A Section of the Boardwalk Through the Yellowstone Mud Volcano Area - August 28, 2010
In between the raindrops at Yellowstone National Park yesterday there were stops at Mud Volcano, the Canyon Village and Visitor Center (during the worst of the rain) and Artist Point. The stop at the Canyon Village Visitor Center was a long one since it rained most of the day and hardest in the middle of the day. The rain didn’t start coming down hard until late morning around 11:00am but that was the time the day got underway. The tent hadn’t been rain tested lately (or maybe ever) but hopefully it would stay dry and the rain fly would keep the tent, sleeping bag and pillow inside dry for the night tonight.
Dragons Mouth In the Mud Volcano Section of Yellowstone National Park - August 28, 2010
The Yellowstone Mud Volcano area is a stinky one. It smells like rotten eggs or stink bombs because of all the sulfur in the air spewing up from the giant mud puts that bubble over 24 hours a day from the geothermal activity in the earth below. The trail to walk around the mid volcano area is a 2/3 of a mile with a change in elevation of about 170 feet and passes by numerous different mud volcanoes. Some are slow, soft bubbling thick mud pits the produce bubbles that rise slowly and pop at the surface while others are more violent pools of thinner mud that hiss and spit steam constantly.
Mug Geyser In the Mud Volcano section of Yellowstone National Park - August 28, 2010
A few of the more notable hot spots in the mud volcano area include Dragons Mouth, Sour Lake, and Mud Geyser. Some attractions in this area are like mini geysers and bubble up a few feet at random intervals while others spew steam constantly. None sprayed enough to hit the boardwalk and cover anyone with water or mud but all were active in one way or another. Not much wildlife was seen around the Mud Volcano region of Yellowstone though in between the mud pits the plant life seemed to be rather normal as one would find in any forest most anywhere in the country.
A Bird Hoping For Food At the Mud Volcano Area of Yellowstone - August 28, 2010
During one of the periods of heavier rain at the Yellowstone Mud Volcano area when sitting in the car waiting for the precipitation to subside was the best option a number of big black birds hung around the parking lot. These are the same birds seen in Yosemite National Park and in other areas of the west. To try to walk up to them to get photos is usually fruitless as they run or walk away, however when sitting in a car humans must appear harmless to them. A pair approached the car, possibly hoping to get some easy snacks from the tourists in the area.
They got food from a few kids whose parents apparently could not read the signs about not feeding the wildlife but for the most part remained skittish when anyone would walk up to them for photos.
A View of the Lower Falls From Artist Point In the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone National Park - August 28, 2010
The next stop along the way was Artist Point. Artist Point is one of a number of scenic viewpoints along the rim of the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone National Park. It is an amazing sight and one of the most beautiful seen along the trip so far. In the distance is a massive waterfall (the lower falls) of the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone. Over the years the river and waterfall caved a massive canyon through layers of brightly colored rock to create a stunning sight.
Artist Point From Another Viewpoint At Yellowstone National Park - August 28, 2010
Much of the rock is yellow stone but the colors and shades of the rock are varied and create a scene any artist would be fortunate to view. There are a number of different viewpoints of the canyon and the waterfall at Artist Point (as well as many other viewpoints around the canyon), and all offer amazing views of this natural wonder. Today the colors were a bit muted because of the dreary weather but still scenic but most any measure.
An Exhibit In the Yellowstone Canyon Visitor Center - August 28, 2010
The next stop along the way (to get out of the rain) was the Yellowstone Canyon Village. The Canyon Village has a beautiful visitor center, a number of shops and restaurants and is a fairly busy place, particularly when tourists are seeking shelter from in-climate weather in Yellowstone. The Visitor Center offered a variety of exhibits on both wildlife and the volcanic activity in Yellowstone National Park. Along with the exhibits was a 20 minute movie about Yellowstone shown every hour on the hour.
Overcast Skies and Geologic Activity Seen From the Dunraven Pass Area At Yellowstone National Park - August 28, 2010
The next stop along the way was another waterfall, Tower Falls. Tower Falls is located in the Tower Roosevelt section of the park toward the north end. The drive over is along a sometimes steep pass (Dunraven pass) and also passes the entrance road to Mount Washburn. The skies remained dark, cloudy and overcast for most of the drive over. The sights were amazing along the road and would have been much more vibrant had the weather cooperated with sunny skies.
Tower Falls At Yellowstone National Park - August 28, 2010
Tower Falls in Yellowstone is a fairly large waterfall at 132 feet but not one of the more impressive waterfalls on the trip so far. It may have been the dreary weather or the fast that the trail to view the falls from the base was washed out and closed. The view of the falls from the top of the trail is distant and the falls is down in the canyon making it very difficult to get a good background in photos of Tower Falls.
The Yellowstone River Below Tower Falls In Yellowstone National Park - August 28, 2010
The hike to the viewpoint for Tower Falls is about 150 yards from the parking lot and an easy hike. The trail down to the Yellowstone river below was only partially washed out and still passable. A number of fly fisherman cast their lines along the bank as the water gushed by. The colors of the rock formations were very similar to those in the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone though the formations were on a much smaller scale.
Sunset In Yellowstone National Park Near Tower Falls - August 28, 2010
The evening was approaching and the sun beginning to set by the time the falls and the river hike was done. With roughly 35 miles to go to get back to the Bridge Bay campground the time had come to head back. With the sun setting and clouds in the sky, there was a chance for a fiery sunset. Along the way back there were stops at numerous viewpoints along the road. There were some good sunset Yellowstone sunset pictures to be had but nothing spectacular.
Burned trees Set Against A Setting Sun At Yellowstone National Park - August 28, 2010
Though it had rained all day, the tent and the sleeping bag within were still fairly dry. Hopefully the tent would keep most of the rain out overnight and avoid coming in to soak the sleeping bag and everything in the tent!
