Yellowstone & Grand Teton Parks Must See

Thanks, Rik!

sandwedge wrote in post #18021958
Got to Yellowstone yesterday, will be here for 3 weeks. Had an awesome photo op with a Grizzly sow and cub this morning. Full trip report and photos when I get home, but for now I just want to say "Hi" from Yellowstone...

Is that on the north side of Yellowstone Lake?

Tim

Orogeny wrote in post #18022911
Is that on the north side of Yellowstone Lake?

Tim

It's probably Lake Butte Overlook. I hear Raspberry and her one year old cub are hanging out there.

Yes, the lake overlook. Here's the story...

Starting from Canyon campground at 5am, I hadn't seen anything as I made my way to the lake. Getting a little discouraged, I went up to the lake overlook. I walked around the trail and saw a blue grouse so went back to my car to get my camera. A tour group of photographers were there and saw the bird, so I kind of lost out getting a good spot. I decided to walk around the hill for a while looking for other grouses.

I finally gave up and decided to leave. There was a man and wife looking over the hill. I was about 5 feet from my car when I heard him ask his wife, "Are those two grizzlies down there?". I called out, "How far?".

"100 yards".

They were just below the restroom, and slowly worked their way up the hill. As they got close, another photographer showed up, texted her group, and as the bears topped the hill there were probably 7 or 8 photogs there.

Snow, the cub, put on quite a show rubbing the sign, rolling in a mud puddle, and rubbing a rock. They left, went down the trail 40 yards just around the corner, laid down and took a nap on the trail just out of sight.

We waited about an hour and a half, warning people not to go down the trail. They finally woke up, went up the hill and walked parallel to the road. Then they came down to the road and walked it up into the parking lot with numerous people and cars. They walked back out to the sign, where Snow put on another show on the sign (where I got the "Hi" shot). Then back out the trail. I left a little after that.

It was really an amazing experience for me, especially considering I've only seen one other grizzly - in Yellowstone sometime in the late 90's.

I got so many good shots of these two, I just can't imaging ever having a better opportunity.

RikWriter wrote in post #18022967
It's probably Lake Butte Overlook. I hear Raspberry and her one year old cub are hanging out there.

That is exactly what I was wondering. I have seen Raspberry on both the trips I have made to YNP - once in 2010 and once in 2014. I was hoping it was one of her cubs.

sandwedge wrote in post #18023320
Yes, the lake overlook. Here's the story...

Starting from Canyon campground at 5am, I hadn't seen anything as I made my way to the lake. Getting a little discouraged, I went up to the lake overlook. I walked around the trail and saw a blue grouse so went back to my car to get my camera. A tour group of photographers were there and saw the bird, so I kind of lost out getting a good spot. I decided to walk around the hill for a while looking for other grouses.

I finally gave up and decided to leave. There was a man and wife looking over the hill. I was about 5 feet from my car when I heard him ask his wife, "Are those two grizzlies down there?". I called out, "How far?".

"100 yards".

They were just below the restroom, and slowly worked their way up the hill. As they got close, another photographer showed up, texted her group, and as the bears topped the hill there were probably 7 or 8 photogs there.

Snow, the cub, put on quite a show rubbing the sign, rolling in a mud puddle, and rubbing a rock. They left, went down the trail 40 yards just around the corner, laid down and took a nap on the trail just out of sight.

We waited about an hour and a half, warning people not to go down the trail. They finally woke up, went up the hill and walked parallel to the road. Then they came down to the road and walked it up into the parking lot with numerous people and cars. They walked back out to the sign, where Snow put on another show on the sign (where I got the "Hi" shot). Then back out the trail. I left a little after that.

It was really an amazing experience for me, especially considering I've only seen one other grizzly - in Yellowstone sometime in the late 90's.

I got so many good shots of these two, I just can't imaging ever having a better opportunity.

What a neat experience! I had a very similar experience with that bear in 2014, even including the Blue Grouse! Of course, no cub but it is very possible that the bear had recently mated (this was on May 27th) and this cub was the result. Congratulations on an experience that you will never forget.

Tim

has anyone been there recently? headed there in a couple weeks on a family vacay and trying ti figure out what are the must see places. Grand Prismatic Spring is #1 on my list at the moment.

I was there for 3 weeks in June. I'll be happy to answer any questions.

Grand Prismatic is a must see. If it's as busy as it was then, expect there to be a lot of people.

For a good shot of Grand Prismatic, people have often hiked the hill across from the spring. However, it's closed for the time being as they are building an overview up there. The next best place is across the street from the parking lot. If you have a map, it is called Midway Bluff. Without a map - cross the main road and look for an unmarked trail that leads up the hill. At the top, it is a cliff, so you have to be careful. However, it's a pretty easy hike up and pretty safe as long as you use common sense.

This is the view:

IMAGE LINK: https://photos.smugmug​.com …s%2025-506-L.jpg&lb=1&s=A

IMAGE LINK: https://photos.smugmug​.com …s%2025-616-L.jpg&lb=1&s=A

I found the book Photographing Yellowstone NP by Gustav Verderber to be quite useful.

Thus is a good link for GTNP.

http://www.jhphotoguid​e.com/

Scrumhalf wrote in post #18086740
Thus is a good link for GTNP.

http://www.jhphotoguid​e.com/

Another good link for GTNP:

http://www.bestofthete​tons.com/

Tim

chantheman wrote in post #18086685
has anyone been there recently? headed there in a couple weeks on a family vacay and trying ti figure out what are the must see places. Grand Prismatic Spring is #1 on my list at the moment.

Sandwedge gave some good info, but just remember that Grand Prismatic Spring is located in bear country. Carry bear spray if you are going to make that (or any) hike.

Tim

chantheman wrote in post #18086685
has anyone been there recently? headed there in a couple weeks on a family vacay and trying ti figure out what are the must see places. Grand Prismatic Spring is #1 on my list at the moment.

You can get a great view of Grand Prismatic Spring from the Fairy Falls Trail. The parking lot for the trail head can get full in the summer, so I suggest getting there as early as possible.

Early morning shots of the Lower Falls at the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone from Artist Point is a "must do" for any landscape photographer, too. You will probably have the area almost to yourself if you get there at sunrise.

If you are good shape and like to hike, I highly recommend the hike to the top of Mount Washburn. The view from the top of the mountain is incredible -- you can see down into the Canyon, all of Hayden Valley, and on a clear day even see the Grand Tetons. It's a six mile round trip hike up and back, with about a 2,000 foot elevation change. However, the trail is gently sloped the entire way -- the Chiittendon Road trail is actually a gravel road still used by park personnel. There are two trails up the mountain -- the Chittendon Road Trail and the Dunraven Pass Traill. We prefer Chittendon, as we have seen more wildlife and the trail is less traveled and less rocky (easier on the feet). Allow 3-4 hours for the round trip hike.

While you can encounter wildlife almost anywhere in the park, two popular places for wildlife viewing are Lamar Valley and Hayden Valley. You should see lots of bison in each area, plus both wolves and grizzlies frequent those valleys, too. Prong horn antelope are prevalent in Lamar, while big horn sheep can be seen between Mammoth and Gardiner and on Mount Washburn (among other areas). A good area for black bears is around Tower-Roosevelt. Elk and mule deer can been seen all over the park.

There is an osprey nest in the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone along the North Rim drive that's been there for many years. It was active last year, so you may get lucky and see something like what I was able to capture.

^^^ All good advice, but I'm pretty sure the view from the Fairy Falls trail is closed for the time being.

sandwedge wrote in post #18090423
^^^ All good advice, but I'm pretty sure the view from the Fairy Falls trail is closed for the time being.

That's too bad. Unless the entire trail is closed, though, you should still be able to get some "down low" shots, such as these: