Part 3 of 4: Exploring Glacier-Yellowstone-Grand Teton National Parks

This is the continuation of the summary of our Yellowstone-Grand Teton-Glacier National Parks trip. If you missed the first two parts, and is interested to learn more about:

1. Planning for a Yellowstone-Grand Teton-Glacier National Parks itinerary with some of the sights- please visit Part 1 of this series.

2. Sights to see in the south loop of Yellowstone National Park - please visit Part 2 of this series.

The previous day, we explored the south loop going North from Madison Junction to Canyon Village and Lake Village, ending at sunset in the Old Faithful area. Since we already have covered the eastern part of the north loop on our first day, we decided to take some time to explore some parts of the south loop that we had missed before proceeding to explore the western part of the north loop.

wanted to share this blue to my dear friend, Kulasa of The Letters of November

Part A: Lower and Midway Geyser Basins in the south loop.

1. Coming from West Yellowstone, before turning left to go North from Madison Junction, we turned right to continue our exploring of the south loop. Out first right turn was at the Firehole Canyon Drive.

Hot Spring Next to the River

A Lone Bison Enjoying the Meadows

Family Watching Herd of Bison at the Other Side of the River

 2. A few more miles South was our 2nd stop, the Fountain Paint Pot area in the Lower Geyser Basin. The parking lot here is small and can get full quickly. I will have more detailed discussion of the Lower Geyser Basin with more pictures of the noteworthy stops in this loop walk here. Meanwhile, here are a few pictures from the Lower Geyser Basin.

Silex Spring, Lower Geyser Basin (in the Fountain Paint Pot Area)

Rainbow at Clypsedra Geyser

 Clypsedra Geyser

3. A few miles from Lower Geyser Basin is the Midway Geyser Basin. This may be my most favorite stop in our Yellowstone trip. Here are a few of the pictures from the Midway Geyser Basin.

Hot Spring Waterfall (what is at the top?)

Excelsior Crater Geyser

( this is the source of the water fall in the above picture)

Grand Prismatic Spring

( my picture did not do justice, this place really overwhelmed me, blew my mind away and never wanted to leave)

As if we did not have other places to see, awed by Grand Prismatic Spring, we stayed here longer observing the changes in this spring, and observe people also mesmerized, some saying a long, "aaaaaaah, Heaven on Earth!" I felt sad when we had to leave, I wish we had more days at Yellowstone. I will have a separate post sharing more features of the Midway Geyser Basin and the Grand Prismatic Spring later.

Having explored the Upper Geyser Basin in the previous days, after Midway, we turned around and head North towards Mammoth Hot Springs before leaving Yellowstone for Helena, the capital of Montana. 

 Part B: Western Side of the North Loop
1. Our first major stop was at Norris Geyser Basin, which is 14 miles North of the Madison Junction.

Emerald Spring, Back Basin of Norris Geyser Basin

Porcelain Basin of Norris Geyser Basin

More about Norris Geyser Basin in my one of my later posts.

 2. Our last stop, before finally leaving the Park is Mammoth Hot Springs. Again, more of Mammoth Hot Springs in one of my later posts.

Main Terrace, Mammoth Hot Springs

Mammoth Hot Springs Tearraces

After Mammoth Hot Springs, we left Yellowstone about 5:00 pm and headed Northwest to Glacier National Park. Since the drive from Mammoth Hot Springs to Glacier is more than 7 hours, we divided the long drive by sleeping over at Helena, the capital of Montana.

I will conclude this series in my next post with our drive from Helena to Glacier and exploring Glacier National Park.

For Part 1, Part 2, and part 3, please click the links are below:

1. Planning for a Yellowstone-Grand Teton-Glacier National Parks itinerary with some of the sights- please visit Part 1 of this series.

2. Sights to see in the south loop of Yellowstone National Park - please visit Part 2 of this series.

3. Exploring Glacier National Park- please visit part 4 of this series.

♥♥