On our second full day in Yellowstone, the four of us embarked on an evening tour from the Inn called "Twilight on the Fire Hole."  The tour lasted about two hours.  We rode in a cool historic bus (you will see the picture of it below).  It was definitely an excursion I recommend taking as a means to explore parts of the park in the evening.  We were in a small group (about 10 as I recall).  We left about an hour or so before sunset and headed north to Fire Hole Canyon Drive. After making a number of side trips and some stops, we started back toward the hotel going past a set of ‘paint pots.’   On this trip, we stopped at Fountain Geyser hoping that it would erupt. But it only goes off every 12 hours (give or take 2), and we were not there at the right time. 

It is said that twilight is a magic time in the Fire Hole, the valley just north of Old Faithful that was named by the mountain men of the early 19th Century. This two-hour tour enables you to enjoy the time as the light slowly fades in the park.  You will explore the main and various side roads in search of wildlife, thermal features, and scenery.   We were hoping to catch some bears, but alas - they eluded us on this trip. Still, the scenery was great, and our driver-guide (Scott) was very cool.  He was very knowledgeable about the park, wildlife, and geology.   Truly, it is a great way to watch Yellowstone’s wonderful daytime scenery give way to the wonders of, perhaps, a star-filled Rocky Mountain sky. Unfortunately, we had a lot of clouds, so we did not catch a star filled sky!!  

You could do this whole tour ‘on your own’ but you would not get the personal attention and insight that the driver/guide provides.  Further, it is easier to enjoy the scenery while riding as a passenger in a vehicle rather than being the driver.  That alone makes taking the tour a major advantage to driving it yourself!

Here are some pictures and videos from this cool excursion!

 

This is our bus for this adventure!

Bill, Mary and Pam ready for the cool adventure!

This bison was right beside on bus!   Spooky!

These thermal features are so cool to see in person

Cool scenery

We stopped to take pictures of the bison

Sun setting on the mountain

Taking more pictures of bison

Just about to the falls

Firehole Falls

Informative sign

Scott (our driver), Bill, Pam and Mary

Our cute coach

The river down from the falls

Pretty evening sky - very few clouds

Overlooking the landscape as we are driving

  

 

  

 

 

 

 

We did the ‘Twilight on the Firehole’ version……..This tour leaves from the Old Faithful Inn……you’re riding in a ‘old yellow bus’ build originally back in the 30’s, but updated a few years ago with a modern drive train and frame…….You’re in a small group (max 13, we had 9 or 10) and our guide (Adam) was very knowledgeable about the park, wildlife, and geology………You leave about a hour or so before sunset….drive north to Fire Hole Canyon Drive and start back toward the hotel stopping at a set of ‘paint pots’ and end at Fountain Geyser….We were lucky enough that it erupted right at sunset (it goes off every 12 hours +\-2 hours, so it’s hit and miss)……You could do this whole tour ‘on your own’ but you don’t get the personal attention and insight the guide provides

 

 

you’re riding in a ‘old yellow bus’ build originally back in the 30’s, but updated a few years ago with a modern drive train and frame…….You’re in a small group (max 13, we had 9 or 10) and our guide (Adam) was very knowledgeable about the park, wildlife, and geology………You leave about a hour or so before sunset….drive north to Fire Hole Canyon Drive and start back toward the hotel stopping at a set of ‘paint pots’ and end at Fountain Geyser….We were lucky enough that it erupted right at sunset (it goes off every 12 hours +\-2 hours, so it’s hit and miss)……You could do this whole tour ‘on your own’ but you don’t get the personal attention and insight the guide provides
you’re riding in a ‘old yellow bus’ build originally back in the 30’s, but updated a few years ago with a modern drive train and frame…….You’re in a small group (max 13, we had 9 or 10) and our guide (Adam) was very knowledgeable about the park, wildlife, and geology………You leave about a hour or so before sunset….drive north to Fire Hole Canyon Drive and start back toward the hotel stopping at a set of ‘paint pots’ and end at Fountain Geyser….We were lucky enough that it erupted right at sunset (it goes off every 12 hours +\-2 hours, so it’s hit and miss)……You could do this whole tour ‘on your own’ but you don’t get the personal attention and insight the guide provides

 

you’re riding in a ‘old yellow bus’ build originally back in the 30’s, but updated a few years ago with a modern drive train and frame…….You’re in a small group (max 13, we had 9 or 10) and our guide (Adam) was very knowledgeable about the park, wildlife, and geology………You leave about a hour or so before sunset….drive north to Fire Hole Canyon Drive and start back toward the hotel stopping at a set of ‘paint pots’ and end at Fountain Geyser….We were lucky enough that it erupted right at sunset (it goes off every 12 hours +\-2 hours, so it’s hit and miss)……You could do this whole tour ‘on your own’ but you don’t get the personal attention and insight the guide provides