Hayden Valley

The Hayden Valley is a broad, flat valley between the Yellowstone Lake and the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone in Yellowstone National Park in the U.S. state of Wyoming. 1874 appointed Lord Dunraven it after the geologist Ferdinand V. Hayden, who led in the second half of the 19th century, two research trips in the Yellowstone area.

Through the valley both the Yellowstone River and parallel to the road from Yellowstone Lake to Canyon Village winds. The Hayden Valley is renowned for its abundance of wildlife in the park visitors. Often large bison herds can be observed, and sometimes elk, moose, wolves and grizzly bears. The Hayden Valley is located in a caldera that was formed during the last major volcanic eruption about 600,000 years ago. During the last glacial period, the bed of the Yellowstone Lake, with the Hayden Valley formed as a part thereof. As the water slowly retreated from the valley and the lake is rescaled to its present size, he left behind a fine silt and clay soil. This soil can be good food for wild grow, but only conditionally trees.