- Retreat due to herd of buffalo at the Lower Geyser Basin
- Witnessed the eruption of Old Faithful and Grant Geyser
- Hike through the Upper Geyser Basin to the Morning Glory Pool
- Another visit to the great Grand Prismatic Spring
- Drive to the park northeast
- Prepare dinner in the picnic area
- Overnight hotel accommodation in Cooke City due to the lack of campgrounds in the region
A cool but sunny morning awaits us. We're going south in a moment. At the Lower Geyser Basin a large herd of bison stands right next to the spraying geysers in the morning light. What a sight! We park right next door and want to take a closer look at the geysers, pools and bison. The bison are marching directly towards us and we have to give way, so the tour will not work out. It's pretty impressive to stand face to face with a row of horned wild cattle.
Next stop is at Old Faithful and all the other geysers, fumaroles and hot springs of the Upper Geyser Basin. As soon as we arrive we see the fountain of the Old Faithful, which relatively few visitors observe early in the morning. We continue to march towards the colorful Morning Glory Pool, an absolute highlight for Niki. At Grant Geyser we witness its somewhat higher and above all longer lasting eruption than its better-known neighbor. In warm weather and sunshine, we march back to the parked car and have breakfast there.
On the way back we quickly visit the Midway Geyser Basin with the steamy but sleeping Excelsior Geyser and the colorful Grand Prismatic Spring. For me, this colored hole simply surpasses all other thermal activities in the park, absolutely unique!
Via Norris and Canyon Village we drive over the Dunraven Pass to finally arrive in the northeast of the park. Unlike my previous visits, this time there is no black bear sighting in the Tower Junction region. For this we get to see a herd of bighorn sheep. This is followed by the wide, open Lamar Valley. In many places you can see herds of buffalo in the now dry steppe, occasionally also fork jacks. The yellow-colored deciduous trees are wonderful to look at, a clear indication that winter is approaching. When we finally arrive at the Slough Creek Campground, it is already full. As a last resort, stay in the park at Pebble Creek Campground. But we are unlucky there too, the last available space is taken up in front of our noses. So we have no choice but to move to Cooke City. Well not too bad, after all, the drive there is also an experience. But for now we stay in the park and cook our early dinner in a picnic area. In the warm evening light we want to drive the rough Blacktaildeer Drive, but this is closed. Now we're driving to Cooke City in the last light of day. In the absence of campgrounds in the region, which are permitted for normal tents after a fatal bear attack, we treat ourselves to a night in the Soda Butte Lodge. Which is a good decision given the thunderstorm.
