Yellowstone & Grand Teton National Parks: Our 3-Day Wildlife Adventure (Part 2)
Yellowstone Day Two: Old Faithful, Grand Prismatic Spring & the Grizzly Bear We’ll Never Forget
After an incredible first day in Yellowstone, we headed back into the park through the West Entrance for our second full day. This time, our route took us south toward some of Yellowstone’s most famous geothermal attractions: Old Faithful, Midway Geyser Basin, and Grand Prismatic Spring.
We planned to end the day by exiting through the South Entrance and driving into Grand Teton National Park.
What we didn’t know that morning was that we were about to have the most unforgettable wildlife encounter of the entire trip.
Old Faithful: Yes, It’s Tourist-y… and Yes, It’s Worth It
Turns out? It absolutely deserves the hype.
There’s something really special about standing there with hundreds of other people, all watching the same natural phenomenon. Because Old Faithful erupts so predictably, you don’t have to spend hours waiting and hoping for action. The park posts estimated eruption times, which makes planning much easier.
When the geyser finally erupted, it was one of those moments where everyone around us collectively went, “Whoa.”
The column of steaming water shooting into the sky was impressive in photos, but it was even more dramatic in person. The sound, the heat from the steam, and the anticipation beforehand all made it feel much more exciting than I expected.
We spent some time walking the surrounding boardwalks afterward, and I highly recommend doing that instead of leaving immediately after the eruption. There are dozens of smaller geysers, bubbling pools, and steaming vents in the Old Faithful area that many people overlook.
Midway Geyser Basin: My Favorite Place in Yellowstone
If I had to pick one single place in Yellowstone that completely blew me away, it would be Grand Prismatic Spring.
I had seen the famous aerial photos online a thousand times, but nothing prepared me for the colors in real life.
The bright blue center, the rings of green, yellow, and orange, and the steam drifting across the basin looked almost unreal. It genuinely felt like someone had turned up the saturation on the entire landscape.
We walked the Midway Geyser Basin boardwalk, which is an easy, mostly flat walk (well under half a mile) and perfect even if you’re not looking for a strenuous hike.
A few things I learned:
- Go early if you can. The parking lot fills up quickly.
- The boardwalk is easy for almost anyone.
- The overlook is absolutely worth the extra effort.
The overlook was my favorite part. From ground level, Grand Prismatic is beautiful, but from above you can actually see the full rainbow effect that makes it famous.
I took an embarrassing number of photos there… and I regret none of them.
Tiny Chipmunks & Big Yellowstone Energy
One of the unexpected highlights of Yellowstone was how much joy the little things brought me.
The least chipmunks around the geothermal areas were ridiculously cute. They were darting between rocks and boardwalks, stuffing their cheeks with food and generally acting like tiny park employees who had somewhere important to be.
I know bears get all the attention (and deservedly so), but those chipmunks ended up being some of my favorite photos from the trip.
Another Black Bear… and Then Another One
As we continued driving south through Yellowstone, the wildlife luck continued.
We spotted two more black bears on our second day, bringing our total to five black bears in two days.
At this point, we were already thrilled with the trip. Five bears is far more than most visitors ever see.
Then Yellowstone decided to show off.
The Grizzly Bear Sighting
I don’t think I’ll ever forget this moment.
Traffic had slowed to a crawl, and we could tell something major was happening. People were pulling over, photographers were setting up enormous camera lenses, and everyone was looking in the same direction.
And there it was.
A grizzly bear.
Not just walking through a meadow. Not disappearing into the trees.
Eating.
Seeing a grizzly in the wild is already incredibly special. Seeing one actively feeding was absolutely surreal.
We stayed at a safe distance (as required by the park), but even from far away you could feel the power of the animal. It was one of those moments that makes you realize you’re not just visiting a beautiful place—you’re visiting a truly wild ecosystem where these animals still live and thrive.
That single sighting instantly became the highlight of the entire Yellowstone portion of our trip.
If you’re wondering whether Yellowstone is really one of the best places in the United States for wildlife viewing, my answer is a very enthusiastic yes.
Driving Into Grand Teton National Park
After leaving Yellowstone through the South Entrance, we officially entered Grand Teton National Park.
The transition between the two parks is fascinating.
Yellowstone feels enormous, rugged, and constantly changing—geysers, forests, meadows, rivers, and wildlife around every corner.
Grand Teton feels dramatic.
The mountains rise almost straight out of the valley floor, and the scenery is so striking that we found ourselves pulling over every few minutes just to take another picture.
I had seen photos of the Tetons before, but they looked even bigger and more dramatic in person.
Day Three: Jenny Lake, Cascade Canyon & Waterfalls
We dedicated our final day to exploring Grand Teton National Park, and it was the perfect change of pace after two wildlife-filled days in Yellowstone.
Jenny Lake
Jenny Lake is every bit as beautiful as people say it is.
The water was incredibly clear, the mountains reflected perfectly on the surface, and the whole area had a much more peaceful feel than Yellowstone.
We spent time walking around the lake and taking in the views, and honestly, I could have stayed there for hours.
If you’re only visiting Grand Teton for one day, Jenny Lake should absolutely be on your itinerary.
Cascade Canyon
From the Jenny Lake area, we also explored Cascade Canyon.
We didn’t do a long backcountry hike, but even the beginning of the trail was stunning. The canyon is surrounded by towering peaks, waterfalls, and crystal-clear streams, and it felt completely different from the geothermal landscapes we had been exploring the previous two days.
This is where Grand Teton really won me over.
Yellowstone amazed me.
Grand Teton made me stop and stare.
Every direction looked like a postcard.
Waterfalls Everywhere
One thing that surprised me about Grand Teton was how many beautiful waterfalls we encountered. We stopped at several along the way, and while I don’t have a single favorite, the combination of rushing water, wildflowers, pine trees, and snow-covered peaks made every stop feel special.
Compared with Yellowstone’s geothermal features, Grand Teton felt softer and more serene.
It was the perfect balance to the first half of our trip.
Bonus Stop: Bear World
Before wrapping up our adventure, we also visited Bear World in Idaho.
I know it’s a very different experience from seeing bears in Yellowstone, but I have to include it because it was genuinely so much fun.
The highlight? Feeding baby bears.
After spending two days spotting wild bears from a distance, getting to see playful cubs up close (in a safe, controlled environment) was such a cool contrast. They were energetic, curious, and honestly impossible not to smile at.
If you’re driving between Salt Lake City and Yellowstone, Bear World makes a fun bonus stop—especially for families or anyone who loves animals.
