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Special Report: Yellowstone

Bison, Yellowstone National Park (9/20/19) Alena Nicholas

Autumn arrived two weeks ago at Yellowstone National Park. Southern California color spotter Alena Nicholas was there to record its sparce beginnings.

Yellowstone’s fall color is limited to grasses and willows, as a cone-bearing forest (fir, pine juniper and spruce) covers 80% of the national park.

Nevertheless, in autumn, visual excitement is provided by the park’s abundant wildlife.

Rocky Mountain Elk were rutting and American Bison were grazing its plains. Alena even saw emaciated wolves in desperate search of sustenance.

At this point, the national park would be peaking, though fall color is limited to grasses, ground cover, shrubs and a few trees near the river.

  • Yellowstone River (9/20/19) Alena Nicholas
  • Wetlands burst with fall color, Yellowstone NP (9/20/19) Alena Nicholas
  • Small numbers of golden deciduous trees grow near the Yellowstone River (9/20/19) Alena Nicholas
  • Elk, Yellowstone NP (9/20/19) Alena Nicholas
  • Bison, Yellowstone NP (9/20/19) Alena Nicholas
  • Bison Yellowstone NP (9/20/19) Alena Nicholas
  • Elk, Yellowstone NP (9/20/19) Alena Nicholas
  • Elk, Yellowstone NP (9/20/19) Alena Nicholas
  • Upper Yellowstone River Falls (9/20/19) Alena Nicholas
  • Orange and gold fall color is provided by the grasses that grow across Yellowstone NP’s plains (9/20/19) Alena Nicholas
  • Yellowstone National Park – Peak (75-100%) GO NOW!
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