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.

Noris Geyser Basin

Norris Geyser Basin is the hottest, oldest, and most volatile thermal area in Yellowstone National Park.  We walk in and explore the Porcelain Landscape, named for its porcelain-like appearance:  smooth sinter deposited by centuries of thermal activity, continually glazed by minerals, hot water, and microorganisms called thermophiles (similar to what we just saw at the Grand Prismatic Spring).

Norris Geyser Basin

Porcelain Landscape

We descend into the landscape and follow the boardwalks through the area.

Staying on the boardwalks

Wandering across the landscape

Partway down the path, we come across a few named geysers and pools.

Sunday Geyser

Colloid Pool

Congress Pool

We continue across more of the spectacular landscape.

Continuing through the Porcelain Landscape

Eventually the loop returns to the start and we enjoy the overview of the spectacular landscape before leaving this incredible place.

Grand Prismatic Spring

The Grand Prismatic Spring is the largest hot spring in Yellowstone and the third largest in the world (after Frying Pan Lake in New Zealand and Boiling Lake in Dominica).  The spring was first observed by geologists in 1871 and was named for its striking coloration, matching most of the colors seen in light dispersed by an optical prism: red, orange, yellow, green, and blue.

We first view the spring from a viewpoint at the Midway Geyser Basin, along the Fairy Falls Trail, then head over to walk on the boardwalk through the spring itself.

Fairy Falls Trailhead

Looking over at the Grand Prismatic Spring

We park along the road at the Grand Prismatic Spring (parking lots are full) and walk over to the boardwalks that loop through the area.

Approaching the spring

The bright, vivid colors in the spring are the result of sunlight being scattered by mineral particles in the water.  The spring often appears to have a blue haze hovering over it, caused by the steam reflecting from the blue of the water.  Bright orange heat-loving bacteria known as thermophiles populate the run-off channels.  These microbes contain colorful pigments that allow them to make energy from sunlight and thrive in the hot conditions of the spring.

Walking across the spring

Near the end of the walk, we pass a few pools and finish our loop.

Opal Pool

Turquoise Pool

What an incredible sight!