Independence Day at Yellowstone

 

We spent Independence Day 2022 driving through Yellowstone National Park.

It was a very quick trip (we devoted most of the weekend to Grand Teton NP) and we decided to drive through Yellowstone to make our way to Island Park. 

I wanted to see the iconic view of Grand Prismatic Spring.

Just south of the Grand Prismatic Spring turnoff is the trailhead for the Fairy Falls. Take the Fairy Falls trail for about a mile and you will arrive at the Grand Prismatic Spring overlook. This overlook offers an amazing view of the Spring. It was a beautiful clear day to see the fantastically colorful waters of the spring.

Grand Prismatic Spring is the largest hot spring in the United States and the third largest in the world. The spring's diameter is 370 ft and it has a depth of 160 ft and a discharge of 560 gallons per minute. The water of the spring is incredibly vivd blue, but there are also other colors: red, orange, yellow, and green.

The multi-colors of the spring are a result of microbial mats around the edges of the mineral-rich water. The amount of colors depends on the ratio of chlorophyll to carotenoids and also depends on the temperature gradient in the runoff. The center of the pool is completely lifeless due to the extreme heat. The water reaches a temperature of 160 degrees Fahrenheit. 

The Grand Prismatic Spring is an incredible sight that every visitor to Yellowstone should see.

Grand Prismatic Spring was our only major stop for this quick visit. But we did briefly stop at some other springs and hang out by the river. We also saw a few bison.

We enjoy every minute we spend in this wonderful National Park. Especially on the celebration of our Nation's independence.

For more info on Yellowstone: https://www.nps.gov/yell/index.htm

Inspiration Point - Grand Teton NP

Jenny Lake from Inspiration Point

Inspiration Point is one of the most popular hikes in Grand Teton National Park. This post is dedicated to our adventure to this viewpoint and further up into Cascade Canyon. We visited on the Fourth of July weekend of 2022.

Inspiration Point can be reached by a 2.85-mile hike via the South Jenny Lake Loop trail. Alternatively, you can shorten the hike by taking the ferry boat across Jenny Lake. We opted for the ferry. Ferries depart from the Jenny Lake Visitor Center.

We saw a deer in the parking lot at the Visitor Center

We took the first ferry of the morning

Jenny Lake was formed approximately 12,000 years ago by an ancient glacier that carved Cascade Canyon. Jenny Lake reaches a depth of 256 feet.

Beautiful morning on the ferry

Once you cross the lake, you'll set out in a pleasant forest near a raging river. 

Make sure you take a short spur off the trail to go to Hidden Falls. This 100-ft cascade is a beautiful spot.

Hidden Falls

After Hidden Falls, the trail starts to climb up to Inspiration Point. The trail gains an elevation of 550 ft. Inspiration Point is a spectacular overlook of Jenny Lake. 

After soaking in the views of Inspiration Point. We headed up further into Cascade Canyon. Hiking through this area was sublime. Hike up the canyon for as long as you wish, the views are amazing no matter how far up you go. All-in-all we ended up hiking approximately 7 to 8 miles round trip.

We got lucky and saw this moose right along the trail. It was very exciting.

The Tetons are one of the most impressive mountain ranges in the entire country. We highly recommend taking the hike to Inspiration Point if visiting Grand Teton National Park.

Tetons and Jackson Lake