Yellowstone National Park

Yellowstone National Park © Chris LeBoutillier

Yellowstone National Park is a vast expanse of breathtaking wilderness, spanning over 2.2 million acres across Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho. Known as the world’s first national park, it’s a land of geothermal marvels like Old Faithful and the vibrant Grand Prismatic Spring, powered by a hidden super volcano.

Home to iconic wildlife such as grizzly bears, bison, and wolves, Yellowstone’s Lamar Valley is often called “America’s Serengeti.” Its diverse landscapes, from the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone to Yellowstone Lake, are a showcase of nature’s artistry.

With miles of hiking trails, stunning vistas, and a sense of boundless wonder, Yellowstone invites all to explore its beauty and preserve it for future generations. 

It’s not just a park—it’s an unforgettable experience.

Over the years, I have visited Yellowstone National Park countless times and captured thousands of stunning images of its breathtaking beauty. Here are a few shots I took while hiking through Yellowstone!

Enjoy!

Yellowstone Bear on the Hunt.

I want to start by saying that I am not entirely satisfied with the quality of these images. It was getting late, and I had my telephoto lens on a D3400 with a 1.7 converter, which was limiting the light, coupled with an ISO push and shooting handheld. 

I watched this cinnamon-colored black bear moving upriver, stopping to rub against a tree before continuing its journey. The bear was on the opposite side of the river from where I was positioned. I used a 600mm lens and kept my distance. The bear occasionally stopped to sniff the air, likely picking up a scent. Further upriver, I saw what the bear was looking at: two elk along the river's edge. Once the bear spotted the elk, it quickly moved towards them. The elk, sensing danger, began to flee, with the bull elk crossing the river to the bear's side. The bear and the elk crossed paths in the middle of the river. I then realized that the bear's goal was to reach the young elk within the group near the tree line. The elk, now aware of the danger, grouped the young ones together with the help of their mothers and moved out of harm's way. Consequently, the bear continued upriver without securing a meal.