A Little History
Yellowstone became the first national park in the United States in 1872, and much of what made it famous lies along the lower half of its Grand Loop Road. This stretch passes Old Faithful, named by the Washburn expedition in 1870 for its remarkably regular eruptions, along with the Upper Geyser Basin, West Thumb and the shores of Yellowstone Lake, the largest high-elevation lake in North America. The park holds roughly half of the world’s active geysers.
Our Visit
We woke up in our new, quiet and isolated spot on the side of a mountain to wonderfully crisp, fresh air. The day before, after getting back from the top loop, Lola and I did some investigating around camp. She led the way with her nose down, checking out every rock and bush. It’s really pretty out here. However, the animal bones sitting in a ravine just past camp were a little creepy, knowing they were there. lol
Back Through the Gate
We entered Yellowstone through the same gate, with a different person this time. And I finally had cash, so 35 bucks it was! This time, we went down the east side of the top loop first. Along the way, we made a side quest to Lamar Valley, and WOW, it’s just stunning!
Lamar Valley and Old Faithful on the Yellowstone Lower Loop
The two big-ticket items on this drive were Lamar Valley and Old Faithful. ONCE AGAIN, I will have to go back and revisit Old Faithful. I wasn’t able to watch it erupt, because the next eruption was an estimated two-hour wait.
Lamar Valley, on the other hand, delivered. We were gifted the pleasure of watching bison and their calves walk right across the road, in front of the (stopped, obviously) vehicles. Meanwhile, Lola watched from the window, completely fascinated.
Finally, we finished the Yellowstone Lower Loop by heading north up its west side and exiting through the West Yellowstone gate. I was really glad we left early. As I drove away from Old Faithful, the line of cars heading in to see it was several miles long!!!
If you want to catch an eruption, don’t be like me and simply “show up”. The National Park Service’s Yellowstone site posts predicted times for Old Faithful.
Alright, enough blabbering. On to the pictures!
Next stop: Tetonia, Idaho →
Enjoying the adventures?
Buy my human a coffee for the long drives, or buy me a biscuit. 25% of your purchase goes to local rescues & shelters. — Lola 🐾
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