Wildlife Photography in Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem

[pipingtenor2570]

My family takes at least one trip to the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem each year. It's a place where the wonder and amazement I felt before nature as a child comes flooding back. The vastness of the spaces, the extremes of landscape, and fauna at every turn keep us coming back.

Please understand that I'm not a trained wildlife photographer. I take these for my own pleasure and to create a visual record for my son. I hope they will bring some pleasure to you, too. Feel free to share your images of wildlife or landscapes below.

 

[heysi]

Um....WOW!!! Those are impressive.

 

[pipingtenor2570]

Um....WOW!!! Those are impressive.

Thank you, heysi!

 

[Cvargo]

Yellowstone is my favorite place on the planet that I have visited. My family also makes it a point to attend at least once every two years. Going in June with my friend @BarberDave

 

[pipingtenor2570]

Yellowstone is my favorite place on the planet that I have visited. My family also makes it a point to attend at least once every two years. Going in June with my friend @BarberDave

I will be there in June also! We will be camping on Yellowstone River during the first two weeks that month. You men definitely understand the pull of the place. It's one of those places you have to experience to understand.

 

[Cvargo]

I will be there in June also! We will be camping on Yellowstone River during the first two weeks that month. You men definitely understand the pull of the place. It's one of those places you have to experience to understand.

We are there at the end of the month. We both drive motor homes our trip is split with reservations at Madison, then Canyon, and the Gros Venture in Teton.

My wife and I went to Glacier National Park which was breathtaking but she was pregnant with my oldest when we went. We need to plan another trip there so we can experience more of what that park has to offer.

 

[pipingtenor2570]

We are there at the end of the month. We both drive motor homes our trip is split with reservations at Madison, then Canyon, and the Gros Venture in Teton.

My wife and went to Glacier National Park which was breathtaking but she was pregnant with my oldest when we went. We need to plan another trip there so we can experience more of what that park has to offer.

Well, darn. I was hoping our trips would overlap. I thought we could meet up for coffee or something in West Yellowstone.

A motor home is such a luxurious way to see the area! Do you tow a vehicle? I was trying to imagine a motor home maneuvering over Dunraven Pass. We take an inflatable hot tent with us. 15 x 12 x 8 and it has a wood burning stove that heats the tent incredibly well on those cold nights. Our campsite is in Gardiner, just outside the north gate. Because we spend so much time in Lamar Valley and up Beartooth Highway, Gardiner is incredibly convenient.

 

[Cvargo]

Well, darn. I was hoping our trips would overlap. I thought we could meet up for coffee or something in West Yellowstone.

A motor home is such a luxurious way to see the area! Do you tow a vehicle? I was trying to imagine a motor home maneuvering over Dunraven Pass. We take an inflatable hot tent with us. 15 x 12 x 8 and it has a wood burning stove that heats the tent incredibly well on those cold nights. Our campsite is in Gardiner, just outside the north gate. Because we spend so much time in Lamar Valley and up Beartooth Highway, Gardiner is incredibly convenient.

I have three small kids, so the conveniences of the motorhome definitely make it easier to travel this great country of ours. Our motorhome is a 25ft so on the smaller side for motorhomes. We choose to NOT tow a vehicle. Dunraven or Beartooth has never been an issue for us. We actually are able to take every side road in Yellowstone in our rig which makes it perfect for us. My wife loves the fact that she doesn't have to wait in bathroom lines with the three kids at real popular areas like Old Faithful. Also I wake up so early usually her and the kids are asleep and I am driving early in the morning to the area of the park we want to explore. So when everyone wakes up.... boom we are in Lamar wife is cooking breakfast and I have the spotting scope out searching for Wolves and Grizzlies.

 

[Cvargo]

One of our sites


Breakfast spot along the river



Breakfast at the lake



And of course the grand canyon of Yellowstone

 

[pipingtenor2570]

I have three small kids, so the conveniences of the motorhome definitely make it easier to travel this great country of ours. Our motorhome is a 25ft so on the smaller side for motorhomes. We choose to NOT tow a vehicle. Dunraven or Beartooth has never been an issue for us. We actually are able to take every side road in Yellowstone in our rig which makes it perfect for us. My wife loves the fact that she doesn't have to wait in bathroom lines with the three kids at real popular areas like Old Faithful. Also I wake up so early usually her and the kids are asleep and I am driving early in the morning to the area of the park we want to explore. So when everyone wakes up.... boom we are in Lamar wife is cooking breakfast and I have the spotting scope out searching for Wolves and Grizzlies.

Can I go, too? Sounds like you've got an amazing program going for yourself and your family! That's awesome. Lamar Valley/Slough Creek are some of our favorite areas of the park. Also, the rest station just as you start down the Beartooth Hwy on the opposite side from Cook City where all of the chipmunks hang out.

This year I'm looking forward to cold shaving in Yellowstone River. Bracing should be an understatement.

 

[pipingtenor2570]

One of our sites
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Breakfast spot along the river
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Breakfast at the lake

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And of course the grand canyon of Yellowstone

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Thank you for sharing these! Your setup is impressive and your bw of GCoY Lower falls is spot on imo. I don't have any of it yet that I'm totally happy with. I did manage to capture a 7ft panorama of Grand Prismatic without her blanket of steam, however. This image really pleases me.

 

[Cvargo]

Thank you for sharing these! Your setup is impressive and your bw of GCoY Lower falls is spot on imo. I don't have any of it yet that I'm totally happy with. I did manage to capture a 7ft panorama of Grand Prismatic without her blanket of steam, however. This image really pleases me.View attachment 141408

That appears from the Fair falls hike look out. Absolutely stunning!

 

[Spider]

Wow! Your pics are amazing. Thanks for sharing.

 

[pipingtenor2570]

That appears from the Fair falls hike look out. Absolutely stunning!

You know it! I like that little hike very much. Not too strenuous, unlike the hike to Rainbow Lake. That hike makes me ponder existential questions and curse under my breath. Lots of under breath cursing.

 

[pipingtenor2570]

Wow! Your pics are amazing. Thanks for sharing.

Thank you, Spider. That's very kind of you.

 

[BarberDave]

Very nice wildlife photos, Since I was mentioned this our rig set up and some shots from trips here in AZ.



Our tow vehicle for the trip

 

[pipingtenor2570]

Very nice wildlife photos, Since I was mentioned this our rig set up and some shots from trips here in AZ.

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Our tow vehicle for the trip
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Thank you, Barber Dave! You're a dog person. I knew there was something about you I liked . Your rig is also very nice. Looks very much like home away from home. I really appreciate you sharing.

An AZ man, eh? What a great state! One of my favorites, actually. My son, who has yet to experience the desert, has said he wants to go herping in Arizona for Gila Monsters and Western Diamond Rattlesnakes. I have a very good client in the Biltmore Estates section of Phoenix who has invited us to come stay with him and herp till heart is content.

 

[BarberDave]

Hell he can just come to the property we have pretty much everything that sticks,stings, bites, growls or howls on the ranch LOL

 

[pipingtenor2570]

Hell he can just come to the property we have pretty much everything that sticks,stings, bites, growls or howls on the ranch LOL

Foster (my son) will have the scorpions and rattlesnakes running for a different bit of sand and saguaro.

 

[Quijote]

I used to live just in the other side of the Beartooth Pass in Red Lodge. Here are some of my old pics of that area.
Another view of Vista Point where the chipmunks are.

A cow moose scaring another away from its calves(they are around the fence) in my old neighborhood.

Then a couple of years ago, we went back and did a winter tour of the park.