Yellowstone West Side (Oct. 12)

Today we drove up the west side of Yellowstone, from Old Faithful and the Upper Geyser Basin to Mammoth Hot Springs Terraces. We made many stops and took many photos. Here are our favorites.

Riverside Geyser - a predictable geyser in the Upper Geyser Basin that is "one of the most picturesque in the park" according to the trail guide. After watching Old Faithful, we power walked down the hill to this geyser, which erupts over the Firehole River. Sitting on the riverbank, this geyser has a unique position.

Fountain Geyser - an unpredictable geyser near Fountain Paint Pot that is "one of the most impressive geysers in the park" according to the trail guide. We like it because it really looks like a city fountain. Eruptions reached up to 50 ft. We had to pull away after watching for 15 minutes.
Palette Spring in the Mammoth Hot Springs Lower Terrace - the most stunning formation in this area of the park. Orange and brown hues cover the area. The large, flat terraces seem out of place and unnatural among the "waterfalls" that are round and curvy. This spring is alive and growing.