bison and steam plumes
Terri Webster Schrandt

Sunday Stills: Fountains and Falls, Featuring Geysers of Yellowstone

Before we decided to plan our trip to Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, I had chosen “Fountains and Falls” as one of the September themes for the Sunday Stills Photo Challenge.

Fountain Hills Fountain
Fountain Hills Fountain, Arizona

“A fountain’s magic lies in its water, which is always moving and yet never leaves.” – Toba Beta

Now that my father is gone, my step-mom moved away from Payson, Arizona to the Tucson area. We loved our walks beside this little lake in Payson.

Lake in Payson Arizona

This post is all about the water features you see in nature, whether it’s waterfalls, cascading rivers, water fountains, or features found in parks and urban areas. I’m also sharing water features that boil and erupt out of the Earth, as seen in Yellowstone.

bison and steam plumes
Geothermal fumaroles dot the rolling grasslands in Yellowstone

“Yellowstone: where geysers dance and bison roam.” – Unknown 🦬

Yellowstone’s Geothermal Water Features

Having visited almost every national park in the Western US, Yellowstone was still on the must-see list and a long time coming. I erroneously thought the park was only known for the Old Faithful Geyser and the herds of bison roaming the golden grasslands.

It wasn’t until we moved to Eastern Washington in late 2020 that I realized visiting the park was a mere day’s drive. This year, we made plans to camp in West Yellowstone, Montana, in mid-September 2025, once the summer crowds had diminished. Wow, was I surprised when I did a little research on attractions to see.

“Yellowstone is not just a park; it’s a laboratory.” – Jim Robbins

On our first full day in Yellowstone, we opted to drive straight to the Old Faithful Geyser complex. On the drive, there was plenty of steaming water escaping the bonds of the Earth. Near the Grand Prismatic Spring area, numerous trails lead to the various small geysers, hot springs, and fumaroles (steam vents).

geothermal spring runoff
Runoff from Grand Prismatic Spring
random geyser
Random geyser

Iconic Old Faithful Geyser

“Faith is the fountain of life.” ― Lailah Gifty Akita

Old Faithful is named as such because it can be predicted to erupt about every 90 minutes. There is a phone hotline you can call to get the approximate times. To drive from West Yellowstone, through the gate entrance, all the way to the Visitor Center complex, it took us over 90 minutes. We left at 9:30 a.m., hoping to arrive on time for the 11:30 a.m. show. We did.

crowd sitting
Crowd waiting in anticipation

Geysers are rare geologic features. Scientists estimate there are only about 1,000 geysers worldwide, and Yellowstone alone is home to roughly 500 of them—more than anywhere else on Earth. Source

two people geyser
Timely Eruption

And thar she blows!

“Old Faithful has erupted more than a million times in recorded history—and counting!” – Source

old faithful geyser

“The geysers and hot springs of the Yellowstone are another proof of recent volcanic activity.” — Ellsworth Huntington

old faithful

Other surface features include hot springs and fumaroles, areas where steam erupts from the Earth. Not all geysers are as tall as Old Faithful’s, which can vary in height from 90 to 180 feet into the air.

No wonder Old Faithful Geyser stands as a Yellowstone icon; it offers a moment in time we can count on! After spending three hours gawking, chatting with visitors, walking Brodie around, eating, and shopping, we drove back toward the Grand Prismatic Springs area for another look.

There are two views of the Grand Prismatic Springs from which one can park in a large parking area: one right off the highway and another to visit the overlook. I chose the overlook, which involved an uphill mile walk in 80°F heat on already wobbly legs. 17,000 steps later, which included walking at the Geyser complex, this was my treat:

prismatic spring
Grand Prismatic Spring Overlook

Yellowstone’s Waterfalls

On Day Two of our Yellowstone tour, we drove to the Canyon area. Who knew the park boasts a Grand Canyon of its own? We stopped by the Visitor Center to ask questions about the best views that didn’t involve hiking. The Park Ranger gave us a small map of the loop showing the turnouts, hiking trails, and parking areas. Let me just say that arriving before the crowds guarantees a decent parking space. An easy paved pathway led us to several lookout spots.

Waterfall Yellowstone
View of Lower Falls of the Yellowstone River

The Yellowstone River created the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone. The canyon is approximately 24 miles (39 km) long, between 800 and 1,200 feet (240 and 370 meters) deep, and from 0.25 to 0.75 miles (0.40 to 1.21 kilometers) wide, bookended by the Lower Falls and the Upper Falls.

The 308-foot Lower Falls may have formed because the river flows over volcanic rock that is more resistant to erosion than the downstream rocks, which are hydrothermally altered. The 109-foot Upper Falls flows over similar rocks. SOURCE NPS

Upper Falls
Closer View of Lower Falls

Do I look happy?

upper falls view
Lower Falls View Selfie

Another easy-to-walk-to view is the overlook of Upper Falls.

Upper Falls
Upper Falls cascades down 109 feet.

As we bid farewell to the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, the park’s 500 geysers and countless steam vents, my thoughts echoed the words in this quote:

“… As I took in the scene, I realized my own littleness, my helplessness, my dread exposure to destruction, my inability to cope with or even comprehend the mighty architecture of nature…” – Nathaniel P. Langford, 1870

Waterfalls Closer to Home

There are several towns in our county in Eastern Washington named after waterfalls: Kettle Falls, Metaline Falls, and Nine Mile Falls. There is something romantic about living in a small town named after a local waterfall. We love to see our Nine Mile Falls flow from March to July.

Nine Mile Falls
Nine Mile Falls, Spring

For our wedding anniversary in August, we took a short road trip to northern Stevens County to the town of Kettle Falls for this view of Meyers Falls. Not a big, grand waterfall, but pretty!

Meyers Falls Kettle Falls
Meyers Falls, Washington

Last summer, we took a day trip to the town of Metaline Falls (home of the Sasquatch Festival!). It was tricky to figure out its waterfall feature, Pee Wee Falls, which is best viewed from a kayak. We hiked a half mile for this view.

Pee Wee Falls
Pee Wee Falls, near Metaline Falls, Washington

Two hours south of Spokane is Palouse Falls, which flows from the Palouse River. Worth the drive for the payout!

Palouse Falls
Palouse Falls Overview
Palouse Falls Washington
First look at Palouse Falls
Palouse Falls
Palouse Falls

“I go to nature to be soothed and healed, and to have my senses put in order.” – John Burroughs

There’s still no place like home!

Thank you for reading today! After seeing nature’s majestic beauty in Yellowstone, I couldn’t help but share the fascinating information I learned.

Sharing this week for Johnbo’s CellPic Sunday and Lens-Artists: Home and Away

Sunday Stills Photo Challenge Reminders

The Sunday Stills weekly-themed photo challenge is easy to join. You have all week to share and link your post. Please use your own original images, whether new or from your archives.

  • Remember to title your blog post a little differently from mine.
  • Please create a new post for the theme or link to a recent one.
  • Entries for this theme can be posted all week.
  • Tag your post “Sunday Stills.”
  • Don’t forget to create a pingback to this post so that other participants can read your post.
  • I also recommend adding your post’s URL to the comments.

If you are participating in the photo challenge, I look forward to seeing how you interpret this week’s theme! Creativity is encouraged, so please share your own photographs (old or new), poems, original short stories, and music inspired by the theme.

Remember, you don’t have to share anything from Yellowstone if you’re participating in the challenge this week. Show us your favorite waterfalls and fountains. Images from your archives are always accepted and encouraged!

Join me next week as we explore windows. The Autumnal and Vernal Equinoxes arrive on Monday–happy Autumn or Spring to you!

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114 comments

  7. Terri,
    Yellowstone is awe-inspiring and the National Park is one of the greatest gifts Americans have given to ourselves. My son lived in Jackson Hole for five years and we have been fortunate to visit many times. The last time was in 2021 during COVID and we almost had the park to ourselves (no tour busses). Since you’re within driving distance, I recommend a trip in winter. The snowmobile ride to Old Faithful from the Park entrance is a hoot! Your pictures are fabulous and you were blessed with wonderful weather, while making the most of your visit. My contribution is a picture of Riverside Geyser in the upper Geyser Basin, about a mile walk from the Old Faithful parking lot.

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  12. Wow! Wow! Wow! Gorgeous photos! You brought back so many sweet memories for me. Thank you for that!
    I am unable to participate this week as we just got back to Pennsylvania from Texas.
    Happy Fall!

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  13. I always learn something in every post, Terri. I didn’t know that about the number of geysers and so many of them being in Yellowstone. Nature really knows how to display its water! You’ve got some gorgeous pictures here, and a ton of memories. Thanks for sharing them with us. 🙂 xxx

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  15. Gorgeous Terri. I never got to Payson. When we used to winter in Arizona, in Scottsdale, we’d drive up to Sedona a few times. Someone told us the turn off to Payson was a worthy detour, but we never got there. I have friends who live in beautiful Fountain Hills. 🧡

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  20. Such a wonderful collection of photos. The movement of the water can be mesmerising, creating a calming effect on the mind. It’s like nature’s own soothing melody, washing away worries and stress. Thanks for sharing, and have a good day 🙂 Aiva xx

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  28. This was a great tour you gave us of Yellowstone National Park Terri and I feel like I was there with you. The facts that you shared with us were interesting too. I knew about Old Faithful but I had no idea that its activity was timed so precisely. My knees would be wobbly after a 17,000-step-hike too. You are lucky you are so close to beautiful falls, even in your own town. My friend lives in Honeoye Falls, New York and the village is all about the picturesque falls and the mill, a quaint centerpiece of the village. It is about 4th of July parades through town and they won’t let franchisees move into the village … my kind of place.

    My post will be along later, a few fountains at Heritage Park, as there are no fountains or waterfalls near me.

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    • Thank you, Linda! When I plan to visit a new place, I learned as much as possible. Your friend’s town sounds wonderful. We don’t have much of a town center. Yesterday my SIl and I walked around the Fall Vendors Fair in town, and I stopped and chatted with 10 different people that I knew. Small town atmosphere for sure!

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  31. Thank you for sharing more of your pictures from Yellowstone. Most of your images makes it look like you had the park to yourselves (except for, of course, the buffalo), but yikes to the crowds at Old Faithful (even though many fewer than in the summer). Fortunately, you were able to get a great view of the geyser.

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    • We only arrived at the Old Faithful complex 30 minutes early, Janis. Found plenty of parking. We sat down at the amphitheater just 15 minutes before the “show” and got good seats! Seating is spread out enough and many folks can watch the eruption from the huge windows of the visitor center. September crowds aren’t bad at all and the lines to get in at the West entrance were short. Our longest “lines” were on the highways waiting for bison and elk to move along, LOL!

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  36. Terri, your fantastic images of Yellowstone take me back almost 20 years when we camped outside the west entrance to the park in Idaho! Seeing how many people were there at Old Faithful confirmed what I’ve heard about the park being much more crowded now. That being said, anyone who has never been there should not let the crowds scare you away! It is a special place. I also love all your waterfall images. I love waterfalls! How lucky you are to live withing driving distance of these beautiful falls.

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    • I’m glad you have such cool memories of Yellowstone, Beth! September was a great time to go. The crowd at Old Faithful was big that day but there was plenty of parking and places to sit and watch the eruption. I so love our little town of Nine Mile Falls. The dam that creates the seasonal Falls and Lake Spokane along the Spokane River. I didn’t share Spokane Falls this time, but that is also a sight to see.

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  39. Oh my Terri – a wonderful display of nature’s power! I must admit I might have turned around and left after seeing the crowd at Old Faithful – happily our visit was much less busy but it was many years ago. Loved those images and also the waterfalls. Terrific!

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