Trip Report: Lamar Valley

Hardly an original shot, but a stunning location to be sure.

There are few places I can think of in the United States that offer more variety, ranging from wildlife to geology, scenic views to just out of this world features, than Yellowstone National Park.

Within this amazing place, one could spend multiple lifetimes researching, exploring, and photographing, and still come up with new things. It is a testament to God's creative power.

On the northeast corner of the park lies one of the most beautiful places you could probably visit in the lower 48 states: Lamar Valley.

A stretch of Soda Butte Creek in Lamar Valley, Yellowstone. Named after the nearby thermal feature, Soda butte, which has since gone dormant. The creek is a tributary of the Lamar river, a river that exists entirely within the park.

It's known the world over for its abundance of wildlife, and for being a top spot for seeing wolves in the wild.

Me and my friend got to visit this awesome place back in September, searching for fall color.

The cottonwoods did not disappoint, nor the rest of the fall foliage.

But I think we both felt a bit unsettled, as if we just couldn't find the shot that we really wanted. Such is the life of a photographer I suppose.

Oddly, while the place is a major wildlife habitat, outside of a few bison, I don't recall seeing much. Well, a lone black bear far away did make an appearance.

Though not in this image, a bison and a black bear were up on this hill.

Unable to pin down a shot we actually returned westward, which is when I shot the above panoramic of the valley.

Finally we landed at a bend in the river, where we finished out the evening.

If you've read my articles for a bit then you know what happened next... Rain, and a lot of it. We got absolutely slammed by a front moving in. But really, it was very enjoyable in a way, which is hard to explain.

A photo taken by my friend, Dean.

Lamar Valley is an amazing place, all within an even bigger amazing place, which itself is part of yet an even greater ecosystem. I do hope that as Christian media improves, we're able to better document this wonderful testament to God's creation, giving Him the credit He is due for it. Hopefully, in my own little way I'm able to do that.