Day 5

We got started a little later this morning. I think four days, 2,000 miles and eight states is starting to fatigue us a little. We finally left I-90 behind and headed south on US 212. Our destination was the Northeast Gate of Yellowstone.

This is definitely coming into Yellowstone through the "back door", but it was our shortest, quickest route. We were in for quite an adventure! I would recommend this stretch of highway to anyone who is not afraid of heights and wishes to see some of the most beautiful forest in the lower 48.

This highway is named the "Beartooth Highway" because it crosses the Beartooth Range of the Rocky Mountains.

This picture is taken near the top of Beartooth Pass which is 10,497 ft. in altitude. Compare that to the highest point in TN, which is Clingman's Dome (just over 6,600 feet). This road had over a dozen switchbacks and miles of guard rails. The road ascended above the tree line to beautiful alpine meadows. While there was no snow on the ground at the pass, there was ice (miniature glaciers) present on the peaks above.

Descending the mountain toward Yellowstone we drove through the Shoshone National Forest. Theodore Roosevelt said that driving through the northern part of this forest was the most scenic drive in the lower 48. I can't help but believe he is correct after beholding such awesome scenery.

We finally reached the entrance of Yellowstone and headed east. Along the way we crossed through the Lamar Valley which is well known as a wintering ground for the grazing animals of Yellowstone. We are a bit early in the season for this area, but the buffalo at right was there to greet us along with several hundred others.

We stopped at Tower Roosevelt for lunch at the lodge. I had an elk burger that was actually very good.

After lunch we headed back north to Mammoth Hot Springs. These springs are scalding hot and smell of sulphur. The bacteria that thrive in these waters are responsible for the different colors present.

We left the hot springs and headed toward the "Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone".


The photo at right is the "Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone". It is

plane to see how this park gets its name by looking at the walls of the canyon. This canyon was formed by the Yellowstone River, seen in the photograph.

This photo is taken just upstream of the last picture. This is the Lower Falls of the Yellowstone River. It is 308 feet high. The placard at the falls said it is nearly twice as tall as Niagara Falls. It is truly breathtaking. Especially if you take the trail down to the very brink of the falls and look off down into the gorge. It will almost make you physically ill (at least it almost did me)!

We left the falls and headed south through Hayden Valley. This photo is of the Yellowstone River upstream of the falls. You would never imagine what a torrent it turns into downstream.

I included this picture to emphasize how many buffalo were hanging out near every road in the park. They often had traffic backed up several miles and were very stubborn about leaving the road.

We are spending the night in West Yellowstone, MT (just outside the western gate of the park). Tomorrow we hope to see some geysers and maybe head south toward the Grand Tetons.

-Matthew