow from last night. 
Moose sightings again today. 
Our first bull moose sighting this trip.
Yellowstone Day 1
We started the day by driving out of Jackson through Grand Teton NP at sunrise and continued up to the northern side of Yellowstone Lake in Yellowstone National Park through the south entrance. We experienced the most wonderful unintentional but highly appreciated self-guided wildlife safari either of us had ever experienced! Enjoy the several slide shows below of our multiple, accidental, incredibly timed, sometimes very close, encounters with elk, buffalo, bear, swans, and geese as we drove through the diverse landscape of the world’s first ever national park in majestic Wyoming!
We were blessed with blue skies, albeit 37 degrees in the AM only raising to 47 late in the day, with snow not only on the mountains in the distance but freshly fallen flakes on the grills and hoods on oncoming traffic and on the sides of the road as we passed streams, rivers and lakes throughout the day. Before I got out of the car to take any photos, I zipped up my light down jacket and my wind/rain jacket which were over my tee shirt and long-sleeved shirt. I had leggings on under my skort, warm socks, gloves, a neck gator (which doubles as a face covering in public) and a light beanie/hat. You laugh? I live in Phoenix which was 115 degrees when we left early September! I love the damp woods smell after an early snow (we used to live in Vermont for 35 yrs.) and appreciate visiting the snow but not having to shovel it!
Before we left Grand Teton NP, we stopped at Colter Visitor Center where a Native American gentleman was raising the flag to open the center. I took a few pictures and appreciated his tradition, honor and respectful way he carried out his morning routine of watching our American flag soar to the top of the pole, he saluted it and turned to go back inside…but not before a fellow female Park Ranger announced to the gathering of on lookers that this gentleman was retiring today, his last day after 43 seasons as a Park Ranger! Again, an accidental and wonderful perfectly timed experience!
In our travels we stopped at Lewis Falls so Rangeley could play in the water. The rules are dogs must stay within 100’ of pavement. We were at a bridge so at times he was under the pavement. The 6’ leash rule, well, we would just ask for forgiveness.
Mama bear with her quadruplets as we entered Yellowstone from the south. 
Bears are definitely a big show in Yellowstone. There were tons of cars on the main road watching the family as they crossed the field. 
In the afternoon this male was along the Yellowstone River. Notice the skeleton just below him.
Yellowstone Lake is 286 square miles and at an elevation of 7,700′ making it the largest high elevation lake in the lower 48. 
This bull elk had 8 females with him along the shore of Yellowstone Lake. 
Snow covered mountains in the background. Who knew we would hit snow twice on this trip in September. 
Same bull from a different angle. We saw other elk herds and individuals, too many to show them all.
You really need to watch out for oncoming traffic. This guy was headed right for us before veering down his lane. We had stopped to allow him to decide. 
This is a different location, but same issue. Elizabeth was bit bit nervous as they pass only a few feet away. 
This guy had crossed in front of us. 
Buffalo everywhere. The Hayden Valley along the Yellowstone River is full of wildlife. 
Steam vents are also very common throughout the park. 
This guy greeted us to Lake Lodge. 
We went over the Continental Divide for the third time this trip, this time at 7,988 ft. and all three times we encountered snow!
I enjoyed the Mud Volcano Area where I (Gary stayed with the pup as Rangeley cannot go on trails) walked up and over a hill watching muddy pits of all sizes bubbling, flowing, pouring and steaming out of the ground. See pictures.
We drove around the north loop in the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone section of the park stopping at overlooks to enjoy the Upper and Lower Falls on the Snake River.
We finished our first day in the park by checking into Lake Lodge on the north side of Yellowstone Lake. We have one of 6 cabin-like units in a building at the top of the road, close to the woods and private. After we ate dinner (in our room, we have a toaster oven we brought) we walked the ½+ mile to the lake across from the main lodge and took a few sunset/evening pics which we are sharing with you below.
Tomorrow we will make a trip to the side of the park where Old Faithful and many other geysers will thrill us I am sure. Another incredible adventure to come!
Yellowstone Day 2 – September 28,2020
It was 19 degrees this AM (burrrr!) while leaving our Yellowstone Lake cabin, heading to Old Faithful Geyser. There was frost on the car, ground and snow along the side of the road. Rangeley was perplexed with the frozen mud puddles. We got to the parking lot at 8:30am, just as Old Faithful was finishing his/her towering water and steam skyward…bummer… just missed it. Next “show”, 10AM. So, I got coffee, we ate a little breakfast (take out only in the park), went to the visitor center which is closed but a ranger was out front answering questions, showing routes to hikes, posting times for the next geysers to go off, etc.
During our drive we crossed over the Continental Divide, this time topping off at 8,391 ft. and yup, just like the other times, there was snow near the road.
If you looked at a detailed map of Yellowstone, today we drove from Lake Village, where we are staying, south to West Thumb, west to Old Faithful, on to Madison, up around to Canyon Village and back south through our favorite animal sighting stretch along the Yellowstone River back to Lake Village.
We hope you enjoy all the photos Gary has put into slide shows below: Old Faithful Geyser, Prismatic Springs, animals along the way, our cookout dinner and Rangeley, of course, playing in the lake and admiring the elk! Be sure to read the descriptions beneath each of the pics for more detailed info of our day!
Waiting for the next eruption. It occurs about every 90 minutes. 
The boardwalk is frosty. This is between eruptions. The steam is always floating up. 
The beginning of the eruption. You can see there were 3 blasts to start. Rangeley was not allowed to go closer. Arrow is pointing to Elizabeth. 
Right after the 2 minute eruption ended. 
Rangeley is more interested in his stick than the eruption going on behind him. 
Sunrise in the morning before taking off to Old Faithful.
Rangeley enjoying swimming in Lake Yellowstone. We walked here from our cabin. Notice the stick over Rangeley’s head. 
Geese flying by. 
Headed down the path to go for a swim. Waiting for the elk to clear. That is a big bull on the path. He had 8 females and 2 young ones with him. 
Some of the females going into the field. 
Hot dogs with cheese and chili cooked on our grill. 
The area recovering from a recent forest fire. We saw lots of areas where fires had come through and now the new young trees look great.
Our Thoughts today:
“This land is your land, and this land is my land…” – Woody Guthrie
Tomorrow we travel to Billings Montana, then it will be on to North Dakota and Theodore Roosevelt National Park, so it will be a couples days to our next post.
Not all those who wander are lost.
J. R. R. TOLKIEN
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Gary and Elizabeth's Adventures 