Mammoth Hot Springs

Mammoth Hot Springs is located in the northwestern corner of Yellowstone National Park and we drive over from Lamar Valley on the eastern side of the park.  The large complex of hot springs on a hill of travertine was created over thousands of years as hot water from the springs cooled and deposited calcium carbonate.  The hot water that feeds Mammoth comes from the Norris Geyser Basin, travelling underground along a fault line that runs through the limestone (which provides the calcium carbonate) between the two locations.  Shallow circulation along the fault allows Norris Canyon's superheated water to cool slightly before surfacing at Mammoth (at about 170°F, 80°C) and the algae living in the warm water pool have tinted the travertine shades of brown, orange, red, and green.

Approaching Mammoth Hot Springs

Palette Spring

Boardwalks through the area

Mammoth Hot Spring Terraces

Mound Terrace

We continue to wander on the boardwaks, absorbing the incredible colors and geography of the ladscape.

More incredible landscape

Looking back at the town of Mammoth

We walk out of the area past Liberty Cap, a 37 foot (11 meter) structure that was created by a single thermal spring whose internal pressure was sufficient to raise the water to great heights and allow mineral deposits to build slowly and continuously over hundreds of years.  Liberty Cap was named in 1871 by Hayden Survey because it resembled the peaked knit caps worn during the French Revolutoin.

Liberty Cap

Looking back at the hot springs

What a spectacular spot!

Dunraven Pass and Lamar Valley

We leave Canyon Village in Yellowstone National Park and head north over Dunraven Pass to explore the park's Lamar Valley.  We are slowed down a bit (stopped) by bison walking in the opposite direction on the road over the pass, holding up traffic in both directions.  As we sit and wait, the bison walk by our car and we get a few close-up pictures

Slow/stop for bison

After the bison move past us, we continue over the pass and stop at Tower Fall and walk in to the Tower Fall Overlook to view the spectacular waterfall.  Tower Fall tells the story of both easily-eroded rocks and rocks that are resistant to erosion.  The rock at the brink of the fall and underlying the waterfall is a hard volcanic rock, whereas the soft rock as the base of the fall causes upstream erosion of the waterfall.  The soft and hard rocks are seen in the towers and pinnacles that line the Tower Creek:  over centuries, wind and water eroded the soft rock, leaving fantastic shapes of hard rock.

Continuing across the pass

Tower fall

Tower creek

We descend into the Lamar Valley and follow the Lamar River, first coming on a bald eagle nest where we watch the male eagle fly down to the river, catch a fish, and bring it back to the nest for the mother and babies.

Entering the valley

Bald eagle nest

Bison grazing

We park and walk aong the Lamar River, taking in the sights and watching out for bears as we follow the river.

Lamar Valley is known as the "American Serengeti" for its abundant wildlife, including large herds of bison and elk, along with pronghorn deer, grizzly bears, and black bears.

Trail and warning

 

Along the Lamar River

After our hike, we return back through the Lamar Valley, passing herds of bison grazing in the fields

Bison everywhere

This has been a great day of exploring nature on our way to and in the Lamar Valley.

Noris Geyser Basin

Norris Geyser Basin is the hottest, oldest, and most volatile thermal area in Yellowstone National Park.  We walk in and explore the Porcelain Landscape, named for its porcelain-like appearance:  smooth sinter deposited by centuries of thermal activity, continually glazed by minerals, hot water, and microorganisms called thermophiles (similar to what we just saw at the Grand Prismatic Spring).

Norris Geyser Basin

Porcelain Landscape

We descend into the landscape and follow the boardwalks through the area.

Staying on the boardwalks

Wandering across the landscape

Partway down the path, we come across a few named geysers and pools.

Sunday Geyser

Colloid Pool

Congress Pool

We continue across more of the spectacular landscape.

Continuing through the Porcelain Landscape

Eventually the loop returns to the start and we enjoy the overview of the spectacular landscape before leaving this incredible place.