Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone to Mamoth to the Lamar Valley

I went for a short, easy run one evening at the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone. About five minutes in, I did a double-take to my left. A bright pink snake was along the side of the road. I stopped and knelt down to check it out more closely. I didn't know that Rubber Boa's (Charina bottae) were found at Yellowstone, so I wasn't even sure what it was at first. I picked him up to check out his yellow-green belly. I was so mad that I didn't have my camera, but such is life. I didn't want to move him from his habitat, so I reluctantly put him back and headed on down the road.

(This photo is from the State of Utah Natural Resources, Division of Wildlife Resources site)

I think this is a Metalmark.

After our last morning at the Canyon campground, we had one more trail that we wanted to take by the lower falls. We enjoyed this trail to the brink of the lower falls.
Joy found the only other snake on our trip. This Wandering Garter Snake (Thamnophis elegans vagrans) was along the trail to the Sheepeater Cliff. I was a little sad that I didn't get to see Joy's snake dance. ;)

A view from a short trail in the Lamar Valley.