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Needed to see the photo galleries.

Mammoth Hot Springs
& Norris Geyser Basin

Journey map

Approximately:

• from Tower Falls (A) to Mammoth Hot Springs (B): 21 miles and 0h50 on road
• from Mammoth Hot Springs (B) to Norris Geyser Basin (C): 21 miles and 0h40 on road

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J51 - Saturday, June 30

Wake up at 6:30; while we're taking our breakfast, we see several cars prowling, pass and repass, looking for an empty spot, no doubt. I finally remove our "butterfly" reservation and brought happiness o someone. Obviously, places are rare and it drops me a hint. Attention to us for the future, because we have almost nothing reserved.
We start at 8:10 and 50 °F. Ten minutes later, short stop as a bear, a Black Bear - Ursus americanus probably, is rummaging in the grass, as if he was grazing . Our presence let it indifferent and he continues his work, throwing us only a look.

Shortly after Tower Junction, Isabelle sees an animal on a rock; as we are practically alone and that road goes up, I sustain the momentum not to frighten the animal then make a u-turn a little further, out scope of noise.
Downhill in neutral to the minimum of fuss, I let Isabelle down on the roadside without slamming the door and I continu the descent. U-turn again and I go back to idle recover Isabelle. It was 3 marmots basking in the sun, but always on the lookout for any predator.
Rapid transition to a turnoff to the left to see a piece of petrified trunk; few pronghorns in the surrounding grasslands but still too far.

We arrive at Mammoth Hot Springs and its famous Terraces.
On arrival, we perceive them from afar and some fumaroles. But first, a herd of elks or wapitis (Cervus canadensis) hat we can admire, composed mainly of females and their young "bambis" .
We go to VC then we head north for a bath in the Gardiner River at a place called The Boiling River, a hot spring mingling its water in the river. But bathing is prohibited, the stream is too strong .

Back to Mammoth and we begin visiting the terraces at 9:57; outdoor temperature of 63 °F is very nice. These terraces come from limestone deposits (travertine, calcite) left by the many hot springs in the area, a unique phenomenon in the park where the majority of the deposits is rather silica. Some of these terraces are beautifully colored by iron oxides, thermophilic bacteria or cyanobacteria, only animals that can live in very hot water very acidic as often the entire park.
BUT, contrary to what I had seen on multiple photos of the area, we are extremely disappointed, discovering "dead" landscapes, whitish with only a few runoff. This is due to a very dry winter so little rainfall and thus only a few water upward; damage. Finally, do not spoil too long, there are still some very nice views .
End of the walk at Lower Terrace at 11:25.

For the upper part of the Lower Terraces, we focus on Canary Spring, a very rare colored area.

The visit continues with Upper Terraces, but again, we're pretty disappointed.

We head south with 2 short stops at Golden Gate and Sheepeater Cliff where I find the basalt columns much prettier than those adjacent to Tower Falls. Then, instead of continuing our visit, with some concerns for our next night, we're "rushing" towards Norris campground where we find a place at 0:50 pm; phew, the night is guaranteed!

Lunch on our campsite and departure at 2:30 pm to visit Norris Geyser Basin; crowd there and find a place in the parking lot is not an easy task.
We begin with Porcelain Basin and it gurgles, bubbles, crackles, breath everywhere, the landscape is almost lunar nd we feel that it works hard under our feet. Few places well colored.

We chain by Back Basin including Echinus Geyser with highly acidic water (pH of around 3.5). Steamboat Geyser constantly spits small jets of water but we don't have the chance to witness an eruption. We leave Norris basin at 4:45 pm after traveling 2.700 miles on our pedometer.
Back at some point forgot this morning while our camp research. We go successively at Roaring Mountain that virtually don't smoke and at Twin Lakes, hen back to camp at 5:35 pm.
Transfer of photos to the laptop, fire, dinner; the temperature is less fresh than last night and we just wear a t-shirt. Sleep at 9:15.