On our last day in the park, we woke up early to beat the traffic and see some things without being surrounded by fellow tourists. It worked, in fact the park is even more beautiful in the early hours because the hot springs react with the cool air to make mists and such. This is part of Canary Springs.



Orange Spring Mound is an active geothermal feature. It's colors are produced by various microbes, including diatoms.


Another view of Orange Spring Mound.


Nearby, other rocks are orange with lichen.


This is an inactive thermal feature called Elephant Back.


"Well, the trees they got much smaller, the lake a lady's mirror, we stopped to drink some wine."


One of the most amazing things to me about Yellowstone is the experience of driving up a mountain, and when it levels off there's a lake there. This is Swan Lake.


I'd call this plant "artichoke thistle" but I'm sure it has its own name. I don't know what it is, though.


This is Sheepeater Cliffs, one of many sets of geometric basalt columns in the park.


They are wonderfully painted with many colorful lichens.