Family Vacation: Yellowstone

Grand Tetons  |  Yellowstone  |  Jackson

Approaching through the south entrance of Yellowstone National Park, we first visit vast and expansive Yellowstone Lake. Mud Volcano basin is interesting, and Andy is drawn to Dragon’s Mouth Spring, which spews a sulfurous breath to all who approach.

We rush to Old Faithful. Because of road closures, we have to loop around through Canyon Village and Norris and Madison before approaching Geyser Basin from the North. We pull up as people are leaving, having just missed the moment. We set a time to return, well before the projected eruption. There is enough time for a quick walk through Grand Prismatic Spring. Along the boardwalk, the sunlight comes from a precise angle to create a Brocken specter by one of the pools. I’ve captured this one other time while hiking in the Colorado Rockies.

The excitement builds at Old Faithful. With the first few spurts, the onlookers quiet as in reverence. There are a few false starts. Then, Old Faithful performs again. We wait until the crowd clears to get a family picture. On the way back to Madison, traffic is at a standstill. A large bison herd is indecisive about whether or not to cross the highway. A few make their way over, blocking all flow. Everyone has their cameras out. We arrive at the picturesque Explorer Cabins at Yellowstone. There is a welcome s’mores kit to be used in the fire pit.

On this second day in Yellowstone, we visit Gibbon Falls, Artists’ Paintpots, Canyon Village and Inspiration Point, and Mammoth Hot Springs. The highlight is the elk rut, as this is the precise season for seeing this event. Just to the side of the terraces, elk play in the fluffy calcium deposits. Again, because of road closures, we take the long route, back through Tower-Roosevelt and Canyon Village and Norris and Madison to get back to our cabin. There, we cook ravioli in garlic oil and sautéed asparagus. Andy serves up ice cream s’mores in a cup.

We return to Geyser Basin this third day via Firehole Canyon Drive. There is a nice hike through Twig and Spasm Geysers. Andy and I take the Fairy Falls Trail to get a higher view of Grand Prismatic Spring. The view from this hill is truly amazing, as the depth of color is completely different than when seen from the boardwalk. We retrace the road through Madison and Norris to Canyon Village, where we stop to visit Artist Point. An artist is actually there, painting a self-portrait. Then, we hug Yellowstone Lake and cross back and forth over the serpentine Continental Divide on the way out to the Rockefeller Parkway.

Family picture at the south entrance, at the sign of Yellowstone National Park

Andy the photographer taking pictures at Jackson Lake

In the Mud Volcano area, the Mud Caldron bellows steam

Aggressive raven near Old Faithful geyser

People along the boardwalk, against the steam, at Grand Prismatic Spring

Dad, Mom, and Alice along the boardwalk at Grand Prismatic Spring

Bacterial mats, orange, against steam backdrop, at Grand Prismatic Spring

Bacterial mats, orange, against steam backdrop, at Grand Prismatic Spring

Brockengespenst, or brocken specter, at pool below Grand Prismatic Spring, in Midway Geyser Basin

People lined up outside the Visitor Center, waiting for Old Faithful Geyser

Old Faithful geyser spraying, erupting steam

Grazing bison along geyser basin, off the road

Bison crossing the highway, blocking a big RV and many cars

Making s’mores by the firepit of Explorer Cabins at Yellowstone

Our cabin, Explorer Cabins at Yellowstone, with firepit

My coffee at the Explorer Cabins at Yellowstone, on the front porch

Fresh ingredients for the omelette for breakfast

Breakfast at Explorer Cabins at Yellowstone, hash browns, mushroom spinach cheese omelette, and Tabasco sauce

Flowing waters at Gibbon Falls turnout

At Gibbon Falls turnout

Mud bubbling and spurting at Artists’ Paintpots

Family picture at Artists’ Paintpots boardwalk, overlooking the valley

Outflow from the upper pools at Artists’ Paintpots

At the overlook at Inspiration Point, with Yellowstone Falls in the background

Just north of Canyon, bison blocking traffic along the highway, near Dunraven Pass

Elk rut at Mammoth Hot Springs Terraces

Antlers with white calcium deposits, bugling elk at Mammoth Hot Springs Terraces

Elk rut at Mammoth Hot Springs Terraces

White calcium carbonate deposits at Mammoth Hot Springs Terraces

Flowing hot water over calcium carbonate deposits

Outside the north entrance of Yellowstone, family picture in front of the Roosevelt Arch

Madision River near the west entrance of Yellowstone National Park

Madison River, just before sunset, near the West Yellowstone entrance

Boardwalk by the Madison River, inside the West Yellowstone entrance, right at sunset

Siblings picture at the Explorer Cabins at Yellowstone

Siblings picture at the Explorer Cabins at Yellowstone, firepit outside the cabin

Asparagus and garlic stir-fry, sautee

Wild mushroom ravioli with asparagus in olive oil and garlic

Vanilla ice cream, marshmallows, chocolate, and graham crackers

Firehole Falls and flowing Firehole River

Steam rising from Lower Geyser Basin, coalescing with the clouds

Dead trees, with bases mineralized by the hot springs water at Lower Geyser Basin

Pool at Lower Geyser Basin, looking like it’s about to swallow the passing car

Twig Geyser at Lower Geyser Basin

Spasm Geyser at Lower Geyser Basin

View from the hill above the Fairy Falls Trail, where Andy and I hiked up the slopes to get a higher view

View from the hill above the Fairy Falls Trail, where Andy and I hiked up the slopes to get a higher view

Family picture at Artist Point, with Lower Yellowstone Falls in the background

Mom and Dad at Artist Point, with view of the Lower Yellowstone Falls

View of Yellowstone Falls from Artist Point, from the rim of the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone

Yellowstone Lake West Thumb jetty with sandbar and lone tree, with billowing cloud formation above