Fairy Falls Trail

Today we headed straight for Fairy Falls Trail in SW Yellowstone hoping to get on the trail before the Labor Day weekenders showed up.  We did well and did not see a soul on the trail until on the way back!  No more solitude for the rest of the day though:)

Animals we saw today:  Sandhill Cranes, Bald Eagles, Bison, Coyote, Geese


Saw 4 or 5 sandhill cranes across a field driving into the park

 The Fairy Falls trailhead started just south of the Midway Geyser Basin and paralleled the basin for a mile before turning west so we got to enjoy some early morning geothermal activity along the way....

 These folk are actually walking on a boardwalk in the Midway Basin.  Looks a bit eerie doesn't it?

 Then we saw a flock of geese on the edge of the basin

 The walk was pleasant and easy today but we are constantly on the lookout for bears.  We would like to see a bear from a nice safe distance of course!  The trail takes us through a 25 year old burn area.

 After 2.7 miles Fairy Falls came into view.......

 This is a 200 ft falls

 After seeing the falls we walked further to check out 2 geysers, one on either side of a hill a half a mile from the falls.........

 These geysers seem to be constantly active.....no waiting for eruptions here!  We thing this is the one called Spray Geyser.  We could not get near it.......

 So we followed the steaming creek over to check out the other geyser......

 A very colorful creek..........

 With very hot water in it!

 When we arrived at Imperial Geyser, we could not only walk up to it, we could walk around it....

 Very nice!  It would spray constantly for a few minutes then die down for 15 seconds and start all over again......

And it had mud pots......

 Which were fun to watch and listen to.

 We had the place to ourselves and did not see anyone until heading back!

 Saw this cute little guy enjoying breakfast on the way back......

 And this eagle join it's mate..........

 Where they exchanged some conversation.......

 Before relaxing!