To Yellowstone and back we traveled approximately 5,000 miles and I took over 2,000 pictures, including the Badlands. June 30, 2010 was the first day and we targeted the Upper Falls and Lower Falls. We hiked 5 miles along the South Canyon Rim. The Canyon is 1,500-4,000 feet across, 20 miles long and more than a thousand feet deep. The Upper Falls is 109 feet high and the Lower Falls is 308 feet high. The Canyon area is about 8,000 feet above sea level. Breathing can be strenuous at times. From the East Entrance we headed for Hayden Valley (looking for Grizzlies). The main road through Yellowstone forms a figure eight. There are five entrances into the park, east, northeast at Cooke City, north at Gardiner MT, west through West Yellowstone, and south from the Grand Tetons. Although we visited each entrance we used the east entrance outside Cody WY since we were staying in a cabin in the Absaroka Range. From Hayden alley we headed west towards Norris Junction and then north towards Mammoth Hot Spring. We made stops at Nymph Lake, Willow Park (looking for Moose), Swan Lake, Bunsen Peak and Sheepeaters Cliff. Day three was to be a day off. However, after finishing our laundry we opted to go back to Yellowstone by way of the Chief Joseph Scenic Byway. We traveled north of Cody and entered the park from Cooke City also known as the northeast gate entrance. The byway is mountainous with many panoramic overlooks. The Cooke City entrance into the park leads to Lamar Valley where large herds of Buffalo graze. This area was also the home of the Druid Wolf Pack which was part of the wolf re-introduction program. I think only one female remains. It was on this day that we encounter our first Grizzly Bear and one I will never forget. We drove to Roosevelt Lodge for dinner and then to Tower Falls. After photographing Tower Falls we came upon a female Grizzly with her two cubs at Mt. Washburn. As we headed back to the east entrance and our cabin we passed through Hayden Valley where another female Grizzly and her three cubs were feeding off an Elk carcass. Needless to say we did not stop and walk over to photograph this. Enough Grizzly encounters for one day. Day 4 we entered the park from the east entrance coming upon a Grizzly Bear. We stopped and hiked the Storm Point Trail to a lookout view of Yellowstone Lake and home to a group of Yellowbellied Marmots. Met a photographer from Florida and exchanged cards. We headed for Old Faithful to photograph Old Faithful and Morning Glory Pool but due to overcrowding we opted to find a trail across from the Black Sand Basin which would intersect the Firehole River Trail and take us to Morning Glory Pool. This trail was on our map but is little known and used. Along the way are numerous geysers and thermal pools. Did a lot of hiking but it was rewarding. For Day 5 we were on the road by 5:00am with us driving to the top of Yellowstone Lake's Butte Overlook. This is a steep drive which climbs several hundred feet into the air traveling along the edge of the mountain. At the top is a fantastic overlook of Yellowstone Lake with the Grand Teton Mountains in the background. From here we traveled south on the loop road stopping at Grant Village for breakfast. We then headed for Old Faithful. It was a clear sky with a beautiful blue background to photograph the old girls eruption. From Old Faithful we travel north stopping at Midway Geyser Basin, then along Firehole Lake Drive. Further north on the loop we took a side road along Firehole Canyon Drive. Each stop afforded us the opportunity to hike and take pictures. At Madison Junction it was time for a break and then on west to West Yellowstone. Just outside the west entrance to the park we took in the Grizzly and Wolf Discovery Center. This facility houses Grizzly Bears and Wolves relocated from Alaska. There was a great interpretive center here and we learned a lot about these animals and their breeding habits. Did you know that beers only breed every three years and keep their young with them until they reach the age of two? This was a beautiful area and an area we had never been to in previous trips. We drove back to the east entrance stopping to photograph the west sun hitting the east entrance burn. The trees had a silver affect from the sun. We finally decided to drive by up to Butte Overlook. So glad we did because it was a beautiful day with clear blue skies and our view of the Grand Teton Mountains was much better than our morning visit. No matter where you drive, hike, or look, Yellowstone has to be the most photogenic place I have ever visited. I am planning a winter trip now. But stay with me because I have two more days worth of pictures to process and post on this gallery.