Bison, Bubbling Mud & a Game of Peek-a-Boo!

As we made our way to the Mud Volcano Area, we spotted several bison along the road. I happened to catch one in the middle of… well… answering nature’s call. 😂 He didn’t seem the least bit embarrassed—in fact, it looked like he was smiling (or laughing) at us! Another seemed to be posing perfectly in the field, as if he knew exactly where the camera was.

Since we had explored the Mud Volcano Area on a previous visit, we didn’t spend much time here today, but we enjoyed Dragon’s Mouth Spring and the story behind it. Watching the steam escape from the cave while the water churns inside never gets old.

Continuing along the Grand Loop Road, we made quick stops at LeHardy Rapids and Steamboat Point. LeHardy Rapids sits above one of Yellowstone’s underground fault zones, where scientists have measured the ground rising and falling more than three feet over time—a reminder that there is still magma and superheated water moving deep beneath our feet.

At Steamboat Point, the steam vents weren’t putting on a huge show today, but seeing steam rise right out of the rocks along Yellowstone Lake was pretty amazing. Early visitors thought the sound of the escaping steam resembled the pressure release of a steamboat, which is how it got its name.

The rest of our drive brought more Yellowstone surprises—Pelican Creek, Mary’s Bay, and Yellowstone Lake looking more like an ocean than a lake. We spotted a handsome elk with an impressive rack, crossed the Continental Divide twice, and my favorite crossing was the one beside a peaceful pond covered in lily pads.

And finally… isn’t the bison playing peek-a-boo just adorable?!? 🦬❤️Read more