Off we go, Millie helps navigate
UPDATE: THE ROAD CONSTRUCTION DEPICTED BELOW IS NOW COMPLETED. YOU HAVE BRAND NEW WIDE ROADS FROM CODY RIGHT THROUGH THE EAST GATE TO THE CENTER OF YELLOWSTONE!
We packed up the Winnebago and took a Monday-Tuesday trip into Yellowstone. We're only an hour from the East Gate which makes us some of the most fortunate people on earth. It was May 8th but there was still plenty of snow in the park. In fact Yellowstone Lake (Largest lake in the world above 7,000 feet altitude) was still 90% frozen. It snowed several times during our trip but nothing that stopped traffic. It DID stop us from having a campfire, however. But don't worry, the snow will be gone by June and summer conditions will prevail.
Yellowstone is on top of three collapsed calderas (volcanoes) and has more active thermal features than anywhere else in the world. These thermal features are mud pots, hot springs and geysers. The most famous geyser is Old Faithful, which due to its popularity, is located in what has become the most commercially developed area in the park. I find great comfort in its consistency. My Dad took me to Old Faithful when I was 10 years old and nearly 40 years later I can still go see it erupt myself. You'll see photos below.
So anyway, we toured Yellowstone's Lower Loop (Our favorite of the two loops) on May 8 and 9th, 2006 and hope you enjoy the photos. We're happy to answer any questions you may have if you send us an email. Enjoy!
Off we go, Millie helps navigate
The Winnebago arrives at the East Entrance
The East Entrance to Yellowstone
An area west of the East Entrance is under construction during 2006 & 2007. The construction area is only 5 miles
long but reduces the East Gate hours to 8 am to 8 pm so they can do blasting at night. A pilot car leads you through the area
and there can be delays up to 30 minutes, however, most delays are less than that. Because the East Entrance is
the prettiest of the park's five entrances, you should not change your route for this small amount of construction activity
If you have to be delayed, you're waiting in one of the prettiest places imaginable
New wall establishes the inside road border
The worst spot of the construction area isn't so bad. They are actually carving away the mountain to widen the roadbed
Little bonus surprises are around every corner
It wasn't, but there sure were large snowbanks
Great views from the road but the park is so large you only see 1% of it from the roadways
We traveled with two dogs and a cat
Angel keeping my seat warm
"Persistence" the cat gets along with the dogs and travels well so she gets to come along too
Typical event in Yellowstone
Bison
Bison close-up
Bison Close-up
Bison close-up
Yellowstone Lake thaws from the edges outward
Still deep snow at Canyon Village in May
The new Canyon Visitor Center opens this summer
Registering at Madison Campground
Friendly people, minimal paperwork
Our campsite in the Madison Campground (no hook-ups)
Ground squirrel at our campsite
Another ground squirrel
You can't camp without the smell of bacon in the morning
Margie working her magic
Kitchen on wheels
Elk wade to the best grass
This elk has been collared for study
Elk
Elk's neighborhood
Elk close-up
Yellowstone offers an up-close experience with animals
The Firehole Canyon drive is spectacular. It's our second favorite spot in the park behind the Lower Falls
Biscuit Basin thermal area
Biscuit Basin
Deep blue hot springs
Stay on the boardwalk to prevent falling through the hot crust.
We always laugh though -- what's holding up the boardwalk?
Fellow sightseers
We're walking over an active volcano
Colorful minerals and bacteria line some of the hot springs
More clear hot springs
Hot springs
Hot springs
Hot Springs
Dog is my co-pilot
We had most of the park to ourselves
The 1988 fires burned a third of Yellowstone. 18 years later, new growth is sprouting up everywhere
More new growth
New trees
Gibbon Falls
Gibbon Falls
Hot springs by Gibbon Falls
Two Grizzly Bears across from Mud Volcano using all the lense we had
Margie's binoculars let her see the bears much better than this camera
The 109-foot Upper Falls are just upstream of the Lower Falls
Upper Falls
How the Upper Falls formed
308-foot Lower Falls, our favorite spot in the park, located in the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone
Lower Falls
Lower Falls
Lower Falls
Lower Falls
Hardcore photographers spend days waiting for the right shot
Hardcore tourists beg hardcore photgraphers to take OUR shot
Signage explaining the falls and Grand Canyon of Yellowstone
Bridge Bay Marina
Meadow views
With a Winnebago, lunch is wherever you are
If you don't have a motorhome, there are plenty of stores in the civilized areas of the park. Gas, groceries,
restaurants and gift shops are readily available
Old Faithful, remains pretty darn faithful
Old Faithful shoots up to 180 feet high
Once the geyser starts to die, geezers say goodbye
Old Faithful Inn, the largest log structure in the world, overlooks the geyser area
The Old Faithful Webcam is located
inside the Ranger Station, pointed at Old Faithful. Just click the link to see a live view of Old Faithful
The view of the building where the Webcam is located
The webcam itself
The nearly invisible webcam
An otter out for a swim
Ravens are great beggers and very clever. Don't leave
objects on picnic tables (especially keys!) or ravens will snatch them
Great river views from the road throughout the park
In Yellowstone, steam means you have found another thermal feature
Winter conditions in May, but it will be summer conditions by June
The Winnebago Brave
We get many questions about this building located near Wapiti between Cody and Yellowstone. The story we heard says a man
was building this home piece by piece. Everytime he got 50 cents in his pocket he'd go buy another board. After years of construction,
he fell off the roof and died. His son refused to sell the place or tear it down, insisting on leaving it as a tribute to his
father.
The western entrance to Cody (5,000 elevation) boasts great views of Rattlesnake Mountain (left, 8,500 elevation),
Cedar Mountain (right, 8,200 elevation), and the Buffalo Bill Reservoir
The beautiful cove by the Buffalo Bill Dam entering the west side of Cody
Western tunnel as you approach Cody
Inside the 3,200 foot long tunnel on the west side of Cody. The tunnels are
over 14 feet high -- large enough to handle any RV or semi-rig
After two days of travel, we're all licked
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