The fresh, cool air that sweeps through the valleys; the hum of a stream on the side of a trail surrounded by trees; the roaring of a river that flows passionately over boulders weathered through time--nature not only calls, but it lures you with the grandeur of its beauty. If you look closely, you can see the silhouettes of bison grazing peacefully on the hills against the backdrop of a sun setting. If you stand still, you can feel nature’s purity washing through your soul.
This is the scene of Yellowstone National Park.
One of the first things I noticed when I arrived at Yellowstone was the bison--every couple miles, we passed one on the side of the road. They are one of the most common animals to be found at the park, along with the elk that come every evening to graze on the grass by the hotel. Although we did not get to see much of the other animal inhabitants (which include coyotes, bears, and moose), we were told that many of the animals can be seen feeding at the break of dawn. Wildlife--that was definitely one of the sights to see at Yellowstone.
Perhaps one of the most popular attractions for which the park is famous is its geysers. Yellowstone sits inside the exploded crater of a volcano that erupted about 600,000 years ago. Consequently, heat from the volcanic activity boils the water underground and causes it to burst from the geysers. These thermal features of the park can smell like hard-boiled eggs, but the magnificence of a geyser shooting water hundreds of feet into the air is enough to compensate for its off-putting odor.
However, if you wish to engage in activities other than sightseeing, there are plenty of horseback riding trails, beautiful hiking trails that overlook a gorgeous waterfall, boat cruises on the massive Yellowstone Lake, and camping under the peaceful, starry skies. Three days, of course, was not enough for me to fully explore what the park had to offer--many people recommend a stay of about a week. But as much as I wish I could have stayed at Yellowstone longer, my experiences there have left an impression in my mind as well as my heart. The feeling alone of being surrounded by the Wyoming wilderness was enough to sweep me off my feet and into a world that is so different from the loud, bustling city. It is a world where man reconnects with nature, and where anyone can come to feel the rush of beauty in its purest, most naked form.