Dunraven Pass and Lamar Valley

We leave Canyon Village in Yellowstone National Park and head north over Dunraven Pass to explore the park's Lamar Valley.  We are slowed down a bit (stopped) by bison walking in the opposite direction on the road over the pass, holding up traffic in both directions.  As we sit and wait, the bison walk by our car and we get a few close-up pictures

Slow/stop for bison

After the bison move past us, we continue over the pass and stop at Tower Fall and walk in to the Tower Fall Overlook to view the spectacular waterfall.  Tower Fall tells the story of both easily-eroded rocks and rocks that are resistant to erosion.  The rock at the brink of the fall and underlying the waterfall is a hard volcanic rock, whereas the soft rock as the base of the fall causes upstream erosion of the waterfall.  The soft and hard rocks are seen in the towers and pinnacles that line the Tower Creek:  over centuries, wind and water eroded the soft rock, leaving fantastic shapes of hard rock.

Continuing across the pass

Tower fall

Tower creek

We descend into the Lamar Valley and follow the Lamar River, first coming on a bald eagle nest where we watch the male eagle fly down to the river, catch a fish, and bring it back to the nest for the mother and babies.

Entering the valley

Bald eagle nest

Bison grazing

We park and walk aong the Lamar River, taking in the sights and watching out for bears as we follow the river.

Lamar Valley is known as the "American Serengeti" for its abundant wildlife, including large herds of bison and elk, along with pronghorn deer, grizzly bears, and black bears.

Trail and warning

 

Along the Lamar River

After our hike, we return back through the Lamar Valley, passing herds of bison grazing in the fields

Bison everywhere

This has been a great day of exploring nature on our way to and in the Lamar Valley.