Yellowstone's Wildlife, North of Old Faithful

There’s a good chance of running into wildlife just about anywhere in Yellowstone. The best part is, you don’t even have to search for it. Just wait for traffic to come to a standstill, then look around. Some creature will likely be grazing right beside the road, or walking across it, completely oblivious to the chaos of tourists.

These elk were casually munching on some grass, and paying no attention to anyone.

Park regulations require humans stay at least 25 yards away from elk or bison, and 100 yards from bears. It’s a hard rule to follow, when they’re hanging out at the side of the road.

So was I too close? Maybe. I wasn’t any closer than anyone else who was snapping pictures. And it’s worth noting that I was using a zoom lens, but truth be told, I was probably only about 20 feet away, which is closer than you should be.

There weren’t any problems, though. The small herd eventually wandered off, and traffic started flowing again.

Yellowstone: Old Faithful Geyser Basin

Grand Prismatic Spring, Midway Geyser Basin

Note: This trip was first published in 2007.

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