Yellowstone - 2026
(Click on the dates below to be taken to the photos)
May 29: Day 1. Off on another road trip, albeit, this time a short one. Destination - #Yellowstone National Park, one of the most beautiful places one will ever see. Today however is just a quick trip to Taber, AB before heading out for real tomorrow.
Today we stopped at Frank Lake. Frank lake is a birder's paradise. There are over 120 species of birds that call this place home. I took 213 photos, but narrowed that down to these 34. I know most of these but won't bore you with their names.
May 30: On the way from Taber to Writing on Stone Provincial Park, we viewed some gorgeous prairie scenes, saw loads of Antelope, and got shots of a couple birds I have never seen before. There were loads of Lark Buntings and some Western Kingbirds. I also got a couple shots of a very large hawk that I could not identify. Even the staff at the park were baffled.
Our first stop is Writing on Stone Provincial Park in southern Alberta. I have driven past many times and never stopped. That's a mistake. This place is beautiful. Even in the cool, wet weather. I would like to come back one day. Then on to Helena in the rain. We will get to Yellowstone but not until Monday. Tomorrow is Virginia City.
May 31: Today we visited the Lewis & Clark Caverns. Certainly not Carlsbad caverns, but impressive, nonetheless. Next it was off to Virginia City. Virginia City is an old frontier town that has been remarkably preserved. Many of the building date back to the 1860’s.
We have now arrived at our home base for a week in Big Sky, Montana. Tomorrow will be our first day in Yellowstone National Park.
June 1: #Yellowstone. No words (or photos) can do this place justice. It never disappoints. Endless wildlife (confession, the wolves and bears are in a centre for injured animals), bison, elk, deer and more. And the thermals. Breathtaking! Old Faithful erupting, sending water 80 – 100 feet. Boiling water and mud coming out of the ground. Over 10,000 thermal features. Certain organisms live in different temperatures so as the water cools, the bacteria change colours. And, in the sunlight they glow. Beautiful. If you have never experienced this, you are missing out on one of the most beautiful places you will ever see. Except the crowds. Early June and it’s packed!
June 2: What a day! 6 bears (1 Grizzly), 1 Moose, many Antelope, 3 Mountain Goats, 2 Sandhill Cranes, Deer, and hundreds, perhaps thousands of Bison. We had supper (sandwiches) sitting on the grass beside the road in the Lamar Valley watching a herd of Bison right out of dances with Wolves. Lunch at Mammoth Hot Springs before hiking up the astonishing and absolutely beautiful, mountain of travertine built by the hot springs. Too many photos again today but I cut it down from 330 to 78!
June 3: After 4, 15 hour days, today was a day off. We just hung around the condo, went for a ½ hour drive in the area, then down into town where they had a street market. So, only 8 photos today. Back on the road tomorrow.
June 4: #Yellowstone… simply magic. I start with 5 shots from our condo balcony. Then on to Yellowstone. The Madison River, Norris Basin, the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone and Yellowstone Falls. Stunning!
Next, Yellowstone Lake. Yellowstone Lake is the largest body of water in Wyoming and largest in Yellowstone National Park, covering 136 square miles. It is roughly 20 miles long, 14 miles wide, with an average depth of 139 feet and a maximum of 394 feet. Finally, a few Bison on the drive home.
June 5: An easy day today. First thing this morning we were visited by a Mallard duck, a Mountain Bluebird and a Moose right outside the condo. Then a trip back to Virginia City and Nevada City. Both old gold mining towns. Virginia City has many original buildings dating to the 1860’s. Nevada City is a museum with buildings from that era that have been brought here to create the old town museum. Finally, a couple rafters on the Gallatin River.
June 6: You just can’t describe this place with words of photos. You need to experience it. Our last day. We decided to have an easy day… yah, right. A young Elk, a Cinnamon Teal, a short hike, some scenery and then a show for the ages by hundreds of Bison. They were just relaxing, a large herd on both sides of the road when suddenly, the left side decided to cross to the right. In a hurry. Talk about a traffic stopper! I ended up walking back a bit and in the middle of mayhem. Bison all around going between cars and I am just trying hide behind vehicles. Never any issues but exciting. Then they crossed the river. What a photo op!
After the excitement, we decided to walk the Grand Prismatic again. Stunning colours and formations. Then a picnic by the river before heading back to the condo. All over, right? Not so fast. How about a Black Bear, also crossing the Madison River. What a day. Spectacular. Yellowstone is special.
June 7: Sadly, today we left Yellowstone and headed to Cody, Wy. I wanted to drive the Beartooth Highway and the Chief Joseph Highway. Our first stop was in Red Lodge. Very nice little town, lots of history and a great café for breakfast. Then the Beartooth. Spectacular. Driving on TOP of the mountains. Elevation, 10,947 feet. The Chief Joseph. Not as high but very pretty.
June 8: A short 2-hour drive today from Cody to Billings. So, we spent some time looking around Cody before heading out. The Irma Hotel was built by Buffalo Bill Cody (town name too). We stopped halfway and I managed to get a few bird shots. The first 2 I have no idea. The third is a Western Kingbird and the last 2 might be a female Bullock’s Oriole. Then on to Billings for a short hike to get a few evening shots.
June 9: The drive from Billings to Medicine Hat started off with a belly laugh, thanks to a hilarious billboard. Some shots of old buildings in Roundup, Montana, an old farm and a beautiful old, prairie church, a few prairie scenes and one of Cypress hills Provincial Park, Alberta side. Off to Calgary tomorrow.