Latest / This Week in Yellowstone National Park / This Week in Yellowstone: August 28th to September 3rd, 2025

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This Week in Yellowstone: August 28th to September 3rd, 2025 · This Week in Yellowstone National Park

0:00
From Yellowstone National Park where rain is
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finally falling knocking down the smoke Hopefully
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cooling down the river temperatures and giving
0:08
us a hint of fall This is that Scott guy you
0:11
know in love with a brand new episode of this
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week in Yellowstone What's up everybody this
0:26
week in Yellowstone National Park from August
0:28
28 through September 3rd 2025 I'll share with
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you a hike to go to one of the smelliest backcountry
0:36
thermal areas I'll tell you some cool events
0:39
that are going to be happening in the park I'll
0:41
also give you the news about the first of the
0:44
many Fall closures that are coming and I'm going
0:48
to give you everything else you need to have
0:50
an incredible time this week in Yellowstone Now
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standard disclaimer I say this every time I'm
0:57
probably gonna miss a few details here and there
0:59
So feel free to reach out with any questions
1:01
you may have and I also mentioned park locations
1:03
very casually So if you're unfamiliar with the
1:06
places I'm talking a quick search can help I
1:08
know some people take notes during this others
1:11
Just shoot me an email later and say what were
1:13
you talking about either way that works for me
1:16
Also, this podcast is a passion project. I'm
1:19
not paid or sponsored. So if you enjoy it I'd
1:21
love a review or a quick email. If you'd like
1:23
to support my work financially, you can check
1:25
out my guidebooks on hiking and wildlife watching
1:28
on my website, or you can sign up for a guided
1:30
Yellowstone hiking tour. Information on all of
1:33
that can be found on my website, outdoor -society
1:35
.com, or again, just reach out to me directly.
1:39
This week in Yellowstone news. So honestly, there's
1:42
not a lot going on in the park right now. As
1:45
always, no news is good news. Quick. news is
1:50
that the Canyon Adventure Store is closing on
1:53
August 31st and some of the Vehicle repair shops
1:58
in the park will be closing as well. So just
2:01
know that This isn't huge news, but in coming
2:05
weeks More things are going to close. This is
2:08
just the start of closures next week. We're gonna
2:10
have a campground close So there's things happening
2:14
The main news this week is that I have been asked
2:18
to talk about something and I'm going to talk
2:20
about it briefly. I did record a whole long basically
2:24
10 minute rant. I deleted that and I'm just going
2:27
to mention this very quickly in a couple of minutes.
2:30
So there has been an issue as of late by some
2:34
Yellowstone National Park visitors who are seeing
2:37
spotting scopes set up at wildlife viewing areas
2:40
and nudging people out of the way, taking over
2:44
those spotting scopes. This is not allowed behavior.
2:48
And so what I'm going to talk about is that.
2:51
So I have recommended to find wildlife initially
2:57
in the park, if you've never been, by looking
2:59
for vehicles that have been set up, especially
3:02
tour operators that are set up with spotting
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scopes, looking at something. 99 % of the time
3:09
when they're looking at something, it's not just
3:11
a bison or a pronghorn, which bison and pronghorn
3:14
are absolutely fantastic. I love them. Don't
3:17
take this as me insulting them at all, but usually
3:20
if you have a spotting scope, you're not looking
3:21
at them. You're looking at a bear, a wolf, a
3:26
mountain goat, something different than just
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the standard animals you'll probably see right
3:30
next to the road. I will continue to recommend
3:34
people to do that. If you see spotting scopes,
3:37
get out, take your binoculars, your own spotting
3:40
scope, set up, have at it. Also, ask what people
3:44
are looking at. Nine out of ten guides, nine
3:47
out of ten professional photographers, overwhelming
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majority people will let you know what they're
3:52
looking at and probably even help you find it,
3:55
as long as you're conscientious of their time
3:57
and appreciative of them helping and thankful.
4:00
So, thank them, all of that. However, What's
4:04
happening is people are showing up, they're seeing
4:07
this spotting scope set up, and then they are
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taking over that scene. They're feeling entitled
4:14
that if there's spotting scope there, this is
4:17
mine, I should be able to look at it too. If
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other people are looking at it, why can't I?
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Honestly, it's because a lot or if not most of
4:26
those people who are looking through spotting
4:28
scopes are doing so on a paid tour. I understand
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everyone wants the experience. Most tour guides
4:34
want you to also have an amazing experience.
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They will take the time to tell you what they're
4:39
looking at more often than not. Like I just said,
4:41
they will help you see them through their your
4:43
own binoculars or your own spotting scope. And
4:47
if there's time and you're polite, they might
4:49
even let you look through theirs. But I've heard
4:51
from tour guides across the park that people
4:54
are taking over spotting scopes I know I've said
4:57
this a few times, but it's just kind of ridiculous
4:59
to me to Have that happen especially to be doing
5:04
so in a way that is you know Very rude there
5:08
is one person I know of who is taking down their
5:11
spotting scope as they were done watching for
5:14
the day and Somebody wouldn't let them take it
5:17
down because they wanted to see That's that's
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it's just the level of entitlement and I know
5:23
all of you listening are Doing the right thing
5:26
So why I'm talking about this is I just want
5:29
to make sure that the word gets out there But
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there is something that we all can do to make
5:34
these wildlife scenes when people are watching
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things far away a little better for those who
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have binoculars and spotting scopes and that
5:44
is if somebody lets you look through their spotting
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scope, be conscientious of time, do so for a
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couple of seconds, and then move on and thank
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them. Key thing there is thank them. Also, if
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you see somebody with a spotting scope that's
6:00
being treated rudely, tell that person that you're
6:04
sorry for the other person's behavior once that
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person leaves, let them know that they're appreciated
6:08
for what they do, and bring more positivity to
6:11
the park. Right now we are at the end of the
6:14
summer season and it is the August anger that's
6:18
kind of seeping through. People are just tired.
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It's hot. There's a lot going on. The best thing
6:24
we can do is be polite, be conscientious, be
6:29
respectful of each other and know that we're
6:31
all in Yellowstone for the most part for the
6:33
exact same reason. We are there because we love
6:36
seeing cool things and we want to share that
6:39
experience with everyone around us. So, I know,
6:43
little rant, but I, again, wanted to bring this
6:46
up. None of you are probably doing this, and
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if you are, it's okay. We all make mistakes.
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Just next time, be very conscientious of your
6:54
time, and thank people when they allow you to
6:57
look through things. But also, they don't have
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to, and it's okay if they don't. So, that's basically
7:04
the news. I'm going to move on to more positive
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things. Good times great fun if you're coming
7:09
to the park for Labor Day might be a little crowded
7:11
but still worth it My experience of the week
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So the experience of the week I have this week
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is honestly something I'd written down to talk
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about way earlier in the summer like maybe even
7:25
into the spring and It was jotted down on a piece
7:28
of paper not my notes app and I forgot about
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it And then I saw it a couple days ago and said
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well, I still need to talk about this So it's
7:36
still just as important today as it would have
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been at the start of the summer. So better late
7:40
than never. So this week, I'm recommending you
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check out the experiences created by the staff
7:45
and Rangers in Yellowstone National Park. Nearly
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every day through the busy tour season, there
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are Ranger led talks occurring throughout the
7:53
park. This week is no different. The park's events
7:57
calendar is a bit of a hidden gem. While most
7:59
visitors plan their days around the geyser eruptions,
8:02
wildlife watching, or scenic drives, these ranger
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programs add a whole new layer of connection
8:07
to Yellowstone. They're led by people who know
8:10
the park inside and out, the interpreters, the
8:12
naturalists, and even cultural presenters who
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share stories that go far beyond what you're
8:17
going to find on information signs. Attending
8:20
one of these talks gives you context for the
8:22
park, the science behind the geysers, the cultural
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meaning of the landscape, and how Yellowstone
8:27
continues to evolve. You can take the Canyon
8:30
Artist Point talks as an example. Artist Point
8:34
is already one of the most photographed places
8:35
in Yellowstone, with its sweeping views of the
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Grand Canyon of Yellowstone and the thundering
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view of Lower Falls. But standing there with
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a Ranger, you're not just looking at that postcard
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perfect view. You're learning about the volcanic
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and hydrothermal forces that carve this canyon,
8:52
and how artists like Thomas Moran shape public
8:54
perception of Yellowstone, and how the river
8:56
continues to shape the landscape today. Then
9:00
there's the mud volcano area, where you can join
9:02
the mud talk. The boardwalks here lead you through
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one of the park's smelliest and most surreal
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landscapes, bubbling mudpots, hissing fumaroles,
9:11
and the famous dragon's mouth spring. Hearing
9:14
a ranger explain the geothermal chemistry, the
9:17
microbial life that thrives here, and the stories
9:20
early visitors told about this place makes the
9:23
experience far richer than just wandering through
9:26
here on your own. It's great to wander on your
9:28
own, but when you're there with the ranger, you
9:30
can ask questions. You really get to know more.
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If you want something a bit more active, the
9:35
Storm Point Saunter offers a guided walk along
9:38
the shores of Yellowstone Lake. This is a chance
9:41
to stretch your legs while learning about the
9:42
ecology of the largest high elevation lake in
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North America. Rangers often point out otter
9:48
tracks, osprey nests, and other delicate features
9:52
in the area, especially like the lodgepole pine
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forests. They talk about that, and there's a
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really cool surprise out at Storm Point that
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is awesome if you're into ecology and important
10:05
unique areas for wildlife and for plants. It's
10:10
pretty cool out there, so you'll want to join
10:12
that. That is the Storm Point Saunter. The Fountain
10:15
Paintpots Geyser Talk takes you to one of the
10:17
park's most dynamic thermal basins. The Fountain
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Paintpots area has mud pots, geysers, hot springs,
10:23
all within a short loop. And with a ranger's
10:25
insight, you'll see how these features shift
10:28
with the seasons, what controls whether a feature
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becomes a geyser or a fumarole, and how Yellowstone's
10:33
underground plumbing connects it all. For something
10:36
more relaxed, stop by the Fishing Bridge Porch
10:38
Talk. Sitting on the porch of this historic visitor
10:41
center, you can soak up stories about Yellowstone
10:43
Lake, native fish, and the importance of lake
10:46
trout removal for preserving native cutthroat
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trout. It's a low -key way to learn while taking
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a breather in a very scenic lakeside spot. Landscape
10:57
lakeside, you knew what I meant. At West Thumb
10:59
Geyser Basin, the program called Gazing into
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the Abyss adds meaning to the small but spectacular
11:05
basin. I love West Thumb Basin, like if you haven't
11:09
been there, go there, it is. So great. The geysers
11:14
and hot springs here sit right on the edge of
11:16
Yellowstone Lake creating incredible visuals
11:18
of steaming pools against the backdrop of water
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and mountains. Ranger can help you understand
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how the lake interacts with the geothermal features
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and why West Thumb is one of the most unique
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spots in the park. Perhaps one of the most special
11:32
opportunities is the Yellowstone Tribal Heritage
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Center presentations. Now, I've talked about
11:37
this before. This week features an artist with
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roots in the Colville Reservation, Nez Perce,
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Umatilla Reservation, San Pueblo, Moses Columbia
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Tribes. The Heritage Center, located near Old
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Faithful, is a space where Native voices share
11:52
their culture, art, and stories directly with
11:54
visitors. These presentations remind us that
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Yellowstone is not just a geological wonderland,
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but also a deeply cultural landscape with 27
12:03
tribes connected to it. Hearing directly from
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indigenous presenters brings a perspective that
12:09
has too often been left out of Yellowstone's
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story. Now the times for all of these things
12:13
that I've been talking about, they vary throughout
12:16
the day, but they are daily through the summer
12:18
season. To find the exact schedule, I just typed
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Yellowstone Events Labor Day into Google. which
12:25
pulled up the official National Park Service
12:27
calendar as the first result. You can also go
12:30
directly to that website by following the link
12:33
that I provided in the show notes. My tip of
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the week. So my tip of the week this week was
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supposed to be how to deal with rainy days in
12:42
the park. all week leading up to my recording
12:45
day. It said rain all week, rain all week. And
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now the weather forecast, as you'll hear, is
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not rain all week. It's only rain a little bit.
12:54
And so you'll still be able to get out. I will
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save my tips for how to deal with less than ideal
13:02
weather for a wait for it. Rainy day. Yeah. Yeah,
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I am NOT proud of saying that I didn't even write
13:09
it down It just popped in my head as I was ranting.
13:12
So What's happening instead is I'm going to recommend
13:18
something else. It's a tip but also like It's
13:21
another experience so it this came across my
13:25
radar because Yellowstone National Park forever
13:28
posted about it and They talked about a short
13:31
film called the bird in the tree The Bird and
13:34
the Tree is a short film that's currently playing
13:36
at the Old Faithful Canyon Visitor Education
13:39
Center. Old Faithful and Canyon Visitor Education
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Center. And it's also available online. And what's
13:47
cool about this is it's great storytelling. It's
13:51
got really cool graphics. There's some like animated
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stuff and then it cuts to real life video and
13:59
it talks about the relationship between whitebark
14:02
pines and the Clark's nutcracker and kind of
14:05
the essential role that each play in maintaining
14:07
a healthy ecosystem in Yellowstone and beyond.
14:10
Now I'm reading from the Yellowstone National
14:12
Park forever Instagram post about this. So one
14:18
reason I wanted to cover this now is going and
14:22
seeing this or if you're not able to go to the
14:24
park, watching this online is an important thing
14:27
to do because it lets you learn more about how
14:31
delicate the ecosystem in Yellowstone National
14:34
Park is. And for the tip of the week, I'm going
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to talk to you briefly about the whitebark pines.
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So high on Yellowstone's windswept ridges and
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slopes grows one of the park's most important
14:47
yet vulnerable trees, the whitebark pine. These
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hardy, slow growing trees thrive in harsh conditions
14:54
where few others can survive, often forming the
14:58
tree line at elevations above 8 ,000 feet. But
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they're far more than just a pretty alpine backdrop.
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They're what ecologists call a keystone species,
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meaning countless other plants and animals depend
15:08
on them for survival. At the heart of the story
15:11
are the whitebark pine seeds or pine nuts. They're
15:14
packed with fat and calories, making them an
15:16
invaluable food source for wildlife. Clark's
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nutcrackers, type of bird, are the main seed
15:22
dispensers. They pry open the cones, stash the
15:25
seeds and caches, and inadvertently help new
15:28
pines grow when they forget some of their hiding
15:31
places. Red squirrels harvest and store cones
15:34
in large piles, which then become prime foraging
15:36
spots for grizzly bears. For grizzlies and Yellowstone,
15:40
whitebark pine nuts are a critical seasonal food.
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In the late summer and early fall, when bears
15:45
are fattening up before torpor, these seeds provide
15:49
dense energy that helps them put on pounds quickly.
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A good whitebark pine crop can mean healthier
15:54
bears, fewer human -bear conflicts, and better
15:58
survival rates for cubs. Unfortunately, this
16:01
ecological lynchpin is under serious threat.
16:04
Across the whole Greater Yellowstone ecosystem,
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whitebark pines are declining due to a combination
16:09
of stressors, many linked to climate change.
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One major culprit is the mountain pine beetle.
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Historically, the beetles couldn't survive that
16:18
long as the cold winters at high elevations where
16:20
whitebark pines grow were too harsh for them.
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But with warmer temperatures, beetles are now
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thriving in areas that were once safe, and they're
16:28
boring into trees and killing them in large numbers.
16:31
Vast stands of whitebark pine have turned into
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gray skeletal forests, an increasingly familiar
16:36
sight in Yellowstone's backcountry. Another major
16:40
threat is white -parn blister rust, a non -native
16:43
fungus introduced from Europe in the early 1900s.
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The rust weakens and often kills the trees by
16:48
infecting their needles and stems, and it spreads
16:51
silently across entire mountain ranges. Combined
16:54
with beetle infestations, blister rust has hammered
16:57
whitebark pine populations. Climate change adds
17:00
another layer of stress. Hotter, drier summers
17:02
make trees more vulnerable to both beetles and
17:04
disease, while shifting conditions may push whitebark's
17:08
suitable habitat higher and higher up the mountains
17:10
until there's nowhere left to go. Right now,
17:14
winters are not as harsh as they used to be,
17:16
even 10, 15 years ago. We have not had a good
17:19
November snow on the ground in the park. In recent
17:23
memory, growing up, That's what was happening
17:26
in the park every November. I'd come out for
17:29
Thanksgiving week and There'd be snow on the
17:32
ground knee -deep almost sometimes waist deep
17:35
out in Lamar. I haven't seen that for a long
17:38
time The loss of whitebark pines doesn't just
17:42
mean fewer trees, it has a ripple effect through
17:45
Yellowstone's ecosystems. Grizzlies and squirrels
17:47
lose a major food source, Clark's nutcrackers
17:50
have fewer cones to catch, alpine soils, normally
17:54
stabilized by these hardy trees, become more
17:56
prone to erosion, and the scenic high elevation
17:59
landscapes Yellowstone is known for may look
18:01
starkly different in the future. Despite these
18:04
challenges, there's hope. Restoration effects
18:06
are underway. Efforts are underway, including
18:10
planting blister, rust -resistant sealings, and
18:12
protecting key stands from beetle outbreaks.
18:15
In 2022, the U .S. Fish and Wildlife Service
18:17
listed the whitebark pine as a threatened species
18:20
under the Endangered Species Act, a step that
18:22
could bring more resources and attention to saving
18:25
it if we keep the Endangered Species Act. Who
18:28
knows if we will? For visitors hiking among Yellowstone's
18:32
high ridges or spotting a bear foraging in tallow
18:35
slopes, it's worth remembering just how much
18:37
life in the park depends on this tree. The future
18:40
of the whitebark pine is tied to the future of
18:42
Yellowstone itself, a reminder of that delicate
18:45
balance between climate, wildlife, and the forests
18:47
that bind it all together. So, I bring this up
18:51
because there's a cool video you can watch, and
18:53
like I said, if you're at the Old Faithful Visitor
18:55
Center or the Canyon Visitor Center, you can
18:57
watch this video. But it's also available on
19:00
YouTube. And I'm going to provide a link in the
19:02
show notes for you to check it out. I think it's
19:04
going to be a really cool resource. It's really
19:07
well done. It's about 20 minutes long. Highly
19:09
suggest checking it out. And then you'll have
19:12
a different perspective of the park. So that
19:15
way, when you're at the higher elevations, especially
19:17
if you go up toward like Dunraven Pass and all
19:19
of that, you can start looking for whitebark
19:21
pines and understand just how important they
19:24
are and how you may not be able to see them.
19:28
for a lot longer if things continue in the bad
19:32
direction. So that is my tip of the week. I know
19:35
it's an experience too, but, you know, I found
19:38
this interesting and I hope you do too. And I'm
19:40
very glad for Yellowstone forever for sharing
19:43
this because it's a cool thing. My random Yellowstone
19:47
fact of the week. The history of West Yellowstone
19:51
from indigenous trails to gateway towns. Long
19:54
before any railroad tracks or tourist lodges
19:56
appeared, Yellowstone was far from an untouched
19:59
wilderness. It was home. Indigenous peoples including
20:02
the Crow, Blackfeet, Shoshone, Nez Perce, Bannock,
20:06
and the sheep eaters, the Tukudikas, lived here
20:09
for thousands of years. They fished the rivers,
20:11
hunted bighorn sheep, soaked in thermal springs,
20:14
gathered plants, trade obsidian from the cliffs.
20:17
Obsidian Cliff was one of the most valuable places
20:19
in the entire region. The volcanic glass chipped
20:22
into razor -sharp tools was so prized that artifacts
20:25
made from this area in Yellowstone have turned
20:28
up as far away as Michigan. That's how extensive
20:31
the trade networks were centuries before the
20:34
idea of Yellowstone even existed. That long history
20:38
was abruptly interrupted in 1872 when Yellowstone
20:42
was declared the world's first national park.
20:44
Instead of protecting both the land and the people
20:47
connected to it, the park's creation effectively
20:49
barred indigenous peoples from their homeland.
20:52
Well into the 90s, the 1990s for us older people,
20:57
we were told in ranger talks. That the native
21:01
peoples were afraid of the geysers in the park
21:03
so they never entered what was known as Yellowstone
21:06
National Park We now know that's a lie, but this
21:09
was something that was pushed very heavily And
21:12
it kind of changed our perception and made us
21:14
feel less bad about being there. So do with that
21:17
information what you will West Yellowstone's
21:20
story as a town begins with the steel tracks
21:23
and steam engines. After Union Pacific magnate
21:26
E. H. Harriman toured Yellowstone in 1905, the
21:30
company pushed to make access easier. By 1908,
21:34
a rail line from Idaho Falls reached the park's
21:36
western edge, and the first Yellowstone special
21:39
passenger train pulled in that June. Practically
21:42
overnight, a brand new town appeared to greet
21:45
visitors. Railroad shaped every part of West
21:48
Yellowstone's identity in those early decades.
21:51
The town's historic core, the West Yellowstone
21:53
-Oregon Shortline Terminus, was a full district
21:57
of railroad facilities from the depot and dining
22:00
lodge to baggage buildings and dormitories. Today,
22:02
the cluster of buildings is on the National Register
22:05
of Historic Places, a reminder of how central
22:07
the rails were to the town's beginnings. The
22:10
town's name changed a couple of times in those
22:12
early years, too. At first, West Yellowstone
22:15
was called Riverside. Then they changed it to
22:20
Yellowstone in 1910 before settling on West Yellowstone
22:24
in 1920 to avoid confusion with the park itself.
22:28
I mean, great marketing. Just call your town
22:30
Yellowstone. Everybody's going to Yellowstone.
22:32
You get people there. The growth was astonishing.
22:36
Within just five years of the railroad's arrival,
22:38
more than 50 buildings stood on what had been
22:40
Forest Service land, and the place quickly grew
22:43
into the park's busiest gateway. Eagle Store,
22:47
first opened in 1908, is one of the businesses
22:50
that was there from that period that's still
22:53
running today. Originally it was a general store
22:55
that sold groceries and all the way to Kodak
22:58
cameras and film. It also doubled as the town's
23:01
post office until 1935. You can walk through
23:04
its doors today and you're literally stepping
23:07
back into the earliest days of the community.
23:10
If you want a real sense of the era, the Museum
23:13
of Yellowstone located inside the old Union Pacific
23:16
Depot, has exhibits that dive into those early
23:19
years. You'll learn about the trains, the growth
23:21
of the town, and the lives of the railroad workers,
23:24
and the Beannery Queens, the young women who
23:27
cooked, served, and kept the dining hall lively
23:29
for visitors. For decades, West Yellowstone existed
23:33
in rhythm with the railroad schedule. When the
23:36
last Yellowstone special of the season left,
23:39
the town practically shut down. Businesses closed,
23:42
trains stopped, and only a handful of residents
23:44
stayed through the winter, surviving by traveling
23:47
on skis, sleds, and a whole lot of grit. All
23:50
of this started to change in the 1930s when roads
23:53
were finally being plowed to allow winter access.
23:56
The addition of an airport in 1965 brought even
24:00
more options for travelers. The airport is still
24:03
seasonal, and winter tourism started taking root.
24:07
Snowmobiling, cross -country skiing, and guided
24:09
wildlife tours eventually made West Yellowstone
24:11
a true year -round destination. Today, the town
24:15
thrives in all four seasons and what was once
24:17
a ghost town in the winter is now a hub for snowy
24:20
adventures. Now, a lot of people say, oh, you
24:24
know, how many people are in West Yellowstone?
24:26
It seemed pretty busy when I was there in the
24:27
summer. So as of 2024, West Yellowstone has a
24:31
population of just over 1200 people. The highest
24:35
population of residents in West Yellowstone was
24:38
1 ,500 people in 2008 and 2009. In the summer,
24:43
the town swells with visitors from all over the
24:45
world. Hotels, restaurants, outfitters, and shops
24:48
line the streets, and educational centers like
24:51
the Grizzly and Wolf Discovery Center bring conservation
24:53
and storytelling into the heart of town. But
24:56
again, once we're kind of in the shoulder seasons
24:58
in winter, the town really empties out and you
25:01
get to see like, oh, this is a tiny town. I talked
25:04
to somebody who booked a tour a year ago and
25:09
their estimate of how many people lived in West
25:11
Yellowstone based on seeing it in late June was
25:14
10 ,000. Again, the population of West Yellowstone,
25:18
1200 people. So what makes West Yellowstone so
25:22
fascinating is how much of its past is still
25:24
visible in its present. It's a place shaped by
25:27
indigenous traditions, by the iron push of the
25:30
railroad, and by the resilience of people who
25:32
managed to turn a seasonal outpost into a year
25:34
-round community. You can walk through town today
25:37
and you'll see how preserved those rail lines,
25:40
historic storefronts still run today, and you'll
25:44
see that things are owned by local families.
25:47
and that even the new spaces still connect visitors
25:50
to wildlife and land through history. It's a
25:53
town that continues to evolve, but it seems to
25:56
never forget its roots. It's always working to
25:59
balance nature, history, and the stories to keep
26:02
Yellowstone alive. The weather for the coming
26:05
week. Lamar Valley. On Thursday, it's going to
26:09
be chilly, high of 58, low of 40. Expect rain
26:13
and thunderstorms. Friday, 15 % chance of rain,
26:17
high of 67, low of 37. Saturday, high of 68,
26:21
low of 36, with a 15 % chance of rain. Sunday,
26:26
we get warm again, high in 74, low of 39, 5 %
26:30
chance of rain. Monday, high of 77, low of 40,
26:34
80 % chance of rain. Tuesday, high of 73, low
26:37
of 39, 17 % chance of rain. And Wednesday, high
26:41
of 71, low of 38. 13 % chance of rain. Gardner,
26:46
Montana. On Thursday, expect a high of 63, a
26:50
low of 43, and a 79 % chance of rain, probably
26:54
about a quarter of an inch of rain that's gonna
26:56
fall that day. On Friday, 15 % chance of rain,
26:59
high of 72, low of 41. Saturday, starts getting
27:02
much better. High of 73, low of 41, 4 % chance
27:06
of rain. Sunday, high of 79, low of 43, 3 % chance
27:10
of rain. Monday a high 81 and a low of 45 with
27:14
a 5 % chance of rain Tuesday 78 and 43 15 % chance
27:19
of rain and Wednesday 76 and 43 with a 9 % chance
27:23
of rain West Yellowstone on Thursday a high of
27:27
62 a low of 38 and an 81 % chance of rain so
27:31
it's gonna rain about 2 tenths of an inch of
27:35
rain, which doesn't sound like a lot to some
27:36
people, but it's a lot out here. Friday high
27:39
at 72, low at 35, 15 % chance of rain. Saturday,
27:43
Sunday and Monday, we creep up temperature wise.
27:47
Starts out at 73 with a low at 36 on Saturday,
27:50
78 and 38 on Sunday, and then 80 and 41 on Monday.
27:56
Tuesday will be 77 and 39 with a 15 % chance
28:00
of rain and Wednesday should be in the mid 70s
28:03
Highest in the upper 30s 8 % chance of rain Cody
28:06
Wyoming Thursday highest 71 low of 54 40 % chance
28:11
of rain Could be about a tenth of an inch Should
28:15
be some thunderstorms though, so expect that
28:17
Friday 75 and 52 with a 15 % chance of rain Saturday
28:22
75 and 53 with a 17 % chance of rain Sunday,
28:27
82 and 56, 3 % chance of rain. Monday, 84 and
28:31
59, 2 % chance of rain. Tuesday, 80 and 54, 24
28:36
% chance of rain, especially in the afternoon
28:38
and evening. And Wednesday, 75 and 53, 8 % chance
28:42
of rain. Now with this weather for the week,
28:44
not just for Cody but for all the places, expect
28:48
potentially some... Snow in the very high elevations,
28:52
so some of the mountains may get dusted with
28:54
snow, especially out towards Cook City and the
28:56
Beartooth Highway. Be aware of that. There could
28:59
be road closures, I doubt it, but there could
29:01
be. Speaking of road closures, all major roads
29:04
and most side roads are open right now in and
29:06
around Yellowstone. This should stay the same.
29:09
I would expect one road to close this week. especially
29:14
for Thursday and maybe Friday as well as it dries
29:17
out. But the Blacktail Plateau Drive dirt road
29:21
up between Mammoth and Tower Roosevelt Junction,
29:25
that will probably be closed since it has been
29:28
raining. They tend to close that with rain. Other
29:30
than that, should be good to go. If you do want
29:32
updated road information, you can call 307 -344
29:36
-2117 for recorded information or you can do
29:40
what all of us do out here. Sign up for Yellowstone
29:42
Road Alerts on your cell phone by texting the
29:45
number 82190 to the number 888 -777. Camping
29:52
information. Every campground in the park that's
29:54
open is open imagine that um no there are currently
29:58
no closed campgrounds in the park That have been
30:01
open if it's been open this year. It's open I
30:04
do want you to know that the Indian Creek campground
30:06
will be closing for the season on September 7th
30:09
And if you're coming out this week campgrounds
30:12
are pretty accessible I looked at almost all
30:16
the campgrounds and there are sites even through
30:19
Labor Day weekend, even on Saturday, Sunday and
30:22
Monday. So if you're on the fence about coming
30:24
to the park, come on out. You should be able
30:27
to find a spot. The wildlife watching update.
30:31
So wildlife watching continues to be awesome.
30:34
The cooler weather has just really helped. It
30:36
has been fantastic the last few days, especially
30:40
out in Lamar. If in Slough Creek area, if you
30:43
are looking for some of those major animals that
30:46
I was talking about, wolves and bears, go to
30:48
the northern range. You could see bears elsewhere,
30:51
but if you're really dead set on it, go to the
30:53
northern range early in the morning. late in
30:56
the evening. Right now bears are starting to
31:00
really gorge themselves for hyperphasia. That
31:02
is when they need to eat a ton so they can get
31:05
through the winter. When they enter torpor, if
31:08
you're curious what torpor is, it's like hibernation,
31:10
but it's what bears do. Bears don't hibernate
31:12
fully. So you'll hear about that again in the
31:15
winter. But right now bears are just starting
31:17
to really pack on the calories. So if you really
31:20
want to see some bears, there's some carcasses
31:22
out in the northern range. Drive out there early
31:25
morning. You get there midday. You're probably
31:27
not going to see much. Things have been slowing
31:30
down for the most part. You know, there's obviously
31:33
exceptions. I would also drive the road between
31:38
tower and Canyon, you know, Dunraven pass early
31:43
morning in the evening. I've been seeing some
31:46
good wildlife out there that and out towards
31:48
the east entrance as well. Hayden has been slow
31:51
for me. Maybe it's just me. I've heard it's been
31:54
OK with some bear sightings, but I haven't had
31:57
much luck. So if anybody else has let me know
32:00
and I will happily share that next week. It doesn't
32:04
help you this week, does it? But really, like
32:07
I like I say almost all the time right now without
32:10
being very specific about locations, go to the
32:13
northern range. which is from Mammoth out to
32:16
Cook City, especially from Tower Junction to
32:21
Round Prairie, which is by Pebble Creek Campground.
32:25
Check that out. I think if you're there at the
32:27
right hours, you're going to have very good luck.
32:30
Also, elk are starting to get a lot more active.
32:33
They're going to be entering their rut soon.
32:35
Keep an eye out for them, especially out on the
32:36
Madison River area out of the north side beyond.
32:40
Gardner and Mammoth, and even in Mammoth, they
32:43
should start picking back up. So keep an eye
32:46
out for elk. And otherwise, it's a good week
32:48
for wildlife watching. I would be stoked if I
32:51
was coming to the park right now, if I hadn't
32:53
seen much, especially if you decide to get up
32:56
early or stay late in the afternoon, evening
32:58
around Lamar Valley and Slough Creek. Trail alerts
33:02
and updates as of the time of this recording,
33:05
which is Wednesday, August 27th at 222 p .m.
33:09
There are no trails that I can find that are
33:13
closed for bear activity or anything like that.
33:16
So you're good to hike wherever. But since I
33:20
mentioned in the wildlife report that bears are
33:22
starting to enter hyperphasia, if there is a
33:24
trail that you know, we'll probably have a lot
33:26
of berries. Bears are feasting on those right
33:29
now. So be alert. Make a lot of noise. Don't
33:32
try and sneak up on things. Be loud, please scare
33:35
the bears away. Let them know you're coming or
33:38
stick to a more popular trail, if you're worried
33:41
about it. Speaking of popular trails, that leads
33:44
me to my Trek of the Week, which is not a popular
33:47
trail. This week, I am talking about Washburn
33:50
Hot Springs. Now, there are smelly areas in Yellowstone.
33:54
This is an undeniable fact. For many, the stench
33:57
is awful and one that is one of their least favorite
33:59
parts of their trip. For others, the smell of
34:02
sulfur is a unique odor that helps make Yellowstone
34:05
that five -cent experience. I fall in that latter
34:08
camp. The smell of sulfur is one that instantly
34:12
takes me back to my first trip to the park, reminding
34:15
me of when I first smelled the thermal areas
34:19
as a six -year -old. While some bemoan the smell,
34:22
it brings me joy in its quintessential yellowstone.
34:26
That's why this week I'm recommending a trail
34:28
leading to what many consider to be the smelliest
34:31
thermal area in the park. Actually, quick caveat
34:34
here. There are probably some smellier places
34:37
way out in the backcountry, but this is an easy
34:39
one to get to. It's a day hike. It doesn't require
34:42
you to backpack or do anything sketchy. It's
34:45
found right on a trail. Now, I know I've mentioned
34:50
Washburn Hot Springs before, but this time I'm
34:52
going to be talking about it as a standalone
34:54
destination instead of a side detour. I'm mentioning
34:57
it today because I want to give you the backcountry
35:00
thermal adventure in a scenic and wonderful region
35:03
of the park before you can no longer get there
35:06
because things will be closing or it'll be heavily
35:09
bear frequented or who knows what, right? I want
35:12
you to go right now. So your hike begins at the
35:15
Glacial Boulder Trailhead out near Inspiration
35:17
Point. That's on that northern rim of the Grand
35:20
Canyon of the Yellowstone River. You'll follow
35:22
the seven mile hole trail for 2 .7 miles, taking
35:26
in grand views of the canyon before reaching
35:29
a junction. The junction is on the left and follows
35:32
a mostly ignored trail that can take you all
35:34
the way to the summit of Mount Washburn. You'll
35:37
hike this trail which will have some logs down
35:40
over the trail in places for about a mile and
35:42
a half before reaching Washburn Hot Springs.
35:45
The one and a half miles is through heavy bear
35:48
territory as well as a good place to spot elk
35:51
and other animals so be very alert as you travel.
35:55
You'll know you're getting close to the hot springs
35:57
because you'll probably smell them well in advance.
35:59
I've smelled them as far as a half mile away.
36:03
And don't worry about missing it either. The
36:05
path leads you right next to some of the stinkiest,
36:08
churning, bubbling cauldrons of stench. Yellowstone's
36:12
little visited Washburn Hot Springs is a backcountry
36:15
thermal area. It's made up of mud pots and hot
36:17
springs and steaming fumaroles scattered across
36:20
the flank of the Washburn Range. According to
36:22
the USGS, the thermal area itself covers approximately
36:27
19 .5 acres, making it very compact, yet super
36:31
complex. As far as how many features you're going
36:34
to find, there is an official count. The hot
36:37
springs here are small, scattered, and constantly
36:39
changing. Among them, the Ink Pots are the best
36:42
known, they're right next to the trail, with
36:44
at least one named Acid Ink Pot that scientists
36:47
have sampled repeatedly, along with a handful
36:50
of unnamed spouters and acid springs. The Ink
37:03
Pot nickname Makes sense once you see the water
37:07
there. Many of the pools are dark, almost black,
37:09
thanks to minerals like pyrite, which is iron
37:12
sulfide, and carbonized organic materials creating
37:15
acidic bubbling. Chemically, these springs are
37:19
about as harsh as they come. Low pH values, sometimes
37:22
as low as 2, if you know what that means, high
37:25
sulfate content, and notable amounts of ammonium.
37:28
On top of that, researchers have found hardy
37:31
microbes here that actually live on hydrogen,
37:34
showing how life can adapt in extreme environments.
37:37
The naming of the Washburn hot springs adds a
37:40
colorful layer too. When the Washburn Langford
37:44
-Done expedition passed through there in 1870,
37:48
they dubbed the place Hellbroth Springs, calling
37:52
it infernal -looking, smelly, and sounding terrible.
37:56
They also tacked on dramatic names like Devil's
37:59
Cauldron and Devil's Ink Pot to the nearby springs.
38:02
Later though, the official names were softened
38:04
to Washburn Hot Springs as part of a broader
38:07
push led by US geologist Arnold Haig to strip
38:12
the name Hell and Devil references from Yellowstone's
38:15
maps. So if you're wondering why there's not
38:17
more Hells and Devils in Yellowstone, it is Arnold
38:20
Haig who did that. Even though it's not one of
38:24
Yellowstone's marquee destinations, Washburn
38:26
Hot Springs has been carefully documented. The
38:29
USGS surveys list map about 78 ,769 square meters,
38:35
again about 20 acres, and looking at all of these
38:39
things, those elements there are amazing. There's
38:43
arsenic in it. It is. It's wild. And this area
38:46
is small. It's tucked away. But between its dramatic
38:50
history, striking colors and scientific values,
38:52
it's one of those Yellowstone spots that feels
38:54
like you've stumbled onto a secret because you
38:56
kind of have. Quick reminder here, off -trail
39:00
travel in thermal areas is prohibited. Even doing
39:03
this can occasionally even doing this on trail
39:06
can be occasionally risky and not following the
39:10
rules and regulations. The park is on you. Hike
39:13
where you see other people have hiked. Don't
39:15
do anything sketchy and dangerous. Also, the
39:19
park wants me to remind you that, quote, toxic
39:23
gases may accumulate to dangerous levels in some
39:26
hydrothermal areas. If you begin to feel sick
39:29
while exploring one of our geyser basins, leave
39:32
the area immediately. This is one of those areas
39:35
that could do this to you. So just just a heads
39:38
up. Once you've enjoyed the sights and smells
39:41
of the hot springs, you can either turn around
39:43
and head back, or you can hike another three
39:45
quarters of a mile and enter Washburn Meadows,
39:49
which offers great views of Mount Washburn and
39:51
its ridges, as well as a chance to scan an open
39:53
meadow for wildlife. If you do this, thank me
39:56
later. It's a fantastic meadow. Also be aware
40:01
that there are a few ways to reach Watchburn
40:03
Hot Springs. You can do it the easy way that
40:05
I described as an out and back, which is a total
40:07
of 8 .6 miles and mostly flat. You can do it
40:10
a harder way where you also go down a seven mile
40:13
hole. And I mentioned that on the July 31st episode
40:16
for a total of 13 .3 miles and over 2000 feet
40:19
again. Or you can do it as a perfect point to
40:22
point hike from Mount Washburn down to Glacial
40:24
Boulder, which is about 12 miles in length and
40:27
about 1400 feet again. So hike here. It's smelly.
40:31
It's awful. It's terrible. It's wonderful. I
40:34
love it It's my favorite backcountry hot springs.
40:37
Maybe my favorite hot springs in the entire park.
40:39
So I'm happy to share it I hope someone goes
40:42
there and tells me how terrible it smells. So
40:45
appreciate it until next week I want you to all
40:50
know that I appreciate you listening to my rant
40:52
earlier and that I do enjoy all of you that listen
40:56
and reach out. If you do like what you hear,
40:58
if there's something you want to hear about,
41:00
reach out to me. Let me know. Otherwise, I'll
41:03
return next week with all the information you
41:05
need to have a good week in the park, including
41:07
the wildlife update, weather and trail conditions.
41:10
Until then, happy trails. This week in Yellowstone
41:24
is brought to you by the Outdoor Society because
41:26
that's my company and that's where this is hosted
41:29
There are no sponsors. This is a labor of love.
41:32
So thank you all for listening copyright 2025,
41:36
baby