Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
In moist places, such as near the hot springs at the base of the canyon, algae and moss
grow and lend a lush green color to the rock surfaces. There may also be colorful microor-
ganisms present around the few hot springs, but the living ones make a modest contribu-
tion to the riot of color in the canyon. Dead microorganisms leave no residual color.
You may think the Yellowstone River got its name from the yellow of this canyon, while
historians have written that the Native American Indian name came from the color of the
sandstone cliffs lining this river for hundreds of miles downriver from Billings. However,
members of the Crow tribe believe that early French travelers to the area mistranslated
the Crow word for elk, calling the river
La Roche Jaune
(“the yellow rock”) to translate the
Crow name for Elk River. The Crow word for elk sounds very similar to their word for yel-
low stone.
14.1/1.3
Entrance to North Rim Drive (one way south to north).
The magnificent Canyon Hotel was located just up the hill from the intersection here until
it burned to the ground in 1960 (see picture,
page 187
).
Few visitors to Canyon see Crystal Falls at close range.
