Yellowstone Grand Canyon. The last day in the Park

I was surprised that, after a long and busy day on Wednesday that we were up and around not long after 7am and off to the park around 9. The road we have to take has significant construction activity including a paving project and rebuilding a wall on a narrow and winding section. Signs tell you to expect a 30 minute delay. We were lucky going up as we only waited a couple of minutes, but had about a 20 minute wait on the return (I took a quick nap!).
Our last day in the Park (might also have been Renee's last day as she is getting ready to pack up and head south in the next couple of weeks) is to visit the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone. It is pretty much in the center of the park and is spectacular. There are several waterfalls, but the most accessible are the Lower Falls, and that, of course also means lots of people.
We took a couple of side trips on the way and saw this bison just wandering down the road with no particular objective that we could see.

Did we break the 75 ft rule or did he? There was not 75 ft available!!

Once we reached the parking area there are several alternative trails that lead to better views of the canyon and the Falls. We hiked along the South Rim, it is about a mile or so each way with varying terrain but good (if sometimes loose) underfoot. 

There is a trail that Renee has taken that goes down in to the canyon, Uncle Tom's trail. It is short and steep descending about 500 ft in to the canyon with some 300 steps as well as steep downhill sections.As the information says. Easy going down but strenuous coming back up. I wimped out, and we took the trail that went along the South Rim with great views and more people. 

This tree is about to head in to the canyon. Maybe this year, maybe next.

We stopped and ate our lunch along the way and enjoyed a relaxing day that I would have otherwise missed. 
We arrived at Artist Point after a while and there was another parking lot there with lots of people. The view is all the way back up where we had hiked to the falls and gives a great perspective of the size and grandeur of the canyon. 

We headed back and, as mentioned sat in the traffic for a while, and then came across some elk grazing along a river bank with the now expected parade of cars and watchers. We participated. 
Once out of the park we stopped again at Renee's favorite spot on the Madison River just outside West Yellowstone. It is a magical place.

Enjoy