Yellowstone National Park - Day 2

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Meeting a Bison Up Close on an Early Morning Walk

May 3, 2025

One of the biggest advantages of staying inside Yellowstone National Park is the ability to start your day just steps away from some of its most iconic features. On this particular morning, I rolled out of bed and walked just a few hundred yards to find myself face-to-face with Old Faithful and the trailhead leading into the heart of the Upper Geyser Basin.

Old Faithful’s eruption times are typically posted throughout the day, but in the early morning hours, the timing can be uncertain. Not wanting to sit and wait, I decided to begin walking the loop trail that circles the basin while keeping an eye on the geyser so I wouldn’t miss her famous show.

As I made my way through a clearing, I looked to my right only to be startled by a loud, low grunt. Having seen Old Faithful erupt the day before I knew this sound was not Old Faithful and it was coming from behind me. I turned slowly and found myself just a few feet from a massive bison, grazing near the path. It was a moment of quiet awe (and a little adrenaline). I slowly and what I would like to think calmly did was proceed along the path while taking a few photos.

Just a minute later, Old Faithful erupted, sending its powerful column of steam into the crisp morning air. After all the excitement, I continued along the trail, exploring more of the basin’s stunning features—colorful hot springs, bubbling mudpots, and smaller geysers. It turned out to be one of the most memorable hikes of the entire trip.

Sun about to rise at Yellowstone National Park

Steam rise above Old Faithful prior to sunrise

sunrise over Old Faithful at Yellowstone National Park

Steam over Old Faithful in morning at Yellowstone National Park

Olf Faithful in the morning at Yellowstone National Park

Bison grazing in Yellowstone National Park

Bison eating grass at Yellowstone National Park

Closeup of bison - Yellowstone National Park

Steam over Old Faithful in front of blue sky

Geyser basin - Yellowstone National Park

Water bubbling - Yellowstone National Park

Green tinted pool - Yellowstone National Park

Clear water in pool with red sediment - Yellowstone National Park

small geyser erupts in Yellowstone National Park

Steam rises above several geysers at Yellowstone National Park

Yellowstone National Park bison close up

Yellowstone National Park bison stands in field

Yellowstone National Park bison grazes near geyser basin

Walkway to Old Faithful at Yellowstone National Park

Chasing Waterfalls in Yellowstone National Park

As a longtime fan of waterfalls, I made it a personal goal to see as many as possible during our time in Yellowstone National Park. The day started out cool but warmed up beautifully, reaching the low 70s by mid-afternoon with plenty of sunshine making it a perfect weather day for waterfall hunting.

Having spent recent years exploring the waterfalls of Minnesota along Lake Superior, I was eager to see how Yellowstone’s compared. We made our way to the stunning Grand Canyon of Yellowstone, where both the Upper Falls and Lower Falls left a lasting impression. The sheer power and scale of the water thundering over the cliffs was unforgettable.

Along the way, we also came across several more geyser basins and had an unexpected wildlife moment as we spotted our first wolf playing in the snow. Between the roaring waterfalls and rare animal encounters, it was a day full of natural wonders that reminded us why Yellowstone is such a remarkable place to explore.

Top of waterfall - Yellowstone National Park

Sun shines on waterfall - Yellowstone National Park

Yellowstone National Park waterfall in distance

Yellowstone National Park waterfall rushes

Waterfall flows over snow covered hill -Yellowstone National Park

Waterfall and show covered rocks - Yellowstone National Park

water flows over waterfall at Yellowstone National Park

Tall waterfall - Yellowstone National Park

Trees with waterfall in distance - Yellowstone National Park

Yellowstone National Park waterfall splashes into river

Yellowstone National Park waterfall beyond trees

Pat takes picture of waterfall - Yellowstone National Park

Lower Falls at Yellowstone National Park

Grand Canyon of Yellowstone National Park

Yellowstone National Park - Grand Canyon

water flows over Lower Falls at Yellowstone National Park

Yellowstone National Park Lower Falls with snow by side

Yellowstone National Park Lower Falls beyond trees

Yellowstone National Park Lower Falls from a great distance

Yellowstone National Park Lower Falls from far away

River flows through the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone National Park

River flows in Yellowstone National Park

Pat stands in front of Grand Canyon of Yellowstone National Park

Snow on cliffs in Yellowstone National Park

Snow in front of waterfall - Yellowstone National Park

Trees in front of the Lower Falls - Yellowstone National Park

Grand Canyon of Yellowstone National Park with Pat on side

Lower Falls beyond snow and trees - Yellowstone National Park

Yellowstone National Park waterfall flows

Wolf walking - Yellowstone National Park

Yellowstone National Park evergreen trees

Yellowstone National Park mudpot boiling

A Bison Photo Shoot at Old Faithful

As the afternoon gave way to evening, we took a short break from the park to grab some groceries, fill up on gas, and enjoy a casual dinner before returning to the Old Faithful Snow Lodge. Once we were settled back in, we headed out for one more walk to catch another eruption of Old Faithful.

Just as the geyser began its iconic show, a large bison casually strolled into view right in front of Old Faithful’s rising steam, as if it were posing for a perfectly timed photo shoot. Of course, I couldn’t resist capturing the moment. It was one of those scenes that only happen when you're in the right place at the right time in Yellowstone National Park. Just maybe it was the same bison from earlier this morning.

Yellowstone National Park Old Faithful erupts

Bison approaches Old Faithful in Yellowstone National Park

Bison in front of Old Faithful in Yellowstone National Park

Yellowstone National Park bison in front of geyser

Yellowstone National Park bison in geyser basin

Yellowstone National Park bison walks past geyser

Bison in front of Old Faithful at sunset

Yellowstone National Park bison at sunset

Bison grazes at sunset in Yellowstone National Park

Yellowstone National Park bison eats in front of Old Faithful

Yellowstone National Park bison near geyser

Yellowstone National Park bison walks in geyser field at sunset

Red color of bison reflected by sunlight

Yellowstone National Park bison looks at ground while eating

Yellowstone National Park bison eats while sun sets in distance

Yellowstone National Park bison looks straight ahead

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