Today the tour guide will take us to visit the attractions in the upper eight-shaped area of Yellowstone National Park. We will drive north from Madison Junction, after passing through the volcanic column cliff and Whistling Mountain, we will arrive at another important attraction in Yellowstone National Park, the Mammoth Hot Springs. At the Mammoth Hot Springs, you can enjoy the travertine terraces on the boardwalk, or you can go to the visitor center to learn more about the history and culture of Yellowstone. After a brief stay at the North Entrance Roosevelt Arch in Yellowstone, the tour guide will take you to visit the Roosevelt area, which was the favorite area of former President Roosevelt. In Lamar Valley, you can observe groups of wildlife, and at Roosevelt Ranch, you can experience various Western-style experience projects such as horse-drawn carriages and horseback riding. At sunset, we will return to the waterfall area. Interested tourists can walk along the rugged mountain road to the edge of the Yellowstone Grand Falls to see the spectacular waterfall. After exploring today's attractions, we have thoughtfully arranged Yellowstone's hot springs for everyone to wash away the fatigue of the journey.
Sheepeater Cliff (30 minutes) is composed of columnar basalt deposited by lava flows approximately 500,000 years ago. The Gardner River flows through the valley, exposing the water flow and forming the cliff. The basalt of Sheepeater Cliff is called columnar basalt because it forms hexagonal fracture lines when it cools.
Mammoth Hot Springs (60 minutes) Located in the northwest of Yellowstone National Park, it is the location of the park headquarters and the area most favored by elk during their mating season. Mammoth Hot Springs is known for its limestone formations, which are very different from the other geothermal phenomena in the park. The snow-white and dark-yellow terraces formed by the hot springs resemble terraced fields. When the hot springs emerge from the limestone layers, the hot water dissolves the calcium carbonate in the limestone, and when the water cools as it flows out onto the surface, the calcium carbonate becomes too saturated and solidifies and deposits as limestone platforms. When the underground water outlets are blocked by sediment, the spring water flows to other outlets, forming another platform. The sedimentary spring water in the platforms is influenced by the activity of algae and microorganisms, forming yellow, white, brown, and other colors, layer by layer, to form "limestone terraces." They resemble woolly mammoths from ancient times. Mammoth Hot Springs is the largest known carbonate sedimentary hot spring in the world. Its spring water comes from the Norris Geyser Basin and has a temperature of up to 77℃. Many algae live in the hot spring, giving it colors such as brown, orange, red, and green. The flowing hot springs rush down the terraces in different colors, forming a magnificent and grand colorful staircase. After a crustal movement in 2002, most of the hot springs stopped their activities, causing a large number of microorganisms to die, and the Mammoth Hot Springs lost their colors. The dead bacteria also turned into gray-white powder, which remained on the dried-up terraces.
Roosevelt Arch (20 minutes) The 26th President of the United States, Roosevelt, laid the cornerstone for this arch in 1903. It is located at the north entrance of Yellowstone National Park and is one of the main symbols of the park. The north entrance is also the only entrance with a gate. After the completion of the arch, Roosevelt had ten words from a congressional act, "For the benefit and enjoyment of the people," engraved on the arch.
Lamar Valley -Best Wildlife Viewing Area (30 minutes) Lamar Valley is located in the northeast end of Yellowstone National Park. The slopes are gentle and covered with green grass. The inhabitants of the valley include wild animals such as yaks, brown bears, antelopes, black bears, and North American elk. In the early 20th century, it was a farm, and now it has become a place to watch gray wolves during spring, early summer, and winter mornings. The intersection between the Tower Roosevelt and Lamar Valley in the middle of Yellowstone National Park has been described by tourists as "sexy in the front, and majestic in the back." I believe that every visitor will have their unique experience while being there.
Lower Falls Overlook (30 minutes) The Lower Falls Overlook trail is an unmissable trail for viewing the Yellowstone Falls. Following the rugged mountain path downward, you will reach the edge of the Yellowstone Falls. Here, you can witness the spectacular and magnificent scenery of the Yellowstone Falls up close.
Yellowstone Ecological Zone Hot Springs Naturally formed over the years within the ecological zone of Yellowstone National Park, these underground hot springs contain a variety of minerals beneficial to the human body. Set in a beautiful and soothing environment, the comfortable and relaxing hot springs wash away the fatigue of your journey, ensuring you enjoy moments of relaxation and delight throughout your itinerary.