It would not be possible to capture an amazing week of hiking in Yellowstone National Park in a weekly wrap post. It’s hard to believe how much we saw and learned in just five days. As our guide promised at the beginning of the week, our first trip to Yellowstone would whet our appetite to come back for more. Hopefully this post will have the same effect, and entice you to come back and read more about the wonders of Yellowstone over the next few weeks.
Our Trails Through Yellowstone program started and ended at Mammoth Hot Springs, where I had no cell phone service whatsoever and the Visitor Center was the only place with free wi-fi. I logged on long enough to tell my kids, my mom, and my secretary that I really would not be able to check in, and put my iPhone on airplane mode to save its battery for picture-taking.
A Week Of Hiking In Yellowstone National Park
Monday: Mammoth Hot Springs
The Mammoth Hot Springs are just up the road from the lodging area. It took us about an hour to walk around and up to the highest level, but we made lots of stops for pictures.
It was our first encounter with Yellowstone’s magnificent thermal features. As with other hot springs, the different colors are from different bacteria that thrive in different (hot) temperatures.
Tuesday:
Rose Creek Trail (2.8 miles, 6600-7000ft) and
Slough Creek Trail (5 miles, 6260-6700ft)
Our first group hike was 2.8 miles along Rose Creek Trail, in an area that is not open to the general public. Our Yellowstone Forever guide told us about the wolf restoration project and led us to one of the pens they used to acclimate wolves (brought down from Canada) before setting them free in the park.
She was going to let us explore inside the pen,
but a Bison had decided to have lunch there.
Our next hike was 5 miles on Slough Creek Trail. The scenery was breathtaking.
Wednesday: Garnet Hill Trail (8 miles, 5950-6400 ft)
Our longest hike of the week was 8 miles on Garnet Hill Trail, made a bit longer because a Bison blocked our way, forcing us to divert around him!
That’s the Yellowstone River behind us,
much farther down than you can tell in this picture.
Thursday: Fairy Falls, Imperial Geyser (8.25 miles, 7260-7490 ft)
Our favorite hike of the week was to Fairy Falls and Imperial Geyser.
Those colors are bacteria (thermophiles) who thrive
in the different temperatures of the geyser.
Friday:
Natural Bridge (3.4 miles, 7820-8020 ft) and
Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone (3.5 miles, 7725-7900 ft)
Friday morning we did a 3.4 miles hike from the Marina on Yellowstone Lake to Yellowstone’s Natural Bridge.
Friday afternoon we hiked for 3.5 miles along the south rim of the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone River to Lilly Pond and some backcountry thermal features.
I’m happy to report that my ankle held up well through all the hikes. It is still tender to the touch and bothered by my running shoes, but since weight-bearing doesn’t bother it, I’m hoping it will get better with a bit more time.
I’m linking up with Holly and Wendy for the Weekly Wrap.
Have you been hiking in Yellowstone?
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all of your photos are fantastic! Looks like such an active and beautiful vacation. So glad that your ankle is feeling ok.
Thanks. Our trip really could not have been better.
Wonderful! I’ve only seen geothermal stuff in Iceland. Glad the ankle held up OK!
That is one of the other four places in the world with geothermal features!
I’ve never been to Yellowstone but it’s on my must-visit list! I’m looking forward to more photos. Looks amazing! Glad your ankle is behaving.
It definitely deserves a spot on that list! Our trip could not have been better.
I have never been to Yellowstone, nor have I hiked there LOL Oh gosh, you succeeded in whetting my appetite! It looks amazing 😉
You would love it!
Wow, your photos are stunning. Glad your foot held up OK. Sometimes being offline is wonderful
I wondered whether Liz or I would get here first to mention ICeland — I was always “eh but not super excited” about Yellowstone, and then I went to Geysir in Iceland and wow. Thermal features live are so amazing
They are so fascinating! Wait until you see the mudpots. 😉
Beautiful photos! The guided tours sound like the way to go. So glad to hear your ankle did ok with the hiking! And hooray for being unplugged! That’s a true vacation. Thanks for linking!
We got so much more out of our experience because of the guide — and she was fun too!
Great pics! I have never been to Yellowstone. Glad to hear your ankle didn’t bother you throughout the hikes.
Thanks. I was so relieved it didn’t hurt!
Hiking is something that I wish I could do more often and all of your photos inspired me to get back out there and do some hiking locally.
I love that you were able to do guided tours. I’m sure that was super helpful and a great way to see everything.
I think you’ve got some great hiking options in PA!
I went to Yellowstone years ago and LOVED it. I definitely want to return.
Glad you able to hike and the ankle behaved.
It’s such an amazing place — and there’s so much to see and do.
All those pictures look great! I’m looking forward to reading more about your trip.
Thanks. Be careful what you wish for. 😉
This looks absolutely amazing. I have never been, but I hope we can make a trip out there one of these days to experience it for ourselves.
I would love to see a picture of that bison! It must have been incredible.
Oh, you and your family would love it! I think your son is a great age for exploring the park. I’ll have some bison pics for you on Friday!
Your photos are stunning and definitely make me want to see Yellowstone for myself! So glad your ankle cooperated!
It would be a great family vacation!
We vacationed a couple of years ago in Jackson, Wyoming …spent most of our time in the Grand Tetons and a couple of days in Yellowstone. Absolutely amazing. Loved hiking in both places and we definitely want to go back… heck, when we left I told Major Hubs that I’d love to retire there!!!
The Grand Tetons are amazing too. I’m not sure about retiring at Yellowstone — the winter temperatures can get pretty frigid!
That sounds like a fabulous trip! I love all your pictures! Bill and I did some hiking in Yellowstone while on our honeymoon, but that was 37 years ago. We’ve not been back, but would like to go again in the next couple of years.
If you can do a guided tour, I think you’d really love it. We learned so much about everything — the park history, animals, wildflowers — and where to get the best ice cream. 😉
It all looks so amazing! We just love hiking in the national parks, and Yellowstone is definitely up there (as is Glacier).
I’m glad that your ankle held up & hope that it’s continuing to feel better.
Glacier was my top pick, but I’m glad my husband went for Yellowstone. 😉
OK, now you have to tell me why you’re glad you want to Yellowstone instead of Glacier!
Yellowstone is so amazing!!! I have been really in Yellowstone and Grand Teton Nat’l park only once properly. And I was 12. But I remember it being so incredibly amazing. You guys did so much!! I would love to go again. I’m waiting for the day when the hubs and I can sell pretty much everything and then go to the US, buy a streamliner and hit up all the National Parks. Hiking in Yellowstone is on the top of my list!
Hah, that sounds like my husband’s dream plan. We did pack a lot in, but we didn’t feel rushed or pressured. It was pretty perfect.
Wow–what an amazing trip! I’m sure these few pics are just a tip of the iceberg! There are so many beautiful places to visit across the US!
There really are. Our national parks (and state parks) are such a treasure.
It looks so beautiful there! It is definitely on my bucket list!!
As it should be! 🙂
This is absolutely stunning. We have friends there right now and I’m enjoying their Insta feed. My grandfather left us with a bunch of slides and a viewer of his adventures in Yellowstone. It’s always fascinated me. Must get there.