Yellowstone in autumn -- great time to explore, see critters, as the leaves fall and winter's in the wings

Well fed bison roam near Norris Junction in Yellowstone National Park, with geysers spouting behind them.

The Roosevelt Arch, approaching Mammoth from withinn the park, honors 

Teddy Roosevelt's guiding spirit in establishing the park system.

Yellowstone Park's founder and patron saint.

BISON, WOLVES, ELK  MOOSE AND BEARS, OH MY!

STORY BY CHRISTENE MEYERS

PHOTOS By BRUCE KELLER

Bruce Keller, left, and Rick Cosgriffe, right, enjoy a photography session

on a four-day journey through Yellowstone. They frame a grazing cow elk. 

YELLOWSTONE is beautiful in all four seasons.

But my favorite time is autumn, when the air is clean and there's frost on the ground in the morning.

When the tourist rush is over and the critters are on the move.  Winter's in the wings and the deer and elk are mating and making lots of noise.

Grizzlies azn sometimes

be seen near the Cody

Entrance, as here. 

A gorgeous wolf is one of two packs lovingly tended at the Grizzly 

and Wolf Encounter Center in West Yellowstone

The bison and bears are fattening up -- and  at the West Yellowstone's wonderful Bear and Wolf Discovery Center, you can see close-up the critters you might not spot roaming in the park. The Center rescues, cares for and exhibits in a natural habitat animals who for various reasons cannot be returned to the wild. We spent three hours enjoying the lectures and films and watching well tended critters rooting for food hidden  for

Sam, the largest of the West Yellowstone Grizzly and Wolf Center

roots around for food hidden by the trainers.

them to find.

WHATEVER PART of Yellowstone's glorious two million acres we visit, Teddy Roosevelt's best gift to the country shines like a well loved tiara.  We hiked several of the park's 1,210 miles of marked trails, seeing many. We usually stay at Lake Yellowstone Hotel or Old Faithful Inn, but this time opted to stay in West Yellowstone and drive in daily.  This allowed a leisurely afternoon at the Grizzly and Wolf Discovery Center in West, a true gem which cares for and makes comfortable animals who cannot be returned to the wild. 

Taking our great-niece along was a benefit.  Seeing the park through young, excited eyes reminds us of its wonder. 

Geyser discoverers, clockwise from left: Bruce Keller, Rick Cosgriffe,

Christene (Cookie) Meyers and Elliana Broscious exploring Yellowstone. 

NEXT UP: Part two of our photographic essay on the park features the phenomenal geysers which help make it a destination for international travelers and family looking to entertain and educate all generations.  Remember to explore, learn and live and catch us Fridays for our weekend post.