Mammoth Hot Springs
The terraces of Mammoth Hot Springs are a sight to behold – living sculptures shaped by a large volume of water flowing across sloping land, and coloured by thermophiles (heat loving microorganisms). A series of board walks takes you round the lower terraces and a short drive loops round the upper terraces. Here are far too many pictures. I just don’t know how to choose.
But that’s not all! Mammoth used to be Fort Yellowstone. In the early years of the National Park (established 1872) the Springs were threatened by poachers and souvenir hunters. In 1886, the army moved in and stayed for 32 years: many of the buildings erected then are now used as park headquarters. Cute squirrels too!
On the way to Mammoth, we admired Tower Fall and the Narrows – the far end of the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone which I wrote about in an earlier post.
Finally, we came across more wildlife on, or by, the road.
Yellowstone just gets better and better! In my next post, we head for Elephant Back and West Thumb.
The Glasgow Gallivanter 
What a stunning and dramatic landscape! Would love to see that one day. Wow. I love the colors, the starkness and the variety of formations.
Lucky you re wildlife! What a treat.
Peta
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Thank you Peta!
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My goodness, just the photos are breathtaking! I can only imagine what the real experince might be.
That looks like such an alien, and still so captivating environment. I envy you 😉
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Alien, surreal – definitely!
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Good posts, beautiful blog.
Congratulations.
Welcome to see my creations:
http://paintdigi.wordpress.com
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Thank you!
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You’r welcome 🍁
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Wonderful photos Anabel – not surprised you were spoilt for choice! Cute squirrels too! 🙂
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Thanks! It’s very hard to choose. I’m still bogged down trying to get the rest done.
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Good luck I know how hard it can be sorting through photos!!
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The world is full of incredible places, Anabel, and you seem to have seen your share 🙂 Love the shot of the bare twigs and the ‘teeth’ bizarre squiggles! So good with words, aren’t I? 🙂 🙂
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Thanks Jo – perhaps your facility with words momentarily deserted you there! But only momentarily.
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I could see the photos in my mind’s eye, Anabel 🙂 🙂
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I love Mammoth! Did you know there’s a place near Mammoth where you can take a dip and enjoy some of the hot springs? It’s sort of hidden (and requires a walk), but if you ever get back, it’s sort of a hidden treat of Yellowstone.
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No I didn’t! Thanks for that.
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It is a worthwhile visit, if only to say you swam in the waters of Yellowstone. There are definitely better hot springs around, but this one has that Yellowstone cachet.
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Beautiful photos, I can see why you couldn’t narrow it down! I especially like the bison; I got to feed a baby bison at the Texas State Fair, and he was pretty much the cutest, though I think I would have preferred to see him in the wild.
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Yes, I agree – much better in the wild.
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