Old Faithful Is ‘Just A Tiny Fraction’ of Yellowstone

Above, Old Faithful Geyser in eruption. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

People are beginning to flock to Yellowstone National Park.

Many think that Yellowstone is just known as the home of Old Faithful Geyser. There are many more geysers and features to enjoy in the park.

USA Today has posted a story on Yellowstone as part of a yearlong series.

They started with:

Most people already know a thing or two about Yellowstone National Park. It’s the world’s first national park and home to Old Faithful. 

“Probably 95% of people that come to Yellowstone visit Old Faithful, but Old Faithful is just a tiny fraction of what Yellowstone National Park is all about,” said Richard Jehle, an interpretive specialist at Yellowstone. “There are so many places in Yellowstone that if they were by themselves, they would be their own national park. Yellowstone Lake, the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, Mammoth Hot Springs, other geyser basins like Norris Geyser Basin are all just spectacular resources in their own setting.”

Here’s what else travelers should know about Yellowstone, the latest national park in USA TODAY’s yearlong series.

To read more, go here. 

Select Yellowstone Roads To Open

Above, a vehicle passes basaltic lava columns in Yellowstone National Park. Photo by Armand Vaquer

Select roads in Yellowstone National Park will shortly be open for the summer vacation season.

East Idaho News reported (from a National Park Service press release):

MAMMOTH HOT SPRINGS, Wyo. – Beginning at 8 a.m. Friday, April 19, 2024, select roads in Yellowstone National Park will open to the public, weather permitting. Roads begin to open annually this time of year for the summer season.

On Saturday, April 20, entrance fees will be waived in celebration of National Park Week.

Roads opening April 19:

• West Entrance (West Yellowstone, Montana) to Old Faithful (via Madison Junction)
• Mammoth Hot Springs to Old Faithful (via Norris Junction and Madison Junction)
• Norris Junction to Canyon Village

Additional park roads will open throughout May, weather permitting.

To read more, go here. 

Pierce Brosnan Fined $500 For Yellowstone Violation

Above, Mammoth Hot Springs in Yellowstone National Park. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Former James Bond actor Pierce Brosnan got a relatively light sentence for hiking off trail in Yellowstone National Park in November.

He could have received the maximum sentence of $5,000.

According to SweetwaterNOW:

YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK — Pierce Brosnan, 70, of Malibu, California, was fined $500, and required to pay a $1,000 community service payment to the Yellowstone Forever Geological Fund, a $30 court processing fee, and a $10 special assessment. U.S. Magistrate Judge Stephanie A. Hambrick imposed the sentence on March 14, in Mammoth, Wyoming. 

Mr. Brosnan pleaded guilty to foot travel in a thermal area. According to court documents, on or about Nov. 1, 2023, Brosnan uploaded pictures to his Instagram page of himself standing on a Yellowstone National Park thermal feature at Mammoth Hot Springs. There are signs posted in the area that warn visitors of the dangers of thermal features and state that visitors must remain on the designated boardwalks and trails.

The United States Attorney’s Office asked the court to sentence Brosnan to 2 years’ probation and the maximum fine of $5,000.

 At least Brosnan owned up to it by pleading guilty.

To read more, go here.

Pierce Brosnan Cited For Walking In Thermal Area In Yellowstone

Above, some terraces of Yellowstone's Mammoth Hot Springs. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

There has been several incidents of tourist bad behavior at Yellowstone National Park over the past several years. Some involve wildlife and some involve the park's geothermal areas.

The latest involves actor Pierce Brosnan.

Yahoo! Life reported:

The latest badly behaved tourist in Yellowstone National Park is reportedly none other than Pierce Brosnan.

As The Messenger reports, the 70-year-old actor was cited in U.S. District Court for "foot travel in a thermal area" and a "closure violation" at Mammoth Terraces after reportedly entering the off-limits thermal area. The exact date of the incident wasn't immediately clear, although an initial court appearance in Wyoming already occurred, with another set for Jan. 23, 2024.

He has been filming the movie Unholy Trinity in the nearby area.

To read more, go here. 

Yellowstone Visitation Down In September

Above, some of the terraces at Mammoth Hot Springs. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Visitation to Yellowstone National Park was down last month, compared to September 2018.

LocalNews8 (an ABC affiliate) reported.

MAMMOTH HOT SPRINGS, Wyo. (KIFI/KIDK) - Visitation at Yellowstone National Park was at a 5-year low in September.    

The park hosted 693,118 visits in September, a 4.3% decrease from September of last year. 

So far this year, the park has recorded 3,807,814 visitors, down 1.4% from the same period last year and the lowest number since 2014.

To read more, go here. 

Yellowstone Employee Injured By Cow Elk

Above, elk in Mammoth Hot Springs Village of Yellowstone. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Since visitors are beginning to flock to Yellowstone National Park, they should be mindful of the dangers of getting too close to wild animals.

A concessionaire employee was injured by a cow elk today.

KBZK News reported:

A Yellowstone National Park concession employee is recovering Wednesday after she was injured by a cow elk at Mammoth Hot Springs. 

A spokeswoman for Yellowstone National Park, Linda Veress, said the incident took place in the developed area of Mammoth at 6:30 a.m. Wednesday. 

The woman was taken to a local hospital by an ambulance, but a park spokesperson declined to comment on her injuries or condition. 

Park officials advise visitors to stay 25 yards away from bison and elk, as elk calves are often bedded near buildings and vehicles.

To read more, go here. 

"Bucket List" National Parks

Above, terraces of Mammoth Hot Springs in Yellowstone National Park. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

There's one thing everyone should do before going to "the great beyond", and that is to visit a national park. This is the topic that The Travel has in an article of 10 national parks that should be on one's "bucket list".

Their ten "bucket list" national parks aren't just ones in the United States.

They begin with:

There's no reason that every vacation you take has to be to an urban center. Sometimes it's better to just pack up your car and head out into the wilderness. Whether you find yourself atop a snow-capped mountain, in an underwater sanctuary, a barren desert with wildlife, or exploring everything in between, Mother Nature has served up a magnificent selection of National Parks to discover. 

No two parks are ever the same, and each of them has a number of unique natural wonders to explore. So, here are 10 from all around the world that should be added to your bucket list, well, almost immediately!

To see which ones they recommend, go here. 

Yellowstone Bear Encounter Prompts Warning

Above, a North American black bear. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Hibernation time is over for Yellowstone bears and already people encountering them.

A recent encounter has prompted Yellowstone National Park officials to issue a warning. The following article has some tips in case of an encounter.

According to East Idaho News:

WEST YELLOWSTONE, Montana – After a tourist’s recent encounter with a bear in Yellowstone National Park, park officials want to make sure park visitors know what to do if they find themselves in a similar situation.

Linda Veress, a spokesperson for Yellowstone National Park, tells EastIdahoNews.com a bear stood and put its paws on a vehicle in the Tower-Roosevelt area last Saturday. Veress says it’s important for drivers to try and prevent this behavior. 

“The best thing to do is discourage a bear from approaching the vehicle. Never feed the bear or throw food out of the car toward the bear,” Veress says. 

If you see a bear approaching your vehicle, immediately roll up your window, honk your horn and drive away. 

A similar incident occurred in May last year. A black bear previously fed by people in the Mammoth Hot Springs area approached a vehicle, put its paws on a door and looked into the vehicle’s windows. The same month, a grizzly bear near Yellowstone Lake went up to a car and played with its antenna. 

Bears that grow accustomed to people and view humans as a food source can become aggressive and have to be killed, Veress says.

To read more, go here. 

Yellowstone National Park Reported As "Stable"

Above, part of the terraces of Mammoth Hot Springs. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

If Yellowstone National Park were a person who went for their annual medical check-up, this would be it.

According to an article in the Cody Enterprise:

Discussing aspects of Yellowstone National Park almost in the role of a doctor reviewing a patient’s symptoms, a new report indicates most indicators in the venerable jewel of the Park system are “stable.” 

With some exceptions, elements such as the number of acres burning, Yellowstone Lake’s level, the bison population size, and the number of gray wolves, all were categorized as stable. 

The report released last week is titled, “The State of Yellowstone Vital Signs and Select Park Resources 2017,” is a 60-page review and follows previous similar reports from 2008, 2011 and 2013. 

This report was edited by Yellowstone Center for Resources, Science Communications Program. 

Some 41 areas were examined, 21 of them called vital signs and 20 of them referred to as select park resources.

To read more, go here. 

Elk Injures Yellowstone Woman Hotel Worker

Above, elk in the Mammoth Hot Springs village. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

People who visit places where there are wildlife should read this so that they don't approach any animal who may suddenly attack. 

The Casper Star-Tribune reported:

A Yellowstone hotel worker suffered serious injuries Sunday when she was attacked by an elk. 

The elk reportedly reared up and kicked Charlene Triplett multiple times with its front legs, striking the 51-year-old in the head, torso and back, the National Park Service said in a press statement released Monday. 

Triplett was flown to the trauma center at Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center in Idaho Falls. The announcement did not provide an update on her condition. 

The attack happened behind the Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel, where Triplett worked. Triplett, who is from Las Vegas, was off-duty at the time. 

The park service says the cow elk was protecting a calf that was bedded down roughly 20 feet away and hidden by cars. Authorities don’t know if Triplett saw the calf or the elk prior to the attack.

To read more, go here. 

Yellowstone Hotels Having A Good Winter

Above, some of the terraces of Mammoth Hot Springs. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

It appears that Yellowstone National Park will have a good winter as far as stays in the park's hotels are concerned.

According to the Bozeman Daily Chronicle:

Hotel stays inside Yellowstone National Park appear to be up in the early goings of the park’s winter season. 

Mike Keller, the general manager of Xanterra’s Yellowstone National Park Lodges, said there were 300 more bookings at the Snow Lodge at Old Faithful in the first 11 days of 2017’s over-snow travel season than in the same time period last year. Over-snow travel began on Dec. 15, making that the first day guests could get to the lodge. 

Guests are also taking advantage of the Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel, near the park’s northern entrance, which was closed last winter for renovations.

To read more, go here. 

Yellowstone's Historic Mammoth Hotel Undergoing Restoration

Above, the Mammoth Hotel in 2015. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Yellowstone National Park's historic Mammoth Hotel (near Mammoth Hot Springs) is undergoing restoration.

According to KTVQ:

YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK - The iconic Mammoth Hotel was built in the 1930s - a time before modern seismic requirements. 

This summer, Yellowstone National Park began a restoration project at the hotel with Phase One completed this fall. 

“We added just about 2,000-square feet of function space, three rooms,” said Michael Keller, general manager of Yellowstone National Park Lodges. “One room can be one large room or broken into two smaller rooms, and then we have a separate boardroom that goes with that. And now we're able to actually do meals, catered events, etc. - the full function services.” 

“There's a lot of steel beams that are hidden inside columns and across other beams that are wrapped in wood so you would never tell they're there but they're there,” said Peter Galindo, park engineer. “This hotel should be good for at least another 100 years." 

Keeping the historic features of Mammoth Hotel was key, right down to the addition of a permanent vestibule and space for the gift shop.

To read more, go here. 

Yellowstone Prepares For Winter With Road Closures

Above, Mammoth Hot Springs. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Due to its elevation, Yellowstone National Park generally sees winter earlier and it lasts longer than other parts of the U.S.

That is why the national park is already starting to prepare for winter by closing some roads.

According to K2 Radio:

This weekend marks your last opportunity to drive to many of the iconic locations in Yellowstone National Park, according to a news release. 

The West, South, and East entrances and all roads, with one exception, will close to vehicle travel at 8 a.m. Monday, Nov. 6. 

The park then begins entrance and road preparations for the winter season, and snowmobile and snow coach travel starting Tuesday, Dec. 15.

The only exception is the North Entrance that leads to Mammoth Hot Springs.

To read more, go here. 

July Was Yellowstone's Third Busiest On Record

Above, Mammoth Hot Springs in Yellowstone. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

July 2017 was Yellowstone National Park's third busiest July on record.

According to the Wyoming Business Report:

MAMMOTH HOT SPRINGS, WY – Yellowstone National Park hosted 962,404 visits in July 2017. This was the third busiest July on record, down 3.4 percent from July 2016, which saw 995,917 visits. The second busiest July was in 2015 and saw 980,702 visits.

The July attendance numbers were probably due to the centennial of the National Park Service. The celebration garnered the national parks more awareness than usual.

To read more, go here.

Yellowstone Memorial Day Weekend Preview

Above, terraces of Mammoth Hot Springs. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The three-day Memorial Day weekend is almost here and people are going to be heading out to in droves.

The Yellowstone Insider posted a preview on what people heading to Yellowstone National Park should expect.

They begin with:

Here it comes. Memorial Day weekend, and the start of another no doubt record-breaking summer season in Yellowstone National Park. 

Flowers are blooming, bluebirds are flitting, baby bison are frolicking, roads are open and hotels and campgrounds are opening up. 

Here are a few things to know for heading into Yellowstone this weekend.

To read more, go here. 

Yellowstone Visitor Solutions Sought

Above, visitors in the Mammoth Hot Springs area and Liberty Cap. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Last year saw a 22% increase in visitors to Yellowstone National Park. This is causing park officials to study on ways to protect the park with the increases in visitor numbers.

According to KPAX:

YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK -Yellowstone National Park has seen record numbers of visitors for the past several years and as those numbers continue to grow, so does the realization that some areas in Yellowstone simply can't handle any more guests. 

Yellowstone National park is 63 miles long, 54 miles wide and home to almost 6,000 bison and more than 700 grizzly bears.  We know how many bison and grizzly the park can hold. However, we don't know how many humans Yellowstone can hold. 

“The least studied mammal in in Yellowstone National Park is a human and so we have to change that,” said Yellowstone National Park Superintendent Dan Wenk.

To read more, go here. 

Yellowstone National Park Open To Bicyclists

Above, Mammoth Hot Springs in Yellowstone. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

If you are an avid bicyclist and plan on bicycling in the immediate future, there's some good news.

Yellowstone National Park is now open to bicyclists.

K2 Radio reported:

MAMMOTH HOT SPRINGS — As the wildlife emerges from hibernation, so do the bicyclists in Yellowstone National Park. 

Beginning today, cyclists can ride the 49 miles of park roads from the West Entrance at West Yellowstone, Mont., to Mammoth Hot Springs.

To read more, go here.

RV Trip To Yellowstone National Park

Above, Mammoth Hot Springs. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Yellowstone National Park's busiest season is during the summer. It is hard to book a room in the park unless you do it early and it is equally difficult, if not more so, to book a campsite. As such, we made reservations two years ago at the West Entrance/Yellowstone KOA in West Yellowstone, Montana.

Above, Upper Yellowstone Falls. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Generally, there are two main loops, the Upper Loop and Lower Loop, where visitors tour the park in vehicles of all kinds. Traffic during the summer season gets heavy due to the numbers (parking is sometimes hard to find at viewpoints and attractions) of vehicles. Plus, the Yellowstone bison (and occasionally bears) will cause traffic jams with people stopping to let them cross or just observe them.

Above, RVs in a Yellowstone valley. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

RV Techmag has an article (from 2011) that's seven pages long on what RVers can expect during a trip to Yellowstone and tips on making a visit there more enjoyable.

They begin with:

Yellowstone is America's first national park. It's large enough that it's actually found in three states - Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming. This expansive area is surrounded by mountains and many RVers are not quite sure about how safe travel is in these areas. Couple that with the fact that travelers approaching from the east also have to contend with the Bighorn Mountains and you have some real questions about just where to drive and still be safe. 

We've been traveling to Yellowstone in various vehicles over the last 25 years and have made countless trips to this area in a number of different sized RVs as well as SUVs. I'll offer up some advice here based on my insight into the various routes that we've experienced. This information will not be geared to travelers in passenger cars or other lighter vehicles because there's really no limits as to which roads they can take. Instead, I'll gear this information towards RVers driving large motorhomes because that's where the unique personalities of the various routes come into play and have some serious affect.

Above, elk in a meadow. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

To read more, go here.

Mammoth Hot Springs Terraces

Above, Mammoth Hot Springs Terraces. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

One of the more interesting stops during our tours of Yellowstone National Park was at the Mammoth Hot Springs Terraces.

The terraces seem like a place from another world, but they are very much a part of Earth's geology. The terraces are constantly changing their shape and color.

Above, an other-worldly view of the terraces. Photo by Armnd Vaquer.

According to the National Park Service:

Several key ingredients combine to make the Mammoth Hot Springs Terraces: heat, water, limestone, and a rock fracture system through which hot water can reach the earth's surface. 

Today's geothermal activity is a link to past volcanism. A partially molten magma chamber, remnant of a cataclysmic volcanic explosion 600,000 years ago in central Yellowstone, supplies one of the ingredients, heat. 

Hot water is the creative force of the terraces. Without it, terrace growth ceases and color vanishes. The source of the water flowing out of Yellowstone's geothermal features is rain and snow. Falling high on the slopes in and around Yellowstone, water seeps deep into the earth. This cold ground water is warmed by heat radiating from the magma chamber before rising back to the surface.

Above and below, Mammoth Hot Springs Terraces. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, near to the Mammoth Hot Springs Terraces walkway, stands Liberty Cap. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Standing near to the walkway leading up to the lower terraces, stands the now-extinct Liberty Cap.

To read more, go here.