We started shortly after sunrise on the road to Gardiner – our entry point to Yellowstone. Following the Clark Fork river with snow capped mountains in the distance!

We stopped at the Mammoth Visitor center briefly, then started the Grand Loop. Once inside Yellowstone the magic began with a coyote trotting towards us on the road! Sly little sucker dove under the guardrail as I snapped his photo…

Eau De Yellowstone! We went to the upper Mammoth falls overlook – so very different than our last trip. There was still steam emerging, and a few small hot spots burbling, but overall it was dry and white.

Our next stop was the obsidian cliffs, the path to view them was beside a clear mountain stream with lilypads in a lovely meadow dotted with wildflowers and, being Yellowstone some steaming volcanic hot spots!

A myriad of birds were serenading us there!

We were amazed that at 10 local we still seemed to have the park to ourselves, but that was soon to change! We stopped at Clearwater Springs strolling down its boardwalk. Another lovely spring with a burping hotpot beside it!

And again the meadow was full of birdsong, a completely different cast of characters here – just a couple miles down the road!

Our first jampacked overlook was Roaring Mountain, so named for the sound of steam bursting forth from the fumaroles that cover the rock face. These are the hottest hydrothermal features in Yellowstone!

From here to our campsite (inside Yellowstone!! ) the pulloffs were packed. There was a grizzly jam, a “we hope the wolves return” jam, a buffalo moms with babies in the distance jam…

Surprisingly we came across a gorgeous lake & meadow with no one else there to enjoy the swans & ducks!

We then got caught up in a buffalo jam with two big ol’ fellows meandering down Grand Loop road!

Our final stop before camp was LeHardys rapids. Breathtakingly beautiful! We missed the cutthroat trout swimming upstream to spawn, but still awe inspiring!

Fishing Bridge RV park is a huge parking lot with full hook ups surrounded by woods we were warned not to venture into… shades of Forbidden Forest! Turns out the campground has seen a big uptick in BEARS wandering in at all hours of day and night! Both black bear and grizzly! I’m going to be “meerkat-ing” out the top of the camper tonight in hopes of seeing them!