I spent a lot of time in the car today. I packed up my hotel room in West Yellowstone this morning and hit the road for Jackson, Wyoming. The highlight of the day was visiting the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone.
I had my first wildlife spotting of the day shortly after entering the park: a bald eagle!
I followed the northern and eastern parts of the lower loop around Yellowstone so that I could visit the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone before heading south. While not quite as impressive as the Grand Canyon, this one is pretty spectacular. There are lookouts and viewpoints along both the North and South Rim Drives. I started on the North Rim and undertook the hike down to the Brink of the Lower Falls. The trail drops 600 feet down along the wall of the canyon in just ⅜ of a mile. Easy going down, not quite so fun going back up. The view over the falls and down into the canyon is incredible.
Looking back at the Lower Falls from Inspiration Point gives even more perspective, as you can’t even see the people standing on the brink.
The sheer volume of water going over the falls creates a huge mist cloud at the bottom. While I could see the falls and mist from Inspiration Point, I knew there was a better view to come. You see, at just about 9:45AM, the sun hits the mist at just the right angle to create a rainbow from Artist Point on the South Rim. I found a small rock to perch on and waited and watched as the rainbow appeared, intensified, and then disappeared over the course of about 10 minutes.
The rest of my drive south through Yellowstone was uneventful. I stopped to watch a field of bison and walk around the West Thumb Geyser Basin. As I approached Grand Teton National Park, the sky turned somewhat cloudy, but the Teton Range rising to the west was still breathtaking. I knew I needed to test out the huckleberry shakes at Jackson Lake Lodge, and a stop there seemed like the perfect start to the second half of my trip. Not only was the shake delicious and loaded with sweet huckleberry flavor, the view of the Tetons from the bench I chose at the back of Jackson Lake Lodge can’t be beat.
I timed my arrival at Dornan’s in Moose about 45 minutes before the start of the Monday night hootenanny. The “Hoot”, as it’s often referred to, is basically an open mike night, drawing talent from locals and tourists alike and delighting young and old sprawled around on the grass and picnic tables surrounding the stage. I grabbed a cheeseburger from the chuckwagon grill and settled in for an evening of entertainment. Some of the musicians have performed at the Hoot hundreds of times! I only stayed about an hour, but it was a fun local experience in which to partake.
Jackson, Wyoming is definitely a little more bustling and upscale than my previous nights outside of Yellowstone, and I’m looking forward to some relaxation and fun activities while I’m in Jackson Hole for the next few days.
Traveling with Laura 