Yellowstone Unframed: A Mid-Summer Photo Expedition
Welcome back to J. Sinicki Photography’s photo trip blog. Today I’ll be sharing my most recent adventure to Yellowstone National Park, which took place from July 18th to the 24th. Before heading out, I set some goals for myself. At the top of the list was photographing a grizzly closer than I had on my first trip, and finally getting a photo of a wolf. In the end, I only managed to accomplish one of those goals, but the experiences made this trip one to remember.
The first of our five days in the park began with a drive from my base camp in West Yellowstone into the Lamar Valley and the Northern Range. Entering Lamar this time, it was clear why it’s called “America’s Serengeti.” From one end of the valley to the other, bison stretched across the landscape as far as I could see. Having visited in February, I knew it would be even more alive in summer, and I was right. Near Soda Butte we stopped to watch a large herd moving gracefully down the valley before continuing deeper into the range in hopes of spotting a bear or moose. On our way back, I revisited a rock formation our guide had shown us in winter—a tree growing from the top, perfectly shaped to resemble a moose head.
As the day went on, we left Lamar behind, though I knew we’d return again before the trip was over. Passing through Lamar Canyon I noticed a large nest in the trees, not yet knowing who called it home. That mystery would have to wait. After a quick stop to revisit a hillside where I had seen a mother grizzly and her three cubs the year before—this time covered only in wildflowers—we had lunch in Canyon Village. From there we made our way to one of my favorite places, the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone. The colors of the canyon walls and the power of the Lower Falls never disappoint. Artist Point, which is often credited to the artist Frank Jay Haynes even though he never set foot on the south rim, once again offered its breathtaking view.
As the day came to a close, we headed to Old Faithful. One of the photos I hoped for on this trip was an eruption at sunset, but the timing and skies never aligned all week. Still, seeing an eruption during golden hour with hardly any crowds around was unforgettable. If you ever visit Yellowstone, I highly recommend ending a day here—it’s calmer, quieter, and far more picturesque than the busy midday scene.
The second day began with a bear jam just inside the park. A young cinnamon-phase black bear peeked through the aspens, and I was lucky enough to capture some of my favorite bear photos ever. At one point it startled, bolted across the road less than thirty feet from me, swam the Madison River, and vanished into the reeds. It was a wild and unexpected encounter that set the tone for the day. Later we hiked the Fairy Falls Trail to the overlook above Grand Prismatic Spring. The boardwalk view of the spring is mesmerizing, but from above it’s breathtaking—the colors seem to glow with a vibrancy you can’t see from ground level. Continuing on, we reached Fairy Falls, a 200-foot cascade worth every step of the trail. We also stopped at Gibbon Falls, a waterfall that changes slightly every year with the erosion, before making our way into Mammoth for lunch.
That evening we returned to Lamar Valley. Along the way we caught a brief glimpse of a mother black bear and her two cubs as they disappeared up a hillside. At Tower Junction, groups of visitors had spotting scopes trained on the den of the Junction Butte wolf pack. Through one of the scopes I got to see wolf pups playing—still not through my camera lens, but enough to keep me chasing the photo I’ve long dreamed of. While there, I also had my first wild encounter with a badger, grumpy and determined as it trotted across the valley. The bison, as always, were the stars of Lamar, and I captured shots of a massive bull, grass tangled in its horns, bellowing into the wind. Before leaving, we checked on that nest I’d noticed the day before and found it belonged to a pair of osprey with three chicks. We sat watching them for nearly an hour, hoping for the perfect shot as one parent flew in and out of the nest. The day ended back at the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, where golden hour light gave me some of my favorite shots from that location.
On the third day we ventured into Hayden Valley for the first time. It’s known for wolves, bears, and more, though all we saw this time were geese and bison. Driving along Yellowstone Lake, however, we came across a young grizzly, likely newly independent. Watching it forage, dig for roots, and toss around a stump was incredible. I managed to capture a few of my favorite bear shots, including one of it playing with a log. Not far down the road, we spotted bighorn sheep—three rams and, higher up, a group of ewes with a lamb. Later we explored Mud Volcano, with its bubbling cauldrons and the unforgettable Dragon’s Mouth Spring. With steam rolling out like a dragon’s fiery breath, it was one of the most unique features I’ve seen in the park. We ended the day back at Old Faithful, hoping for Castle Geyser, though we just missed its eruption. Even so, walking the geyser basin trail at dusk made the trip worthwhile.
The fourth day began at Norris Geyser Basin, home to Steamboat Geyser, the tallest active geyser in the world. We weren’t lucky enough to see a full eruption, but the area itself was fascinating—ever-changing, unpredictable, and always active. From there we returned to Lamar Valley, stopping at Little America to photograph a unique rock and tree against dramatic clouds. Later I found myself photographing a massive bison bull lying just off the road. From the angle I captured, with the herd stretching into the valley below, the bull looked every bit the king of the range. I titled the shot “Home on the Range,” knowing it was one I may never be able to repeat. Listening to the bull bellow as others approached was a powerful reminder of the strength and presence of these animals. That evening we were treated to Riverside Geyser erupting in a perfect 20-minute arc over the Firehole River, one of the most beautiful geyser eruptions I’ve ever witnessed.
Our fifth and final day was shorter. We began by spotting two adult trumpeter swans with three cygnets gliding across a pond. From there we returned to Mammoth Hot Springs, where I revisited some of the spots I had photographed in February. The contrast between the terraces blanketed in snow and their summer state of white rock and flowing water was striking. We wrapped up the trip back at Grand Geyser, the world’s tallest predictable geyser. While the full eruption didn’t happen during our time there, we did see several smaller bursts leading up to it. Even without the main show, it was an impressive sight and the perfect way to end our week.
This visit leaves me with four “chase shots” still on my Yellowstone list: a grizzly in the snow, a wolf pack hunting or on a carcass, a bison in a thermal area, and a howling wolf. I’m already planning my next photography trip, and I hope you’ll join me for the next blog post. Thank you for following along on my July 2025 journey through Yellowstone.
