This year marks the 150th anniversary of the United States first National Park. And today you can experience this wild ecosystem much as you would more than a century ago.

This Summer we had the incredible good fortune to see, hear and feel what generations before us have marveled at. The supervolcano that last erupted thousands of years ago left behind a 30-45 mile basin, the heat from which still fuels an incredible array of activity. At Yellowstone, nature puts on a show…starring geysers, hot springs, towering peaks, deeply carved canyons and the furry and feathered inhabitants that call this majestic wonderland home. 

But that isn’t Yellowstone’s only claim to fame. Spanning 2.2 million acres across Wyoming, touching parts of Idaho and Montana, this immense wilderness includes mountains and valleys, deep gorges and waterfalls, and meadows rich in wildlife.

We focus on the Southern Loop, as our gateway was Jackson Hole (click here for a complete guide to staying and playing in Jackson Hole). We won’t attempt a deep dive into the geology, history, flora and fauna as we simply aren’t qualified as rangers, tour guides or historians. But as citizens of plant earth we’ll do our best to share the amazing experience we had, and hope it will guide and inspire your trip. Tour the Southern loop and experience an American Treasure.

Starting before dawn, Ecotours picked us up at the Lodge at Jackson Hole (see our Jackson Hole blog for all the details of staying and playing in Jackson). We spent the long day (yes, all that follows happened in just one day!) with a friendly group of like minded adventure seekers and an incredibly informative guide. 

The journey begins as the sun rises in Grand Teton National Park (click here for a complete guide to Grand Teton). The range in temperature was incredible…a chilly 50 degrees at 5:30am warmed up to a hot 85 degrees by 3pm…and back down again at night, so dressing layers is critical.

As the sun climbed over the eastern mountains it touches the Tetons until the towering peaks turn pink. We stopped to take it all in, as fog filled the valley and the sun began to light the sage covered plains. Split rail fences punctuated the vista making it a photographer’s dream.

Along the way we were delighted to spot this moose grazing near one of the countless streams that cross the valley.

Entering Yellowstone 

Upon entering the Park the anticipation grows…knowing that you’re about to experience the iconic natural landmarks visited by generations before and preserved here for generations to follow…

The Old Faithful Inn is a destination unto itself. Built in 1903 from local logs and stone, it is considered the largest log structure in the world.

The architecture is magnificent, featuring a massive 3-story lobby with a towering stone fireplace as its centerpiece.

Old Faithful Geyser. As a the anticipated eruption nears, large crowds gather in a semi-circle to witness the near boiling water pierce the sky, soaring up to 180 feet. It was truly awe-inspiring to stand before one of America’s most iconic natural landmarks.

Black Sand Basin: In order to do this description justice allow me to borrow the words of John Muir…

‘The wildest geysers in the world, in bright, triumphant bands, are dancing and singing in it amid thousands of boiling springs, beautiful and awful, their basins arrayed in gorgeous colors like gigantic flowers; and hot paint-pots, mud springs, mud volcanoes, mush and broth caldrons whose contents are of every color and consistency, plash and heave and roar in bewildering abundance.’

The Grand Prismatic: walk along the boardwalks that weave around the largest hot spring in the United States. We took the short hike to view it from above, allowing us to marvel at the intense rainbow colors. Simply spectacular.

Fountain Paint Pot: This vat of bubbling mud is a mixture of heat, gases, water, rock and living bacteria. It is an other-worldly landscape, almost alien if you let your imagination run wild.

Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone River: The wonders continue for over 20 miles in this jaw-dropping river canyon.

Featuring sheer ochre, pink, red and orange walls a thousand feet high. The Hydrothermal activity that still takes place here along with the absence or presence or water produce the rainbow of colors in the rocks.

Lower Yellowstone Falls: The park’s tallest waterfall stuns visitors, plunging 308 feet- twice the height of Niagara. At artists point you can take in this incredible vista, named for the spot where Thomas Moran sketched the falls in 1872. 

Hayden Valley: The canyon cliffs and falls give way to sweeping plains covered by lush grass and cut by winding streams. It was here that we were delighted with the rare opportunity to view a wild herd of bison. These magnificent creatures can behave like their ancient ancestors…eating, migrating and breeding. 

It is hard to believe this was all possible in a single day! The wonderland that is Yellowstone will leave an everlasting impression on everyone who visits. After visiting, the mission of the National Park Service becomes a promise to us all: ‘To conserve the scenery and the natural and historic objects and the wildlife therein and to…leave them unimpaired for the enjoyment of future generations’.

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