ENTER THE NEW CANYON VISITOR EDUCATION CENTER AND THE WORLD OF YELLOWSTONE’S SUPERVOLCANO—AN IDEA THAT HAS CAPTURED THE MINDS AND IMAGINATIONS OF PEOPLE AROUND THE WORLD. For the first time, park visitors will see, hear, and learn how the Yellowstone volcano, its geysers and hot springs, and geologic history shape the distribution and abundance of all life found here. Explore these ideas through interactive exhibits, animations, audio-visual productions, and real-time scientific data.
The new center is a combination of museum, electronic library with hands’ on technology, and visitor’s center. It will be the ‘geology center‘ for the park with two stories of exhibits all focused on Yellowstone’s Super Volcano. It was specially constructed with a heavy duty roof to handle heavy snows and earthquake-reinforced structural steel conquering problems associated with the original 1958 building.
The center combines new with old. Yellowstone’s former volcanic areas. Detailed panoramas, dioramas, and cross sections of life in a lodgepole forest and grassland—habitats made possible by Yellowstone’s fire and ice. The exhibits include life-size bison and pine martens. Murals and enlarged photographs showing the enormity of Yellowstone’s glaciers and their lasting effect on the landscape, including the famous Thomas Moran illustration of the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone.
Updated technology exhibits include computer-generated displays of real-time earthquake and other geologic data exactly at the same time it is being collected in the Park.
There is a room-sized relief model of Yellowstone that gives a complete view of the topography of the Park and illustrates volcanic eruptions, lava flows, glaciers, and earthquake faults. An open view from the second floor (complete with magnifying scopes) offers a great perspective. Visitors can hear tribes associated with the park interpret the park’s geology from their tribe’s perspective.
Check out the sample piece of glacier, a 9,000 pound rotating globe with volcanic hotspots, and my favorite, one of the world’s largest lava lamps, illustrating how magma rises by heat convection. The live volcanic research corner features real-time earthquake and geologic data gathering, plus kid-friendly interaction screens.
The theater offers a comfortable multiple-media experience. There is a also a Yellowstone Association bookstore and Yellowstone Park Backcountry office located in the complex, along with some of the nicest restrooms that you will find in the park. An elevator offers an easy access to the second floor.
Canyon also features the Young Scientist Program: This new program was created for kids 5 and up (including grandparents!) to learn more about thermal activity in the park. Self-guiding booklets (resembling comic books) are available for $5.00 each at the front desk and are completed in the centers and in the thermal areas. You can also check out a Young Toolkit, which has a thermometer, stopwatch, and other gear to use at the Old Faithful Visitor Center. Even parents will have fun with aims the laser light at hot pools and getting the digital temp. (Make sure to sign up for a kit early in the morning before they are all checked out.) Once your investigation is complete, you will be awarded a Young Scientist patch or key chain.
The Canyon Visitor Education Center is open daily through from 8 AM – 7 PM through September 1st; from 8 AM – 6 PM through September 30th, and from 9AM -5PM October 1st through October 19th.
The Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone is one of those not-to-be missed views. The canyon extends roughly 20 miles from the Upper Falls to Tower Falls. In geologic terms, the present canyon is relatively new only 10,000 to 14,000 years old and was formed by erosion versus glaciation.
On a tour last year, our guide gave us the perfect analogy. It is like a sharp knife cutting into a chocolate cake while someone is raising the cake plate up. The Yellowstone River is eroding down while geologic action is pushing the area higher. The result is a stunning combination of water and colorful walls caused by the presence of iron.
The falls are also caused by erosion as the river flows over progressively softer, less resistant rock. The Upper Falls is upstream of the Lower Falls and is 109 ft. high. It can be seen from the Brink of the Upper Falls Trail and from Uncle Tom's Trail.
The Lower Falls is often described as being more than twice the size of Niagara, although this only refers to its height and not the volume of water flowing over it. The volume of water flowing over the falls can vary from 63,500 gal/sec at peak runoff to 5,000 gal/sec in the fall.
There are two viewing options, the South or North Rims. Unfortunately, this year North Rim Drive is closed to vehicles and pedestrians from the camper services area to the Grand Loop Road. The North Rim trail is only open from the brink of the upper falls to the brink of the lower falls. All other areas/trails are closed. Lookout Point, Grandview, and Inspiration Point are closed.
The South Rim Drive, which leads to viewing areas for the Upper and Lower falls—including world famous Artist Point, is open. A third falls can be seen from the South Rim Trail just east of the Uncle Tom's area. Crystal Falls is the outfall of Cascade Creek into the canyon.
There is an easy short hike to Artist’s Point in the Lower Falls. Best photos are taken early in the morning or early evening. If you are at Artist Point soon after sunrise, you may have it all to yourself. The light streams up the canyon to the Lower Falls.
Just a recommendation, early mornings and evenings are the best time to see the Canyon while avoiding the traffic. There is heavy congestion and occasional backups from late morning through late afternoon due to the North Rim closure and usual summer traffic. If you visit in early evening, keep your eyes peeled for one of the “Big Boys of Summer.” These mature, full antlered elk like to graze in the meadows and along the trees near the roads in-between the Visitor Center and the Canyon turn-offs. Their magnificent racks and golden brown coats in the evening sun create an incredible photo.
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