Yellowstone National Park

 

Bozeman and smokey skies in our review mirror, we headed out to Yellowstone National Park. We have both been to Yellowstone and the Grand Tetons many times but being so close and with the potential of fall color, how could we resist?  The drive was very pretty through the Gallatin National Forest and skies were definitely getting clearer. 

We decided to stay in the town of West Yellowstone just outside the park boundary and use the electricity in the campground to get some cooking done. Once we were in park campgrounds there would be no electricity or water, so warming up our meals rather than having to cook would make things a lot easier. With tomato sauce, green chili stew and homemade brownies cooked we went to bed. (I had been craving some chocolate!)  A nice rain came down most of the night helping to clear the smoke from the air...
 

Isn't Yellowstone the most 'other worldly' place?

One of the many hot springs at Mammoth

 

The next morning dawned clear and fresh for the first time in many days.  As we drove through the entry station to Yellowstone, it was free admission - National Public Lands Day.  We hadn't planned it but we were about to spend National Public Lands Day in Yellowstone. 

Lamar Valley in fall color

 

Taking a leisurely drive to the Lamar Valley, our first stop was Mammoth Hot Springs. We took two walks around several sets of hot springs and then continued on our way to Yellowstone River Picnic Area where we had a nice picnic with brownies for dessert.  As we left the area we started seeing buffalo and antelope on both sides of the road and even in the road!  We looked for wolves in the Lamar Valley but didn't see any, then made our way back to camp. All in all it was a great way to observe National Public Lands Day.

 

Yellowstone traffic jam