Western Road Trip 2015 BB

Grand Tetons

There are no foothills leading up to the Grand Tetons. They just rise majestically above the plain.

Yellowstone is the oldest national park in the U.S. and it is easy to see why it is a favorite of visitors. The grand loop grants access by car to the signature sites while numerous trails accommodate hikers. We stuck to the grand loop for this trip and took advantage of the scenic turnouts provided.

Mammoth Hot Springs

The word ‘mammoth’ certainly describes this beautiful feature of the northern part of Yellowstone National Park. It also describes the size of the crowds visiting that day. We only photographed the lower terraces.

Devil’s Tower

Suddenly seeing the massive rock formation appear on the landscape gets your attention. Even without knowing the legends or the association with the movie “Close Encounters of the Third Kind”, the visual impact inspires the imagination.

Mt Rushmore

Rain and fog obscured the first views of Mt Rushmore giving it a forbidding look. The weather cleared and re-clouded as we drove through Custer State Park and saw distance views of the monument. The next morning skies were clear

The Badlands

The Badlands arise suddenly out of the prairie. There are trails throughout the park but Paula couldn’t get past the “Beware of rattlesnakes” signs everywhere.