With a packed picnic lunch and park pass in hand we headed to the park entrance. We drove along the Madison River and took the side loop to Firehole Canyon. The loop was a 2-mile, one-way side road passing the Firehole River, Firehole Falls, and a natural swimming hole. No swimming for us today!
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Back on the roadway, we passed a few Bison as the familiar geyser basin came into view. Our next stop was Old Faithful Geyser. We parked and made the short walk to check the approximate eruption time. We were in luck…20 minutes, give or take! We took our position on the viewing deck and were quickly surrounded by a group of tourists with selfie sticks! We had to stand firm to secure our position! Old Faithful teased several times with small gushes of water, but finally exploded to everyone’s delight!
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Next on our agenda was the West Thumb Geyser Basin. This basin lies in the shadows of the Absaroka Mountain Range and next to Yellowstone Lake. Here we were able to view geysers and Hot Pools in various shades of blue. Our favorite attraction was Fishing Cone. In the early 1900s, fishermen came to “hook and cook”: catch a trout from Yellowstone Lake, then cook it while still on the line by dangling it over the geyser. In the past we have seen the cone submerged in water, but today it was well above the water line.
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When it was time for lunch we found a spot on the Yellowstone River. It was quiet and peaceful…until…we were surprised by Elk crossing the River. One Bull Elk chasing his 2 female companions. Definitely, the highlight of our day!
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One more stop at Beryl Spring, situated close to road. Quick and Easy! While we were there, I thought I would see how I measure up to a snow stick!
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As we were heading back towards the exit, we came across another Bull Elk and his harem situated on a small island in the Madison River. What a great day!
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