Stop and smell the roses..
July 27, 2010
… well, maybe not roses but definitely the lodge pole pines and clean mountain air of Yellowstone National Park.
Most people who stay with us at Three Bear Lodge do so because they are coming to visit Yellowstone National Park. But probably 99% of our guests only get to see 1% of what the Park has to offer.
A guided tour is a good way to explore the area. SeeYellowstone.com offer the most varied range of tours, with daily trips around the Lower Loop or Upper Loop Wildlife tours. Their knowledgeable guides do a great job in explaining some of the history and features of the park.
But as good a job as SeeYellowstone.com do, they still barely scratch the surface of what Yellowstone has to offer. If you were to drive along every mile of paved road within the park, you would only see 2% of the 2.2 Million Acres the park covers.
To really see the Park you need to stop driving and get out and look around. Take the time to go just beyond the road and you’ll be amazed and enthralled at what you find.
A good example of this can be found just a few miles in from the West Entrance. Most people who drive by are looking for Elk and Bison in the Madison Meadows and don’t even notice a sign for Harlequin Lake on the opposite side of the road. Park opposite this sign and take the gently upward sloping trail for about 0.3 miles and you will come out at the beautiful Lilly pad covered lake. Usually the lake is home to several species of birds as well as brightly colored dragonflies.
Another simple walk can be found a little further in. Most people stop at Midway Geyser Basin to see the Grand Prismatic Lake. In the height of the season the area is VERY busy and the boardwalks only offer a limited view of the hot spring.
To get that picture postcard photo opportunity, drive past the Geyser Basin for about a mile and you will see a pull in on the right hand side for “Fairy Falls”. Park there and walk along the wide trail for just a few minutes until you see the Prismatic Spring on your right hand side. Climb up the fairly steep but not very high hillside on your left and from the top you will get to see the Grand Prismatic Spring in all its glory – and be able to capture a photo with the “wow factor”.
These are just two of the hundreds of short hikes that are very easy to do and offer exceptional hidden views of the true beauty of Yellowstone National Park.
Great information. Thanks for the information on the park.
JL
Very good article post. Really Great.