Category: **Our Awesome National Parks

SNAP*Shot: Mammoth’s Palette Spring Season After Season

Posted on by Joy

Mammoth Terraces, including beautiful Palette Spring, is not the only reason to visit this area. Coming through Yellowstone’s North Entrance, we drive up almost 1,000 feet along five miles to Mammoth Hot Springs. This is the home of historic Fort Yellowstone, still the park’s administrative headquarters. The significant conservation policies developed here lead to establishing the National Park Service in 1916. From 1886 to 1918 the US Army administered the park, turning those duties over to the fledgling Park Service in 1918. Enjoy Yellowstone’s fascinating history by taking the virtual tour. Delight in the stories that gave us the world’s first National Park.

Today, though, we are driving by the Visitor’s Center, hotel, dining areas, gas station, and the only heated restroom along the Norther Tier road–you have no idea how welcomed that is in winter! Our destination is the massive rock mound call Mammoth Terraces. Palette Spring is the colorful introduction to Yellowstone’s unique hydrothermal area called Mammoth.

Wait a minute . . .

SNAP*Shot: Annual May Treat–Harlequin Ducks!

Posted on by Joy

Each Mother’s Day we head to Yellowstone to spend time with Harlequin Ducks. It is an overcast day, but no rain so all is well. These amazing diving ducks grace us by breeding in wild LeHardy Rapids of the Yellowstone River, one of only a few places they visit in the lower 48 states. We have talked of them before, so let’s just enjoy our time with them.

Harlequin Ducks

Living life in dangerous waters . . .

Reawakening on Mammoth’s Lower Terraces

Posted on by Joy

We have walked Mammoth’s Upper Terraces a few times, most recently about six weeks ago. The Upper Terraces is one of my favorite places. The rapid change of the hot springs and travertine formations they create, the peaceful nature of Upper Terraces Drive, and the views! However, I realized we have never walked the Lower Terraces. It is 6:30am and the sun has yet to rise above Mount Everts. Let’s enjoy the reawakening of Mound Spring in the cool of the morning and explore the ever-changing nature of Mammoth’s travertine terraces. It was only about four years ago that this spring came back to life reawakening beautiful Mound Terrace.

Mound Spring

Great views ahead . . .

Ride~About: Springtime at Yellowstone Lake

Posted on by Joy

Springtime in the Rockies leaves you guessing at the weather no matter what the  forecast. Springtime along Yellowstone Lake is no exception. Surrounded by huge mountains that can generate their own weather further complicates forecasting. Yellowstone Lake, the largest fresh water lake above 7,000 feet in North American, covers 136 square miles and the winds can really move along that flat surface.  Although we are starting our day with rain, some snow, a bit of ice called grapple, minimal wind thankfully, and seriously overcast skies, let’s remain hopeful.

We begin our trip at Fishing Bridge heading southeast 10 miles to Lake Butte Overlook. Let’s hope for brighter skies, maybe even some sun. On our way back we’ll be stopping along the northern shore of the lake to see what we will see. Always an adventure regardless of the weather, because my friends, there is never a bad day in Yellowstone!

Fishing Bridge

Let’s go . . .