Sunrise In Yellowstone National Park
If you get up early enough in the mornings, you might be able to watch (and photograph) some stunning sunrises in Yellowstone.
- By Rebecca Latson - March 19th, 2022 4:00am
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If you get up early enough in the mornings, you might be able to watch (and photograph) some stunning sunrises in Yellowstone.
Located within the Lower Geyser Basin, "Great Fountain Geyser experiences periods of irregularity. For the most part, it is dependable. Eruptions average 100 feet (31 m) high, with some rare “superbursts” of 200 feet (61 m) or more. Eruptions last 45-60 minutes in a series of bursts. Great Fountain Geyser takes 10-14 hours to rebuild to an eruption. The pool slowly fills, then begins to overflow 70-100 minutes before the eruption."
"Castle Geyser has a unique, large, tall geyserite cone structure that may be reminiscent of a castle. This large structure is possibly due to trees growing in the area years prior that became coated in sinter and allowed the height to build up. Layers of geyserite cascade in step-like terraces from the geyser vent and continues to cover the surrounding area. Due to this amount of fragile sinter and the height of the cone, the water is inaccessible for scientific measurements. The western side of Castle Geyser appears smoother than the sinter steps on the east side.
On the road to the summit of Dunraven Pass, just before reaching Tower Falls is the Calcite Springs view area from which can be seen the steaming Calcite Springs along the winding Yellowstone River. There's also a paved nature trail offering other views of the river and steep cliffs between which it flows. Early morning and late afternoon offer the best light for photography as well as few crowds.
It can snow any time of the year in Yellowstone National Park. No matter how cold the temperature, however, the Firehole River does not freeze and can be seen steaming in the coldest of weather, beckoning geese and trumpeter swans and other wildlife toward its warmth.
The landscape between Tower and Lamar Valley is jaw-dropping in its beauty and ruggedness. All along the way, you might also see large and small herds of bison grazing and sunning themselves.
In addition to vast landscape vistas, Hayden Valley is another location for wildlife watching in Yellowstone National Park. "Bison live year-round in the Hayden Valley. Winters are often severe, with deep snows and temperatures reaching -44 degrees F (-42 degrees C)."
The Artist Paint Pots area gets its name from the colorful hues of the geothermal springs and bubbling mud pots. There's a little more topographic relief to this area than the Fountain Paint Pots area, but the views are definitely worth the extra energy expended.
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Here’s the definitive guide to National Park System campgrounds where RVers can park their rigs.
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