2025 Yellowstone/Tetons National Parks
We returned to Yellowstone in June/July 2025 to visit the areas of Yellowstone that we had visited in January 2025, as well as areas that were unaccessible during the Winter visit. We also spent time in Grand Tetons National Park and various state parks and national forests in Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming. Finally, on the way home to Texas, we visited Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado.
We also spent time rock hunting for Montana “Diamonds” (quartz crystals) and Sapphires, and Idaho Opals.
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Our Route: Texas → New Mexico → Colorado → Wyoming → Montana → Idaho → Wyoming → Colorado → New Mexico → Texas
Barn Swallow chicksRest Area, Des Moines, NM
HummingbirdCastlewood Canyon State Park, Franktown, CO
Spotted Towhee
Val Kerns with Sundance Kid (Harry Longabauch)Southeast Wyoming Welcome Center, Cheyenne, WY
Giant geodes (10+ feet in diameter) poised to fall from cliffPictograph Cave State Park, Billings, MT
Final resting place of Susan Kerns (and her cat, Mia)Judith Peak, Lewistown, MT
Deer that lives under the lodge's porchJudith Peak Lodge, Lewistown, MT
Mountain Striped Ground SquirrelBeaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest, Dillon, MT
Crystal Park Picnic and Mineral Collection AreaBeaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest, Dillon, MT
Crystal Park Picnic and Mineral Collection AreaBeaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest, Dillon, MT
Crystal Park Picnic and Mineral Collection AreaBeaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest, Dillon, MT
Bear [captive] and Val & Don KernsGrizzly & Wolf Discovery Center, West Yellowstone, MT
Bald Eagle [captive]Grizzly & Wolf Discovery Center, West Yellowstone, MT
Gray Wolf [captive]Grizzly & Wolf Discovery Center, West Yellowstone, MT
Brown Bear [captive]Grizzly & Wolf Discovery Center, West Yellowstone, MT
Brown Bear [captive]Grizzly & Wolf Discovery Center, West Yellowstone, MT
Hawk [captive]Grizzly & Wolf Discovery Center, West Yellowstone, MT
Morning steam plumesYellowstone National Park, WY
Multi-colored microbial matsYellowstone National Park, WY
Reflections in mineral terraces with multi-colored microbial matsGrand Primsatic Spring, Yellowstone National Park, WY
Reflections in mineral terraces with multi-colored microbial matsGrand Primsatic Spring, Yellowstone National Park, WY
Reflections in mineral terraces with multi-colored microbial matsGrand Primsatic Spring, Yellowstone National Park, WY
Turquoise PoolMidway Geyser Basin, Yellowstone National Park, WY
Bison relaxing next to Upper Geyser Hill TrailYellowstone National Park, WY
Mud potYellowstone National Park, WY
Lion Group & Heart SpringUpper Geyser Hill Trail, Yellowstone National Park, WY
Orchidoid OrchidsUpper Geyser Hill Trail, Yellowstone National Park, WY
Plume Thistle
Flax flowersUpper Geyser Hill Trail, Yellowstone National Park, WY
South Scalloped Spring with multi-colored microbial matsUpper Geyser Hill Trail, Yellowstone National Park, WY
Firehole RiverUpper Geyser Hill Trail, Yellowstone National Park, WY
Firehole RiverUpper Geyser Hill Trail, Yellowstone National Park, WY
Upper Geyser Hill Trail, Yellowstone National Park, WY
Upper Geyser Hill Trail, Yellowstone National Park, WY
Heart SpringUpper Geyser Hill Trail, Yellowstone National Park, WY
Dew-covered grassesYellowstone National Park, WY
Gray Wolf hunting for small game on a foggy morningYellowstone National Park, WY
Utah Honeysuckle
Moose (female)Big Springs State Park, Island Park, ID
Seagull floating on clear spring waterBig Springs State Park, Island Park, ID
Western Cone Flower
Yellow-bellied MarmotLower Mesa Falls, Ashton, ID
Ornate Checked Beetle
Val Kerns preparing for the hikeFlat Ranch Preserve, Island Park, ID
Fields of wildflowersFlat Ranch Preserve, Island Park, ID
White LupineFlat Ranch Preserve, Island Park, ID
Yellow SalsifyFlat Ranch Preserve, Island Park, ID
LupinesFlat Ranch Preserve, Island Park, ID
Yellow Warbler
WildflowersHarriman State Park, Island Park, ID
Nesting Tree SwallowFlat Ranch Preserve, Island Park, ID
Tree SwallowFlat Ranch Preserve, Island Park, ID
Tree SwallowsFlat Ranch Preserve, Island Park, ID
Tree SwallowsFlat Ranch Preserve, Island Park, ID
Savannah SparrowFlat Ranch Preserve, Island Park, ID
Savannah SparrowFlat Ranch Preserve, Island Park, ID
Spotted Flycatcher with wasp in its beak
Bison near steam ventsYellowstone National Park, WY
Bison and nursing calfYellowstone National Park, WY
Sky reflections in marshSouth Rim Road, Yellowstone National Park, WY
Nuphar LakeNorris Geyser Basin, Yellowstone National Park, WY
Upper Yellowstone FallsYellowstone National Park, WY
Lower Yellowstone FallsYellowstone National Park, WY
Lower Yellowstone FallsYellowstone National Park, WY
Lower Yellowstone Falls RainbowYellowstone National Park, WY
Yellowstone River CanyonYellowstone National Park, WY
Western Chipmunk
Western TanagerYellowstone National Park, WY
Grand Primsatic SpringYellowstone National Park, WY
Golden-mantled Ground Squirrel
Grand Primsatic SpringYellowstone National Park, WY
Mineral terraces with multi-colored microbial matsGrand Primsatic Spring, Yellowstone National Park, WY
Val & Don Kerns
Mineral terraces with multi-colored microbial matsGrand Primsatic Spring, Yellowstone National Park, WY
Fairy FallsYellowstone National Park, WY
Fairy FallsYellowstone National Park, WY
Hawksbeard
Silver LakeHarriman State Park, Island Park, ID
Sawtell Peak and Henry’s Fork CalderaCaribou–Targhee National Forest, Island Park, ID
Great Spangled Fritillary
"Three Canadian Geese walk onto a bar"
American Pelicans fishing as a groupSilver Lake, Harriman State Park, Island Park, ID
Spizella Sparrow
Val & Don Kerns at "Top of the World"Jackson Hole, WY
Plume Thistle
White-crowned SparrowJackson Hole, WY
Grand Teton National Park, Jenny Lake, WY
Grand Teton National Park, Jenny Lake, WY
Grand Teton National Park, Jenny Lake, WY
American Asters
American Robin (juvenile)Big Springs State Park, Island Park, ID
Val & Don Kerns at Mirror LakeMedicine Bow-Routt National Forest, Centennial, WY
Grazing MooseMedicine Bow-Routt National Forest, Centennial, WY
Rocky Mountain Marsh-Marigold
Pine Squirrel
Anicia Checkerspot on Sunflowers
Fly on Parry's Townsend Daisy
Colorado Black-notched Bumble Bee on Western GoldenrodRocky Mountain National Park, Estes Park, CO
Soaring OspreyHenrys State Park, Island Park, ID
Yellow WarblerHenrys State Park, Island Park, ID
Bison and nursing calfYellowstone National Park, WY
Brown Bear cub [captive]Yellowstone Bear World, Rexburg, ID
<Brown Bear [captive]Yellowstone Bear World, Rexburg, ID
Brown Bear cub [captive]Yellowstone Bear World, Rexburg, ID
Brown Bear cub [captive]Yellowstone Bear World, Rexburg, ID
Val Kerns feeds Brown Bear cub named "Dallas" [captive]Yellowstone Bear World, Rexburg, ID
Sawtell PeakCaribou–Targhee National Forest, Island Park, ID
Grand Teton National Park, Jenny Lake, WY
Grand Teton National Park, Jenny Lake, WY
Jenny LakeGrand Teton National Park, Jenny Lake, WY
Plume Thistle
Grand Teton National Park, Jenny Lake, WY
Grand Teton National Park, Jenny Lake, WY
Sunflowers
Grand Teton National Park, Jenny Lake, WY
Grand Teton National Park, Jenny Lake, WY
Viceroy Butterfly
Oxeye Daisy
Blue HeronHenrys Lake State Park, Island Park, ID
Trumpeter Swan and cygnetsHenrys Lake State Park, Island Park, ID
Shrubby Cinquefoils
Orange-tipped Woodborer on Cactus flower
Dicots [captive]US Post Office, Island Park, ID
Tent CaterpillarLower Mesa Falls, Ashton, ID
Fireweed with honey bee
Timothy Grass
American Robin (juvenile)
Orchard Grass
Indian Paintbrush & LupineHarriman State Park, Island Park, ID
Punctate Blister Beetleon Hawksbeard
Blurry mistake - but that's why it is so unique!Yellowstone National Park, WY
Hawksbeard
Narrow-winged DamselflyHarriman State Park, Island Park, ID
Narrow-winged DamselflyHarriman State Park, Island Park, ID
Dot-tailed Whiteface DragonflyHarriman State Park, Island Park, ID
Brown-headed Cow BirdHarriman State Park, Island Park, ID
Lupine
Swallows gathering mud for nestHenrys Lake State Park, Island Park, ID
Swallow gathering mud for nestHenrys Lake State Park, Island Park, ID
Osprey with chick in nestHenrys Lake State Park, Island Park, ID
Pine Squirrel
Fireweed
Timothy Grass
Lesser Canary Grass
Foxtail Mulga Grass
Yellow Salsify
Crested Wheatgrass
Crested Wheatgrass
Alpine lakeRocky Mountain National Park, Estes Park, CO
Steel Bridge PoolFairy Falls Trailhead, Yellowstone National Park, WY
"Fast Draw" Val Kerns
Bear LakeRocky Mountain National Park, Estes Park, CO
Bear LakeRocky Mountain National Park, Estes Park, CO
Crested Wheatgrass
Crested Wheatgrass
Wild MustangsPilot Butte Wild Horse Loop, Green River, WY
Mountain Bluebird (female)Pilot Butte Wild Horse Loop, Green River, WY
Stellar's JayBear Lake, Rocky Mountain National Park, Estes Park, CO
Stellar's JayBear Lake, Rocky Mountain National Park, Estes Park, CO
Stellar's JayBear Lake, Rocky Mountain National Park, Estes Park, CO
Bear LakeRocky Mountain National Park, Estes Park, CO
Dragonfly over drowned treeRocky Mountain National Park, Estes Park, CO
Bear LakeRocky Mountain National Park, Estes Park, CO
Bear LakeRocky Mountain National Park, Estes Park, CO