Wyoming Adventure Guide - UK English 2017
National Parks & Monuments
2017-01-07 01:44:01
Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks and Devils Tower National Monument showcase some of Wyoming’s most beloved natural treasures — from steamy geysers and jagged peaks to ethereal geologic wonders.
YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK
More than 3 million people make their way to the world’s first National Park annually — and it’s easy to understand why. Home to the world’s largest concentration of geothermal features (more than 10,000 in total), North America’s largest high-elevation lake and hundreds of species of wildlife, the 8,991-square-kilometre park is a dazzling attraction.
SPECIAL MOMENTS
- Volcanism fuels the park’s wealth of geysers, boiling pools and bubbling mud pots — a result of the active mammoth magma chamber underneath the area. View more than 150 geysers, hot springs and fumaroles (openings in the earth’s crust that emit steam and other gases), including the famous Old Faithful geyser, in the Upper Geyser Basin.
- Admire the largest hot spring in the U.S.: the Grand Prismatic
Spring, a tie-dyed beauty that credits its brilliant colours to
thriving microscopic colonies of pigmented bacteria. - At 94 metres, the Lower Falls at Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone is the tallest waterfall in the park. See and hear the thundering waters from several viewing areas, including Lookout, Red Rock and Artist Point.
- Wildlife viewing is a must at the national park, a habitat for more than 300 species of birds, bears, bald eagles, grey wolves, elk and more. Spot the world’s largest herd of free-roaming bison in verdant Hayden Valley. For your safety, please stay at least 20 metres away from bison and at least 90 metres away from bears and wolves.
GRAND TETON NATIONAL PARK
Located just south of Yellowstone, Grand Teton National Park is rich with postcard-worthy sights of the snow-marbled Teton Range — which towers 2,134 metres above Jackson Hole. Crystalline alpine lakes mirror images of the dreamy mountains, and delightful wildflowers carpet the meadows during the summertime. There are endless ways to explore the park, including hiking, horseback riding, boating and fishing.
SPECIAL MOMENTS
- Observe the park’s fascinating ecosystems from the water on a guided Snake River float trip, which often include interpretations of the area’s flora and fauna and give riders the chance to see moose, bison, bald eagles, beavers and other creatures.
- Grand Teton’s more than 370 kilometres of hiking trails range from easy to strenuous and lead to spectacular sights. Hike to cascading Hidden Falls and Inspiration Point for aerial views of sapphire-blue Jenny Lake from several routes starting at Jenny Lake Trailhead.
- One of the best ways to soak in sweeping vistas of the Tetons is on horseback. Book a horseback- riding excursion with a local outfitter, who will pair you with the perfect horse for your riding abilities (no experience required) and a knowledgeable wrangler.
- The deep and clear waters of Jackson Lake are perfect for kayaking, canoeing, boating and sailing. Try your luck at angling salmon or cutthroat trout — fishing is best at sunset and twilight between June and September.
DEVILS TOWER NATIONAL MONUMENT
Nestled in Wyoming’s sacred Black Hills near the town of Sundance, Devils Tower attracts avid climbers, adventure seekers and curious spectators. The otherworldly rock tower — established by President Theodore Roosevelt in 1906 as the nation’s first National Monument — looms more than 350 metres above the surrounding plains and pine forests.
SPECIAL MOMENTS
- Geologists predict that Devils Tower’s characteristic delineated columns were formed more than 50 million years ago as a result of cooling magma. Ramble along the 2-kilometre Tower Trail, where interpretive signs highlight the attraction’s geology and ecology.
- More than 20 Native American tribes have a cultural affiliation with the monument, including the Arapaho, Cheyenne and Shoshone, and many still consider the monument a sacred site. Learn more at Devils Tower Visitor Center, where exhibits illuminate the geologic, natural and cultural history of the area.
- A paradise for rock climbers, hundreds of parallel cracks divide Devils Tower into hexagonal columns. If you’d like to climb, register for free with park authorities. Many climbers opt not to summit the tower in June to respect Native American cultural events.
- Camp or stay in a cabin near Devils Tower, many of which offer great amenities and incredible panoramas of the monument.
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