Mammoth Hot Springs to Yellowstone Canyon

Writing at the end of our third full day in Yellowstone NP.

This morning we walked around the terraces at Mammoth Hot Springs. (The white ones are dry and colored by silica and other mineral deposits left when the spring that formed the terrace was active. The orange and other colors are caused by heat-loving living things in the water.)

This is the oldest area of the park and there were some great photos of people in the late 1800s and early 1900s sitting on these terraces – literally in chairs placed on the rock formations. Ladies in full Victorian regalia - parasols, lace, yards of fabric and all. Also some historic buildings there as well. We also drove up to the North Entrance to see the stone gate that was once the only way into the park.

We then found our way over to the Fossil Forest walk. Saw lots of petrified wood.

Non-stop wildflower fiesta on this walk.

Wildlife spotted today included: black bear, moose, trumpeter swans, more marmots, picas and buffalo and – my personal favorite of the day - big horn sheep.

Other interesting sights from today:

45th parallel.

Cool bear sculpture outside the Yellowstone post office.