Yellowstone NP – established in 1872 as the WORLD’S first national park!!  At that time, the states it is included in – Wyoming, Montana and Idaho – did not yet exist as states and there were few settlements nearby.  Travel by horse or foot was the only way to venture into the rugged terrain of the area.  Surprisingly (that’s sarcasm Sheldon;-)!), the Northern Pacific RR completed a line to the park’s north border in 1883 and visitors arriving via the train usually had a package including stagecoach tours of the park.  Today we arrived in Magic – a stagecoach of a different form.

One of the park’s most breathtaking sights is the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone where the turbulent Yellowstone River roars through 20 miles of golden-hued cliffs.  About 640,000 years ago, a huge volcanic eruption occurred emptying a large underground chamber of magma and spreading volcanic ash for thousands of miles.  The roof of this chamber slowly collapsed, forming a giant caldera which was altered and weakened by erosion and the hydrothermal activity in the area for as much as 160,000 years.  The current canyon begins at Lower Falls and ends downstream from Tower Fall.

The multi-hued rocks of the canyon result from the hydrothermally altered rock and sediments – thus the orange, brown and green colors – –

 

The beginning of the 20 mile canyon – the Lower Falls – and our hike destination – – –

 

The North Rim Trail has a couple of side paths that take one into the Canyon for even more awesome views of the Falls.  One of those is Red Rock Trail which drops 500 feet in .4 mile with lots of steps and a hardy slope.  BUT – the views are worth the effort!!

 

Our destination – the Brink of Lower Falls.  Here, depending on the time of year, between 5,000 to 60,000 gallons per second of water plunges 308′ over Lower Falls into the Canyon!  To stand at the brink you descend 600′ and feel the roar and spray of the water. Truly a heart-pounding experience as the river drops into space;-)!!

 

A South Rim trail gives you wonderful views from a slightly different point of view.  Unfortunately the hiking trail was closed for repair work – so we had to settle with the drive along the South Rim to Artist Point for the comparison vistas.

 

The Upper Falls can be seen from the Brink of the Lower Falls trail.  While majestic, the Upper Falls are only about 1/3 the size of the Lower Falls falling 109′.

 

After about 7 miles of hiking and lots of elevation change, a quick lunch at Canyon Village followed by a car ride from the Canyon Country to Roosevelt Country and the Lamar Valley was in order.  Lamar Valley is truly ‘where the buffalo roam’!

 

Lamar Valley, known for its rolling hills covered with sagebrush and its sparkling streams,  is the place to see animals – –

 

As mentioned above, the original visitors to the Park may have arrived via the train and had a package tour that included stagecoach tours of the park.  Guess this is the more modern version??

 

What a wonderful day.  And the fitting end was to see the ending of the current Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, which begins at Lower Falls – where the morning was spent –  and ends downstream from Tower Fall – the last stop of the day.

 

An exhausted, awe inspired E & G from Yellowstone NP – the First and the Best;-)