Yellowstone Scenics

It's so difficult to summarize the grandeur of Yellowstone in a few pictures... The falls and rivers are spectacular. When we arrived there was still a lot of snow in the mountains, Dunraven Pass and the Beartooth Highway were still closed and the runoffs were spectacular. Falls that are subtly beautiful now were roaring torrents then.

Tower Falls is about midway down the western side of the park loop.

We didn't initially realize how spectacular the flow was because we had nothing to compare it with. Last winter produced a greater-than-normal snowpack which took several months to melt. In fact we can still see snow in the shaded areas of the higher mountain peaks.

Lower Yellowstone Falls is always spectacular, regardless of the season. The two green stripes are its distinguishing feature, caused by the irregular face of the rock beneath the falls.

Known as the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone, it almost doesn't look real. These untouched photos don't do it justice.

The lakes are also gorgeous. This is Trout Lake, a short hike from the roadway in the Lamar Valley.

The Grand Canyon is over 20 miles long, but the tourist turnouts only provide views of a few miles at best. To see the rest you have to hoof it. A few suspension bridges have been built to allow access to both sides of the rim. This one crosses Hell Roaring Canyon.
At dusk people line the ridges in several locations in Lamar Valley to get a possible view of the wolves and other wildlife coming out to as the day cools.

Sheepeaters Cliff provides a close-up view of the Columnar Basalt created when the basalt lava cooled fairly evenly.

Lost Lake falls, taken later in the season showing the more-gentle flow once most of the snow has melted.

We get some pretty spectacular thunderstorms and great sunsets.

Along another remote stream.

Falls and rapids are common on every waterside trail.
Another picture of Lower Yosemite Falls, taken later in the season. Notice the viewing deck to the right of the falls. There are platforms on both the Upper and Lower falls that allow you to get right to the brink of the spillway.

One of my favorite pictures of the base of Lower Falls

There's those people again, always getting into my pictures!