Even in a park most people are to busy to stop and smell the roses. We found a baby rabbit just off the trail. Only one other couple stopped for more then a second, everyone else left the second they found we were only looking at a rabbit.
The next stop was Canyonlands NP. For all of the time that I have spent canyoneering in Utah it s surprising that I have never been here before. We both immediately decided that this is more spectacular then the Grand Canyon. This is where the Green River merges with the Colorado River. You can stand in one spot and look at one canyon and turn 180 degrees and see the other one, both equally impressive. Farther down you get to where they actually come together, an amazing view. We timed it to be there at sunset, the rocks all turned incredible hues of red.
A funny story, we were out looking at the view by ourselves when another couple showed up. They were speaking Italian, one of them then started saying I can say what ever I want to because nobody here can under stand us. They then said a few silly things, at which point Claudia started talking in Italian to them. At which point the three of them all started to laugh (as I still didn’t know what was happening). Whats the chance of one of only two other people nearby while in western US being an Italian. You have to watch what you say no matter where you are.
Next on the list was Grand Tetons NP. Views of majestic mountains and large herds of Bison. We also got up close to some Prong Horn and one owl.
Next was Yellowstone NP the worlds first National Park. The geysers and hot springs are great and unique but for us this park is all about the wildlife. We saw numerous herds of bison; also elk, moose, deer, mountain goats, a couple Grizzly Bears, a pack of wolves and several Black Bears. The wolves were far away but with binoculars it was a good view and we got to look someones spotting scope (I need to get one) which brings them right up close. The one Grizzly was quite close to a large crowd of watchers, with a few rangers on hand to keep the occasion fool from trying to get even closer. What would have been my best picture of it ended up being of the rangers head as he walked in front of me just as I took it. 
One of our Black Bear sitings was a mother and two cubs, there was a group of people but most would only watch for a few minutes. We followed them for nearly two hours, at one point the rangers told everyone we had to leave because the terrain was steering them over to the road. So as we left I determined where they would cross and we went just past that spot and stopped again. At this spot we stayed by the vehicle because it was going to be a little closer then we had been before. What a true treat to be able to watch such beautiful animals for an extended time.
We stopped at a little secluded picnic site that clearly didn’t get many visitors (yes there are a few places in the park) we stayed for about an hour, sitting by the river. As we were just about to leave a buck came into the area, we stayed completely still and he came within about 12 feet (4 meters) of us. After several minutes a doe came out too, but not as close. We watched them for several more minutes as they slowly moved farther away.
The final park to visit was Rocky Mountain NP. We saw more elk and moose closer then we had in Yellowstone, but the one we hoped to see, Bighorn Sheep eluded us. In many areas of the west there are large numbers of dead conifers due to the virus that is spread by Bark Beatles. Rocky Mountain was the hardest hit area of our trip. It is hard to see so many trees dead or dying.