Things to see and do Rocheuses américaines

The lake is the real raison d'être of tourist site. Becomes very lively around this attraction. A trail of 3 km on a hill, Tubbs Hill, leads to a viewpoint. The company "Lake Heart of Alene Cruises" organises boat rides on the lake (www.cdalakecruises.com). The resort on the lake has a circular wooden pontoon which has the reputation of being the longest in the world (990 feet). A floating golf course is set on the lake.

The Grand Prismatic Spring is 122 meters wide and 75 meters wide, and its flat bottom reflects all the colors of the rainbow in vapors that rise in swirls.

It is the largest hot source in Yellowstone and probably also the most beautiful basin in the park. To better observe the color differences and to measure this performance out of standard, we need to take height. Unfortunately, no facility allowed, for years visitors parked at the Fairy Falls parking lot and borrowed the small trail to finally sink into the forest. From there, they were languishing between dead trunk traps to the ground to find the right point of view on the basin. In addition to the most secure side of the climbing, it has had a heavy impact on local vegetation. The park thus rehabilitated the damaged hill and worked on the construction of a pathway to enjoy the view safely.

Prismatic Spring Overlook Trail. To reach it, park at Fairy Falls Parking and take the Fairy Falls Trailhead to Prismatic Spring Overlook Trail.

The Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone River extends over 38 kilometers, between the falls, upper and the mouth of the Lamar River. It reaches a depth of 60 to 245 meters and a width of 300 to 1,400 meters. In the upper part, where the throat is deepest and narrower, rocky walls offer beautiful tones ranging from yellow to orange and red brown.

Fine rock needles from erosion flow, isolated, depths, and sometimes a white vapor escapes from hot springs and geysers located at the bottom of the canyon. At the bottom, the Yellowstone River appears to be quiet. In fact, it mutates into rapids which, twice, rush into the depths of huge waterfalls: to the south, at the beginning of the canyon, the Upper Falls (33 meters high), and about 900 meters downstream the Lower Falls or Great Falls (94 meters high).

The most famous geysers in Yellowstone are more frequent than other large geysers. The average interval between two rashes varies from 65 to 92 minutes. It lasts 1.5 to 5 ¾ minutes, expels 14 ¥ 000 to 32 ± 000 ¥ liters of boiling water and reaches heights of 30 to 55 ¾ meters. Although the average interval has elongated over the years due to earthquakes, Old Poli is always as spectacular and predictable as it was a century ago. The attraction is very popular, so wait not to be alone.

In Biscuits Basin, the mineral deposits formed, until the 1959 earthquake, as a stack of biscuits. The Sapphire Pool has been a geyser since 1955.

This is the Yellowstone area where geothermal demonstrations are hottest and most variable. Throughout the 4 ½ km of trails, we can discover the largest active geyser in the world (Steamboat Geyser, 90 to 120 meters) and the most acidic (Echinus Geyser, pH 3.5), hot springs of all colors and microscopic manifestations in one of the most important environments extremes of the earth. The Norris Museum describes the geological origins of the sources. From there there are two trails to safely observe the areas of Porcelain Basin and Back Basin. Arches, whistle vapors and stinging odors combine to create a unique environment. In Porcelain Basin, in an open setting, we walk amidst a high density of geothermal phenomena (hundreds) while in Back Basin, through wood, these phenomena are more dispersed. Exploration of the One Hundred Springs Plain area is discouraged without guide, because very acidic, rugged and without trails. Artist Paint Pots is a small, but pretty geothermal zone just south of Norris Junction. A walk of a mile in the surrounding area leads to very colorful hot springs, two large volcanoes and part of the forest burned in 1988. Other nearby areas, Sylvan Springs, Gibbon Hill Geyser Basin and Geyser Creek Thermal, are not advised without guidance.

South of Canyon Village, Hayden Valley is the bed of an old lake formed in the ice age. Its fatty herb and some swampy points attract abundant wildlife (bears, bison, elk) and birds (swans, herons, Canada geese).
It is one of the best places in the park to observe wildlife, including the grizzly bear that, in the spring and early summer, is looking for bison and elk babies. Large bison herds can be admired from spring to early fall. Coyotes notice in the valley. Birds abound along the river. There are many in the Alum Creek vases. America's white ducks, geese and pelicans swim on the river. You can also follow the flight of the white-headed eagle and the northern harrier falcon.

Artist Point offers an impressive view of the Upper waterfalls and Lower Falls. Panoramic path along the edge of the canyon directly. Of Canyon Village, Canyon Rim Scenic Road wins the north wall of Grand Canyon with several beautiful viewpoints including Lookout Point, from where a path to the foot of the canyon, and by a junction, Inspiration Point, from where you have a splendid view of the latter.

Yellowstone Lake (elevation 2,357 meters), one of the world's largest mountain lakes is traversed from the south to the north by the Yellowstone River. It measures 32 km in its longest length, 22.5 kilometers in its widest width. With 176 kilometers of banks, it covers a total area of 360 km ². Its maximum depth is 91 meters in West Thumb Bay. This fish lake, surrounded by high mountains, is the refuge of countless waterfowl.

It is frozen almost half of the year (from late December or early January to late May or early July), with ice thicknesses ranging from a few centimeters to more than 60 centimeters. Situated at an altitude of 2 ¾ 300 meters, the lake remains cold all year long; its average temperature is 5 ° C, the upper layer rarely exceeding 19 ° C. This lake has the largest population of North American 'ferocious trout'. Lake trout, an exotic species that is illegally introduced, threatens its existence. In the larger part there are three small islands: Frank Island, Dot Island and Stevenson Island. From West Thumb, following the north shore, the road leads to Lake (38 km). Lake Yellowstone Hotel dominates the lake and offers magnificent views of the Absaroka Range.

On the left, a 2.4 km road rises to Natural Bridge, a rock arch created by erosion.

The rangers distribute a map and a practical information log to the park. The Visitor Centers are located at the entrance or main parts of the park, in every re-establishment. It is essential to go back to the park in order to obtain canned brochures and all information on the park, i. e., hiking trails, hours of guided tours, closed roads, site activities (rash of geyyosis) serve)… You can also buy books and souvenirs there. Five centers are installed in Yellowstone.

It's a ranger. Ranger HQ is located near the Visitor Center.

Opening. Mount Rushmore National Memorial is open all year round, except on December 25 th. The schedules of the various services vary according to the months, with maximum opening, from 7:00 a. m. to 10:00 p. m. in August, and a minimum, from 8 a. m. to 5 p. m. in winter. Lights take place from May 24 to August 14 at 9 p. m. and from August 15 to September 30 at 8 p. m. During the winter, the Audio Tour Building and Sculptor's Studio are closed.

Admission rates. No admission fee, but only a parking fee of US $ 10.

Post office and cash distributor. For mail and banks, you need to go to Rapid City (23 miles) or Hot Springs (50 miles).

Accessibility. Facing the main entrance, parking is reserved for disabled guests. Wheelchairs are made available to Information Center, but also «first come, first served». The amphitheater and Lincoln Borglum Museum, Sculptor's Studio, Presidents' Trails, Snack and Gift Shop are wheelchair accessible.

Toilets. Toilets are available at the Information Center, the Visitor Center and the Borglum Differentiation Terrace.

Ideal period. June, July and August are the months in which the park is most frequented. On July 3, Independence Day, there is a fireworks and the parking lot is complete in mid-morning.

Before going to explore the park, stop at the Visitor Center to take practical information on walks and different access.

Side of the dunes. You can walk freely on the dunes. If the climb is tough, the descent is obviously the most fun part. If you have a surfboard or bodyboard, or any other smooth surface, test the descent by sliding. Otherwise, you can always run and enjoy rolling in the sand. You will find that you will take a few minutes to steal what you have taken so long and effort to climb. Sunrise and sunrise are particularly magical moments at the top of the sand mountains overlooking the desert valley. The best places to consider are the High Dune and Star Dune.

The High Dune measures 200 meters and offers a beautiful panorama, however it is difficult to reach, about 4 kilometers round and 2:30 a. m., a large part of which is difficult. Star Dune is the highest dune in the park (230 meters) accessible within 4 hours and 10 kilometers of effort.

Mountain side. The mountain part of the park is ideal for viewing wildlife, you can make beautiful walks, including walks to the beautiful Lake of Sand Creek: Lower Sand Creek Lake (4.85 km), Upper Sand Creek Lake (5.6 km) or Little Sand Creek Lakes (12.8 kilometers).

Swimming in Medano Creek. When it is not dry (often the case in July and August), you can swim at the foot of the dunes in Medano Creek watercourse. Notable fact: sand formations create currents similar to waves in a sea.

The Tourist Office takes care of Jackson and Yellowstone park.

The Capitole is the legislative building of Colorado, located exactly one mile (1.6 km) above sea level. It houses the Senate, the House of Representatives, the Governor's Office, the Lieutenant Governor's Office and the Treasury Department. That is where the laws are created and voted on. The building, conceived in the late nineteenth century by Elijah E. Myers in a neoclassical style, has, like the capitol of Washington, D.C., a Greek cross-shaped base.

A free visit to the building will allow you to admire its architecture, whose raw materials are emblematic of the state's riches. The exterior walls are made of granite extracted in the Gunnison region (Colorado), the pink stone found repeatedly in the building comes from Beulah (Colorado), it is a coloring of unique onyx in the world. Floors are built in marble marble (Colorado). Finally, the dome gold comes from a gift of almost 5 kilos made by miners in Colorado. Rising to more than 80 meters high and glittering gold, the dome is a great tribute to the state's mining history.

Free visits from the Capitole take place every day from 10 a. m. to 3 p. m. without reservation requirements for groups below 12 people. The Chamber of Representatives and Senate rooms are open to the public from mid-January to mid-May, Monday through Friday. Gallery guides are also available.

A 40-meter waterfall of the Tower Creek, framed by eroded volcanic summits, it was described from the earliest voyages of Europeans to the Yellowstone region. His idyllic framework inspired many artists, including Thomas Moran, whose paintings presented to Congress played a decisive role in the creation of Yellowstone National Park in 1872. Trails lead to scenic platforms at the top and bottom of cataract and near to Undercliff Springs in the Yellowstone River canyon. The Narrows is the narrowest passage of the Yellowstone River Gorge with the Calcite Springs, whose gypsum and limestone deposits cover the canyon wall (petrified tree remains).

Upper Geyser Basin covers a surface of about 10 km ², over 180 of the 200 (250) geysers of the park, including the largest and most impressive of the park, and many hot springs. A circuit, the Geyser Hill Nature Trail (starting at the Old Faithfull Full Geyser, approx. 2.5 km), allows you to admire the main geysers and other attractions. The five largest geysers are regularly submitted by the staff: Castle, Grand, Daisy, Riverside, Old Poli.

North-west of the Old Faithhole River, on the other side of the Firehole River, the Giantess Geyser, which runs irregularly up to 60 meters high for periods up to 36 hours, is reached. Nearby you can see the Boakettle boil water (kettle) and Geyser Sponge (sponge), which owes its name to the shape of its crater. Isolated, isolated, Solitary Geyser. Beyond the Desert Sponge, northwestern, Geysers Lion Group, Lioness, Big Club and Little Club.

The main road leads to Liberty Pool, Sawmill Geyser and Spasmodic Geyser. A path crossing the Firehole River allows you to go to Crested Pool and Castle Geyser, probably the oldest active source of the park.

The main trail then obtains to the Grand Geyser (jet of 60 meters high), which communicates with the close Turban Geyser. Later, Beauty Pool and Chromatic Pool are in turn. Then we cross the Firehole River again to reach Inkwell Springs near Giant Geyser, broken crater. Farther away, the Grotto Geyser, whose dome has several niches almost to man's height, leads to water jets.

Next, the trail runs along the bank of the Firehole River and leads to Riverside Geyser (on the other shore) that spreads its jet into the stream and then beyond another bridge to the Fan and Mortar Geysers, connected by underground; Later, the Morning Glory Pool is a tinted basin of the most tender colors, named because of its resemblance to the ipomée (morning glory) flower.

Of Jackson Lake Dam until southern Moose. Elk and bison meat in grasslands along the river. The bison also eat in the carpets of wormwoods on the benches above. Sea eagles with white head, osprey and large herons build large nests of visible branches of the river. Beavers mooses and eat willows lining the waterway.

East of Highway 26/89/191, a mile north of Moose Junction. Along Mormon Row and Antelope Flats Road, pronghorn bison and antilopes can be observed in spring, summer, and autumn. You can also see coyotes, northern herds or American becerders hunting mice, Uinta squirrels and locusts. Teas and thrashers are also common in the region.