Grand Canyon Of Yellowstone ~ Day 2 In Yellowstone

Tuesday Afternoon, July 29

1We arrived at Canyon Falls about 1 PM. We hadn’t eaten since having coffee and sharing a muffin while waiting for a display from Old Faithful ~ about 7:30 AM ~ so we looked for a place for lunch.

1aWe shared a BLT and fries.

2We spent the next two hours exploring the beautiful Grand Canyon of Yellowstone.

2a

2bAfter walking partway down the falls trail, I told Cerwin that I better stop, because I do downhill okay, but uphill is more difficult.

2c (1)On the way back to the top, we stopped every so often for a break ~ usually sitting on a bench.

2c (2)

3While resting at the last bench before the parking lot, we noticed someone coming up the other trail ~ North Rim Trail. When he got to us, he said, “There is an elk out there in the meadow.”

4 (1)Oh, wow! Cerwin had been hoping to see a large bull elk, and a 6 x 7 is almost as large as it gets.

4 (3)It was below us, so we sat on a rock and watched it for a while.

4 (4)It looked like it took a bit of effort to move his head.

4 (5)

4 (6)Then I noticed another one coming out of the woods.

4 (7)This one was a 6 x 6.

4 (8)By this time the first one was feeding right along the trail.

4 (9)I thought it would be fun to capture the expression of someone when they came through the opening in the path and discovered an elk right in front of them. 🙂 But that didn’t happen.

4 (11)He continued to walk toward us as he fed in the lush meadow.

4 (12)Before long we thought it may be safer to go back on the hiking trail ~ where by now a lot of people were standing.

4 (13)The other one stayed on the hillside…

4 (11)…but when the 6 x 7 got to within 20 yards of us we thought it would probably be wise to move toward the trail ~ which was right next to us.

4 (14)He seemed oblivious to us, but it seemed that he was heading right toward us and we didn’t want to get a whack from those large antlers.

4 (15)There are several viewing areas, but we found the Grand View to be the prettiest and most scenic.

4 (16)

4 (17)

4 (18)

4 (19)

4 (20)

4 (23)

4 (24)

4 (26)

4 (25)

4 (27)

4 (28)Inspiration Point was also a pretty area, but the view wasn’t as grand as Grand View.

4 (30)

4 (31)

4 (32)The Grand Canyon of Yellowstone is definitely a worthwhile stop.