Day Ten: Worship and Yellowstone NP-Norris, Canyon Village and Mammoth Hot Springs

We have been blessed with really great weather and today was no different. We woke, we had a big breakfast that Annessa cooked and headed out to worship with the congregation at West Yellowstone church of Christ. They were a small but very nice bunch.  Some of their members were on vacation and there were other families visiting like us, so we actually outnumbered the members.  We even met another family there from Alabama!  The Dobbs family were also visiting and were from the Wood Avenue church in Florence.  

After services, we stopped at the store for a few more drinks and ice, had a PBJ picnic and then headed back into Yellowstone for day two.  On our itinerary was to see the waterfalls at the “Grand Canyon of Yellowstone “ in Canyon Village and then travel north to Mammoth Hot Springs where we would get into the Boiling River (hot springs that empty into the cold Gardiner River and make nice spots to sit in). 

We made it to the Falls after a quick stop at the Norris Geyser Basin area. We took the 600ft drop in elevation walk down to the observation area of the Lower Falls.  So beautiful!!  We even saw a rainbow at the bottom.  The walk back up was tough but not too bad.  Again, thankful for all the squats and lunges we have done at Brandy’s  to build up those leg muscles!

We continued our trek north to Mammoth and saw several bison and elk along the way.  The best way to spot wildlife is watch for all the cars in front of you to be stopped in the road!  We even came upon one bison walking down the middle of the road.  I was driving and he walked right past my window.  

We arrived in the Mammoth area and thought it was a beautiful place in Yellowstone.  I was much surprised at how it was almost like a little community.  We drove through since we were trying to get to that spot if the River but unfortunately, they had it closed so we were unable to take a dip in the boiling river.  I’m sure the locals know if other spots where we could do the same thing.  I think we were all kinda tired and hungry so we weren’t too disappointed.  We quickly changed our plans and decided to grab dinner in the Mammoth area.  We found a Grill and ordered some hamburgers and fries then ate them outside at a picnic table.  

I drove us back to our cabin. To give you an idea of how huge this park is, we stayed in a cabin that was 30 minutes away from the entrance at West Yellowstone. When we left Mammoth, it took us almost two hours to get back to the cabin.  In order to leave out on Monday morning, we will drive back to Mammoth and then across to Tower-Roosevelt and across Lamar Valley until we get to the Northeast Entrance.  That will take us probably 3-4 hours.  I’ll let you know!!