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Yellowstone Road Trip 2018

Geysers, canyons, and the wild West — July 2018

110Photographs

7Days

5Places

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Geysers, canyons & the open road

A two-and-a-half-week road trip across the American West — out through the Black Hills and Mount Rushmore and the granite tunnels of the Needles Highway, then deep into Yellowstone: the impossible colors of Grand Prismatic Spring, geysers erupting against the sky, the yellow walls and roaring falls of the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, the terraces of Mammoth, and bison, elk and a black bear out in the open. Tap any photo to enlarge it, or open the map.

Day 1

Sun 1 Jul

Westward — statues, plains & towns

Westward — statues, plains & towns — Westward — statues, plains & townsA bronze cougar in a mountain town.

Westward — statues, plains & towns — Westward — statues, plains & townsThe plains opening up as we drove west.

Westward — statues, plains & towns — Westward — statues, plains & townsRoadside Americana on the way out.

Westward — statues, plains & towns — Westward — statues, plains & townsBig sky and a long, empty highway.

Westward — statues, plains & towns — Westward — statues, plains & townsA bronze cougar in a mountain town.

Westward — statues, plains & towns — Westward — statues, plains & townsThe plains opening up as we drove west.

Westward — statues, plains & towns — Westward — statues, plains & townsRoadside Americana on the way out.

Westward — statues, plains & towns — Westward — statues, plains & townsBig sky and a long, empty highway.

Westward — statues, plains & towns — Westward — statues, plains & townsA bronze cougar in a mountain town.

Day 2

Mon 2 Jul

Westward — statues, plains & towns

Westward — statues, plains & towns — Westward — statues, plains & townsThe plains opening up as we drove west.

Day 3

Tue 3 Jul

Westward — statues, plains & towns · The Black Hills & Bighorn country

Westward — statues, plains & towns — Westward — statues, plains & townsRoadside Americana on the way out.

Westward — statues, plains & towns — Westward — statues, plains & townsBig sky and a long, empty highway.

Westward — statues, plains & towns — Westward — statues, plains & townsA bronze cougar in a mountain town.

Westward — statues, plains & towns — Westward — statues, plains & townsThe plains opening up as we drove west.

Westward — statues, plains & towns — Westward — statues, plains & townsRoadside Americana on the way out.

The Black Hills & Bighorn country — The Black Hills & Bighorn countryMount Rushmore through the Black Hills pines.

The Black Hills & Bighorn country — The Black Hills & Bighorn countryThe granite needles of the Needles Highway.

The Black Hills & Bighorn country — The Black Hills & Bighorn countryA one-lane tunnel blasted straight through the rock.

The Black Hills & Bighorn country — The Black Hills & Bighorn countryCattle country and red-rock canyons in Wyoming.

The Black Hills & Bighorn country — The Black Hills & Bighorn countryThe Bighorns, and a reservoir far below.

The Black Hills & Bighorn country — The Black Hills & Bighorn countryMount Rushmore through the Black Hills pines.

The Black Hills & Bighorn country — The Black Hills & Bighorn countryThe granite needles of the Needles Highway.

The Black Hills & Bighorn country — The Black Hills & Bighorn countryA one-lane tunnel blasted straight through the rock.

Day 4

Wed 4 Jul

The Black Hills & Bighorn country · Yellowstone — canyon, falls & wildlife

The Black Hills & Bighorn country — The Black Hills & Bighorn countryCattle country and red-rock canyons in Wyoming.

The Black Hills & Bighorn country — The Black Hills & Bighorn countryThe Bighorns, and a reservoir far below.

The Black Hills & Bighorn country — The Black Hills & Bighorn countryMount Rushmore through the Black Hills pines.

The Black Hills & Bighorn country — The Black Hills & Bighorn countryThe granite needles of the Needles Highway.

The Black Hills & Bighorn country — The Black Hills & Bighorn countryA one-lane tunnel blasted straight through the rock.

The Black Hills & Bighorn country — The Black Hills & Bighorn countryCattle country and red-rock canyons in Wyoming.

The Black Hills & Bighorn country — The Black Hills & Bighorn countryThe Bighorns, and a reservoir far below.

The Black Hills & Bighorn country — The Black Hills & Bighorn countryMount Rushmore through the Black Hills pines.

The Black Hills & Bighorn country — The Black Hills & Bighorn countryThe granite needles of the Needles Highway.

The Black Hills & Bighorn country — The Black Hills & Bighorn countryA one-lane tunnel blasted straight through the rock.

The Black Hills & Bighorn country — The Black Hills & Bighorn countryCattle country and red-rock canyons in Wyoming.

Yellowstone — canyon, falls & wildlife — Yellowstone — canyon, falls & wildlifeThe Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, yellow walls and all.

Yellowstone — canyon, falls & wildlife — Yellowstone — canyon, falls & wildlifeThe Lower Falls thundering down into the canyon.

Yellowstone — canyon, falls & wildlife — Yellowstone — canyon, falls & wildlifeA bison taking its ease right by the road.

Yellowstone — canyon, falls & wildlife — Yellowstone — canyon, falls & wildlifeElk grazing along a quiet stream.

Yellowstone — canyon, falls & wildlife — Yellowstone — canyon, falls & wildlifeA black bear out in the meadow.

Yellowstone — canyon, falls & wildlife — Yellowstone — canyon, falls & wildlifeHayden Valley rolling green down to the river.

Yellowstone — canyon, falls & wildlife — Yellowstone — canyon, falls & wildlifeA geyser going off against a hard blue sky.

Yellowstone — canyon, falls & wildlife — Yellowstone — canyon, falls & wildlifeThe Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, yellow walls and all.

Yellowstone — canyon, falls & wildlife — Yellowstone — canyon, falls & wildlifeThe Lower Falls thundering down into the canyon.

Yellowstone — canyon, falls & wildlife — Yellowstone — canyon, falls & wildlifeA bison taking its ease right by the road.

Yellowstone — canyon, falls & wildlife — Yellowstone — canyon, falls & wildlifeElk grazing along a quiet stream.

Yellowstone — canyon, falls & wildlife — Yellowstone — canyon, falls & wildlifeA black bear out in the meadow.

Day 5

Thu 5 Jul

Yellowstone — canyon, falls & wildlife

Yellowstone — canyon, falls & wildlife — Yellowstone — canyon, falls & wildlifeHayden Valley rolling green down to the river.

Yellowstone — canyon, falls & wildlife — Yellowstone — canyon, falls & wildlifeA geyser going off against a hard blue sky.

Yellowstone — canyon, falls & wildlife — Yellowstone — canyon, falls & wildlifeThe Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, yellow walls and all.

Yellowstone — canyon, falls & wildlife — Yellowstone — canyon, falls & wildlifeThe Lower Falls thundering down into the canyon.

Yellowstone — canyon, falls & wildlife — Yellowstone — canyon, falls & wildlifeA bison taking its ease right by the road.

Yellowstone — canyon, falls & wildlife — Yellowstone — canyon, falls & wildlifeElk grazing along a quiet stream.

Yellowstone — canyon, falls & wildlife — Yellowstone — canyon, falls & wildlifeA black bear out in the meadow.

Yellowstone — canyon, falls & wildlife — Yellowstone — canyon, falls & wildlifeHayden Valley rolling green down to the river.

Yellowstone — canyon, falls & wildlife — Yellowstone — canyon, falls & wildlifeA geyser going off against a hard blue sky.

Yellowstone — canyon, falls & wildlife — Yellowstone — canyon, falls & wildlifeThe Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, yellow walls and all.

Yellowstone — canyon, falls & wildlife — Yellowstone — canyon, falls & wildlifeThe Lower Falls thundering down into the canyon.

Yellowstone — canyon, falls & wildlife — Yellowstone — canyon, falls & wildlifeA bison taking its ease right by the road.

Yellowstone — canyon, falls & wildlife — Yellowstone — canyon, falls & wildlifeElk grazing along a quiet stream.

Yellowstone — canyon, falls & wildlife — Yellowstone — canyon, falls & wildlifeA black bear out in the meadow.

Yellowstone — canyon, falls & wildlife — Yellowstone — canyon, falls & wildlifeHayden Valley rolling green down to the river.

Yellowstone — canyon, falls & wildlife — Yellowstone — canyon, falls & wildlifeA geyser going off against a hard blue sky.

Yellowstone — canyon, falls & wildlife — Yellowstone — canyon, falls & wildlifeThe Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, yellow walls and all.

Yellowstone — canyon, falls & wildlife — Yellowstone — canyon, falls & wildlifeThe Lower Falls thundering down into the canyon.

Yellowstone — canyon, falls & wildlife — Yellowstone — canyon, falls & wildlifeA bison taking its ease right by the road.

Yellowstone — canyon, falls & wildlife — Yellowstone — canyon, falls & wildlifeElk grazing along a quiet stream.

Yellowstone — canyon, falls & wildlife — Yellowstone — canyon, falls & wildlifeA black bear out in the meadow.

Yellowstone — canyon, falls & wildlife — Yellowstone — canyon, falls & wildlifeHayden Valley rolling green down to the river.

Yellowstone — canyon, falls & wildlife — Yellowstone — canyon, falls & wildlifeA geyser going off against a hard blue sky.

Yellowstone — canyon, falls & wildlife — Yellowstone — canyon, falls & wildlifeThe Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, yellow walls and all.

Yellowstone — canyon, falls & wildlife — Yellowstone — canyon, falls & wildlifeThe Lower Falls thundering down into the canyon.

Day 6

Fri 6 Jul

Yellowstone — canyon, falls & wildlife · Yellowstone's thermal wonders · Lakes, mountains & the road home

Yellowstone — canyon, falls & wildlife — Yellowstone — canyon, falls & wildlifeA bison taking its ease right by the road.

Yellowstone — canyon, falls & wildlife — Yellowstone — canyon, falls & wildlifeElk grazing along a quiet stream.

Yellowstone — canyon, falls & wildlife — Yellowstone — canyon, falls & wildlifeA black bear out in the meadow.

Yellowstone — canyon, falls & wildlife — Yellowstone — canyon, falls & wildlifeHayden Valley rolling green down to the river.

Yellowstone's thermal wonders — Yellowstone's thermal wondersGrand Prismatic Spring, every color of the rainbow.

Yellowstone's thermal wonders — Yellowstone's thermal wondersA hot spring so blue it doesn't look real.

Yellowstone's thermal wonders — Yellowstone's thermal wondersSteam drifting off the geyser basins.

Yellowstone's thermal wonders — Yellowstone's thermal wondersThe travertine terraces of Mammoth Hot Springs.

Yellowstone's thermal wonders — Yellowstone's thermal wondersOrange bacterial mats around a boiling pool.

Yellowstone's thermal wonders — Yellowstone's thermal wondersOld Faithful sending up its column of steam.

Yellowstone's thermal wonders — Yellowstone's thermal wondersGrand Prismatic Spring, every color of the rainbow.

Yellowstone's thermal wonders — Yellowstone's thermal wondersA hot spring so blue it doesn't look real.

Yellowstone's thermal wonders — Yellowstone's thermal wondersSteam drifting off the geyser basins.

Yellowstone's thermal wonders — Yellowstone's thermal wondersThe travertine terraces of Mammoth Hot Springs.

Yellowstone's thermal wonders — Yellowstone's thermal wondersOrange bacterial mats around a boiling pool.

Yellowstone's thermal wonders — Yellowstone's thermal wondersOld Faithful sending up its column of steam.

Yellowstone's thermal wonders — Yellowstone's thermal wondersGrand Prismatic Spring, every color of the rainbow.

Yellowstone's thermal wonders — Yellowstone's thermal wondersA hot spring so blue it doesn't look real.

Yellowstone's thermal wonders — Yellowstone's thermal wondersSteam drifting off the geyser basins.

Yellowstone's thermal wonders — Yellowstone's thermal wondersThe travertine terraces of Mammoth Hot Springs.

Yellowstone's thermal wonders — Yellowstone's thermal wondersOrange bacterial mats around a boiling pool.

Yellowstone's thermal wonders — Yellowstone's thermal wondersOld Faithful sending up its column of steam.

Yellowstone's thermal wonders — Yellowstone's thermal wondersGrand Prismatic Spring, every color of the rainbow.

Yellowstone's thermal wonders — Yellowstone's thermal wondersA hot spring so blue it doesn't look real.

Yellowstone's thermal wonders — Yellowstone's thermal wondersSteam drifting off the geyser basins.

Yellowstone's thermal wonders — Yellowstone's thermal wondersThe travertine terraces of Mammoth Hot Springs.

Yellowstone's thermal wonders — Yellowstone's thermal wondersOrange bacterial mats around a boiling pool.

Yellowstone's thermal wonders — Yellowstone's thermal wondersOld Faithful sending up its column of steam.

Yellowstone's thermal wonders — Yellowstone's thermal wondersGrand Prismatic Spring, every color of the rainbow.

Yellowstone's thermal wonders — Yellowstone's thermal wondersA hot spring so blue it doesn't look real.

Yellowstone's thermal wonders — Yellowstone's thermal wondersSteam drifting off the geyser basins.

Yellowstone's thermal wonders — Yellowstone's thermal wondersThe travertine terraces of Mammoth Hot Springs.

Yellowstone's thermal wonders — Yellowstone's thermal wondersOrange bacterial mats around a boiling pool.

Yellowstone's thermal wonders — Yellowstone's thermal wondersOld Faithful sending up its column of steam.

Yellowstone's thermal wonders — Yellowstone's thermal wondersGrand Prismatic Spring, every color of the rainbow.

Yellowstone's thermal wonders — Yellowstone's thermal wondersA hot spring so blue it doesn't look real.

Lakes, mountains & the road home — Lakes, mountains & the road homeYellowstone Lake under an enormous sky.

Lakes, mountains & the road home — Lakes, mountains & the road homeMountains and meadows on the way out.

Day 7

Sat 21 Jul

Lakes, mountains & the road home

Lakes, mountains & the road home — Lakes, mountains & the road homeOne more empty road across the West.

Where we wandered