Yellowstone: Mammoth Hot Springs area


This is it, my final post from Yellowstone.  The area around Mammoth Hot Springs is awesome once you get a few steps away from the main attraction (the springs, duh).  Even right around our cabins the wildlife was decent. 

Black-billed Magpie

 Uinta ground squirrel

 House Wren buildling a nest 

There's a cool trail that starts just behind the cabins we stayed in, plus an old dirt stagecoach road called Old Gardiner Road.  They close the road after rain, so it was closed the whole time we were there.  Which made it a great walking trail...


I loved this road and explored it a few different times by myself, rarely seeing other people.  The scenery was spectacular and the wildlife top notch.

Prairie Falcon

 Mountain Bluebirds

 Elk family

 Western Wood-Pewee

 Western Tanager

 
Northern Flickers

 Green-tailed Towhee

 
Badger! 

Rock Wren
 
So I think you can see why I liked this road so much.  It was one of the few places that actually felt like how Yellowstone, in my mind, is supposed to feel:  quiet, wild, beautiful...all that good stuff.


My brother and I braved the crowds one afternoon to actually visit the hot springs and walk all the boardwalks.


Killdeer kids

 
So that's it for Yellowstone!  I left with a lot of mixed feelings about the park.  Love the wildlife, the scenery, the thermal features, all that.  Hate the people, the congestion, all the cars and buses and RV's... If I ever go back it will have to be in the winter or only visiting backcountry trails.  Anything but the main roads and attractions. 

But anyway.  It was a good trip and I'm glad I went and got to spend time with my brother and his family.  Good times! 

Comments

  1. Awesome birds and photos from Yellowstone.. It is one of my favorite parks.. Gorgeous photos, happy birding.
    Have a happy 4th of July!

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  2. I know exactly what you mean...it has to be horrid as it was when I was there yrs ago...you found a spot of heaven tho! I'm sure if you get some back country permits you would have an awesome experience!

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  3. I imagine it to have a ton of people. All your "people-less" photos made it seem so heavenly, then you posted the one of the crowds on the boardwalks. Ugh. I'd still like to visit, but I too would not like the crowds.

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