During the chilly winter months, I sometimes think of the steam-filled landscapes of Yellowstone National Park. I wish I had a natural hot spring in my backyard. The thermal activity beneath Yellowstone is always producing steamy white clouds.
This view is from the Artists’ Paint Pots trail. Lots of contrasting colors and great views of the steaming basin from the top of the trail.
This is a hot spring near Morning Glory Hot Spring, one of my favorite sites in the park. See the ravens enjoying the warm water?
Grand Prismatic has rainbow colors, layered soil, and lots of steam. Did you notice the bison tracks in the foreground?
The bison spend time near the hot springs throughout the year. Here’s a pair grazing near a boardwalk trail.
Sometimes the steam blends in with dramatic cloud formations. This photo was taken at Excelsior Geyser moments before a downpour.
Mud Volcano used to have a 30-foot tall cone, but it blew apart before the park was established in 1872. Now this constantly boiling pot of gray mud produces wispy steam clouds that drift over the surrounding hills.
This is Steamboat Geyser and when it erupts, it can shoot water 300 feet into the air. We missed its eruption by a few days. 🙁
The Norris Geyser Basin is a great place to see steam-filled Yellowstone landscapes. Just a reminder–this basin sits at 7,600 feet in elevation. I was the only one on the trail on this late-May day when a snowstorm moved in. Brrr!
Lens-Artists Photo Challenge – Subjects starting with the letter ‘S’
That first shot is truly awesome. Nice pics and thanx for the info.
Art
Thanks, Art! Yellowstone is an awesome place for photos.
Love these – steam is always a treat. But – too hot for my backyard! Lovely shots!
Thanks, Ann-Christine! Yes, those hot springs were too hot. I’d go for one a bit cooler.
;-D
🙂
These are lovely!
Thank you, Teresa! 🙂
Wow, Siobhan. Lovely, lovely images of steam amidst this natural wonderland. Capturing steam isn’t easy! You did a great job. I must visit Yellowstone. Your photos are very enticing! I wouldn’t mind a sauna in my backyard.😀
Thanks, Patti! Yes, you should visit Yellowstone someday. Fantastic sights throughout the park.
I can see that. Definitely, we’ll plan to go.
Such unique scenery, Siobhan, and of course for us entirely foreign as we don’t have any geysers here and very few hot springs. I’m assuming that visitors are kept at a distance from those spouts prone to “erupting” so as to stay out of the way of the explosion of boiling water?
Yes, lots of beautiful, bubbling scenery. The boardwalks and paths are a safe distance from the features, but every year someone steps off the path and gets injured. Tourists occasionally try to cook food in the hot springs. A big no no!
Imagine that! Common sense is not nearly as common as you’d think…
Terrific subject for the S challenge Siobhan – love the scene where the steam meets the clouds especially. I loved the bizarre landscapes of Yellowstone – made me think of otherworldly places out in the stratosphere .
Thanks, Tina. Yes, Yellowstone is an otherworldly place with unpredictable, but interesting, weather.
Love your steam-filled yellowstone images. We booked a trip last year, had to cancel it. I’m not sure we can visit this summer…
Thanks, Amy! Sorry you had to cancel last year. We’re going to try to visit this year. Fingers crossed! 🤞
Ssssssensational! And steamy!
Thanksssss, John!