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Yellowstone Road Trip 2018

A Travel Diary

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.

A two-and-a-half-week road trip across the American West, the kind of drive that rearranges your sense of scale. We went out through the Black Hills, past Mount Rushmore and through the granite tunnels of the Needles Highway, then dropped down into Yellowstone.

The park is almost too much: the impossible colors of Grand Prismatic Spring, geysers firing against the sky, the yellow walls and roaring falls of the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, the travertine terraces of Mammoth. And everywhere the wildlife — bison on the road, elk in the meadows, a black bear out in the open. The open road at its very best.

This trip ran 7 days, July 1–21, 2018. Along the way we spent time at Yellowstone — canyon, falls & wildlife, Yellowstone's thermal wonders, The Black Hills & Bighorn country, Westward — statues, plains & towns, and Lakes, mountains & the road home. The gallery below tells it day by day, in 110 photographs.

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