Tag: #wyoming

Yellowstone National Park

23 June 2018

This is where I stayed in Cooke City just 6 km (4 miles) from the East entrance of Yellowstone.

It’s embarrassing but all I knew about Yellowstone National Park was:

  • Yogi Bear and Boo Boo
  • Smokey the Bear
  • Grizzly bears
  • Lots of people visit

I did not realise this huge park:

  • Is set on a super volcano which has had some recent concerning activity.
  • Has 5 entrances
  • You can camp or stay in lodges or cabins in the park

Some tips which might be of interest:

  • The North East entrance area of Cooke City/Silvergate is a small community with buildings which require to be built with natural products to fit within the alpine landscape
  • When parking at Mammoth Springs go to the upper section up the road. Easier to park and a shorter walk.
  • The West City entrance is more commercial, and in my opinion, not as appealing and more expensive than the East side
  • I recommend entering Yellowstone from the East entrance. There are fewer tourists from that side
  • Even though there were many tourists I didn’t feel overwhelmed.
  • Highly recommend the drive from Red Lodge to Cooke City along the Beartooth Highway
  • Take binoculars
  • Take a chair and picnic to sit and watch the animals
  • Stop and ask people if they have seen animal activity
  • There are traffic jams when someone sights an animal and vehicles stop everywhere
  • Don’t drive too close to the vehicle in front as people people get excited and slam on their brakes when an animal is sighted

Visiting the Norris Geyser reminded me of my visit to the Kilauea volcano on the Big Island of Hawaii which recently erupted.

The Porcelain basin at Norris Geyser is picturesque although the smell of the gas is not pleasant.

This is an album of some of the many faces of Yellowstone.

Devil’s Tower Wyoming

18 June 2018

Woke this morning to heavy rain and thick fog. I rang Mount Rushmore and visibility was nil. I didn’t want to waste a day but I don’t want to miss out on Mount Rushmore so I went for a 2 hour drive to Wyoming.

I stopped at a cute town called Aladdin with a population of 15. The 125 year old general store has five rooms of collectibles to purchase.

In fact, if you have $850,000 you can buy the whole town.

Devil’s Tower is the USA’s first national monument and set in the Black Hills. This monolith is considered sacred by Native Indians and is very popular for rock climbing.

How cute are the prairie dogs!!

And this cute deer who crossed my path.

Tonight I am staying in Keystone a cute historical town at the foot of Mount Rushmore.

I went up to Mount Rushmore as it is 7 minutes from Keystone. However, visibility was still nil.

I returned to Keystone and had dinner in Ruby’s Saloon.

Then I again went up to Mount Rushmore where I remained for 2 hours just waiting for the fog to clear for just a few seconds so I could see the Presidents. Not much to see tonight.

The whole monument is so beautifully set out.

The only thing you pay for is $10 for parking but it is valid for a whole year. I will try again in the morning and will decide if I should stay another night to capture a glimpse of this great monument. It is costing me money and time I had not planned. Hopefully the fog will lift. Rain is predicted for another 2 days though. There are people from all over the world who have missed out and I hope I am not one of them.