Cave Falls

Our first destination was Cave Falls.  Seemed simple enough.  After Ashton, ID we headed east through farmland and took a fairly decent dirt road for about 15 miles.

 We came across this carcass not long after entering the forest area.  I thought for sure I would see a bear.  Boyd even acted somewhat concerned when I got out to take the picture.

We turned off at the Bechler Ranger Station first.   The NICEST and CUTEST ranger helped us out with directions and information.  We knew how to get to Cave Falls, what we were concerned about was how to access Grassy Lake Road which would take us into the main part of Yellowstone.
The ranger smiled and suggested we change our plans and enter through West Yellowstone instead.   I got the same advice from the gas station attendant in Ashton.  Both said the road was passable, but ROUGH.  The ranger also told us that the area we would be traveling through is where different agencies release their problem bears.  So, of course, I am excited and really want to go that direction.  I am telling you this ranger was so gracious, he even suggested we look through the lost and found box and try to find any left over bear spray.   He thought it might come in handy.  He gave us directions to find the road we were looking for and we left without any bear spray and with what turned out to be not so good directions.

 Not too far past the ranger station, we arrived at Cave Falls.  It was MAGNIFICENT!

 Cave Falls is so named because there is a cave at this end of the falls.  We couldn't get close enough to see into the cave, but I guess it is somewhere behind these rocks.

 After enjoying the falls, we headed into Yellowstone via Grassy Lake Road.  We found the road even though the ranger's directions were off on the mileage distances.  The drive was gorgeous.

 We saw all of this along the way.

 Boyd had mapped it before we left and it was supposed to take us 90 minutes to go about 30 miles. 

 We knew we would have to go slow.

 But we didn't realize how brain jarring the ride would be!

 Pretty sure we have traumatic brain injuries now.

 We were beyond happy to reach the other end of the road.  It took us about 2 hours.  Would we do it again?    Hmmm....