Entering the park through the iconic Roosevelt Arch, a towering stone gateway steeped in history, set the perfect tone for this leg of the trip.
Just beyond the entrance, we were thrilled to spot a small herd of Pronghorns, the only species of antelope native to North America, grazing peacefully in the open fields.
We continued to Fort Yellowstone, only a few kilometres inside the park gate. This site serves as both the historic and present-day administrative center of Yellowstone National Park and features a well-equipped visitor center that offers valuable insights into the park’s history and operations. The layout of Fort Yellowstone is that of a typical western army post.
Nearby lies the natural wonder, Mammoth Hot Springs, known for its striking travertine (calcium carbonate) terraces formed by mineral-laden hot water rising from underground. The photo above captures the Lower Terrace, which is essentially the bottom step of the natural staircase.
Next to the Lower Terrace stands the Liberty Cap (above), a dormant hot spring deposit, formed by travertine deposition over time as hot water cooled and mineral deposits accumulated.
On the Lower Terrace, a group of elk was resting peacefully, while the dominant bull elk roamed the perimeter, bugling loudly to ward off any rival males and protect his harem.
Eventually, the herd wandered off, likely in search of fresh vegetation to graze on.
As the elk herd moved on, so did we, mindful that daylight was fading and we still had about 50 kilometers to cover before reaching Canyon Village.
Along the way, we made an unplanned stop at Tower Junction after spotting our first bison herd, calmly grazing near the roadside.
We also took a brief detour to admire Tower Fall—a stunning 40-metre waterfall framed by tall, narrow rock spires.
We were fortunate to catch sight of a mountain sheep skillfully navigating the steep slopes high above the waterfall. By this time, night was beginning to fall, and we still had around 25 kilometers to cover, including the winding, high-altitude stretch through Dunraven Pass. We reached Canyon Village just as dusk settled in—just in time to check in, get settled, and enjoy a well-earned meal at the Canyon Eatery.
