Fossils

Many of Yellowstone's most popular areas are easily accessible via paved trails and boardwalks -- this list includes the Old Faithful area as well as other geyser basins, Mammoth Hot Springs, and the Lower Falls at the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone. You should have no problems with strollers in those locations.  Please note, however, that the boardwalks can be slippery if near geothermal activity, so be extra careful!

One good hike I can suggest is the Back Basin Trail in the Norris Geyser Basin.  It's a 1.5-mile loop that passes Emerald Spring, Steamboat Geyser, Cistern Spring and Echinus Geyser. 

For more great walks and hikes click here:  (http://www.ohranger.com/yellowstone/walking-hiking)

Have a great trip!

There are literally hundreds of animal species in Black Canyon of the Gunnison.  You might see a mule deer every few minutes, but keep your eyes peeled as there's plenty more to look for.  Check out the complete list here (including Bird Species) as recorded by the Northern Colorado Plateau Network Inventory & Monitoring Program:

http://science.nature.nps.gov/im/units/ncpn/SpeciesList.cfm?ClassSelect=0&Park=BLCA&Status=0&Species=0&SortBy=a.CategoryID%2C+a.ParkCode%2C+a.CommonName%2C+a.FullLatinName&Submit=Submit

There are several activities that you can enjoy during your visit to Yellowstone. If you like walking, think about taking some of the day hikes. You will also have the opportunity to tour the visitor centers. Because of the many activities available at Yellowstone, I would advise that you visit the park's website for additional information. Also when you arrive to the park, stop by the Visitor Center and they will be certainly help you out. Enjoy your trip and be sure to stop back to OhRanger.com and post your pictures and stories!

The nearest parks to Chicago that feature caves and caverns are Illinois Caverns State Natural Area and Cave in Rock State Park. They're both over a five-hour drive from Chicago, however.

I hope you have an exciting time exploring Illinois' caves. Be sure to check back in at OhRanger.com after you trip to share you park experiences with us!

If you enjoy scenic beauty, extended hikes, short day hikes, and the serenity of escaping from the crowds, then you'll love the area around Bonanza Creek Campground in Challis Salmon National Forest. The campground is located in the Yankee Fork Ranger District offers over 300 miles of trails to enjoy. There are trails that will take you into a mixture of rugged peaks, timbered slopes, narrow canyon bottoms and majestic lakes. The Yankee Fork District offers a vast variety of trails to satisfy the desires of all kinds of uses, motorcycles, four wheelers, horseback, bicyclers and hikers, whether they are a novice or experienced. You can find a lot more information about the area here: http://www.fs.fed.us/r4/sc/yankeefork/trails.shtml have a great trip!