Devil's Tower/YNP/Grand Tetons 9 days/4 familys

20 of us head out from for YNP and the Tetons this July. First Night is in the Devil%26#39;s Tower area. any suggestions on lodging/activities. Plan to have about 4-6 hours to look around. Next 4 days at YNP at Canyon Lodge. Plan to do a lot of hiking in different areas of park. Any favorite trails for day hikes? Last 3 days will be in Grand Teton National Park. Planning on rafting one of the days. Have several teenage boys so the rougher the water the better. Which of the several companies in the area offer the trips with the most white water action? Favorite trails in GTP In either park we would like to do some mountain biking or any biking but I just don%26#39;t see many options? Suggestions? If you had one night to spend in one of the surrounding towns for dinner/nightime activites which would it be? Sorry for all the questions but thanks for any help!!

Devil's Tower/YNP/Grand Tetons 9 days/4 familys

You%26#39;ll want to read this re: biking in YNP, and am sure it%26#39;s the same restriction as in GTNP.

www.nps.gov/yell/planyourvisit/bicycling.htm

The NPS websites are full of high quality information re: what to do, trails, etc., and include an interactive map that will help guide this wonderful vacation.

Surrounding towns? Most action is West Yellowstone and Jackson for YNP and GTNP, respectively.

Bring enough binoculars, they will enhance this trip.

Devil's Tower/YNP/Grand Tetons 9 days/4 familys

On the same page as your post, a bit further down, re: hikes:

tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g60999-i481-k27641…

Hi-

* I don%26#39;t know about any lodging in the Devil%26#39;s Tower area. When we went out we stayed in Rapid City to do those activities and then headed out to Devil%26#39;s Tower first thing in the morning. We then drove through the Powder River Pass and then satyed in Cody that night before heading to YNP. If you look I am sure you can find something closer to Devil%26#39;s Tower.

* We tried to do at least a small portion of each trail when we went. We had 3 kids (5, 2, and 1) so we were limite on trail length so we did the beginging portion of each (if you saw something in that distance).

* We obviously didn%26#39;t do any rafting, sorry.

* We didn%26#39;t make it to Grand Tetons this time. We went north and did the Beartooth Mountains.

* I would stay in Jackson for your Grand Teton visit. If you have an extra night beyond that I would say Cody. There are a lot of neat things to see and depending on your route could be on your way. Beartooth Mountains are also recommended if you have time.

Have fun!

After you check the YNP hiking site, you might want to pick up a hiking guidebook to bring with you. I like the Falcon books - I use ';Hiking in Yellowstone National Park'; by Bill Schneider a lot - it breaks the hikes down by area, difficulty, length, scenery, etc. Someone noted recently that they also have a guide out for GTNP. If you don%26#39;t find those, there are many other good ones out there.

I would check the websites for the rafting companies you%26#39;re interested in - and then call them with your questions. They usually offer a variety of trips - easy/scenic to whitewater. By the end of July the rapids aren%26#39;t usually as rough as in June, but the trips are still fun. I would recommend Barker/Ewing, Dave Hansen, or Mad River.

Have Fun!

Are you going through the Black Hills or have you done that area before? The area around Sundance has a few accomodations for Devil%26#39;s Tower area. We like Barker-Ewing for raft trips in the GT. You might check out Cody for great rodeo and Buffalo Bill museums. Also West Yellowstone has decent food and the Grizzly center/IMAX center. Be sure and visit Jackson Hole. We like the Gunbarrel for great food.

Sundance or Spearfish would be my suggestions too. there is not much Moorcroft and nothing at DT except camping. There are a couple of small motels in Hulett (8mi away) but I have no experience with them.

http://www.hulett.org/MotelPioneer.htm

http://www.hulettmotel.com/

http://www.hulett.org/devilstowerinn.htm (Best Western)

But with that large a group you might end up split between them.

Also if you take the loop from the freeway on WY-111 to WY-24 then right at the WY-111 freeway interchange if you go a mile or so east on the northside frontage road you can view the Vore Buffalo Jump. The hike to the bottom of the sinkhole is a nice little leg stretch. Very interesting history and free (donations accepted).

North of YNP at Gardiner there is a whitewater (and also tamer float trip) operation.

http://www.wildwestrafting.com/whitewater.htm

We have not tried them but may do their float trip in August.

Thanks for your tips. We have done the Black Hills so will be bypassing this.. Have taken the tip to stay in Hulett and I am now curious about the buffalo jump.... even has a website ...wierd. Have also read alot about hiking in Yellowstone and Grand Tetons but I am looking for suggestions on peoples favorite hikes.. Thanks again