Waterfalls to Geysers & Springs

By afternoon, the sun finally decided to join us, so it was time to head into Yellowstone! We breezed through the entrance and made our way toward the Norris area, passing waterfalls, steaming hillsides, and plenty of wildlife along the way. We spotted swans, a herd of elk, and even a buck and doe grazing nearby.

Our first stop was Madison Information Station, where I added another passport stamp to my collection. 😊💕 From there, we hiked the one-mile Artist Paint Pots Trail to see bubbling mud pots and colorful thermal features unlike anything we’d seen before.

Next up was Norris Geyser Basin. We explored the Norris Geyser Basin Trail, taking in bubbling springs, roaring steam vents, crystal-clear pools, and Steamboat Geyser—the world’s tallest active geyser. One of the more interesting stops was Minute Geyser, which was permanently changed years ago after visitors threw rocks into one of its vents. A good reminder to leave nature just as we find it.

The only disappointment? The Norris bookstore was closed because of a bear spray incident, so no passport stamp there. 👎 Well — guess I’ll have to come back for another visit!Read more