![\"Hayden](\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/20190718\/DSC_1855.jpg\")
<\/a><\/br>Hayden Valley<\/p><\/div>
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The plan of the day was to visit the few clusters of geysers that weren’t located in the lower-left corner of Yellowstone’s figure-8 loop. They were Mud Volcano area, Norris Basin area, and Artists Paintpot area. While the geysers we visited the previous day were mostly clear and enchantingly colorful, mud pots were a common theme throughout today’s footprint.<\/p>\n
And we bumped into quite some wild animals today, the first of which was just outside our cottage as we checked out.<\/p>\n
<\/a> <\/br>Field with Wildflowers<\/br>The same woods that previous pack of deer dwelt in.<\/p><\/div><\/p>\n And it seemed that park rangers were pretty active with wildlife patrol. As we pulled in for these photos, they had already set up picket lines reminding people to stay back. Since we felt the day ahead would not be too rushed, we planned to visit the Eastern part of the park first, areas like Fishing Bridge and Storm Point Trail.<\/p>\n <\/br>Pelican Creek<\/p><\/div>\n Unfortunately, there were major construction going on near Fishing Bridge Visitor Center that occupied a few roadside parking lots. Since we didn’t feel like hiking amid dust from roadwork, we moved on towards Mud Volcano Area.<\/p>\n <\/br>Bridge Construction over Pelican Creek<\/br>This photo was taken by my parents.<\/span><\/p><\/div> <\/br>Tour Group at Fishing Bridge<\/br>Construction created too much dust and noise for an enjoyable stop here, we chose to drive on instead.<\/span><\/p><\/div><\/p>\n To make matters worse, a 4-mile section of Grand Loop Road just South of Mud Volcano parking lot was also under construction and was reduced to one-lane only. As a result, all the roadside turnouts were closed, and that included LeHardy’s Rapids. <\/br> So, more than an hour after we left our lakeside cottage, we were at Mud Volcano Area, with a short (<1 mile) hiking trail along some muddy pots.\n\n\n <\/br>Bird at Parking Lot<\/p><\/div> <\/br>Steam Vents by Mud Geyser<\/p><\/div><\/p>\n Not long after that, we spotted a bison resting by Mud Geyser, probably for its warmth.<\/p>\n <\/br> <\/br>Mud Geyser<\/p><\/div> <\/br>Sizzling Basin<\/p><\/div> <\/br> <\/br> \nThis mudpot roared into existence in 1948, blowing trees out by roots and forever changing this once quiet forested hillside. A park interpreter named the new feature for its resemblance to a darkly colored \u201cdemon of the backwoods.\u201d For several decades, it erupted in explosive 10 \u2013 20 foot bursts of black mud. Over the years, it has moved 200\u2019 to the southeast and become relatively quiet. However as change is constant in Yellowstone, the black dragon may one day roar back to life. <\/p><\/div> <\/br>Boardwalk<\/p><\/div> <\/br>Grizzly Fumarole<\/br>“All hydrothermal features change, but Grizzly Fumarole changes from day to day, and season to season, reflecting recent weather conditions.”<\/span><\/p><\/div><\/p>\n Back near the parking lot, we found another bison resting, this time it’s much closer to the boardwalk.<\/p>\n And this one’s more playful.<\/p>\n <\/br>Dragon’s Mouth Spring<\/br><\/p>\n \nAn unknown park visitor named this feature around 1912, perhaps due to the water that frequently surged from the cave like the lashing of a dragon’s tongue. Until 1994, this dramatic wave-like action ofter splashed water as far as the boardwalk. The rumbling sounds are caused by steam and other gasses exploding through the water causing it to crash against the walls of the hidden caverns. <\/p><\/div><\/p>\n After leaving Mud Volcano area, we were technically in Hayden Valley, which was one of the few spots that’s famous for wildlife viewing in Yellowstone.<\/p>\n Yes, the landscape here, of rolling hills and winding river, was magnificent. Wildlife-wise, well, I could only spot a few packs of geese.<\/p>\n <\/br> <\/br>Park Road<\/p><\/div> <\/br>Elk Antler Creek<\/p><\/div> And a few bison in distant field.<\/p>\n <\/br>Bison in Field<\/br>This was what it looked like if I don’t crop a 120mm image. A black dot in the center of this photo was a bison.<\/p><\/div><\/p>\n Just as we were least expecting wildlife, we found some traffic jam ahead of us, which was due to a pack of elks resting in the bushes just by main road.<\/p>\n However, a lady from wildlife patrol was already on scene herding traffic, and instructing people to stay back a certain distance. So photographing this pack of elks was harder than it seemed.<\/p>\n <\/br> Not much farther away was Hayden Valley Overlook, where we parked our car and walked back towards this pack of elks. It also offered spectacular views of Hayden Valley.<\/p>\n As we drove on, the scenery continued.<\/p>\n <\/br>Creek<\/p><\/div> <\/br>Geese<\/p><\/div> <\/br>Geese across Yellowstone River<\/p><\/div> <\/br>Yellowstone River<\/p><\/div> Just as we approached Canyon Junction, we found another bison sitting by the side of road, this time much closer to the road, and amazingly, without wildlife patrol nearby.<\/p>\n <\/br>Bison<\/p><\/div>\n After lunch near Canyon Visitor Center, which was a major service station in Yellowstone National Park, we headed West towards Norris Geyser Basin.<\/p>\n On our way to Norris Geyser Basin we passed Ice Lake trailhead, and we decided to take a stroll here, deep in the woods of central Yellowstone.<\/p>\n <\/br>Dragonfly<\/br>A rather beautiful one. There were quite a lot of these along the trail.<\/span><\/p><\/div><\/p>\n 230 meters into the hike, Ice Lake Trail forked into two. For casual hikers like us, we were supposed to take the shorter path (on the right \/ East) to the side of lake, which would make a comfortable 1 km roundtrip hike. <\/br>Fallen Trees<\/p><\/div> <\/br> Amazingly finding a parking spot here only took 5 minutes.<\/p>\n The entire Norris Geyser Basin was divided into two parts, the smaller upper (North) part with more concentrated geysers, and the larger lower(South) part with much fewer visitors. Touring both parts took about 4km of walking, and we started with the upper part first.<\/p>\n By the way, I found it interesting that many geysers and springs were wearing different colors during our visit, compared with their online pictures. Maybe something\u2019s happening underground?<\/p>\n <\/br>Ledge Geyser and Various Steam Vent<\/p><\/div> <\/br>Hill of Norris Geyser Basin<\/br>Jetsam Pool in the foreground, Lewis Mud Pots in the background.<\/span><\/p><\/div> <\/br>Hurricane Vent<\/p><\/div> <\/br>Scummy Pool<\/p><\/div> <\/br>Dead Trees among Geyser Basin<\/p><\/div> <\/br>Constant Geyser<\/p><\/div> <\/br>Hill of Norris Geyser Basin<\/p><\/div> <\/br>Waterflow<\/p><\/div> <\/br>Waterflow<\/p><\/div><\/p>\n By information board nearby, the green color in this runnoff, which wasn’t commonly seemed in other parts of Yellowstone, was Thermophilic Algae. Quite amazing feast for eye.<\/p>\n <\/br>Whirligig Geyser<\/p><\/div> <\/br>Colloidal Pool<\/p><\/div> <\/br>Lambchop Geyser<\/p><\/div> <\/br>Congress Pool<\/br>Its name refers to the 5th International Geological Congress held 1891 in Yellowstone. However, when I first saw its muddy appearance, I thought it was a rather appropriate satire for United States Congress, with all their shady business. To be fair, a Google search later I found the pool was wearing aqua blue most of the time. Don\u2019t know why it\u2019s muddy like this during my visit.<\/span><\/p><\/div><\/p>\n That’s the part of upper Norris Geyser Basin. After that, I headed for lower Norris Geyser Basin, where geysers and springs were more isolated from each other.<\/p>\n <\/br>Emerald Spring<\/p><\/div> <\/br>Dr. Allen’s Paint Pots<\/br>A collection of small springs named after Dr. Eugene Thomas Allen.<\/p><\/div><\/a> <\/a><\/br>Deer in Bushes<\/p><\/div>
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\nYes, although the name was wildlife patrol, they seemed to be regulating humans more than wildlife…<\/p>\n<\/a><\/a>
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\nAnd we waited half an hour there for the signal man.<\/p>\n<\/a><\/a><\/br>Forest across Yellowstone River<\/p><\/div>
\n<\/a><\/a> <\/a><\/br>Meadow<\/p><\/div><\/p>\nMud Volcano Area<\/span><\/h3>\n
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\n<\/a><\/a><\/br>Mud Cauldron<\/p><\/div>
\n<\/a><\/a><\/br>Hill with Wildflowers<\/p><\/div>
\n<\/a><\/a><\/a> <\/a><\/br>Bison Resting by Mud Geyser<\/p><\/div>
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\n<\/a><\/a> <\/a><\/br><\/a><\/br>Churning Caldron<\/p><\/div>
\n<\/a><\/a><\/br>Mud Pot<\/p><\/div>
\n<\/a><\/a><\/br>Black Dragons Caldron<\/br><\/p>\nClick for details<\/summary>\n
\nSource: Information board nearby.<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/details>\n<\/div>\n
\n<\/a><\/a> <\/a><\/br>Bird among Mud Field<\/p><\/div>
\n<\/a><\/a><\/br>Sour Lake<\/p><\/div>
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\n<\/a><\/a><\/br>Valley<\/p><\/div>
\n<\/a><\/a><\/a><\/br><\/a><\/br>Bison Resting<\/p><\/div>\n<\/a><\/a><\/br>Bison Flipping<\/p><\/div>
\n<\/a><\/a><\/br>Muddy Water<\/p><\/div>
\n<\/a>Click for details<\/summary>\n
\nSource: Information board nearby.<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/details>\n<\/div>\nHayden Valley<\/span><\/h3>\n
<\/a><\/a><\/br><\/a> <\/a><\/br>Hayden Valley<\/p><\/div>\n<\/a><\/a> <\/a><\/br>Geese<\/p><\/div>
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\n<\/a><\/a><\/br><\/a> <\/a><\/br>Hayden Valley<\/p><\/div>
\n<\/a><\/a><\/br><\/a><\/br>Geese<\/p><\/div><\/p>\n<\/a><\/a> <\/a><\/br><\/a> <\/a> <\/a><\/br>Bison in Field<\/p><\/div>
\n<\/a>Pack of Elks<\/span><\/h4>\n
<\/a><\/a><\/br><\/a><\/br>Elk<\/p><\/div>\n<\/a><\/a> <\/a><\/br>Elk<\/p><\/div>\n<\/a><\/a><\/br>Hayden Valley<\/p><\/div>\n<\/a><\/a><\/br>Hayden Valley<\/p><\/div>
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\n<\/a><\/a><\/br>Forest<\/p><\/div><\/p>\n<\/a><\/a><\/a><\/br>Forest<\/p><\/div>
\n<\/a><\/a><\/br>Park Road<\/p><\/div><\/p>\nIce Lake<\/span><\/h3>\n
<\/a><\/a><\/br>Trail<\/p><\/div>
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\nUnfortunately we took the wrong fork, which led to the North side of the lake 1km away, and by the time we realized it was too late. So we found an opening in the woods and made it to the lake, took a few pictures and headed back.<\/p>\n<\/a><\/a><\/a> <\/a><\/br>Ice Lake<\/p><\/div><\/p>\nNorris Geyser Basin<\/span><\/h3>\n
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\n<\/a><\/a><\/br>Sunday Geyser<\/p><\/div>
\n<\/a><\/a><\/br><\/a><\/br>Geysers Erupting<\/p><\/div>
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\n<\/a><\/a><\/a><\/br>Pools in North Norris Geyser Basin<\/br>Down the hill, this part of Norris Geyser Basin was pretty flat, with lots of pools and geysers scattered far from boardwalk.<\/p><\/div>
\n<\/a><\/a><\/br><\/a> <\/a><\/br>Porcelain Springs<\/p><\/div>
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