WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:02.859 From Yellowstone National Park where a handful 00:00:02.859 --> 00:00:05.900 of people may be breaking rules, but the overwhelming 00:00:05.900 --> 00:00:08.380 majority of visitors are being awesome. This 00:00:08.380 --> 00:00:10.619 is that Scott guy you know and love with a brand 00:00:10.619 --> 00:00:24.129 new episode of This Week in Yellowstone. What's 00:00:24.129 --> 00:00:26.309 up everybody, this week in Yellowstone National 00:00:26.309 --> 00:00:31.250 Park from July 23rd to July 29th, 2026, I dive 00:00:31.250 --> 00:00:34.229 into the Hayden vs. Lamar debate, let you know 00:00:34.229 --> 00:00:36.609 why viewing the park's two main driving loops 00:00:36.609 --> 00:00:39.829 is somewhat flawed, and share with you the smelliest 00:00:39.829 --> 00:00:42.729 geyser basins. I'll also give you the complete 00:00:42.729 --> 00:00:45.890 weather forecast, a cool trail to hike, the wildlife 00:00:45.890 --> 00:00:48.049 report, and everything else you need to have 00:00:48.049 --> 00:00:50.810 an incredible time this week in Yellowstone. 00:00:51.519 --> 00:00:53.780 Standard disclaimer, I'm going to miss a few 00:00:53.780 --> 00:00:56.020 details here and there. That's just the nature 00:00:56.020 --> 00:00:58.840 of how this goes. I also mentioned park locations 00:00:58.840 --> 00:01:01.679 very casually. So if you're unfamiliar with some 00:01:01.679 --> 00:01:04.120 place I'm saying, a quick search can help. And 00:01:04.120 --> 00:01:07.700 please know that this report is me doing my best. 00:01:08.359 --> 00:01:12.239 I have been mentioning to contact me via text. 00:01:12.400 --> 00:01:15.200 I have forgotten to mention email. You can email 00:01:15.200 --> 00:01:19.400 me at theoutdoorsocietyatgmail .com or you can 00:01:19.400 --> 00:01:25.670 text me 406 -589 -1873. Also, please note that 00:01:25.670 --> 00:01:28.849 this podcast is a passion project of mine. If 00:01:28.849 --> 00:01:31.409 you enjoy it, I'd love a review or a quick email. 00:01:31.769 --> 00:01:33.769 If you want to support my work more, you can 00:01:33.769 --> 00:01:36.090 check out my hiking and wildlife watching guidebooks 00:01:36.090 --> 00:01:39.010 or join me for a guided hiking tour in Yellowstone's 00:01:39.010 --> 00:01:41.469 backcountry. For more information on all that, 00:01:41.590 --> 00:01:43.450 you can contact me directly at the email I just 00:01:43.450 --> 00:01:46.689 mentioned or the phone number or you can go to 00:01:46.689 --> 00:01:50.689 outdoor -society .com and that's about all you 00:01:50.689 --> 00:01:55.079 have to do. Alright, let's dive into this week's 00:01:55.079 --> 00:01:57.400 podcast. This week's Yellowstone news, so there's 00:01:57.400 --> 00:02:00.060 a few things to discuss. The first is grizzly 00:02:00.060 --> 00:02:01.879 bear news. I'm going to be getting into this 00:02:01.879 --> 00:02:04.640 a lot more as the year goes on, but I just want 00:02:04.640 --> 00:02:06.780 to give a quick update right now and then it 00:02:06.780 --> 00:02:08.819 will make more sense in later weeks when I talk 00:02:08.819 --> 00:02:11.860 about this more. So the debate over delisting 00:02:11.860 --> 00:02:14.659 grizzly bears in the Rocky Mountains has intensified 00:02:14.659 --> 00:02:18.840 again, but right now bears have not been removed 00:02:18.840 --> 00:02:20.900 from federal protection under the Endangered 00:02:20.900 --> 00:02:24.430 Species Act. However, on July 14th of this year, 00:02:24.789 --> 00:02:26.629 the U .S. Department of Interior announced a 00:02:26.629 --> 00:02:29.569 revised proposal that would give states and tribes 00:02:29.569 --> 00:02:32.069 greater flexibility to manage conflicts with 00:02:32.069 --> 00:02:34.150 grizzly bears while maintaining the species' 00:02:34.810 --> 00:02:37.669 current threatened status. Interior Secretary 00:02:37.669 --> 00:02:40.669 Doug Burgum described the proposal as a step 00:02:40.669 --> 00:02:42.949 toward returning more wildlife management authority 00:02:42.949 --> 00:02:45.990 to western states, but emphasizes that it does 00:02:45.990 --> 00:02:48.669 not delist grizzlies or immediately change existing 00:02:48.669 --> 00:02:52.870 protections. The proposal follows a January 2025 00:02:52.870 --> 00:02:55.270 decision by the U .S. Fish and Wildlife Service 00:02:55.270 --> 00:02:58.789 to deny petitions from Montana and Wyoming seeking 00:02:58.789 --> 00:03:01.590 to delist grizzly bears in the Greater Yellowstone 00:03:01.590 --> 00:03:05.169 and Northern Continental Divide ecosystems. Instead, 00:03:05.689 --> 00:03:08.150 the agency proposed managing grizzlies as a single 00:03:08.150 --> 00:03:12.310 lower 48 state population while retaining federal 00:03:12.310 --> 00:03:15.530 protections and allowing limited additional flexibility 00:03:15.530 --> 00:03:17.830 for responding to conflicts with livestock and 00:03:17.830 --> 00:03:21.289 human safety. A final decision has been delayed. 00:03:21.770 --> 00:03:24.069 The U .S. Fish and Wildlife Service extends its 00:03:24.069 --> 00:03:26.189 deadline for completing rulemaking until December 00:03:26.189 --> 00:03:29.469 2026, meaning that grizzly bears across the northern 00:03:29.469 --> 00:03:32.069 Rockies remain federally listed as threatened 00:03:32.069 --> 00:03:34.449 while the agency reviews public comments and 00:03:34.449 --> 00:03:37.370 evaluates its final approach. Supporters of the 00:03:37.370 --> 00:03:39.710 greater state management argue that grizzly populations 00:03:39.710 --> 00:03:41.969 around Yellowstone and Glacier have recovered 00:03:41.969 --> 00:03:44.590 biologically and should be managed by state wildlife 00:03:44.590 --> 00:03:48.159 agencies. However, conservation organizations 00:03:48.159 --> 00:03:50.840 counter that by saying that continued federal 00:03:50.840 --> 00:03:53.060 protection is necessary to promote long -term 00:03:53.060 --> 00:03:55.659 genetic connectivity between bear populations 00:03:55.659 --> 00:03:58.659 and ensure recovery across a broader portion 00:03:58.659 --> 00:04:01.460 of the species' historic range. Now, obviously 00:04:01.460 --> 00:04:03.939 there's a lot going on here. I wanted to just 00:04:03.939 --> 00:04:06.460 mention it briefly to let everybody know, like, 00:04:06.520 --> 00:04:09.340 hey, there are some big things coming along that 00:04:09.340 --> 00:04:12.620 could really impact what grizzly bear populations 00:04:12.620 --> 00:04:15.620 look like in the region. As of right now, nothing 00:04:15.620 --> 00:04:18.759 has been fully decided. However, it looks like 00:04:18.759 --> 00:04:21.600 the states are going to be able in the future 00:04:21.600 --> 00:04:24.639 to control grizzly bear hunts for the first time 00:04:24.639 --> 00:04:29.120 in many of our lifetimes and a lot of other regulations. 00:04:29.300 --> 00:04:32.279 Now, I bring that up because it's going to look 00:04:32.279 --> 00:04:36.160 very similar potentially to how the wolf hunts 00:04:36.160 --> 00:04:39.240 are done all around the region, which if you 00:04:39.240 --> 00:04:42.399 pay attention, the wolf hunts are not Rooted 00:04:42.399 --> 00:04:47.699 much in science or healthy populations the Montana 00:04:47.699 --> 00:04:50.939 State Fish and Wildlife Pretty sure it was them 00:04:50.939 --> 00:04:53.100 might have been the Forest Service I should have 00:04:53.100 --> 00:04:55.740 written this down But one of these groups just 00:04:55.740 --> 00:04:58.120 admitted that they probably overestimated how 00:04:58.120 --> 00:05:00.560 many wolves there were So the state is actually 00:05:00.560 --> 00:05:02.560 killing too many or allowing hunters to kill 00:05:02.560 --> 00:05:04.860 too many wolves based on what the population 00:05:04.860 --> 00:05:08.319 is This probably will be an issue with the grizzly 00:05:08.319 --> 00:05:11.560 bears of a hunt is allowed to happen. So I'm 00:05:11.560 --> 00:05:15.000 going to keep my thumb on this and talk to everybody 00:05:15.000 --> 00:05:16.959 and get some good information for you in the 00:05:16.959 --> 00:05:19.540 future. Just wanted to mention it now to let 00:05:19.540 --> 00:05:22.579 you know what's going on. Long story short here 00:05:22.579 --> 00:05:25.259 they might allow hunting of grizzly bears which 00:05:25.259 --> 00:05:29.040 were and still are listed as an endangered species. 00:05:30.459 --> 00:05:33.420 Next little bit of news Osprey Falls is going 00:05:33.420 --> 00:05:35.560 to or the trail down to Osprey Falls is going 00:05:35.560 --> 00:05:37.540 to be closed the falls never closes the falls 00:05:37.540 --> 00:05:39.990 is always there. The Osprey Falls Trail will 00:05:39.990 --> 00:05:43.230 be temporarily closed for trail repair from July 00:05:43.230 --> 00:05:47.649 28th to August 4th. July 28th and 29th we'll 00:05:47.649 --> 00:05:51.230 see trail closures between 8 a .m. and 4 p .m. 00:05:52.069 --> 00:05:55.550 and then on July 30th and 31st all day so you're 00:05:55.550 --> 00:05:56.889 just not going to be able to get down there on 00:05:56.889 --> 00:06:00.069 those two days. Then August 1st through 4th once 00:06:00.069 --> 00:06:02.689 again those daily closures from 8 a .m. to 4 00:06:02.689 --> 00:06:05.519 p .m. The Bunsen Peak Road is going to remain 00:06:05.519 --> 00:06:08.819 open, Bunsen Peak is still open, and you can 00:06:08.819 --> 00:06:11.459 do all of that, but you can just not do Osprey 00:06:11.459 --> 00:06:14.279 Falls on those dates. So just wanted to give 00:06:14.279 --> 00:06:17.040 you a heads up on that. That's also on the Backcountry 00:06:17.040 --> 00:06:18.920 Conditions page, which is linked in the show 00:06:18.920 --> 00:06:22.180 notes. I will mention that again later. Finally, 00:06:22.519 --> 00:06:25.959 There was a bit of news that just came out in 00:06:25.959 --> 00:06:28.439 the park where there were some people walking 00:06:28.439 --> 00:06:31.819 out on the flats at Grand Prismatic. Obviously, 00:06:32.240 --> 00:06:34.779 it is terrible behavior to do that. It was filmed. 00:06:35.079 --> 00:06:37.120 Hopefully they were reported. Hopefully they'll 00:06:37.120 --> 00:06:39.019 get caught and fined and maybe banned from the 00:06:39.019 --> 00:06:42.459 park. Sadly, this isn't something unique. I'm 00:06:42.459 --> 00:06:44.300 seeing a lot of posts online about how, like, 00:06:44.319 --> 00:06:46.759 I can't believe someone did this. People do this 00:06:46.759 --> 00:06:50.339 pretty much every year. In 2016, in May, there 00:06:50.339 --> 00:06:53.079 are these guys from Canada that were like early 00:06:53.079 --> 00:06:56.600 influencer bro brand high on life. They broke 00:06:56.600 --> 00:06:59.920 rules across many national parks all over, including 00:06:59.920 --> 00:07:01.839 just stepping off the boardwalk and walking to 00:07:01.839 --> 00:07:04.360 the edge of Grand Prismatic. They were caught. 00:07:04.759 --> 00:07:06.920 They received a multi -year ban from national 00:07:06.920 --> 00:07:09.100 parks. I think they went to jail for a few days. 00:07:09.519 --> 00:07:12.360 And, you know, there were punishments. So hopefully 00:07:12.360 --> 00:07:14.579 these two people that did this receive the same 00:07:14.579 --> 00:07:17.680 punishments. There is no excuse for this. But, 00:07:18.420 --> 00:07:20.759 as I mentioned at the intro of this episode, 00:07:21.300 --> 00:07:24.199 there's a few bad apples here. There, I mean, 00:07:24.379 --> 00:07:26.560 and you know, bad apples can rot everything, 00:07:26.959 --> 00:07:29.259 so that might not be a good analogy here. There's 00:07:29.259 --> 00:07:31.540 a few people who are misbehaving in the park. 00:07:32.079 --> 00:07:34.980 That is going to happen. We will never have perfect 00:07:34.980 --> 00:07:36.899 behavior in the park, and to think that we can 00:07:36.899 --> 00:07:40.980 is just not realistic. However, those very few 00:07:40.980 --> 00:07:44.100 people in the park are not even close to 1 % 00:07:44.100 --> 00:07:48.480 of visitors. We're looking at like 99 .99 % of 00:07:48.480 --> 00:07:50.920 all visitors to the park are following rules 00:07:50.920 --> 00:07:54.279 and doing a very good job. Obviously, like I 00:07:54.279 --> 00:07:56.459 say before, if you see something, say something, 00:07:56.620 --> 00:07:59.040 right? Take pictures of the people doing it. 00:07:59.100 --> 00:08:01.459 If you can take pictures of the car with a license 00:08:01.459 --> 00:08:04.000 plate and turn in those pictures to a ranger 00:08:04.000 --> 00:08:06.160 or talk to a ranger and say, how do I report 00:08:06.160 --> 00:08:10.699 these people? Hopefully you can then help and 00:08:10.699 --> 00:08:13.600 keep people more in check about their decisions 00:08:13.600 --> 00:08:16.439 that are terrible. But please remember when you 00:08:16.439 --> 00:08:19.220 see things like this online, the overwhelming 00:08:19.220 --> 00:08:21.519 majority of visitors are doing such an amazing 00:08:21.519 --> 00:08:23.920 job in the park of following rules and all of 00:08:23.920 --> 00:08:26.800 that. Oh and for anybody that listened to all 00:08:26.800 --> 00:08:29.519 of last week's episode and I asked like hey, 00:08:29.600 --> 00:08:33.179 do you want a kind of bison attack? Standalone 00:08:33.179 --> 00:08:35.519 episode and talk about some of these other issues 00:08:35.519 --> 00:08:38.139 going on in the park. I hear you I'm going to 00:08:38.139 --> 00:08:40.440 record it I just had a very busy week and wasn't 00:08:40.440 --> 00:08:42.659 able to do it so expect that in the next week 00:08:42.659 --> 00:08:45.279 or so I'm gonna hope hopefully be able to get 00:08:45.279 --> 00:08:48.720 to that this weekend, but you know things happen 00:08:48.720 --> 00:08:51.299 and it's summer and the weather's beautiful and 00:08:51.299 --> 00:08:53.580 I wouldn't be outside too and not just recording 00:08:53.580 --> 00:08:57.179 but I will get that out there and I promise I'll 00:08:57.179 --> 00:08:59.279 keep announcing it and if you don't hear from 00:08:59.279 --> 00:09:01.740 me about that hold me accountable I will get 00:09:01.740 --> 00:09:04.039 that done very soon also those of you that have 00:09:04.039 --> 00:09:05.759 texted and emailed I've tried to respond to all 00:09:05.759 --> 00:09:07.879 of you there's a few of you I haven't got back 00:09:07.879 --> 00:09:11.279 to yet if I don't I sincerely apologize also 00:09:11.279 --> 00:09:12.840 those of you that have told me just about your 00:09:12.840 --> 00:09:15.340 trips I love hearing that if you've been to Yellowstone 00:09:15.340 --> 00:09:17.759 and you want to share an experience with me just 00:09:17.759 --> 00:09:20.289 text me just email me Happy to hear it. I love 00:09:20.289 --> 00:09:23.929 reading those. My experience of the week. Hayden 00:09:23.929 --> 00:09:27.330 versus Lamar. One of my favorite questions to 00:09:27.330 --> 00:09:29.570 ask visitors is whether they prefer Hayden Valley 00:09:29.570 --> 00:09:33.370 or Lamar Valley. Few Yellowstone debates spark 00:09:33.370 --> 00:09:36.250 stronger opinions. Almost everyone has a favorite, 00:09:36.549 --> 00:09:39.149 even though there is no right answer. There's 00:09:39.149 --> 00:09:42.070 also no wrong answer. Each valley offers something 00:09:42.070 --> 00:09:44.289 that the other cannot, and the best choice for 00:09:44.289 --> 00:09:46.529 you depends entirely on the kind of Yellowstone 00:09:46.529 --> 00:09:49.559 experience you're hoping to have. If wildlife 00:09:49.559 --> 00:09:53.240 is priority, both valleys deliver, just in different 00:09:53.240 --> 00:09:56.159 ways. Hayden Valley, between Canyon and Fishing 00:09:56.159 --> 00:09:58.779 Bridge, comes alive in mid -July as the bison 00:09:58.779 --> 00:10:01.679 ruck gets underway. Massive herds gather across 00:10:01.679 --> 00:10:04.480 the valley floor right where the road goes, while 00:10:04.480 --> 00:10:07.259 mature bulls bellow, wallow, spar, and compete 00:10:07.259 --> 00:10:10.539 for breeding opportunities. Elk can sometimes 00:10:10.539 --> 00:10:13.620 be seen here, coyotes will be out hunting, and 00:10:13.620 --> 00:10:16.299 both grizzly and black bears still make occasional 00:10:16.299 --> 00:10:18.419 appearances. They might be out in the distance. 00:10:18.460 --> 00:10:20.580 They might be close. But generally, you're going 00:10:20.580 --> 00:10:23.080 to see bears and things like that in the early 00:10:23.080 --> 00:10:25.620 morning hours and late in the evening. Hayden 00:10:25.620 --> 00:10:28.279 also features a highly visible wolf pack during 00:10:28.279 --> 00:10:30.940 the past few summers. So that's an exciting place 00:10:30.940 --> 00:10:32.559 to spend time if you want to see some wolves 00:10:32.559 --> 00:10:35.059 right now. I think they've had some pups this 00:10:35.059 --> 00:10:36.980 year, so there's even more opportunities to see 00:10:36.980 --> 00:10:38.659 them hunting. And they've really been putting 00:10:38.659 --> 00:10:40.799 on a good show for people to see. I mean, it's 00:10:40.799 --> 00:10:42.779 not really a show, right? We just use that word. 00:10:43.639 --> 00:10:46.039 They've just been really visible out there off 00:10:46.039 --> 00:10:48.440 and on like a week at a time and then gone for 00:10:48.440 --> 00:10:50.980 a couple weeks and then back for a week. So they're 00:10:50.980 --> 00:10:54.000 doing a good job being visible. Now Lamar Valley 00:10:54.000 --> 00:10:56.720 is a whole different wildlife story. It's known 00:10:56.720 --> 00:10:59.139 as America's Serengeti or as I like to refer 00:10:59.139 --> 00:11:03.009 to it, America's Lamar Valley. Lamar is famous 00:11:03.009 --> 00:11:06.330 for incredible variety of mammals. Bison, pronghorn, 00:11:06.509 --> 00:11:09.690 deer, elk, big horn sheep, coyotes, and even 00:11:09.690 --> 00:11:12.190 badgers are seen pretty regularly around here, 00:11:12.389 --> 00:11:14.330 if you count Little America as Lamar Valley. 00:11:14.830 --> 00:11:17.889 Lamar is also still considered Yellowstone's 00:11:17.889 --> 00:11:20.809 premier wolf watching destination. And while 00:11:20.809 --> 00:11:22.769 wolves are easier to spot here in the winter, 00:11:23.250 --> 00:11:24.769 if you're here in the summer, patient visitors 00:11:24.769 --> 00:11:26.549 with spotting scopes still have opportunities 00:11:26.549 --> 00:11:29.330 to watch the packs traveling around the valley 00:11:29.330 --> 00:11:32.750 up on ridges or going around their summer rendezvous 00:11:32.750 --> 00:11:35.769 sites by Slough Creek. If your dream is watching 00:11:35.769 --> 00:11:38.470 predators across a distant hillside, Lamar is 00:11:38.470 --> 00:11:41.809 hard to beat. You're down low looking up and 00:11:41.809 --> 00:11:43.789 in Hayden, you're sometimes up looking a little 00:11:43.789 --> 00:11:46.600 bit down. Guess Lamar has similar things. So 00:11:46.600 --> 00:11:49.419 that's you know, not quite the same but Lamar 00:11:49.419 --> 00:11:51.980 and Hayden are very different Now a lot of people 00:11:51.980 --> 00:11:55.419 are gonna say bison rut is the best in Hayden 00:11:55.419 --> 00:11:58.379 Valley But Lamar has been very impressive the 00:11:58.379 --> 00:12:00.840 last few years a couple of days ago There are 00:12:00.840 --> 00:12:04.220 over a thousand bison visible in the valley and 00:12:04.220 --> 00:12:06.039 many of them were participating rut behaviors 00:12:06.039 --> 00:12:08.240 I just heard yesterday that some are really starting 00:12:08.240 --> 00:12:12.480 to fight. So bison rut right now It's honestly 00:12:12.480 --> 00:12:15.980 neck -and -neck Now the scenery offers another 00:12:15.980 --> 00:12:18.679 contrast. Hayden Valley feels like a classic 00:12:18.679 --> 00:12:21.419 Yellowstone view, right? You have your Yellowstone 00:12:21.419 --> 00:12:24.080 River winding through these wetlands. There's 00:12:24.080 --> 00:12:26.500 forests and meadows. There's distant mountain 00:12:26.500 --> 00:12:29.340 ranges framing the landscape. Steam from nearby 00:12:29.340 --> 00:12:32.580 thermal features will be visible, reminding visitors 00:12:32.580 --> 00:12:34.960 that, you know, you're in one of the world's 00:12:34.960 --> 00:12:38.820 largest volcanic systems. At sunrise, the mist 00:12:38.820 --> 00:12:42.159 sometimes covers the river or fog fills the entire 00:12:42.159 --> 00:12:44.740 valley and it creates incredible opportunities 00:12:44.740 --> 00:12:47.720 for landscape photography and sometimes some 00:12:47.720 --> 00:12:50.759 really cool wildlife photography as well. Lamar 00:12:50.759 --> 00:12:53.860 Valley feels bigger and wider. Sweeping grasslands 00:12:53.860 --> 00:12:56.220 stretch beneath rugged mountains with the Lamar 00:12:56.220 --> 00:12:58.820 River winding through the valley below. Colorful 00:12:58.820 --> 00:13:01.860 sagebrush benches and endless mountain backdrops 00:13:01.860 --> 00:13:05.320 explain why so many wildlife documentaries and 00:13:05.320 --> 00:13:08.299 Wildlife photography has happened here Even on 00:13:08.299 --> 00:13:11.259 quieter wildlife days the scenery alone in Lamar 00:13:11.259 --> 00:13:14.299 for me is worth it now Hayden Valley again Hayden 00:13:14.299 --> 00:13:17.320 Valley is also gorgeous But there is a different 00:13:17.320 --> 00:13:20.240 feel in a different aura to each of these so 00:13:20.240 --> 00:13:23.460 each one you go to will feel different The surrounding 00:13:23.460 --> 00:13:25.620 attractions are kind of what sets the valley 00:13:25.620 --> 00:13:28.470 apart Hayden sits in the heart of Yellowstone's 00:13:28.470 --> 00:13:30.730 busiest sightseeing corridor. Within minutes 00:13:30.730 --> 00:13:32.610 you can reach the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone, 00:13:33.070 --> 00:13:35.370 Artist Point, Lookout Point, Upper and Lower 00:13:35.370 --> 00:13:38.830 Falls, or swing down to Mud Volcano and see Dragon's 00:13:38.830 --> 00:13:41.149 Mouth Spring, or go a little further and see 00:13:41.149 --> 00:13:45.129 Yellowstone Lake. It's very easy to combine wildlife 00:13:45.129 --> 00:13:47.649 viewing with many of the park's iconic destinations. 00:13:48.700 --> 00:13:50.799 Lamar rewards those willing to venture further 00:13:50.799 --> 00:13:54.580 from the crowds. You have Tower Fall nearby along 00:13:54.580 --> 00:13:56.879 with the Lamar Buffalo Ranch that you can kind 00:13:56.879 --> 00:13:59.600 of glance at and look and see some history. But 00:13:59.600 --> 00:14:01.159 then you're just also close to that Northeast 00:14:01.159 --> 00:14:03.720 entrance and Cook City and then the Beartooth 00:14:03.720 --> 00:14:06.159 Highway and the Chief Joseph Memorial Highway 00:14:06.159 --> 00:14:08.440 and just some very rugged remote landscapes. 00:14:08.639 --> 00:14:10.500 And that's what makes Lamar an exciting starting 00:14:10.500 --> 00:14:14.220 point for exploring Yellowstone's Northeast Corridor. 00:14:14.840 --> 00:14:17.450 Crowds are another consideration. Hayden's central 00:14:17.450 --> 00:14:20.149 location makes it one of the park's busiest wildlife 00:14:20.149 --> 00:14:22.570 viewing areas, and traffic jams are common when 00:14:22.570 --> 00:14:25.950 bears or wolves appear near the road. And during 00:14:25.950 --> 00:14:28.529 the bison rut, it's definitely a place to have 00:14:28.529 --> 00:14:31.149 way more of a traffic jam. Sometimes it can take 00:14:31.149 --> 00:14:33.730 you 30 -45 minutes just to go a couple miles 00:14:33.730 --> 00:14:36.909 with all the bison next to the road. Lamar certainly 00:14:36.909 --> 00:14:40.019 gets busy too. but it seems like the pullouts 00:14:40.019 --> 00:14:42.620 are larger and the more remote setting often 00:14:42.620 --> 00:14:45.120 makes it feel less congested once you move beyond 00:14:45.120 --> 00:14:48.919 the main viewing areas. Timing matters in both 00:14:48.919 --> 00:14:51.600 valleys. Wildlife is most active during the first 00:14:51.600 --> 00:14:54.320 few hours after sunrise and again before sunset. 00:14:55.019 --> 00:14:56.980 Midday can still produce memorable sightings, 00:14:57.019 --> 00:14:59.440 especially during the bison rut, but the cooler 00:14:59.440 --> 00:15:02.720 temps are really going to bring out that activity. 00:15:03.070 --> 00:15:05.590 Early mornings I love in both of these places 00:15:05.590 --> 00:15:08.250 because it's softer light for pictures less cars 00:15:08.250 --> 00:15:10.809 and the sense of solitude But it's just beautiful 00:15:10.809 --> 00:15:13.669 like I think catching a sunrise in the park is 00:15:13.669 --> 00:15:17.190 very underrated and I used to not be a morning 00:15:17.190 --> 00:15:19.809 person now because of my dog. I'm a morning person 00:15:19.809 --> 00:15:22.649 He gets me up at like 5 a .m. Every day and while 00:15:22.649 --> 00:15:25.409 it's less than ideal than waking up at 4 and 00:15:25.409 --> 00:15:28.090 getting in the park at 6 Really isn't that hard? 00:15:28.490 --> 00:15:31.990 So I've been doing that a lot more and honestly 00:15:31.990 --> 00:15:34.940 mornings Mornings are where it's at. Cooler temps, 00:15:35.139 --> 00:15:38.639 less bugs, less people, wildlife is active. There's 00:15:38.639 --> 00:15:40.500 something about just driving through either of 00:15:40.500 --> 00:15:43.320 these valleys and watching a bear just roam next 00:15:43.320 --> 00:15:45.519 to the road with nobody else around. And it's 00:15:45.519 --> 00:15:51.059 just it's awesome and tranquil. So which valley 00:15:51.059 --> 00:15:53.940 wins right now? If you want the excitement of 00:15:53.940 --> 00:15:56.500 the Bison Rat, Yellowstone's famous waterfalls 00:15:56.500 --> 00:15:59.379 and easy to access thermal features, Hayden Valley 00:15:59.379 --> 00:16:02.279 is where you go. If you'd rather search for wolves, 00:16:02.559 --> 00:16:04.960 soak in expansive mountain scenery, and combine 00:16:04.960 --> 00:16:07.720 your visit with Tower, Cook City, and the Beartooth 00:16:07.720 --> 00:16:10.720 Highway, Lamar might be your favorite. The real 00:16:10.720 --> 00:16:13.220 answer, though, is not choosing one over the 00:16:13.220 --> 00:16:15.399 other. And that's why I like asking that question, 00:16:15.460 --> 00:16:19.440 just so I can get to this point. Give each valley 00:16:19.440 --> 00:16:23.409 a day on its own. Because together, Hayden and 00:16:23.409 --> 00:16:26.429 Lamar showcase two very different sides of Yellowstone, 00:16:26.889 --> 00:16:29.330 and experiencing both is one of the best ways 00:16:29.330 --> 00:16:32.149 to appreciate what makes the park so extraordinary. 00:16:32.830 --> 00:16:36.330 My tip of the week. The problem with only planning 00:16:36.330 --> 00:16:39.690 your trip around the loop drives. So if you've 00:16:39.690 --> 00:16:41.669 started planning a Yellowstone vacation, you've 00:16:41.669 --> 00:16:43.590 almost certainly come across the same advice. 00:16:44.269 --> 00:16:46.570 Spend a day driving the lower loop and another 00:16:46.570 --> 00:16:49.389 driving the upper loop. It sounds like a simple 00:16:49.389 --> 00:16:52.500 foolproof plan. Since Yellowstone's roads kind 00:16:52.500 --> 00:16:55.039 of form a figure eight, dividing the park into 00:16:55.039 --> 00:16:58.059 two loops seems like the easiest way to see everything. 00:16:59.259 --> 00:17:01.080 There's absolutely nothing wrong with this advice 00:17:01.080 --> 00:17:03.159 for the most part, especially if you're visiting 00:17:03.159 --> 00:17:05.619 for the first time or only have a couple of days. 00:17:06.099 --> 00:17:09.359 This is a great starting point. The problem is 00:17:09.359 --> 00:17:11.799 that a lot of visitors stop there thinking Yellowstone 00:17:11.799 --> 00:17:14.619 is two loops instead of collection of remarkable 00:17:14.619 --> 00:17:18.240 landscapes connected by one road system. This 00:17:18.240 --> 00:17:21.160 small shift in perspective can completely change 00:17:21.160 --> 00:17:23.619 your trip. I talk about this a lot, but one of 00:17:23.619 --> 00:17:25.559 the biggest surprises for first -time visitors 00:17:25.559 --> 00:17:29.680 is just how enormous Yellowstone really is. It's 00:17:29.680 --> 00:17:35.519 2 .2 million acres and that's 3 ,500 square miles. 00:17:36.299 --> 00:17:38.480 You're gonna read a lot of things that will say, 00:17:38.500 --> 00:17:40.819 it's the size of Delaware and Rhode Island combined. 00:17:41.940 --> 00:17:44.759 I live here, I don't know what that means. That 00:17:44.759 --> 00:17:47.720 is the absolute worst thing to say. It's the 00:17:47.720 --> 00:17:49.460 size of Delaware and Rhode Island combined. Rhode 00:17:49.460 --> 00:17:52.079 Island is the smallest state. I don't know what 00:17:52.079 --> 00:17:54.400 this means. As somebody who is West Coast born 00:17:54.400 --> 00:17:57.140 and raised, this is not a relatable thing. So 00:17:57.140 --> 00:18:00.240 instead of making this even less relatable, it's 00:18:00.240 --> 00:18:04.019 about the same size as Puerto Rico. I mean, again, 00:18:04.099 --> 00:18:07.470 it's hard to describe how big this is. Once you're 00:18:07.470 --> 00:18:10.349 in the park, the distance becomes obvious. A 00:18:10.349 --> 00:18:12.630 drive that looks short on a map can take hours 00:18:12.630 --> 00:18:14.809 thanks to the winding roads, wildlife delays, 00:18:15.109 --> 00:18:17.190 construction, and all those places you're going 00:18:17.190 --> 00:18:19.670 to pass by that you want to stop. A drive that 00:18:19.670 --> 00:18:22.609 looks like it'll be 2 hours at 35 or 45 miles 00:18:22.609 --> 00:18:25.829 an hour can easily become 4 hours once you stop 00:18:25.829 --> 00:18:29.630 for bison, a grizzly, a viewpoint, a short hike, 00:18:30.049 --> 00:18:32.650 grab a snack, stop at a pit toilet to use it, 00:18:32.829 --> 00:18:34.690 you know all of these things start adding up 00:18:34.690 --> 00:18:36.970 in your time. So planning your day around completing 00:18:36.970 --> 00:18:39.690 an entire loop often means spending more time 00:18:39.690 --> 00:18:42.650 driving than experiencing the park. Now, driving 00:18:42.650 --> 00:18:44.690 around the park, again, nothing wrong with that. 00:18:44.910 --> 00:18:47.329 The first 10 years I came to the park, we only 00:18:47.329 --> 00:18:49.289 really drove around. Didn't really hike. We did 00:18:49.289 --> 00:18:51.630 the boardwalks and that was it. We just drove 00:18:51.630 --> 00:18:54.029 and looked for animals. Nothing wrong with that. 00:18:54.210 --> 00:18:56.289 I did that for a decade. Sometimes that's all 00:18:56.289 --> 00:18:59.430 I do in the park when I come in. But if you want 00:18:59.430 --> 00:19:01.769 more from the park, you're going to have to do 00:19:01.769 --> 00:19:05.390 more than just drive. Now the real issue is that 00:19:05.390 --> 00:19:07.829 Yellowstone isn't organized around its roads. 00:19:08.009 --> 00:19:11.200 It kind of is, but... It's actually organized 00:19:11.200 --> 00:19:14.079 around ecosystems, watersheds, geothermal basins, 00:19:14.400 --> 00:19:17.140 mountain ranges, wildlife habitat, and historic 00:19:17.140 --> 00:19:19.759 districts. The Grand Loop Road simply connects 00:19:19.759 --> 00:19:22.460 these things. When your goal becomes finishing 00:19:22.460 --> 00:19:25.059 a loop, it's easy to spend more time commuting 00:19:25.059 --> 00:19:27.960 between destinations than enjoying them, right? 00:19:28.240 --> 00:19:31.019 I talk about this a lot where I say one thing 00:19:31.019 --> 00:19:32.880 not to do when you visit the park is make everything 00:19:32.880 --> 00:19:35.960 a checklist. Obviously have a checklist, have 00:19:35.960 --> 00:19:38.640 things you want to see, but make sure you're 00:19:38.640 --> 00:19:41.599 enjoying those distances in between. Let's take 00:19:41.599 --> 00:19:44.319 the upper loop as an example of this. If you 00:19:44.319 --> 00:19:46.380 start in Mammoth, then you're going to drive 00:19:46.380 --> 00:19:49.960 out, you're going to go to Roosevelt Junction, 00:19:50.160 --> 00:19:51.960 and then you're probably going to go to Calcite 00:19:51.960 --> 00:19:54.700 Springs or Tower Falls, and then drive over the 00:19:54.700 --> 00:19:57.339 pass and hit Canyon, and then from Canyon you 00:19:57.339 --> 00:19:59.319 drive to Norris, and then from Norris you drive 00:19:59.319 --> 00:20:01.960 back up Swan Lake Flats to get back to Mammoth. 00:20:02.480 --> 00:20:05.240 That's the upper loop. And if you view it that 00:20:05.240 --> 00:20:07.119 way, then you say, okay, I'm going to go to Mammoth, 00:20:07.390 --> 00:20:10.170 I'm gonna go to Tower, I'm gonna go to Canyon, 00:20:10.869 --> 00:20:12.369 I'm gonna go to Norris, and then I'm gonna go 00:20:12.369 --> 00:20:15.410 back to Mammoth. And that's a good day. But there's 00:20:15.410 --> 00:20:17.990 so much more to miss. I didn't mention Lamar 00:20:17.990 --> 00:20:20.750 Valley. Lamar Valley is a quote unquote side 00:20:20.750 --> 00:20:25.430 road from this upper loop. A lot of people who 00:20:25.430 --> 00:20:27.569 do the upper loop and lower loop when they view 00:20:27.569 --> 00:20:30.069 it that way actually skip Lamar Valley because 00:20:30.069 --> 00:20:32.269 they're going through Hayden. So why bother with 00:20:32.269 --> 00:20:34.500 Lamar? And as I just said, You need to see both 00:20:34.500 --> 00:20:37.000 of those. Lamar Valley is awesome and people 00:20:37.000 --> 00:20:39.279 should do that. A lot of people drive the Southern 00:20:39.279 --> 00:20:41.259 Loop. They're going to go in from West Yellowstone, 00:20:41.319 --> 00:20:43.920 hit Madison, then they're going to drive down 00:20:43.920 --> 00:20:46.500 to Old Faithful, go over the Continental Levisde 00:20:46.500 --> 00:20:49.099 a couple times, get to West Thumb, drive to Fishing 00:20:49.099 --> 00:20:51.799 Bridge, go up to Hayden and Canyon, Canyon to 00:20:51.799 --> 00:20:53.819 Norris, then Norris back down to Madison and 00:20:53.819 --> 00:20:57.700 back out to West. That skips over going beyond 00:20:57.700 --> 00:21:01.559 that quick Fishing Bridge intersection. You would 00:21:01.559 --> 00:21:03.839 go towards Sylvan Pass if you take that road. 00:21:04.079 --> 00:21:05.880 That's where a lot of grizzly bears are at You're 00:21:05.880 --> 00:21:08.240 also gonna have Yellowstone Lake along that way 00:21:08.240 --> 00:21:10.220 and there's a beach you can hang out at there's 00:21:10.220 --> 00:21:13.180 overlooks There's so much to see out there. So 00:21:13.180 --> 00:21:15.740 if you keep planning by these loops, you might 00:21:15.740 --> 00:21:19.220 miss some of these things Obviously time management 00:21:19.220 --> 00:21:21.920 is an issue when you visit the park. It is huge 00:21:21.920 --> 00:21:25.900 So trying to see it all is impossible even if 00:21:25.900 --> 00:21:29.160 you're here all the time. I Live near the park, 00:21:29.339 --> 00:21:31.519 I'm there all the time, even when I'm not working 00:21:31.519 --> 00:21:34.440 in the park, and I still haven't seen everything. 00:21:34.559 --> 00:21:36.940 And if I have seen a lot of things, I haven't 00:21:36.940 --> 00:21:39.900 seen certain things during a thunderstorm or 00:21:39.900 --> 00:21:43.079 early morning light or sunset. So there's always 00:21:43.079 --> 00:21:45.519 different experiences to have. And if you just 00:21:45.519 --> 00:21:47.640 say that you're going to drive the upper and 00:21:47.640 --> 00:21:50.140 drive the lower, you might be missing these things. 00:21:50.519 --> 00:21:54.119 So all I want to say here is instead of planning 00:21:54.119 --> 00:21:57.559 by loops, consider planning by regions. Give 00:21:57.559 --> 00:22:00.000 Hayden Valley the sunrise it deserves before 00:22:00.000 --> 00:22:02.019 heading down to Mud Volcano and then up to the 00:22:02.019 --> 00:22:04.880 Grand Canyon of Yellowstone. If you can, dedicate 00:22:04.880 --> 00:22:07.460 another day to the Geyser Basins. Go to each 00:22:07.460 --> 00:22:09.599 of the Geyser Basins, not just checking off Old 00:22:09.599 --> 00:22:11.920 Faithful and Grand Prismatic. Both are beautiful, 00:22:12.220 --> 00:22:14.559 but there's more than just those two. Those are 00:22:14.559 --> 00:22:18.799 just the popular ones right now. Popularity ebbs 00:22:18.799 --> 00:22:21.240 and flows just like everything else. And you 00:22:21.240 --> 00:22:23.500 might say, I love Old Faithful, but you know 00:22:23.500 --> 00:22:26.759 what's really great? Daisy Geyser. or Grand Prismatic 00:22:26.759 --> 00:22:30.079 is great but I really love going down to West 00:22:30.079 --> 00:22:32.380 Thumb and seeing those deep pools next to the 00:22:32.380 --> 00:22:36.839 lake. Take some time and just break it into areas. 00:22:37.240 --> 00:22:39.539 Spend a day at Yellowstone Lake and Fishing Bridge 00:22:39.539 --> 00:22:42.599 in the east entrance. Take some time and be at 00:22:42.599 --> 00:22:44.880 Norris and then Mammoth and then the Golden Gate 00:22:44.880 --> 00:22:49.480 area and then drive to Lamar that evening. You'll 00:22:49.480 --> 00:22:51.559 spend less time rushing between destinations 00:22:51.559 --> 00:22:55.180 by just viewing your park visit as locations 00:22:55.180 --> 00:22:58.380 instead of loop drives. Planning by region also 00:22:58.380 --> 00:23:01.160 makes Yellowstone's unpredictability much less 00:23:01.160 --> 00:23:03.779 stressful. Wildlife as we know doesn't follow 00:23:03.779 --> 00:23:06.420 an itinerary, neither do afternoon thunderstorms, 00:23:06.460 --> 00:23:08.960 road construction, or the bison jam that lasts 00:23:08.960 --> 00:23:11.380 45 minutes because a herd decides the pavement 00:23:11.380 --> 00:23:15.339 is a perfect place just to hang out. When your 00:23:15.339 --> 00:23:17.680 day focuses on one part of the park instead of 00:23:17.680 --> 00:23:20.359 completing a loop, Those surprises stop feeling 00:23:20.359 --> 00:23:23.019 like delays and become some of the best memories 00:23:23.019 --> 00:23:26.160 of your trip. It also helps you appreciate that 00:23:26.160 --> 00:23:29.000 Yellowstone's attractions aren't isolated destinations. 00:23:29.859 --> 00:23:32.339 Taking your time in all of the geyser basins 00:23:32.339 --> 00:23:35.000 tell the story of Yellowstone's volcano. Hayden 00:23:35.000 --> 00:23:37.319 Valley reveals the importance of rivers, wetlands, 00:23:37.440 --> 00:23:40.200 and wildlife. Yellowstone Lake showcases the 00:23:40.200 --> 00:23:43.259 immense caldera area as well as just the beauty 00:23:43.259 --> 00:23:46.960 of a giant high elevation lake. In Lamar Valley 00:23:47.400 --> 00:23:50.619 It's one of the world's most intact, temperate, 00:23:50.619 --> 00:23:54.220 wildlife -watching areas you're gonna find. Spending 00:23:54.220 --> 00:23:56.380 meaningful time in each region helps those stories 00:23:56.380 --> 00:23:59.660 come together. Grand Loop Road is one of America's 00:23:59.660 --> 00:24:01.900 great scenic drives, and there's nothing wrong 00:24:01.900 --> 00:24:04.319 with using it as a guide. Just don't let it become 00:24:04.319 --> 00:24:07.420 your destination. Plan your experiences instead 00:24:07.420 --> 00:24:10.220 of roads, and Yellowstone becomes much more than 00:24:10.220 --> 00:24:12.859 a giant driving tour. One of those things you're 00:24:12.859 --> 00:24:15.059 going to experience if you take your time is 00:24:15.059 --> 00:24:18.259 my random Yellowstone fact of the week. The smelliest 00:24:18.259 --> 00:24:21.400 thermal areas. One of the first things many visitors 00:24:21.400 --> 00:24:23.680 notice when they step onto a Yellowstone boardwalk 00:24:23.680 --> 00:24:26.799 isn't necessarily the scenery. It's the smell. 00:24:27.400 --> 00:24:29.720 That unmistakable rotten egg odor that drifts 00:24:29.720 --> 00:24:32.140 through parts of the park, sometimes faintly 00:24:32.140 --> 00:24:34.500 and sometimes strong enough to make people hold 00:24:34.500 --> 00:24:38.660 their noses, gag, maybe overreact, maybe underreact. 00:24:38.880 --> 00:24:41.039 While it may not be the fragrance most people 00:24:41.039 --> 00:24:43.599 hope to remember from the vacation, it's a sign 00:24:43.599 --> 00:24:45.559 that Yellowstone's volcanic heart is hard at 00:24:45.559 --> 00:24:49.700 work beneath your feet. Now very quickly, I love 00:24:49.700 --> 00:24:52.019 the smell of Yellowstone. It is my favorite. 00:24:52.519 --> 00:24:55.099 The smelliest thermal areas are my favorite places 00:24:55.099 --> 00:24:58.259 to go. It amuses me. It makes me happy. And when 00:24:58.259 --> 00:25:00.559 I smell rotten eggs and sulfur and things like 00:25:00.559 --> 00:25:02.420 that, if I'm not in the park, the first thing 00:25:02.420 --> 00:25:05.559 I think of is Yellowstone. When I was a kid, 00:25:05.759 --> 00:25:09.140 I came to the park, smelled that, and for Here 00:25:09.140 --> 00:25:12.299 until I die that is the connection when I smell 00:25:12.299 --> 00:25:15.519 that and it's one of my I don't want to say favorite 00:25:15.519 --> 00:25:18.079 smells one of the most distinct smells that I 00:25:18.079 --> 00:25:21.460 don't hate Now the smell comes primarily from 00:25:21.460 --> 00:25:24.119 hydrogen sulfide a naturally occurring volcanic 00:25:24.119 --> 00:25:26.680 gas released by many of Yellowstone's hydrothermal 00:25:26.680 --> 00:25:30.079 features as the gas rises from deep underground 00:25:30.079 --> 00:25:33.019 Specialized microorganisms use it as an energy 00:25:33.019 --> 00:25:37.339 source in acidic thermal areas They convert hydrogen 00:25:37.339 --> 00:25:39.700 sulfide into sulfuric acid, which breaks down 00:25:39.700 --> 00:25:42.319 surrounding rock into clay and creates Yellowstone's 00:25:42.319 --> 00:25:45.519 bubbling mudpots. Hydrogen sulfide produces the 00:25:45.519 --> 00:25:48.740 familiar rotten egg smell, while sulfuric acid 00:25:48.740 --> 00:25:51.099 helps shape many of the park's colorful, ever 00:25:51.099 --> 00:25:55.059 -changing thermal features. If one place consistently 00:25:55.059 --> 00:25:57.579 earns the title of Yellowstone's Smelliest Front 00:25:57.579 --> 00:26:00.839 Country destination, it's the mud volcano area 00:26:00.839 --> 00:26:03.809 between Hayden and Yellowstone Lake. The National 00:26:03.809 --> 00:26:06.210 Park Service describes this area as home to some 00:26:06.210 --> 00:26:08.849 of the park's most acidic hydrothermal features. 00:26:09.329 --> 00:26:11.789 Boiling mud pots, steaming vents, acidic pools 00:26:11.789 --> 00:26:14.769 are constantly releasing sulfur -rich gases into 00:26:14.769 --> 00:26:17.509 the air. The bubbling mud volcano is fascinating 00:26:17.509 --> 00:26:19.730 to watch, while nearby Dragon's Mouth spring 00:26:19.730 --> 00:26:22.490 roars like distant thunder as steam rushes through 00:26:22.490 --> 00:26:25.529 an underground chamber. The combination of sound, 00:26:25.750 --> 00:26:28.390 steam, and sulfur makes this one of Yellowstone's 00:26:28.390 --> 00:26:31.890 most memorable stops. One of the areas that really 00:26:31.890 --> 00:26:34.890 is good is the sulfur cauldron. Despite its name, 00:26:35.609 --> 00:26:38.289 it's an intensely acidic hot spring rather than 00:26:38.289 --> 00:26:42.670 a mud pot. With a pH between about one and two, 00:26:43.009 --> 00:26:45.430 supposedly, this is what I read, its water arrivals 00:26:45.430 --> 00:26:49.349 battery acid. Constant releases of hydrogen sulfide 00:26:49.349 --> 00:26:51.390 give it one of the strongest sulfur odors in 00:26:51.390 --> 00:26:53.230 the front country of the park, especially when 00:26:53.230 --> 00:26:56.190 the wind shifts toward the boardwalk. Norris 00:26:56.190 --> 00:26:58.529 Geyser Basin is another hot spot for these smells. 00:26:59.379 --> 00:27:01.500 Yellowstone's hottest and most dynamic thermal 00:27:01.500 --> 00:27:03.720 basin is filled with fumaroles, acidic pools, 00:27:03.980 --> 00:27:06.579 steaming ground, and constantly changing hydrothermal 00:27:06.579 --> 00:27:10.519 activity. Fumaroles or steam vents release volcanic 00:27:10.519 --> 00:27:13.519 gases directly into the air, often creating really 00:27:13.519 --> 00:27:16.240 strong odors. Walking through Norris on a cool 00:27:16.240 --> 00:27:18.440 morning surrounded by thick clouds of steam can 00:27:18.440 --> 00:27:22.779 feel like visiting another planet. Some of Yellowstone's 00:27:22.779 --> 00:27:25.700 smelliest thermal areas require leaving the roadside 00:27:25.700 --> 00:27:29.549 behind. My personal favorite is washburn hot 00:27:29.549 --> 00:27:32.789 springs, and it's an excellent example of just 00:27:32.789 --> 00:27:36.349 how much things can stink. With steaming vents, 00:27:36.609 --> 00:27:41.230 bubbling mud pots, eye -burning acidic pools, 00:27:41.690 --> 00:27:44.230 and fumaroles spread across a forested hillside, 00:27:44.710 --> 00:27:48.650 this area is so strong smelling at times. With 00:27:48.650 --> 00:27:51.089 few visitors and little breeze beneath the trees, 00:27:51.569 --> 00:27:53.789 the smell of hydrogen sulfide can linger for 00:27:53.789 --> 00:27:56.970 long distances. I've smelled it from nearly half 00:27:56.970 --> 00:28:00.869 a mile away, and once at the springs, my eyes 00:28:00.869 --> 00:28:04.650 were burning from just the smell, and members 00:28:04.650 --> 00:28:07.130 of my hiking group that I was leading were gagging 00:28:07.130 --> 00:28:10.269 from the odor. Great memorable day. Loved every 00:28:10.269 --> 00:28:12.289 minute of it. I don't think they did, but you 00:28:12.289 --> 00:28:15.630 know, I love that smell. Shoshone Geyser Basin 00:28:15.630 --> 00:28:17.670 is another one of these places. It's one of the 00:28:17.670 --> 00:28:20.460 world's largest backcountry geyser basins. It's 00:28:20.460 --> 00:28:22.380 another soul -fulfilled landscape where dozens 00:28:22.380 --> 00:28:25.119 of hot springs, geysers, and fumaroles constantly 00:28:25.119 --> 00:28:28.359 release volcanic gases. Heart Lake Geyser Basin 00:28:28.359 --> 00:28:30.339 offers a similar experience with hundreds of 00:28:30.339 --> 00:28:33.500 thermal features, and both destinations require 00:28:33.500 --> 00:28:36.299 considerably more effort than Yellowstone's roadside 00:28:36.299 --> 00:28:39.440 attractions. But if you're a hiker, and you want 00:28:39.440 --> 00:28:41.819 to be rewarded with some solitude, spectacular 00:28:41.819 --> 00:28:44.839 geothermal scenery, and an up -close look at 00:28:44.839 --> 00:28:47.579 volcanic forces still shaping the park, go here. 00:28:48.330 --> 00:28:50.769 Back along the road, artist paint pots and fountain 00:28:50.769 --> 00:28:53.490 paint pots are also worth visiting. Their colorful 00:28:53.490 --> 00:28:55.769 bubbling mud pots owe their appearance and odor 00:28:55.769 --> 00:28:58.750 to the acidic conditions and hydrogen sulfide. 00:28:59.150 --> 00:29:01.210 While they are generally less pungent than mud 00:29:01.210 --> 00:29:03.890 volcano, a shift in the wind or the right conditions 00:29:03.890 --> 00:29:06.710 can bring a really strong wave of sulfur across 00:29:06.710 --> 00:29:09.630 the boardwalk. Visitors are often surprised that 00:29:09.630 --> 00:29:12.579 not every thermal area smells the same. Grand 00:29:12.579 --> 00:29:14.960 Prismatic, Morning Glory, and many of Yellowstone's 00:29:14.960 --> 00:29:17.779 famous blue hot springs produce little noticeable 00:29:17.779 --> 00:29:20.900 odor despite their spectacular appearance. That's 00:29:20.900 --> 00:29:23.640 because they are dominated by hot water rather 00:29:23.640 --> 00:29:26.220 than the acidic sulfur -rich environments that 00:29:26.220 --> 00:29:28.859 create mud pots and fumaroles. The chemistry 00:29:28.859 --> 00:29:31.319 beneath each basin determines not only its colors 00:29:31.319 --> 00:29:34.500 and activity, but how much gas reaches the surface. 00:29:34.839 --> 00:29:37.420 The time of day matters, too. Early mornings 00:29:37.420 --> 00:29:40.079 often seem smellier because of cool, calm air 00:29:40.079 --> 00:29:42.740 being trapped by steam, and the volcanic grasses 00:29:42.740 --> 00:29:45.400 are nearer to the ground. As temperatures rise 00:29:45.400 --> 00:29:48.140 and breezes develop, those gases disperse more 00:29:48.140 --> 00:29:50.920 quickly. Wind direction also plays a major role, 00:29:51.599 --> 00:29:53.220 obviously. A board wreck that smells mild one 00:29:53.220 --> 00:29:56.200 moment can become overwhelmingly smelly just 00:29:56.200 --> 00:29:59.359 seconds later if the wind shifts. The smell of 00:29:59.359 --> 00:30:02.059 sulfur may not be everyone's favorite. But it 00:30:02.059 --> 00:30:03.920 is a reminder that Yellowstone remains one of 00:30:03.920 --> 00:30:06.599 the most active hydrothermal landscapes on Earth. 00:30:07.180 --> 00:30:09.559 More than 10 ,000 hydrothermal features dot the 00:30:09.559 --> 00:30:12.160 park, each revealing another piece of the volcanic 00:30:12.160 --> 00:30:15.319 system hidden beneath the surface. The next time 00:30:15.319 --> 00:30:17.880 that familiar rotten egg smell fills the air, 00:30:18.539 --> 00:30:21.319 remember how unique and special this is, and 00:30:21.319 --> 00:30:23.940 if you don't like it, just keep walking, but 00:30:23.940 --> 00:30:26.900 enjoy the smell for what it is for where you 00:30:26.900 --> 00:30:30.640 are. The weather for the coming week. As always, 00:30:30.779 --> 00:30:32.579 this is the best forecast for the week at the 00:30:32.579 --> 00:30:34.859 time of the recording. The forecast can and probably 00:30:34.859 --> 00:30:37.319 will change numerous times in a week, but this 00:30:37.319 --> 00:30:40.839 should be good framework to plan by. Lamar Valley. 00:30:41.720 --> 00:30:45.579 On Thursday, highest 78, low of 51, 24 % chance 00:30:45.579 --> 00:30:49.839 of some rain. Friday, 85 and 52, 23 % chance 00:30:49.839 --> 00:30:54.859 of rain. Saturday, 82 and 52. 51 % chance of 00:30:54.859 --> 00:30:56.720 about a tenth of an inch of rain, probably will 00:30:56.720 --> 00:31:00.839 be more than that. Sunday, 84 and 52, 24 % chance 00:31:00.839 --> 00:31:04.920 of rain. Monday, 83 and 50, 17 % chance. Tuesday, 00:31:05.440 --> 00:31:10.259 85 and 49, 16 % chance. And Wednesday, 84 and 00:31:10.259 --> 00:31:14.920 49, 15 % chance. Gardner, Montana, Thursday, 00:31:15.500 --> 00:31:19.549 high 84, low of 55, 24 % chance of rain. Friday 00:31:19.549 --> 00:31:24.450 90 and 56 8 % chance of rain Saturday 88 and 00:31:24.450 --> 00:31:27.329 55 with a 50 % chance of thunderstorms and heavy 00:31:27.329 --> 00:31:33.150 rain Sunday 89 and 55 21 % chance of rain Monday 00:31:33.150 --> 00:31:38.009 88 and 54 18 % chance of rain Tuesday 90 and 00:31:38.009 --> 00:31:42.730 54 12 % chance of rain and Wednesday 88 and 54 00:31:42.730 --> 00:31:47.069 15 % chance of rain West Yellowstone on Thursday 00:31:47.339 --> 00:31:50.920 A high of 80, low of 51, 24 % chance of rain. 00:31:51.160 --> 00:31:55.059 Friday, 86 and 53, with a 7 % chance of rain. 00:31:55.579 --> 00:31:59.700 Saturday, 84 and 53, with a 50 % chance of some 00:31:59.700 --> 00:32:03.720 thunderstorm and heavy rain. Sunday, 85 and 52, 00:32:03.940 --> 00:32:08.740 16 % chance of rain. Monday, 84 and 51, 23 % 00:32:08.740 --> 00:32:12.660 chance of rain. Tuesday, 86 and 50, 12 % chance. 00:32:12.819 --> 00:32:16.619 And Wednesday, 85 and 50, with a 16 % chance. 00:32:17.160 --> 00:32:22.240 Cody Wyoming on Thursday 85 and 66 with a 24 00:32:22.240 --> 00:32:27.420 % chance of rain on Friday 96 and 68 Saturday 00:32:27.420 --> 00:32:31.599 94 and 67 with a 44 % chance of some rain and 00:32:31.599 --> 00:32:35.740 thunderstorms Sunday 95 and 67 with a high chance 00:32:35.740 --> 00:32:39.400 of rain and thunderstorms Monday 91 and 64 with 00:32:39.400 --> 00:32:43.779 a 24 % chance of rain Tuesday 92 and 64 with 00:32:43.779 --> 00:32:48.039 a 15 % chance of rain and Wednesday 91 and 63 00:32:48.039 --> 00:32:51.940 22 % chance of rain and finally cook City, Montana 00:32:51.940 --> 00:32:56.759 on Thursday 74 and 52 got a 50 % chance of thunderstorms 00:32:56.759 --> 00:33:01.160 and rain Friday 81 and 55 24 % chance of some 00:33:01.160 --> 00:33:06.319 rain Saturday 79 and 54 53 % chance of some pretty 00:33:06.319 --> 00:33:09.859 good thunderstorms and heavy rain Sunday 81 and 00:33:09.859 --> 00:33:13.140 54 with a 35 % chance of thunderstorms and rain 00:33:13.140 --> 00:33:17.430 Monday 80 and 53 with a 24 % chance of rain. 00:33:18.029 --> 00:33:21.990 Tuesday 82 and 52, 18 % chance. And Wednesday, 00:33:22.710 --> 00:33:27.029 81 and 51, 18 % chance of rain. Road conditions. 00:33:27.849 --> 00:33:30.710 No main park roads are closed right now. There's 00:33:30.710 --> 00:33:32.910 gonna be some construction spots here and there, 00:33:33.170 --> 00:33:35.990 but delays are gonna be minimal. And while unlikely, 00:33:36.150 --> 00:33:38.069 be aware that roads can close at any time due 00:33:38.069 --> 00:33:40.150 to inclement weather. If those thunderstorms 00:33:40.150 --> 00:33:41.750 are too severe, they might cause a little bit 00:33:41.750 --> 00:33:43.509 of a landslide here and there, but I doubt it. 00:33:43.509 --> 00:33:45.269 Maybe a couple rocks will come down, so watch 00:33:45.269 --> 00:33:48.269 out for those. If you want up -to -date information 00:33:48.269 --> 00:33:52.769 about the road conditions, you can call 307 -344 00:33:52.769 --> 00:33:56.289 -2117 for recorded information, or you can sign 00:33:56.289 --> 00:33:58.410 up to receive Yellowstone Road Alerts on your 00:33:58.410 --> 00:34:02.750 cell phone by texting the number 82190 to the 00:34:02.750 --> 00:34:09.039 number 8884. 777 Camping information every campground 00:34:09.039 --> 00:34:11.400 that's gonna be open this year is currently open 00:34:11.400 --> 00:34:14.460 So if you're camping enjoy might be some rain 00:34:14.460 --> 00:34:16.079 storms But you know if you're camping you're 00:34:16.079 --> 00:34:19.820 used to the rain also tent camping has really 00:34:19.820 --> 00:34:22.820 decreased in popularity So most of the people 00:34:22.820 --> 00:34:24.619 I know that are camping right now are in like 00:34:24.619 --> 00:34:27.039 a camper van or an RV And if you're complaining 00:34:27.039 --> 00:34:29.179 about the rain and that like you have no idea 00:34:29.179 --> 00:34:32.320 I grew up camping and tent and sometimes like 00:34:32.320 --> 00:34:35.639 you'd come in sideways because of the wind and 00:34:35.639 --> 00:34:37.800 you can't really put a tarp over that. And this 00:34:37.800 --> 00:34:39.519 was back in the day before they had really good 00:34:39.519 --> 00:34:42.820 rain flies on tents or at least in the level 00:34:42.820 --> 00:34:45.900 of tent that my family could afford or had. So 00:34:45.900 --> 00:34:48.000 we would just get soaked. I remember one morning 00:34:48.000 --> 00:34:51.980 we woke up and it had poured and the tent didn't 00:34:51.980 --> 00:34:55.059 actually get wet. We just ended up putting the 00:34:55.059 --> 00:34:57.800 tent where there was a major drainage and my 00:34:57.800 --> 00:35:00.139 sister's sleeping bag was floating a little bit 00:35:00.139 --> 00:35:01.760 because there was so much water in the tent. 00:35:01.800 --> 00:35:04.760 So Enjoy that if you're camping and there's a 00:35:04.760 --> 00:35:06.460 heavy thunderstorm that causes some flooding. 00:35:07.900 --> 00:35:11.059 The wildlife watching update. So right now the 00:35:11.059 --> 00:35:13.599 wildlife watching is pretty consistent. Your 00:35:13.599 --> 00:35:16.179 best bets are going to be in three main areas 00:35:16.179 --> 00:35:19.380 and then everything else is kind of just hit 00:35:19.380 --> 00:35:22.960 and miss. So your first area... Northern Range 00:35:22.960 --> 00:35:25.059 to Lamar Valley, you're gonna see some bears 00:35:25.059 --> 00:35:28.280 probably around Floating Island Lake, Blacktail 00:35:28.280 --> 00:35:30.559 Plateau, especially black bears. There might 00:35:30.559 --> 00:35:33.059 be a moose nearby, but I haven't heard any sightings 00:35:33.059 --> 00:35:35.699 about that moose by Floating Island Lake in a 00:35:35.699 --> 00:35:39.840 while. Also, as you get closer to Tower, there 00:35:39.840 --> 00:35:41.579 might be some bison, there might be some more 00:35:41.579 --> 00:35:45.360 black bears. As you get out to Lamar, Little 00:35:45.360 --> 00:35:48.239 America has been pretty good with pronghorn babies, 00:35:48.739 --> 00:35:50.880 there's been some cool birds out there, there's 00:35:50.880 --> 00:35:55.380 been some bears, and it's good. But your main 00:35:55.380 --> 00:35:58.920 action right now, as of yesterday, is really 00:35:58.920 --> 00:36:01.820 in Lamar proper. Lamar proper has had grizzly 00:36:01.820 --> 00:36:04.440 bears off on ridgelines, the Junction Butte Pack 00:36:04.440 --> 00:36:08.039 has been decently sighted here and there, so 00:36:08.039 --> 00:36:10.539 early mornings again, there's tons of bison out 00:36:10.539 --> 00:36:13.300 there too, like hundreds if not over a thousand 00:36:13.300 --> 00:36:16.239 bison out there. As I mentioned earlier, they've 00:36:16.239 --> 00:36:18.239 been fighting each other a bit more. You're going 00:36:18.239 --> 00:36:20.500 to watch them roll in the distance and huge dust 00:36:20.500 --> 00:36:22.539 clouds are there. You're going to hear them bellowing. 00:36:22.840 --> 00:36:25.539 It's going to be awesome. Let's back up a little 00:36:25.539 --> 00:36:27.800 bit. I did just realize I skipped one place. 00:36:28.219 --> 00:36:30.280 As you get to the Forces of Nature trailhead 00:36:30.280 --> 00:36:35.059 just beyond Mammoth and Blacktail Ponds, there 00:36:35.059 --> 00:36:37.119 are some wolves people have been spotted miles 00:36:37.119 --> 00:36:39.280 out from there. So if you want to stop there, 00:36:39.300 --> 00:36:41.619 that's great. Obviously, seeing wolves is awesome. 00:36:41.780 --> 00:36:43.420 Just know they're going to be very far away. 00:36:44.170 --> 00:36:47.690 Second place that really can't go wrong Hayden 00:36:47.690 --> 00:36:50.030 Valley right now. There have been some wolf sightings 00:36:50.030 --> 00:36:52.590 here and there There's been a lot of bison out 00:36:52.590 --> 00:36:55.289 there as well been some good grizzly sightings 00:36:55.289 --> 00:36:59.429 I did hear somebody say they saw an otter up 00:36:59.429 --> 00:37:04.949 near Allam Creek. So that's a LUM and You know, 00:37:04.969 --> 00:37:07.730 you may see it. Maybe not otters are very hard 00:37:07.730 --> 00:37:11.400 to spot Then I would also head out towards that 00:37:11.400 --> 00:37:13.599 East entrance road where there could be some 00:37:13.599 --> 00:37:16.340 grizzlies If you want a different experience 00:37:16.340 --> 00:37:19.380 head up Beartooth Plateau lots of marmots and 00:37:19.380 --> 00:37:21.420 wildflowers mountain goats are up there with 00:37:21.420 --> 00:37:25.619 some babies and Then you might see a couple grizzlies 00:37:25.619 --> 00:37:27.639 couple black bears It's just a good place to 00:37:27.639 --> 00:37:30.219 kind of drive up to drive up to the top of Beartooth 00:37:30.219 --> 00:37:32.440 and back and then head back through Lamar good 00:37:32.440 --> 00:37:35.050 day Elsewhere in the park. You're just gonna 00:37:35.050 --> 00:37:37.090 see what you're gonna see marmots are out where 00:37:37.090 --> 00:37:39.929 the marmots are Sheep Eater cliffs up Yellowstone 00:37:39.929 --> 00:37:44.130 River overlook trail places like that Pika's 00:37:44.130 --> 00:37:47.210 are near the hell roaring area. I've heard them 00:37:47.210 --> 00:37:51.550 there recently so otherwise if you want to know 00:37:51.550 --> 00:37:54.619 where to see other animals in the park I highly 00:37:54.619 --> 00:37:57.460 consider that you pick up my wildlife watching 00:37:57.460 --> 00:37:59.619 guidebook to the region. It's available with 00:37:59.619 --> 00:38:02.699 ebook and paperback formats. And I wrote it because 00:38:02.699 --> 00:38:05.679 I want to take some of the guesswork out. I spent 00:38:05.679 --> 00:38:07.719 a lot of years driving around the park looking 00:38:07.719 --> 00:38:10.320 and hoping to see things and was always unsure 00:38:10.320 --> 00:38:12.500 of where things were. And then once you kind 00:38:12.500 --> 00:38:14.519 of know the rhythm and routine, it really helps. 00:38:14.960 --> 00:38:17.179 You have a better chance of seeing animals. Obviously, 00:38:17.460 --> 00:38:21.019 animals are predictable, but. they do have routines 00:38:21.019 --> 00:38:23.679 and they do have seasonal predictability of certain 00:38:23.679 --> 00:38:26.619 regions so that's what that book is all about 00:38:26.619 --> 00:38:29.280 i also have a hiking book but you know i'm talking 00:38:29.280 --> 00:38:32.539 about wildlife right now if you are still needing 00:38:32.539 --> 00:38:34.300 some advice people have been taking me up on 00:38:34.300 --> 00:38:36.179 this and i appreciate it and i try and get back 00:38:36.179 --> 00:38:39.059 as fast as i can but reach out to me via text 00:38:39.059 --> 00:38:42.619 or email and i will happily do my best to give 00:38:42.619 --> 00:38:45.360 you timely responses on where you can see things 00:38:45.360 --> 00:38:48.000 because i want to to make sure that you have 00:38:48.000 --> 00:38:51.780 the best possible time in the park. Trail alerts 00:38:51.780 --> 00:38:55.039 and updates. So before I tell you what I've been 00:38:55.039 --> 00:38:57.099 telling you every week that the backcountry conditions 00:38:57.099 --> 00:39:01.500 page is updated, there is a flood warning because 00:39:01.500 --> 00:39:04.000 of these heavy thunderstorms. If you are doing 00:39:04.000 --> 00:39:06.320 a hike where you're going to have to ford a creek 00:39:06.320 --> 00:39:09.219 or a river, really check that weather forecast 00:39:09.219 --> 00:39:12.280 that day and know what the creek is going to 00:39:12.280 --> 00:39:15.099 be. The Backcountry Conditions page isn't updated 00:39:15.099 --> 00:39:17.360 for creek crossings right now, and that's why 00:39:17.360 --> 00:39:19.460 I want to mention that. It says, oh, you can 00:39:19.460 --> 00:39:21.960 easily get across the Lamar River. A couple days 00:39:21.960 --> 00:39:24.940 ago, Lamar River was waist deep and flowing super 00:39:24.940 --> 00:39:27.679 fast, and it was super muddy and really unsafe. 00:39:28.039 --> 00:39:30.360 So you're going to have to check these rivers 00:39:30.360 --> 00:39:33.969 before you get there. and also talk to a backcountry 00:39:33.969 --> 00:39:35.809 ranger, there's one in Mammoth, there's one in 00:39:35.809 --> 00:39:38.610 Old Faithful, one in Canyon, and make sure that 00:39:38.610 --> 00:39:41.750 conditions are good before you head out. And 00:39:41.750 --> 00:39:43.650 these change every day, so if there's a heavy 00:39:43.650 --> 00:39:46.630 rainstorm that night, before you hike, water 00:39:46.630 --> 00:39:49.969 still may be high. Other than that, most of the 00:39:49.969 --> 00:39:51.989 trails are updated with the Backcountry Conditions 00:39:51.989 --> 00:39:55.449 page, so link in the show notes there. And, as 00:39:55.449 --> 00:39:58.070 always, Carry your bear spray, have it readily 00:39:58.070 --> 00:40:00.210 accessible, not in a backpack, know how to use 00:40:00.210 --> 00:40:03.349 it, and know that wildlife will all run faster 00:40:03.349 --> 00:40:07.250 than you can, so stay very far away. That brings 00:40:07.250 --> 00:40:10.570 me to my Trek of the Week, the north and south 00:40:10.570 --> 00:40:13.909 rim of the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone. There 00:40:13.909 --> 00:40:15.650 are countless incredible hikes in Yellowstone 00:40:15.650 --> 00:40:18.190 National Park, from high summits to remote geyser 00:40:18.190 --> 00:40:21.170 basins, but there's one that captures nearly 00:40:21.170 --> 00:40:24.119 everything that makes Yellowstone special. It's 00:40:24.119 --> 00:40:26.159 combining the South Rim and North Rim trails 00:40:26.159 --> 00:40:28.420 around the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone. In 00:40:28.420 --> 00:40:30.340 a single outing, you're going to stand beside 00:40:30.340 --> 00:40:32.980 two of the park's most famous waterfalls, see 00:40:32.980 --> 00:40:35.119 another one that very few people know exists, 00:40:35.320 --> 00:40:36.820 you're going to walk through fragrant lodgepole 00:40:36.820 --> 00:40:38.659 pines, you're going to follow the Yellowstone 00:40:38.659 --> 00:40:42.380 River and just see all of the cool geology, you're 00:40:42.380 --> 00:40:44.960 going to cross a historic bridge, and then you're 00:40:44.960 --> 00:40:47.039 going to enjoy some of the finest overlooks in 00:40:47.039 --> 00:40:50.150 the national park system. Overall, this hike 00:40:50.150 --> 00:40:53.550 covers about 10 miles and has roughly 1300 feet 00:40:53.550 --> 00:40:57.389 of elevation gain. Most of this comes from the 00:40:57.389 --> 00:40:59.889 two steep descents, the Brink of the Lower Falls 00:40:59.889 --> 00:41:03.369 and Red Rock Point. The rest follows relatively 00:41:03.369 --> 00:41:05.710 gentle terrain along the canyon rim. I mean, 00:41:05.829 --> 00:41:08.090 there are some steep -ish areas, but they don't 00:41:08.090 --> 00:41:10.590 last that long. And by doing the whole thing, 00:41:10.889 --> 00:41:13.190 you create a rewarding full -day adventure, or 00:41:13.190 --> 00:41:14.650 half -day adventure depending on your hiking 00:41:14.650 --> 00:41:17.130 speed, that really doesn't feel too repetitive. 00:41:18.059 --> 00:41:20.199 I always start this hike at the brink of the 00:41:20.199 --> 00:41:23.460 upper falls and that's a nice place where the 00:41:23.460 --> 00:41:26.079 Yellowstone River makes one final calm approach 00:41:26.079 --> 00:41:30.119 in a smallish falls compared to the huge canyon, 00:41:30.340 --> 00:41:32.579 the lower falls. And you stand there and you 00:41:32.579 --> 00:41:35.840 get a good sense of the river and you just take 00:41:35.840 --> 00:41:39.340 it all in and it's nice and relaxing. And then 00:41:39.340 --> 00:41:42.579 head upstream. What you'll do is you'll walk 00:41:42.579 --> 00:41:45.119 along an old road, you'll cross a little bridge 00:41:45.119 --> 00:41:46.960 and then you'll hop on the trail on the South 00:41:46.960 --> 00:41:49.619 Rim Trail. which is one of the park's most underrated 00:41:49.619 --> 00:41:53.480 hikes. While many visitors stop at only the overlooks, 00:41:53.719 --> 00:41:56.300 the trail between these overlooks reveals a quieter 00:41:56.300 --> 00:41:59.539 side of the canyon. It winds through mature lodgepole 00:41:59.539 --> 00:42:02.280 pine forests before repeatedly emerging into 00:42:02.280 --> 00:42:04.599 amazing viewpoints of the Yellowstone River. 00:42:05.480 --> 00:42:08.440 As you hike, the scenery constantly changes. 00:42:08.739 --> 00:42:11.320 Some overlooks reveal sweeping views downstream, 00:42:11.719 --> 00:42:14.139 others highlight the canyon's brilliant yellow, 00:42:14.340 --> 00:42:16.920 orange, pink, and red walls. These colors were 00:42:16.920 --> 00:42:19.820 created when hot, acidic water chemically altered 00:42:19.820 --> 00:42:22.699 the canyon's volcanic rhyolite over thousands 00:42:22.699 --> 00:42:25.199 of years, and this is why it's produced one of 00:42:25.199 --> 00:42:27.239 North America's most distinctive landscapes. 00:42:28.280 --> 00:42:30.019 Eventually you're going to reach Artist Point, 00:42:30.380 --> 00:42:34.099 perhaps the most iconic overlook. The 308 foot 00:42:34.099 --> 00:42:37.400 lower falls plunges into the colorful canyon 00:42:37.400 --> 00:42:39.780 way in the distance, and this was made famous 00:42:39.780 --> 00:42:41.980 by Thomas Moran's paintings and William Henry 00:42:41.980 --> 00:42:45.570 Jackson's pictures. are what helped convince 00:42:45.570 --> 00:42:47.710 Congress to establish Yellowstone as the world's 00:42:47.710 --> 00:42:50.389 first national park. As you stand here, it's 00:42:50.389 --> 00:42:53.110 easy to understand why these pictures made such 00:42:53.110 --> 00:42:56.389 a big difference in convincing Congress to protect 00:42:56.389 --> 00:42:59.690 these lands. After soaking in the view, you're 00:42:59.690 --> 00:43:01.550 going to retrace your steps along the South Rim 00:43:01.550 --> 00:43:05.289 Trail. The return hike, while it may sound repetitive, 00:43:05.670 --> 00:43:07.909 actually offers a different perspective and the 00:43:07.909 --> 00:43:10.130 changing light reveals details you may have missed 00:43:10.130 --> 00:43:12.690 on the way out. Once again, you're gonna cross 00:43:12.690 --> 00:43:15.070 the bridge you're gonna walk along the old closed 00:43:15.070 --> 00:43:17.869 road back to the brink of the lower falls or 00:43:17.869 --> 00:43:21.309 the upper falls and Then you're going to maybe 00:43:21.309 --> 00:43:23.389 stop at your car and get another snack. There's 00:43:23.389 --> 00:43:26.010 a restroom there There's just a nice kind of 00:43:26.010 --> 00:43:28.869 break I'd like to just have a snack or a lunch 00:43:28.869 --> 00:43:31.750 and then start hiking the North Rim Trail again 00:43:31.750 --> 00:43:34.210 This first stretch of the North Rim Trail makes 00:43:34.210 --> 00:43:36.789 you feel like you're just disappearing into nature 00:43:36.789 --> 00:43:40.460 right away very few people hike from the Brink 00:43:40.460 --> 00:43:42.719 of the Upper Falls to the Lower Falls and it's 00:43:42.719 --> 00:43:44.460 fantastic and I love doing it. There's a hidden 00:43:44.460 --> 00:43:46.360 waterfall out there. I'm not going to tell you 00:43:46.360 --> 00:43:48.679 anything more. I just want you to see it and 00:43:48.679 --> 00:43:52.119 that's a place where you really need to just 00:43:52.119 --> 00:43:54.340 sit and enjoy because not a lot of people see 00:43:54.340 --> 00:43:56.599 this because most people drive point to point 00:43:56.599 --> 00:44:00.239 and it's not visible by any road. Once you pass 00:44:00.239 --> 00:44:01.900 this other falls, you're going to get to the 00:44:01.900 --> 00:44:05.500 brink of the Lower Falls. Go down there. It's 00:44:05.500 --> 00:44:08.860 a series series of steep switchbacks that leads 00:44:08.860 --> 00:44:11.449 to Probably one of the best waterfall overlooks 00:44:11.449 --> 00:44:13.809 in the country. You're going to stand at the 00:44:13.809 --> 00:44:16.329 very top of the waterfall and just enjoy the 00:44:16.329 --> 00:44:19.929 Yellowstone River as it explodes into the empty 00:44:19.929 --> 00:44:22.550 cavern beneath your feet. A lot of people will 00:44:22.550 --> 00:44:25.690 go down there, spend 30 seconds and then leave, 00:44:26.010 --> 00:44:28.329 spend five minutes. If you're hiking all this 00:44:28.329 --> 00:44:31.670 way, take some time, really enjoy it. Then when 00:44:31.670 --> 00:44:33.750 you've had enough, climb out of there. That's 00:44:33.750 --> 00:44:35.349 going to be the probably the hardest part of 00:44:35.349 --> 00:44:37.550 the hike all day. and then you're going to be 00:44:37.550 --> 00:44:39.949 back on the North Rim Trail, head down to Lookout 00:44:39.949 --> 00:44:44.449 Point, and then make sure from Lookout Point 00:44:44.449 --> 00:44:47.409 that you go to Red Rock Point. Red Rock Point 00:44:47.409 --> 00:44:50.889 is a short and slightly steep descent that leads 00:44:50.889 --> 00:44:52.730 to what I consider one of the best viewpoints 00:44:52.730 --> 00:44:55.510 in the canyon area. You're going to stand nearly 00:44:55.510 --> 00:44:58.150 level with the lower falls, quite a ways away, 00:44:58.150 --> 00:45:02.050 and then you're going to stare into the canyon 00:45:02.050 --> 00:45:04.980 and it's going to be awesome. Few places better 00:45:04.980 --> 00:45:07.300 capture the immense height of the falls and the 00:45:07.300 --> 00:45:09.800 scale of the canyon than standing right in it. 00:45:10.079 --> 00:45:11.659 Yes, there are some trees that kind of block 00:45:11.659 --> 00:45:15.380 the view, but that's nature. Nature is not going 00:45:15.380 --> 00:45:17.679 to always be clear. It's going to be imperfect. 00:45:17.900 --> 00:45:20.460 It's going to need you to stand in just the right 00:45:20.460 --> 00:45:22.920 area to get the best view. But you're going to 00:45:22.920 --> 00:45:24.639 have that sound. You're going to have that sight. 00:45:24.940 --> 00:45:26.699 You're going to have those smells from all around 00:45:26.699 --> 00:45:29.280 you. And it's wonderful. By the time you complete 00:45:29.280 --> 00:45:31.840 both rim trails, You're going to have experienced 00:45:31.840 --> 00:45:34.280 the Grand Canyon Yellowstone the way that very 00:45:34.280 --> 00:45:37.059 few people do. Rather than stopping here and 00:45:37.059 --> 00:45:39.019 there for a very quick picture and jumping back 00:45:39.019 --> 00:45:41.679 in the car, you've watched the Yellowstone River 00:45:41.679 --> 00:45:44.880 transform from a calm mountain stream into one 00:45:44.880 --> 00:45:48.320 of the American West's most powerful waterfalls. 00:45:49.079 --> 00:45:51.059 You've walked through forests, crossed the historic 00:45:51.059 --> 00:45:53.980 bridge, stood beside multiple waterfalls, and 00:45:53.980 --> 00:45:55.900 visited viewpoints that have inspired artists 00:45:56.420 --> 00:45:59.440 photographers, writers, explorers for more than 00:45:59.440 --> 00:46:03.179 150 years. And you've done it on foot and you've 00:46:03.179 --> 00:46:05.880 earned every bit of some sort of awesome snack 00:46:05.880 --> 00:46:07.460 that you're going to drive to Canyon and get. 00:46:07.960 --> 00:46:10.760 I absolutely love doing this hike from the brink 00:46:10.760 --> 00:46:13.619 of the Upper Falls to Artist Point, back to the 00:46:13.619 --> 00:46:16.659 brink, have a snack, go to the brink of the Lower 00:46:16.659 --> 00:46:19.099 Falls, go to Red Rock Point and back. It is going 00:46:19.099 --> 00:46:20.980 to be a day that you're going to remember for 00:46:20.980 --> 00:46:25.719 a long time. Next week! In next week's episode, 00:46:25.880 --> 00:46:27.239 I'm going to return with all the information 00:46:27.239 --> 00:46:29.500 you need to have a good week in the park, including 00:46:29.500 --> 00:46:33.519 the wildlife update, the weather, trail that 00:46:33.519 --> 00:46:35.639 I want you to hike, and this coming week is going 00:46:35.639 --> 00:46:38.340 to be a trail outside of the park, so enjoy that. 00:46:39.000 --> 00:46:42.199 Otherwise, thank you so much for listening. Consider 00:46:42.199 --> 00:46:44.650 picking up a guidebook of mine. Please recommend 00:46:44.650 --> 00:46:46.769 this podcast to anybody you know that's interested 00:46:46.769 --> 00:46:49.070 in the park. Reach out to me if you have any 00:46:49.070 --> 00:46:51.829 questions, The Outdoor Society at gmail .com 00:46:51.829 --> 00:46:56.750 or text me 406 -589 -1873 and know that most 00:46:56.750 --> 00:46:58.789 of the people in the park are following the rules 00:46:58.789 --> 00:47:01.030 and it's only a few bad people that are getting 00:47:01.030 --> 00:47:04.769 way too much publicity. Until next week, again, 00:47:04.889 --> 00:47:18.110 thank you for listening and happy trails. Abrupt 00:47:18.110 --> 00:47:20.550 ending! This week in Yellowstone is brought to 00:47:20.550 --> 00:47:22.789 you by The Outdoor Society. That's my company. 00:47:23.190 --> 00:47:25.469 It's just me. I do this. It's a labor of love. 00:47:25.829 --> 00:47:28.090 If you like it, tell your friends. Rate and review 00:47:28.090 --> 00:47:31.409 it. Shoot me a message. Otherwise, keep listening 00:47:31.409 --> 00:47:34.250 and I hope to see you in Yellowstone. Copyright 00:47:34.250 --> 00:47:35.789 2026, baby!