Tag: waterfalls

Gorgeous Canyon Views, Scary Winter Possibilities–What a Difference a Day Makes!

Posted on by Joy

Name one thing that is great about Yellowstone in October: Off-season lodge rates. Name one word of caution about Yellowstone in October: SNOW. Since I love staying at the new Canyon Lodges with steep discounts and the aspen and cottonwoods are in sparkling yellow now, I’ll take my chances. It is a gorgeous day to drive along the Gibbon River to Norris Junction then heading east to the Canyon area. The Gibbon River has thermal features along its banks and is one of only a few Yellowstone rivers flowing north to south, but that’s a story for another day. Today we are heading to Canyon’s Washburn Lodge, staying the last two nights before the Canyon area closes until next May. Tomorrow morning we will walk the northern end of North Rim Trail to explore waterfalls and canyon walls. This will be such fun.

So excited . . .

Holland Lake Falls–Seeing It At Last!

Posted on by Joy

Third time is a charm. Today we WILL get to the base of the falls on Holland Creek which connects Upper Holland Lake and the much larger 416-acre Holland Lake. The hike to the upper lake is about 12 miles round trip with an elevation gain of 3,600 feet. The hike to Holland Lake Falls is 3.3 miles round trip with a 750 foot elevation gain. Guess which one we are doing–remembering I’m wimpy.

I’ve walked this trail before but could never find access to the base of the falls. Today I will not be denied, and although it is mostly cloudy, rain is not forecast, the sun peaks through here and there, the smoke from fires north and west has subsided, and it is only in the upper 60s. What a day for a pleasant late morning hike. Sitting at the base of Carmine Peak in the Swan Mountains, welcome to Holland Lake!

Grab your gear, let’s go . . .

Two Waterfalls, Two Miles–Glorious Yellowstone

Posted on by Joy

Here we are, only four miles from Mammoth Hot Springs and we have two waterfalls in two miles. Ah, Yellowstone, with magnificent, pounding waterfalls along the Yellowstone River and these smaller yet glorious falls so close to the road. These two falls, Undine and Wraith, come from creeks flowing from mountains to the west. Undine Falls drops Lava Creek which continues about a mile flowing into the Gardiner River. The Gardiner continues an additional five miles ending as it flows into the Yellowstone River. Driving from Mammoth we pull in the first large parking area on the left. Walking down about 8 steps then ahead about 20 steps and here we are. This is so easy everyone must stop and enjoy again and again!

Undine Falls

One more falls . . .

Ousel Falls Wander

Posted on by Joy

Well, it is that time of year. Not really winter, not really spring. Ice on the trails, lots of brown popping through the dirty-looking snow that’s left. The evergreens are not their beautiful greens, more like a yellow-green and pale. So to make up for this “it’s so much better any other time of year” feeling, we are going to Ousel Falls outside the town of Big Sky, Montana.  A short walk down and up, switchbacks across, through a canyon, and then rewarded with a beautiful waterfall. With all this ice, though, be sure to put on your ice cleats. It is mostly overcast today, but the sun is peeking through a bit and it is supposed to reach 52°.  That’s warm without wind, but we’ll see if the predicted wind changes things. Have those cleats on? Let’s go!

Watch your step . . .