National Parks on the Fly

When Your Free Time is Limited

The May calendar had only a few days left to fit in a visit to two of my favorite places – Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks so it had to be a quick trip. I initially thought about flying to nearby Jackson and renting a car but instead I decided to drive the 3000+ miles lugging a small satchel of clothes and a bunch of camera equipment.

While the drive is long, I totally enjoy the fast changing vistas traversing our impressive interstate highway system and then the spectacular mountains and landscapes of rural Wyoming.

You can read about my six day cross country drive from Grand Rapids by clicking here. Otherwise continue on for the small scrapbook of my visit to the parks.

After 1500 relaxing miles on the lightly traveled highway I arrived at Jackson Hole and the Tetons. I immediately went into visitor mode and armed myself with a couple of cameras to record this quick visit. Following are some of the highlights.

Grand Teton National Park
This is an area of the Tetons settled in the 1890s by Mormans from Utah	The iconic T.A. Moulton barn with low clouds obscuring the Tetons
Here you can see the low water level in Jackson Lake	The water flows from Jackson Lake Dam into the Snake River
This is the Snake River at Oxbow Bend with Mt. Moran in the background	I tried to duplicate this familiar view at Snake River Overlook made famous by Ansel Adams
Another picture of the T.A. Moulton barn after the clouds have lifted	This furry marmot is a resident of Mormon Row
Chapel of the Transfiguration is an Episcopal church in the Tetons	This is the picturesque interior of the church
From a distance the Tetons remain an impressive backdrop to the valley	The popular Jenny Lake is still covered with ice in early May
Yellowstone National Park
This is the iconic Old Faithful Inn	The interior of the Old Faithful Inn is simply breathtaking
A huge crowd of visitors are awaiting the eruption of Old Faithful Geyser	As expected the Old Faithful eruption happens right on time
The Grand Prismatic Spring one of Yellowstone’s most colorful thermal features	Here is some of the hot runoff streaming from the Grand Prismatic Spring
This bison is strolling along the pathway at one of the geysers	I was surprised to find sandhill cranes in Lamar Valley
This herd of bison is relaxing in the Lamar Valley	Here is a lone bighorn sheep near Slough Creek
This is a newborn bison calf	This Yellowstone tour bus is easily identifiable
The Roosevelt Arch marks the North Entrance to Yellowstone	This is the roaring Upper Yosemite Falls in the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone
The Yellowstone River is pouring over the Upper Falls