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Wildlife

We didn't get to see every creature we wanted to see:  wolves, moose, elephants.  Well, we didn't expect to see elephants.  But we did see plenty of bison, lots of elk and deer, and even (very briefly) a bear as we entered the park.  As we were driving along one road I believe I saw a badger flash by.  By far, the most plentiful was the bison.  They were everywhere, even (as you can see below) wandering the campground.  For the most part, they were peaceful, but rangers did warn that people should stay away.  Once, after listening to a talk by a ranger, we saw one begin a charge toward a minivan stopped on the road to take photos.  There was a short scream from the minivan.  It was hilarious.  To us, anyway.

Hot Springs, Pools and Geysers

Of course, these are the things for which Yellowstone is most famous.  There are lots of them, scattered all over the park.  Some are right by a parking area; others are accessible by hiking a short distance.  Some things can only be seen if you're willing to climb uphill.  Here are a few examples, as well as a Flash animation of Old Faithful doing her thing.  I will say one more thing, though:  they stink.

Natural Beauty

There are plenty of sweeping vistas and impressive viewpoints to be found in Yellowstone.  Some of the valleys are supposed to be great places to see wildlife.  There is quite a variety of scenery there, like deep canyons and towering peaks, grasslands and raging rivers, meandering creeks and graceful waterfalls.  Go see for yourself, or at least check out my samples below.