Finding Yellowstone Magic

Yellowstone is full of superlatives like the largest concentration of geysers in the world and the largest intact ecosystem in the lower 48 states. It’s hard not to come to Yellowstone and be wowed, whether you’re staring at a 2000 pound bull bison right outside your car window, seeing the colors in Grand Prismatic Spring, or peering into the impressive depths of the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone. It’s easy to feel inspired by the mountains, the fresh air, the wildlife.

But it’s also easy to be a slave to the agenda: Old Faithful eruption, check. Artist’s Point, check. Grizzly bear, check. Bison jam, check. It’s so tempting to try to do it all that you miss the true essence of what Yellowstone gives us: silence, solitude, and wilderness. The chance to be immersed in a world larger than ourselves, a place where humans are not the top of the food chain.

Even when you live here, it can be hard to truly connect with the landscape. The list of to-do’s and responsibilities is long for everyone, and Yellowstone locals are no exception. But only by slowing down can you truly get a sense of Yellowstone’s magic.

This morning, I came up to the Mammoth Terraces from Gardiner to “get some exercise” walking up and down the steep boardwalks. I did that, eventually, but first I found I couldn’t ignore the signals Yellowstone was sending; the sunlight streaming through the steam, the soft trickle of water cascading off of scalloped travertine edges, and the empty boardwalk, beckoning.  So I headed toward Canary Spring in a slow meander, stopping to simply enjoy the surreal morning. I find walking among thermal features immensely peaceful; the gentle trickles of water flowing over travertine terraces soothe my soul.  Among the cascades and whoosh and tumble I find I can breathe deeply, and let go of the chatter in my mind. And today the boardwalks are quiet…only one other visitor shared in this solitude and magnificence. I admit that its easier at the beginning of November to find solitude in Yellowstone than it is in July, but truthfully you can find it anytime if you know where to look. Here’s how:

 Further reading: Finding Solitude on Yellowstone’s Boardwalks