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.
“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.
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.
“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).
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.
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
And thar she blows!
“Old Faithful has erupted more than a million times in recorded history—and counting!” – Source
“The geysers and hot springs of the Yellowstone are another proof of recent volcanic activity.” — Ellsworth Huntington
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:
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.
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
Do I look happy?
Another easy-to-walk-to view is the overlook of Upper Falls.
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.
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!
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.
Two hours south of Spokane is Palouse Falls, which flows from the Palouse River. Worth the drive for the payout!
“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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